问：经末先言不退，后明往生，正以现生取办，超乎余教。何反开「少寿多障，不克往生，来世得生」一路？
Question: [The] sūtra’s ending [part] first speaks [of] non-retrogression (不退转), [and] later explains rebirth [in the Pure Land], precisely with [in this] present life obtaining accomplishment, [thus] transcending other teachings. Why instead open [with ‘[having] insufficient lifespans [and] many obstacles, [in this present life] not attaining rebirth, [in a] future life attaining birth’, [this] one path?
[Note 1: The question refers to the following part in the Amitā(bha) Sūtra’s《阿弥陀经》Transmission Section (流通分): ‘Śāriputra, [i] if there are people who have already vowed, are now vowing, or will be vowing, with the desire to be born in Amitā(bha) Buddha’s Land, all these people and others, will all attain non-retrogression for Anuttarā Samyak Saṃbodhi. [ii] In that land, they have already been born, or are now being born, or will be born. Therefore, Śāriputra, all good men and good women, if they have faith, should vow, to be born in that land.’ (舍利弗，[i] 若有人，已发愿、今发愿、当发愿，欲生阿弥陀佛国者。是诸人等，皆得不退转于阿耨多罗三藐三菩提。[ii] 于彼国土，若已生、若今生、若当生。是故舍利弗，诸善男子、善女人，若有信者，应当发愿，生彼国土。)
As pointed out in the question, [i] non-retrogression (不退转) was mentioned before [ii] rebirth (往生) in Pure Land. The question asks why is there particular mention of the possibility of attaining rebirth in Pure Land in a future life in the Commentary On The Sūtra In Which The Buddha Speaks Of Amitā(bha Buddha)《弥陀疏钞》, versus focusing on attaining it in this present life.]
答：真念佛，决无不生净土，退菩提者。
Answer: Those [with] true mindfulness [of] Buddha, [are] definitely without [those] not born [in the] Pure Land, [who] retrogress [from Anuttarā Samyak Saṃ]bodhi.
[Note 2: Since those mindful of Buddha with profound Faith (深信) and sincere Aspiration (切愿), thus complete with the Three Provisions (三资粮) will surely be born in the Pure Land, where there will surely be non-retrogression, this means those thus truly mindful of the Buddha before birth in Pure Land already will have non-retrogression.]
[Note 3: Those with non-retrogressible Faith and Aspiration will surely continue to be truly mindful of the Buddha, to express the continual presence of these provisions. Those who do not have continual Practice however, might already retrogress or already have retrogression.]
第恐障深慧浅之流，见自他未效，不罪功力浅，肉眼眯，反疑佛法无灵，现生退惰，故曲显胜益，策令现生取办也。
Only fearing [for the] group of [those with] obstacles deep [and] wisdom shallow, [who] see [them]selves [and] others yet [to have] results, not blaming [their] skills [and] power [to be] shallow, [and their] flesh eyes [to be] blind, instead doubting [the] Buddha’s Dharma [to be] inefficacious, [in this] present life retrogressing [and becoming] lazy, thus ‘winding’ [in] revealing [mindfulness of Buddha’s] supreme benefits, [this teaching is to] encourage [and] enable [them to, in this] present life obtain accomplishment.
[Note 4: Those with many karmic obstacles (业障) and much foolishness (愚痴) are thus without true mindfulness of Buddha in time, then not born in the Pure Land to have non-retrogression. However, if the vajra seed (金刚种子) of the Buddha’s name (Āmítuófó: 阿弥陀佛) has been planted in their consciousnesses already, as a distant cause (远因), the fruit of birth in his Pure Land will still surely be borne later, when the provisions become adequate with further diligence, even if not in the immediate future life.]
[Note 5: The mention of this possibility of attaining rebirth in Pure Land in a future life, is out of compassionate concern for those who might have many obstacles, who might continue to obstruct themselves from attaining rebirth in Pure Land in this present life. Thus, to have non-retrogression and reach Pure Land by the end of this life, we should be as sincere and diligent as we can with further learning and practice now.]
[Note 6: In a future life, however, most will forget what learnt in this present life, thus needing to relearn. (This is a form of spiritual retrogression.) Thus, it is best to aspire to reach Pure Land in this present life. As a form of ‘reverse psychology’, the particular mention is to urge all to avoid and clear these obstacles, precisely to attain rebirth in Pure Land in this present life. If there is sincere and thus non-retrogressible learning and practice of mindfulness of Buddha in this present life, there will be non-retrogressible progress to reach Pure Land (and thus Buddhahood) in this present life too.]
净土宗九祖蕅益大师
Pure Land Tradition’s 9th Patriarch Great Master Ǒuyì
《灵峰宗论》卷第三之一：答问一 /
Spirit Peak Tradition’s Treatise: First [Part] Of Scroll Three: First Answers [For] Questions /
《蕅益大师净土集》第九：答问：答卓左车《弥陀疏钞》三十二问【第二十三】
Great Master Ǒuyì’s Pure Land Collection: 9th [Section]: Answers [For] Questions: Answers [For] Zhuō Zuǒchē’s Thirty-Two Questions [On The] Commentary [On The Sūtra In Which The Buddha Speaks Of A]mitā[bha Buddha] [#23]
Namo Amituofo : Translation and notes by Shen Shi’an
相关教理
Related Teachings:
至心念佛如何灭除如此多罪而得不退？
[15] How Does Sincere Mindfulness Of Buddha Eradicate So Many Transgressions And Attain Non-Retrogression?
一念猛利过百年悠悠
One Thought Powerful Surpasses Hundred Years’ Leisureliness
https://purelanders.com/2021/09/15/how-does-sincere-mindfulness-of-buddha-eradicate-so-many-transgressions-and-attain-non-retrogression/
《阿弥陀经》为何只言临终佛现？
[18] Why Did The Amitābha Sūtra Speak Of The Buddha Appearing At Life’s End Only?
信愿行成就，往生自无疑
With Faith, Aspiration And Practice Accomplished, Rebirth In Pure Land Is Naturally Without Doubt
https://purelanders.com/2021/09/22/18-why-did-the-amitabha-sutra-speak-of-the-buddha-appearing-at-lifes-end-only/
如何预知时至？
[19] How To Know In Advance The Time Of Arrival In Pure Land?
不贵预知者，令心不颠倒
Those Not Valuing Advance Knowing Enable Their Minds To Not Be Inverted
https://purelanders.com/2021/09/22/19-how-to-know-in-advance-the-time-of-arrival-in-pure-land/
《大经》与《观经》之十念有分别吗？
[20] Are There Differences Between The Ten Thoughts In The Greater Sūtra And The Contemplation Sūtra?
志心信乐，何等深切！
With The Sincere Mind Of Joyful Faith, How Profound And Clear!
https://purelanders.com/2021/09/22/are-there-differences-between-the-ten-thoughts-in-the-greater-sutra-and-the-contemplation-sutra/
如何把定业转成无定业？
[26] How To Transform Definite Negative Karma To Be Not Definite?
千年暗室一灯能破
A Thousand Years’ Darkened Room With One Lamp Is Able To Be Destroyed
https://purelanders.com/2021/09/21/how-to-transform-definite-negative-karma-to-be-not-definite/
The Path To Non-Retrogression Starts Now
https://thedailyenlightenment.com/2012/03/the-path-to-non-retrogression-starts-now
