..续本文上一页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.”
又弥陀佛别有大悲四十八愿。接引众生。又观经云。阿弥陀佛有八万四千相。一一相有八万四千好。一一好放八万四千光明。徧照法界。念佛众生。摄取不舍。若有念者。机感相应。决定得生。
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.
又阿弥陀经。大无量寿经。鼓音王陀罗尼经等云。释迦佛说经时。皆有十方恒沙诸佛。舒其舌相。遍覆三千大千世界。证成一切众生念阿弥陀佛。乘佛大悲本愿力故。决定得生极乐世界。
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.”
当知阿弥陀佛与此世界。偏有因缘。何以得知。无量寿经云。末世法灭之时。特驻此经。百年在世。接引众生。往生彼国。
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.
故知阿弥陀佛。与此世界极恶众生。偏有因缘。其余诸佛。一切净土。虽一经两经。略劝往生。不如弥陀佛国。处处经论。殷勤叮咛。劝往生也。
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
问。具缚凡夫。恶业厚重。一切烦恼。一毫未断。西方净土。出过三界。具缚凡夫。云何得生。
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。有二种缘。一者自力。二者他力。自力者。此世界修道。实未得生净土。
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.
是故璎珞经云。始从具缚凡夫。未识三宝。不知善恶因之与果。初发菩提心。以信为本。住在佛家。以戒为本。受菩萨戒。身身相续。戒行不阙。经一劫二劫三劫。始至初发心住。
“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.
如是修行十信十波罗蜜等。无量…
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