Common Knowledge in Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
The Sutra of Contemplation of Infinite Life Spoken by the Buddha –
It is one of the three sutras that serve as the main canon of the Pure Land School. It is also known as “The Contemplation of Infinite Life”, or “The Contemplation Sutra”. Master Shandao made a commentary on this sutra and called it “The Infinite Life Contemplation Sutra”.
This Sutra consists of one fascicle, but it is spoken twice - first in the palace, and repeated at Vulture Peak. In the palace in Rajagriha, Shakyamuni Buddha expounds the teaching of 13 contemplations as meditative virtues, in order for Ananda and Vaidehi to perceive the splendid scenes of the Land of Bliss. He also expounds the teaching on the non-meditative virtues of the Three Meritorious Deeds and Nine Levels of Rebirth for them. They are required to dedicate these merits and virtues and aspire to be reborn in the Land of Bliss. This was the first Dharma assembly in the palace.
When Ananda returned to Vulture Peak from the palace, he repeated, in the presence of the Buddha, the teachings expounded in the palace to the assembly, which included a multitude of heavenly and sacred beings headed by Manjusri.
The core teaching of this Sutra is: To speak of the meditative and non-meditative virtues in order to comprehensively embrace all people of different aptitudes, and convince them to return to Amitabha-recitation in order to achieve rebirth in the Land of Bliss.
《佛說觀無量壽佛經》 -
淨土宗三部正依經典之一。簡稱《觀無量壽經》《觀經》,善導大師所釋本名為《無量壽觀經》。
本經一卷,含王宮與耆闍兩次說法。世尊在王舍城王宮之內,為韋提希及阿難等宣說定心觀想極樂勝境的十三定觀(定善),以及散心修諸善的三福九品(散善),迴向願生極樂世界,為「王宮會」。阿難從王宮返耆闍崛山, 世尊在座,對文殊等一切人天凡聖,復述王宮所說之法門,稱「耆闍會」。
本經的核心是:說定散二善,廣攝眾機,歸入念佛。
Namo Amituofo!
