July 18, 2019
Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about the Contemplation Sutra
《佛說觀無量壽經》
People may doubt; but, it is clearly stated in the Contemplation Sutra that there are nine levels. Amitabha-recitation is spoken of in the section on rebirth in the lowest level of the low tier. Why is it said that rebirth through Amitabha-recitation transcends all levels and grades of rebirth? Let me explain in four aspects:
1. To embrace those of different capacities – the nine levels in the Contemplation Sutra are for the purpose of including all good and evil ordinary beings. (from the extremely virtuous people practicing Mahayana paths, down to those committing the Five Gravest Transgressions and slandering the Dharma) All can be reborn with recourse to Amitabha’s Vow Power. It does not say that Amitabha-reciters have to be reborn at the lowest level.
The meaning of the nine levels in the Contemplation Sutra is more or less the same as the meaning of the three tiers in the Infinite Life Sutra, just different in folding and unfolding. If Amitabha-reciters must be reborn in the lowest level, why is it spoken in the Infinite Life Sutra that all people in the high, medium and low tiers can be reborn if they always exclusively recite Amitabha’s name?
As ‘always exclusively recite Amitabha’s name’ is spoken for all three tiers, it means that Amitabha-recitation is all embracing. It includes all people of different aptitudes and transcends all levels. Rebirth is not within the context of levels. The nine levels and the three tiers reflect the original aptitudes, virtuous and non-virtuous, of sentient beings.
(to be continued tomorrow)
難免有人會懷疑,《觀無量壽經》明明有談九品,而念佛是在下品,怎麼說念佛超越品位階級呢?我約略以四點來解釋說明:
第一、「攝機意」。《觀經》說九品,目的是要用這九品來含蓋一切的善惡凡夫,上從大乘極善,下到五逆謗法,都能夠乘佛願力往生;並不是說念佛一定在下品。
《觀經》九品跟《大經》三輩的意思差不多,只是開合不同。如果念佛一定在下品,為什麼《大經》上輩、中輩、下輩都說「一向專念無量壽佛」呢?
既然三輩都說一向專念,那就說明念佛本身是總攝萬機、超越品位、不在品位當中的,三輩九品只是反映眾生本來善惡的機類。
Namo Amituofo!
