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Question 9 第九疑
The Western Pure Land is ten billion Buddha Lands away from here. Common, ordinary people are weak and frail. How can they reach it
问。西方去此十万亿佛刹。凡夫劣弱。云何可到。又往生论云。女人及根缺。二乘种不生。既有此教。当知女人及以根缺者。定必不得往生。
Answer
The Western Pure Land is described as being ten billion Buddha Lands away from here only with respect to the limited concepts of ordinary people with eyes of flesh and blood, mired in birth and death.
答。为对凡夫肉眼生死心量说耳。西方去此。十万亿佛刹。
For those who have attained the pure karma of rebirth in the Pure Land, the Mind in samadhi at the time of death is precisely the Mind reborn in the Pure Land. As soon as the thought (of rebirth) arises, rebirth is achieved. Thus, the Meditation Sutra states that “the Land of Amitabha Buddha is not far from here!” Moreover, the power of karma is inconceivable. In the space of one thought, rebirth in the Pure Land is achieved. There is no need to worry about distance.
但使众生净土业成者。临终在定之心。即是净土受生之心。动念即是生净土时。为此观经云。弥陀佛国。去此不远。又业力不可思议。一念即得生彼。不须愁远。
This is analogous to a person asleep and dreaming. Although his body is on the bed, his Mind is travelling all over, to all worlds, as though he were awake. Rebirth in the Pure Land is, generally speaking, similar to this example.
又如人梦。身虽在床。而心意识。徧至他方。一切世界。如平生不异也。生净土亦尔。动念即至。不须疑也。女人及根缺。二乘种不生者。但论生彼国无女人。及无盲聋喑哑人。不道此间女人根缺人不得生彼。若如此说者。愚痴全不识经意。即如韦提夫人。是请生净土主。及五百侍女。佛授记悉得往生彼国。但此处女人。及盲聋喑哑人。心念弥陀佛。悉生彼国已。更不受女身。亦不受根缺身。二乘人但回心愿生净土。至彼更无二乘执心。为此故云。女人及根缺二乘种不生。非谓此处女人。及根缺人不得生也。故无量寿经四十八愿云。设我得佛。十方世界。一切女人。称我名号。厌恶女身。舍命之后。更受女身者。不取正觉。况生彼国。更受女身。根缺者亦尔。
Question 10 第十疑
I have now resolved to seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land. However, I do not know which practices to cultivate, nor what the seeds of rebirth in the Western Pure Land are. Moreover, ordinary people all have families and have not rid themselves of lust and attachment. This being the case, can they achieve rebirth
问。今欲决定求生西方。未知作何行业。以何为种子。得生彼国。又凡夫俗人。皆有妻子。未知不断淫欲。得生彼否。
Answer
If a cultivator wishes to be assured of rebirth, he should perfect two practices: the practice of “disgust” (at the five desires) and the practice of “joyfulness in vows”.
答。欲决定生西方者。具有二种行。定得生彼。一者厌离行。二者欣愿行。
A) The practice of “disgust” refers to the fact that common people have been bound by the five desires from time immemorial. Thus, they wander along the six paths, enduring untold suffering! In that quagmire, unless they become disgusted with the five desires, how can they escape the cycle of birth and death
言厌离行者。凡夫无始已来。为五欲缠缚。轮回五道。备受众苦。不起心厌离五欲。未有出期。
Therefore, the Pure Land cultivator should constantly visualize this body as a mass of flesh and bones, blood and pus, a skinbag containing phlegm, pus, urine, feces and other foul-smelling substances. The Parinirvana Sutra states: “This fortress of a body – only evil, deluded demons could tolerate living in it. Who with any wisdom would ever cling to or to delight in such a skinbag!”
为此常观此身。脓血屎尿。一切恶露。不净臭秽。故涅槃经云。如是身城。愚痴罗刹。止住其中。谁有智者。当乐此身。
Another scriptures states: “This body is the confluence of all kinds of suffering; it is a jail, a prison, a mass of ulcers; everything is impure. In truth, it is not worth clinging to –even the celestial bodies of deities are no different.”
又经云。此身众苦所集。一切皆不净。扼缚痈疮等。根本无义利。上至诸天身。皆亦如是。
Therefore, whether walking, standing, sitting or reclining, whether asleep or awake, cultivators should always visualize this body as nothing but a source of suffering, without any pleasure, and develop a sense of disgust ... (thus gradually becoming free from lustful thoughts).
行者若行若坐。若睡若觉。常观此身。唯苦无乐。深生厌离。
Moreover, the cultivator should also engage in the Seven Types of Meditation on Impurity (e.g., as a fetus, in the impure, dirty area of the womb, drinking the mother”s blood, emerging from the womb with pus and blood gushing forth and foul odors in…
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