Jun 20, 2017
慧淨上人法語
專稱彌陀佛名
慧淨上人法語
專稱彌陀佛名
The three tiers are spoken in the context of aptitude [of the sentient beings], aimed at guiding [the practitioners] back to name-recitation in accordance with the Fundamental Vow.
When Master Shandao explains the meaning of the three tiers in his works, “The Teachings of Contemplation and Recitation”, he says, “The aptitude and capacity of all sentient beings are different, which can be classified into the high, medium, and low tiers. The Buddha urges them to exclusively recite the name of the Infinite Life Buddha according to their aptitude and capacity. The Buddha and a multitude of sagely beings will come to receive them actively when their lives are close to death, and all of them will attain rebirth”. It indicates that the aptitude of sentient beings can be classified into high, medium and low.
As far as the teaching is concerned, the same teaching is applicable to different tiers of aptitude. So it has a guiding function to lead sentient beings of all the three tiers to reciting Amitabha’s name. For practitioners of the high tier, no sense of superiority is produced because they are not practicing an exclusive high-tier teaching. For practitioners of the low tier, no sense of inferiority is produced because they are not excluded from the chance of rebirth.
(continued tomorrow)
講三輩是就根機來講的，目的在導歸本願稱名。
所以善導大師在《觀念法門》解釋三輩時談到：「一切眾生，根性不同，有上中下。隨其根性，佛皆勸專念無量壽佛名。其人命欲終時，佛與聖眾，自來迎接，盡得往生。」這就顯明根機有上中下。
但就法來講，機不同，法都相同，所以有一種引導的作用，引導上中下的根機都來稱名，不因為是上輩的根機就修上輩的法，而有一種憍慢；也不因為是下輩的根機就認為自己往生無份，而心生卑劣。
Namo Amitabha!
