Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about Faith in Pure Land Buddhism
淨土信仰
With respect to the stages of the Sacred Path, a person who sets forth to cultivate will start to accumulate the necessary credentials, (virtues, blessings, and wisdom) in order to subdue his afflictions. Using this method it will take one Asaṃkhyakalpa to reach the Bodhisattva of the First Ground, provided that he has no retrogression in cultivation during those many lives.
It takes another Asaṃkhyakalpa to reach the Seventh Ground. However, at this stage it is common for those who pursue this path to have a set back and regress. If this occurs, he is called a “Bodhisattva with an Unpurified Mind”. Once he reaches the Bodhisattva of the Eighth Ground, he becomes a “Bodhisattva with a Purified Mind”.
Thereafter, he will take another Asaṃkhyakalpa to reach the Bodhisattva of the Tenth Ground. However, if a person relies on Amitabha’s vow power to attain rebirth in the Land of Bliss through Amitabha-recitation, he can immediately be assured of being a “Bodhisattva with a Purified Mind.” (Those who have reached the Bodhisattva of the Eighth Ground or above) He is assured of becoming a Buddha without any risk of retrogression.
以聖道法門的次第來講,一個人發心修行,從累積福德、智慧兩種資糧,然後降伏煩惱,生生世世都沒有退轉,這樣經過一大阿僧祇劫,才能夠到達初地;又經過第二大阿僧祇劫,才能夠到達七地。但是,到達七地就有可能會退墮,所以稱為「未淨心菩薩」;如果到八地就永遠不會退墮,因此稱為「淨心菩薩」,由此再經一大阿僧祇劫才到十地。
可是如果依靠彌陀的願力,念佛往生極樂世界的話,就即時跟淨心菩薩(八地以上),以及地上諸菩薩平等無別,一定會到達成佛而永遠不可能有退墮之難。
Namo Amituofo!
