Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about the Patriarchal Lineage of the Pure Land School – Nagarjuna Bodhisattva
《淨宗傳承之龍樹菩薩》
Regarding the splendor and power of Amitabha’s merit and virtues, Nagarjuna Bodhisattva used “sailing on board a ship” to describe it in his Chapter on the Easy Path. All other teachings are described as “walking on foot”.
Nagarjuna Bodhisattva says walking is painful, making it difficult to reach one’s destination, and there are likely to be set backs along the way. However, sailing on board a ship is not painful. It can be very relaxed, and you are assured of arriving at your destination.
This is teaching us that the karmic obstruction of our afflictions is like a huge stone weighing trillions of tons. Even a small pebble will sink to the bottom of the sea, not to mention a huge stone. If it is placed on the sea of suffering of the Six Realms, it must undoubtedly sink.
However, if the stone is placed on the giant sturdy ship of Amitabha’s great vow, it will not sink, and can smoothly leave the sea of suffering of the Six Realms.
關於阿彌陀佛的功德力量之殊勝,龍樹菩薩在《易行品》當中用「乘船」來形容;除此之外,其他的法門,龍樹菩薩用「步行」來形容。
龍樹菩薩並說,步行非常的苦,而且很難順利到達目的地,往往是中途退墮的;乘船則不苦,很安樂,而且必定達到。
意思就是說,我們眾生的煩惱業障如同千百萬億噸的大石頭,即使小小的石頭放在水裏都會沉了,更何況是巨石呢?放在六道的苦海中, 必沉無疑。
可是如果將這顆大石頭放在阿彌陀佛堅固又廣大的願船上,不僅不會沉,還能夠順利度脫六道苦海。
Namo Amituofo!
