淨土十疑論

　　Ten Doubts about Pure Land

　　天臺智顗大師 著

　　Translated by

　　Master Thich Thien Tam

　　Question 1 第一疑

　　Great Compassion is the life calling of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Thus, those who have developed the Bodhi Mind, wishing to rescue and ferry other sentient beings across, should simply vow to be reborn in the Triple Realm, among the five turbidities and the three evil paths. Why should we abandon sentient beings to lead a selfish life of tranquillity

　　 Is this not a lack of compassion, a preoccupation with egoistic needs, contrary to the path of enlightenment

　　問曰。諸佛菩薩以大悲爲業。若欲救度衆生。秖應願生叁界。于五濁叁塗中。救苦衆生。因何求生淨土。自安其身。舍離衆生。則是無大慈悲。專爲自利。障菩提道。

　　Answer

　　There are two types of Bodhisattvas. The first type are those who have followed the Bodhisattva path for a long time and attained the Tolerance of Non-Birth (insight into the non-origination of phenomena). This reproach applies to them.

　　答曰。菩薩有二種。一者。久修行菩薩道。得無生忍者。實當所責。

　　The second type are Bodhisattvas who have not attained the Tolerance of Non-Birth, as well as ordinary beings who have just developed the Bodhi Mind. If they aspire to perfect that Tolerance and enter the evil life of the Triple Realm to save sentient beings, they should remain in constant proximity to the Buddhas.

　　二者。未得已還。及初發心凡夫。凡夫菩薩者。要須常不離佛。忍力成就。方堪處叁界內。于惡世中。救苦衆生。

　　As stated in the Perfection of Wisdom Treatise:“It is unwise for human beings who are still bound by all kinds of afflictions, even if they possess a great compassionate mind, to seek a premature rebirth in this evil realm to rescue sentient beings.

　　故智度論雲。具縛凡夫。有大悲心。願生惡世。救苦衆生者。無有是處。

　　“Why is this so

　　 It is because in this evil, defiled world, afflictions are powerful and widespread. Those who lack the power of Tolerance (of Non-Birth) are bound to be swayed by the external circumstances. They then become slaves to form and sound, fame and fortune, with the resulting karma of greed, anger and delusion. Once this occurs, they cannot even save themselves, much less others!

　　何以故。惡世界。煩惱強。自無忍力。心隨境轉。聲色所縛。自墮叁塗。焉能救衆生。

　　“If, for example, they are born in the human realm, in this evil environment full of non-believers and externalists, it is difficult to encounter genuine teachers. Therefore, it is neither easy to hear the Buddhadharma nor to achieve the goals of the sages.

　　假令得生人中。聖道難得。

　　“Of those who planted the seeds of generosity, morality and blessings in previous lives and are thus now enjoying power and fame, how many are not infatuated with a life of wealth and honor, wallowing in endless greed and lust

　　或因施戒修福。得生人中。得作國王大臣。富貴自在。

　　“Therefore, even when they are counselled by enlightened teachers, they do not believe them nor act accordingly. Moreover, to satisfy their passions, they take advantage of their existing power and influence, creating a great deal of bad karma. Thus, when their present life comes to an end, they descend upon the three evil paths for countless eons. After that, they are reborn as humans of low social and economic status. If they do not then meet good spiritual advisors, they will continue to be deluded, creating more bad karma and descending once again into the lower realms. From time immemorial, sentient beings caught in the cycle of Birth and Death have been in this predicament. This is called the “Difficult Path of Practice”.”

　　縱遇善知識。不肯信用。貪迷放逸。廣造衆罪。乘此惡業。一入叁塗。經無量劫。從地獄出。受貧賤身。若不逢善知識。還墮地獄。如此輪回。至于今日。人人皆如是。此名難行道也。

　　The Vimalakirti Sutra also states, “If you cannot even cure your own illness, how can you cure the illness of others

　　”

　　故維摩經雲。自疾不能救。而能救諸疾人。

　　The Perfection of Wisdom Treatise further states: “Take the case of two persons, each of whom watches a relative drowning in the river. The first person, acting on impulse, hastily jumps into the water. However, because he lacks the necessary skills, in the end, both of them drown. The second perso…

《淨土十疑論 Ten Doubts about Pure Land》全文未完，請進入下頁繼續閱讀…