..續本文上一頁t.” This is the meaning of what was said earlier.

　　故華嚴經說。一切諸佛刹。平等普嚴淨。衆生業行異。所見各不同。即其義也。

　　Question 6 第六疑

　　Although sentient beings, completely enmeshed in afflictions and evil views, may achieve rebirth in the Pure Land, they are bound to develop afflictions and perverse views constantly. Under these circumstances, how can they be said to have “transcended the Triple Realm and attained the stage of Non-Retrogression”

　　問。設令具縛凡夫。得生彼國。邪見叁毒等常起。雲何得生彼國。即得不退。超過叁界。

　　Answer

　　Those who are reborn in the Pure Land, though they may be ordinary beings totally enmeshed in evil karma, cannot ever develop afflictions or perverse views, nor can they fail to achieve non-retrogression. This is due to five factors:

　　釋曰。得生彼國。有五因緣不退。

　　a) The power of the Buddha”s great, compassionate vow embraces and protects them;

　　b) The Buddha”s light (wisdom) always shines upon them and, therefore, the Bodhi Mind of these superior persons will always progress;

　　c) In the Western Pure Land, the birds, water, forests, trees, wind and music all preach the Dharma of “suffering, emptiness, impermanence and no-self”. Upon hearing this, practitioners begin to focus on the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha;

　　d) Those who are reborn in the Pure Land have the highest level Bodhisattvas as their companions and are free from all obstacles, calamities and evil conditions. Moreover there are no externalists or evil demons, so their Minds are always calm and still;

　　e) Once they are reborn in the Pure Land, their life span is inexhaustible, equal to that of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Thus, they can peacefully cultivate for countless eons. As a result of these five causes and conditions, sentient beings who are reborn in the Pure Land will certainly achieve non-retrogression and will never develop afflictions or perverse views.

　　雲何爲五。一者。阿彌陀佛大悲願力攝持。故得不退。二者。佛光常照故。菩提心常增進不退。叁者。水鳥樹林。風聲樂響。皆說苦空。聞者常起。念佛念法念僧之心。故不退。四者。彼國純諸菩薩。以爲良友。無惡緣境。外無神鬼魔邪。內無叁毒等。煩惱畢竟不起。故不退。五者。生彼國即壽命永劫。共菩薩佛齊等。故不退也。

　　Sentient beings in this world of the five turbidities, on the other hand, have short life spans and face a host of perverse conditions and obstructions. Therefore, they have great difficulty achieving non-retrogression. This truth is self-evident and beyond doubt.

　　在此惡世。日月短促。經阿僧祇劫。複不起煩惱。長時修道。雲何不得無生忍也。此理顯然。不須疑也。

　　Question 7 第七疑

　　The Bodhisattva Maitreya is a One-Life Bodhisattva who is now in the Tushita Heaven. He will succeed Buddha Sakyamuni and become a Buddha in the future. I venture to think that we should cultivate the loftier aspects of the Ten Virtues and seek to be reborn in the Tushita Heaven, to see Him in person. When the time comes for Him to descend to earth and become a Buddha, we will follow Him and certainly achieve Sagehood in the course of His three teaching assemblies. Therefore, where is the need to seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land

　　問。彌勒菩薩。一生補處。即得成佛。上品十善。得生彼處。見彌勒菩薩。隨從下生叁會之中。自然而得聖果。何須求生西方淨土耶。

　　Answer

　　Seeking rebirth in the Tushita Heaven could be considered equivalent to hearing the Dharma and seeing the Buddha. It seems very similar to seeking rebirth in the Western Pure Land. However, upon close scrutiny, there are many great differences between the two. Let us cite two points for the sake of discussion.

　　答。求生兜率。亦曰聞道見佛。勢欲相似。若細比校。大有優劣。且論二種。

　　A) Even though we may cultivate the Ten Virtues, it is not certain that we will achieve rebirth in the Tushita Heaven. As stated in the sutras: “The practitioner must cultivate the various samadhi and enter deeply into right concentration to obtain rebirth in the Inner Court of the Tushita Heaven.”

　　一者縱持十善。恐不得生。何以得知。彌勒上生經雲。行衆叁昧。深入正定。方始得生。

　　From that we can deduce that the Bodhisattva Maitreya lacks the expedient of “welcoming and escorting”. This cannot be compared to the power of Amitabha Buddha”s Original Vow and His power of light, which can…

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