..續本文上一頁r mark 84,000 rays of light shine forth, illuminating the entire Dharma Realm (cosmos) to gather in, without exception, all sentient beings who practice Buddha Recitation. If any sentient being recites His name, there will be correspondence between cause and response, and he will surely be reborn.”
又彌陀佛別有大悲四十八願。接引衆生。又觀經雲。阿彌陀佛有八萬四千相。一一相有八萬四千好。一一好放八萬四千光明。徧照法界。念佛衆生。攝取不舍。若有念者。機感相應。決定得生。
Furthermore, the Amitabha Sutra, the Longer Amitabha Sutra, etc., teach that when Sakyamuni Buddha preached these sutras, the Buddhas of the ten directions, numerous as the grains of sand in the River Ganges, all “extended their tongues to cover the entire universe”, bearing witness to the truth that any sentient being who recites Amitabha Buddha”s name shall be assured of rebirth in the Land of Ultimate Bliss, thanks to the great, compassionate vow-power of the Buddha.
又阿彌陀經。大無量壽經。鼓音王陀羅尼經等雲。釋迦佛說經時。皆有十方恒沙諸佛。舒其舌相。遍覆叁千大千世界。證成一切衆生念阿彌陀佛。乘佛大悲本願力故。決定得生極樂世界。
We should know that Amitabha Buddha has great affinities (causes and conditions) with this world. As the Longer Amitabha Sutra states: “In the Dharma-Ending Age, when all other sutras have disappeared, only this sutra will remain for another hundred years to rescue sentient beings and lead them to the Western Pure Land.”
當知阿彌陀佛與此世界。偏有因緣。何以得知。無量壽經雲。末世法滅之時。特駐此經。百年在世。接引衆生。往生彼國。
This demonstrates that Amitabha Buddha has strong affinities with sentient beings in this defiled world. Although one or two sutras have, in a general way, urged rebirth in other Pure Lands, this cannot be compared to the fact that numerous sutras and commentaries have earnestly pointed out to the Land of Ultimate Bliss as the focus of rebirth.
故知阿彌陀佛。與此世界極惡衆生。偏有因緣。其余諸佛。一切淨土。雖一經兩經。略勸往生。不如彌陀佛國。處處經論。殷勤叮咛。勸往生也。
Question 5 第五疑
Ordinary people are entirely enmeshed in heavy evil karma and are full of all kinds of afflictions. Even though they may have some virtues as a result of cultivation, they find it difficult to sever even a fraction of their defilements and hindrances. The Land of Ultimate Bliss, on the other hand, is extremely purely adorned, transcending the Triple Realm. How can such depraved common mortals hope to be reborn there
問。具縛凡夫。惡業厚重。一切煩惱。一毫未斷。西方淨土。出過叁界。具縛凡夫。雲何得生。
Answer
There are two conditions for rebirth: “self-power” and “other-power”. As far as self-power is concerned, while the ordinary beings of this world, totally bound (by their attachments and afflictions), may have some level of cultivation, in reality, they still cannot be reborn in the Pure Land nor deserve to reside there.
答。有二種緣。一者自力。二者他力。自力者。此世界修道。實未得生淨土。
The Peace and Bliss Collection states: “Those who first develop the Bodhi Mind – starting from the level of completely fettered ordinary beings ignorant of the Three Treasures and the Law of Cause and Effect – should base themselves initially on faith. Next, when they have embarked upon the Bodhi path, the precepts should serve as their foundation. If these ordinary beings accept the Bodhisattva precepts and continue to uphold them unfailingly and without interruption for three kalpas, they will reach the First Abode of Bodhisattvahood.
是故璎珞經雲。始從具縛凡夫。未識叁寶。不知善惡因之與果。初發菩提心。以信爲本。住在佛家。以戒爲本。受菩薩戒。身身相續。戒行不阙。經一劫二劫叁劫。始至初發心住。
“If they pursue their cultivation in this manner through ... the Ten Paramitas as well as countless vows and practices, one after another without interruption, at the end of ten thousand kalpas they will reach the Sixth Abode of Bodhisattvahood. Should they continue still further, they will reach the Seventh Abode (Non-Retrogression). They will then have entered the stage of the ”Seed of Buddhahood”, (i.e., they are assured of eventual Buddhahood). However, even then, they still cannot achieve rebirth in the Pure Land” – that is,if they rely on self-power alone.
如是修行十信十波羅蜜等。無量…
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