Jan 2

Jan 2, 2018
慧淨上人法語
正依經典

(continued)

We regards the Contemplation Sutra, the Amitabha Sutra, and the Infinite Life Sutra as the principal and founding sutras of our school’s teaching, and these three sutras are also known as the “basic classical scriptures” or “fundamental sutras”. Any other important and well-known sutras, such as the Avatamsaka Sutra, the Lotus Sutra, the Suramgama Sutra, etc. as mentioned above, are not listed as our school’s primary sutras.

What are the reasons behind? It is because these three sutras are specialized classical scriptures that focus mainly on Amitabha Buddha and his Land of Bliss, and nothing else. The other sutras put Amitabha Buddha and the Land of Bliss on the sidelines and only speaking of them incidentally; their focus is not on this area. Hence, other sutras cannot be read as the fundamental sutras, but side reference only. Contents about Amitabha Buddha and his Pure Land in other sutras, however, can be used as complementary reference in certain areas that are not mentioned in the fundamental sutras.

我們是以《觀無量壽經》、《阿彌陀經》和《無量壽經》這三部經作為我們這個宗派主要依據的經典，也就是所謂的「正依經典」；而不以其他的經典，譬如剛剛所講的《華嚴經》、《法華經》、《楞嚴經》等這些很重要、很有名的經典為主要依據之列。
原因在哪裏呢？在於這三部經是專門的、純粹的以講極樂淨土、阿彌陀佛為主的經典，其他經典的主旨則不在此，而是附帶、從旁的連帶提到彌陀和彌陀淨土，所以其他的經典就不作為根本依據的經典，只是作為「旁依」的經典──因為它們的確也跟淨土、跟彌陀有關係，在某些方面可以作為正依經典所沒有講到的補充說明。

Namo Amitabha!