Nov 4

Nov 4, 2017
慧淨上人法語
淨土宗宗風真諦
(continued)

Master Honen therefore says: schools of the Sacred Path focus their practice on development of knowledge and discernment for realization of truth and entering nivana, while the practice of Pure Land school focuses on returning ignorance for rebirth in the Land of Bliss. “Returning ignorance” means not displaying our talents, wisdom, or good deeds in this school of teaching, and treat ourselves as idiots who can practice nothing and know nothing except “Namo Amitabha”. What we can do is, just like old folks, to recite, “Namo Amitabha, Namo Amitabha…” Enlightenment by meditation is a practice of the Sacred Path. For us, we closely follow the teachings of our founder. If we overestimate our ability and act according to our “smart” way, we will quite likely deviate from the right path.

因此法然上人說：聖道門的修行是以智慧證悟涅槃，而淨土門的修行，則是還愚癡往生極樂。「還愚癡」，就是不將自己的才華、智慧、賢能表現在這個法門，要把自己當成愚癡的人，什麼法都不會修，什麼事情都不知道，我只知道這句「南無阿彌陀佛」，只會跟老公公、老太婆一樣念南無阿彌陀佛、南無阿彌陀佛……。參禪悟道是聖道門的修行，至於我們這個法門，每一步都要依照祖師所講的去做，若自作聰明可能就會產生偏失。

Namo Amitabha!