July 29, 2019
Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about the Infinite Life Sutra
《佛說無量壽經》
(continued)
What is the connotation of the text about the Three Tiers? Some people think that the high tier is better than the medium tier, and the medium tier is better than the low tier. This is not incorrect in the literal sense of the text of the Three Tiers.
The high tier includes those who can leave home and practice with vigor; but, those of the medium tier cannot leave home and can only pursue some practices, such as giving. Those in the present life. They only come across the Pure Land teaching near the end-of-life.
So, literally, it seems to discriminate based on the difference in aptitude and in practice; but, with respect to the connotation, it is not the case. Its purpose is to guide people of the three tiers to exclusively recite Amitabha’s name for rebirth. We can only understand this concept through the explanation of Master Shandao.
「三輩文」的涵義是什麼呢?有人認為上輩的根機勝過中輩, 中輩的根機勝過下輩, 沒有錯, 三輩就文面而言, 在講根機的不同。
上輩是可以出家精進修行的,中輩是不能出家但是他有能力做一些佈施或者修行,而下輩是沒有機緣出家,也沒有能力佈施,同時平生也不是精進修行,是臨終才遇到這個法門的。
所以,從文字上來看好像是分判根機的勝劣與修行的高低,可是從內涵來講其實不是,而是為了引導這三輩的人都來專一念佛的,這個理趣必須要看善導大師的解釋才能了解。
Namo Amituofo!
