..續本文上一頁s, the practitioner will obtain the three things that foster enlightenment. They are:
若能遠叁種菩提障。則得叁種順菩提法。
First, the “undefiled Pure Mind” of not seeking personal happiness. That is, enlightenment is the state of undefiled purity. If we seek after personal pleasure, body and Mind are defiled and obstruct the path of enlightenment. Therefore, the undefiled Pure Mind is called consonant with enlightenment.
一者。無染清淨心。不爲自身。求諸樂故。菩提是無染清淨處。若爲自身求樂。即染身心。障菩提門。是故無染清淨心。是順菩提門。
Second, the “Pure Mind at peace”, rescuing all sentient beings from suffering. This is because Bodhi is the undefiled Pure Mind which gives peace and happiness to sentient beings. If we are not rescuing sentient beings and helping them to escape the sufferings of Birth and Death, we are going counter to the Bodhi path. Therefore, a Mind focussed on saving others, bringing them peace and happiness, is called consonant with enlightenment.
二者。安清淨心。爲拔衆生苦故。菩提心是安隱一切衆生清淨處。若不作心拔一切衆生。令離生死苦。即違菩提門。是故安清淨心。是順菩提門。
Third, a “blissful, Pure Mind”, seeking to help sentient beings achieve Great Nirvana. Because Great Nirvana is the ultimate, eternally blissful realm, if we do not help sentient beings to achieve it, we obstruct the Bodhi path. Hence, the Mind which seeks to help sentient beings attain eternal bliss is called consonant with enlightenment.
叁者。樂清淨心。欲令一切衆生。得大菩提涅槃故。菩提涅槃。是畢竟常樂處。若不作心。令一切衆生得畢竟常樂。即遮菩提門。
How can we abandon the things that hinder enlightenment and abide by the things that foster enlightenment
– It is precisely by seeking rebirth in the Western Pure Land, remaining constantly near the Buddhas and cultivating the Dharma until Tolerance of Non-Birth is reached. At that point, we may sail the boat of great vows at will, enter the sea of Birth and Death and rescue sentient beings with wisdom and compassion, “adapting to conditions but fundamentally unchanging”, free and unimpeded. This ends our discussion of the goal of rebirth.
此菩提因何而得。要因生淨土。常不離佛。得無生忍。已于生死國中。救苦衆生。悲智內融。定而常用。自在無礙。即菩提心。此是顯生之意。
2) The cultivator should next contemplate the wholesome characteristics of the Pure Land and the auspicious features of Amitabha Buddha.
二明欣心顯求者。希心起想。緣彌陀佛。
Auspicious features:
Amitabha Buddha possesses a resplendent, golden Reward Body, replete with 84,000 major characteristics, each characteristic having 84,000 minor auspicious signs, each sign beaming 84,000 rays of light which illuminate the entire Dharma Realm and gather in those sentient beings who recite the Buddha”s name (Ninth Visualization in the Meditation Sutra).
若法身。若報身等。金色光明。八萬四千相。一一相中。八萬四千好。一一好放八萬四千光明。常照法界。攝取, 念佛衆生。
Wholesome characteristics:
The Western Pure Land is adorned with seven treasures, as explained in the Pure Land sutras. In addition, when practicing charity, keeping the precepts and performing all kinds of good deeds, Pure Land practitioners should always dedicate the merits toward rebirth in the Pure Land for themselves and all other sentient beings. If the practitioner can cultivate joyfulness in vows, as set out in Section B, he will develop a Mind of hope and longing for the Pure Land and achieve rebirth without fail. This is what is meant by vowing to rescue oneself and others.
又觀彼淨土。七寶莊嚴妙樂等。備如無量壽經十六觀等。常行念佛叁昧。及施戒修等。一切善行。悉已回施。一切衆生。同生彼國。決定得生。此謂欣願門也。
《淨土十疑論 Ten Doubts about Pure Land》全文閱讀結束。