Mar 26, 2025
Basic Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
L
150 The Meaning of the Gatha of Merit-Dedication (continued)
“May all of us aspire to attain perfect enlightenment," (同發菩提心)
This refers to the "Unsurpassed Bodhi Mind", which is the abbreviated form of "Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi Mind" (無上正等正覺心). The term "Bodhi" is a Sanskrit word that means "awakening", which signifies attaining Buddhahood. To arouse the Bodhi Mind means to generate the aspiration to become a Buddha. This entails the commitment to seeking supreme enlightenment for oneself and for delivering all sentient beings.
Master Tanluan (曇鸞), in his Commentary on the Treatise on Rebirth (往生論註), states:
"This unsurpassed Bodhi Mind is precisely the mind that aspires to become a Buddha. The mind that aspires to become a Buddha is the mind that vows to save all sentient beings."
Thus, the Bodhi Mind serves as the stimulus for both attaining Buddhahood and delivering beings, making it the very essence of Mahayana Buddhism. There are two Types of Bodhi Mind: The Path of Sacred Practice and the Path of the Pure Land
1. The Bodhi Mind of the Path of Sacred Practice (聖道門菩提心) - This refers to generating the Bodhi Mind within the Saha world by making the Four Great Vows, practicing the Six Pāramitās, and progressing unwaveringly through countless rebirths.
Over the course of three great asaṁkhyeya kalpas, one perfects both merit and wisdom and eventually attains Buddhahood.
This is known as the self-powered Bodhi Mind (自力菩提心) and belongs to the difficult path (難行道), which is beyond the capability of most sentient beings.
2. The Bodhi Mind of the Pure Land Path (淨土門菩提心) This is the mind that "aspires for rebirth" (願生心), specifically in Amitabha’s Pure Land.
This aspiration, coupled with the exclusive recitation of Namo Amitabha Buddha, and faith in Amitabha’s 18th Vow, are the causes of rebirth in the Pure Land. With this combination of single-minded aspiration, exclusive recitation, and faith in Amitabha’s 18th Vow, one is assured of rebirth in the Pure Land.
Upon rebirth in the Pure Land their afflictions are swiftly eliminated, they attain Buddhahood, and universally deliver sentient beings.
This is called the other-powered Bodhi Mind (他力菩提心) and belongs to the easy path (易行道), which is accessible to all beings.
The Bodhi Mind is fundamentally the mind that aspires to Buddhahood, and rebirth in the Pure Land leads directly to Buddhahood. Therefore, aspiring for rebirth in the Pure Land is itself the Bodhi Mind of the Pure Land Path.
Practitioners of the Pure Land Path do not need to separately cultivate the Bodhi Mind. Instead, hearing about and believing in Amitabha’s salvation, turning one's heart toward him, and aspiring for rebirth in the Pure Land already constitute the Bodhi Mind of Pure Land practitioners.
(to be continued tomorrow)
150 「迴向偈」之意 (續)
「同發菩提心」,此菩提心是「無上菩提心」,即是「阿耨多羅三藐三菩提心」(無上正等正覺心)的簡稱,「菩提」二字是古印度梵語,漢文之意為「覺」,即是成佛之意。發菩提心,就是發成佛之心,也就是發「上求佛道、下化眾生」之心。曇鸞大師《往生論註》說:「此無上菩提心,即是願作佛心,願作佛心,即是度眾生心。故發菩提心為成佛與度生之因,是大乘佛法的精髓。
菩提心有二,聖道門菩提心與淨土門菩提心。
聖道門菩提心,即是於娑婆世界,發四弘誓願,修六度萬行,生生不退,歷經三大阿僧祇劫,福慧圓滿而成佛。此亦名自力菩提心,屬難行道,眾生不堪。
淨土門菩提心,即是「願生心」,也就是「願生彌陀淨土」之心,此心是往生彌陀淨土之因,有此心必定往生彌陀淨土,一旦往生彌陀淨土,必定斷煩惱證佛果,而「廣度十方眾生」。此亦名他力菩提心,屬易行道,眾生所堪。
「菩提心」就是成佛的心,而往生就能成佛,所以,願往生淨土的心,就是淨土法門的菩提心。淨土法門不必另外再去發菩提心,聞信彌陀救度、迴心轉意願往生,這種心就是念佛人的菩提心。
Namo Amituofo!