Common Knowledge in Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
The Commentary on the Treatise of Rebirth - It is also known as the Commentary on the Treatise, or the Treatise on the Commentary. It is a book written by Master Tanluan of the Northern Wei dynasty, to comment on the Treatise of Rebirth by Vasubandhu Bodhisattva. There are two fascicles in this commentary. The first fascicle explains the Gathas and expounds the Teaching of the Fivefold Invocation. The second fascicle is a narrative that is divided into ten chapters.
In the beginning, Master Tanluan differentiates the Buddhist teachings in terms of “self-power” and “other-power.” In the conclusion, he introduces the source of the teaching. He identifies “the Buddha’s power, in accordance with the Fundamental Vow,” as the main lifeline which links different aspects of the entire Commentary.
The objective of the Commentary is to unfold the augmentative cause / condition of Amitabha’s power, as stated in the Fundamental Vow, and to advise and guide all sentient beings to be reborn in the Pure Land with recourse to the Buddha’s power.
《往生論註》 - 《往生論註》,簡稱《論註》或《註論》,北魏曇鸞大師著,為註解天親菩薩《往生論》之書。全註二卷,上卷解釋偈頌,明其五念;下卷解釋長行,分為十章。
自開章之 「自他二力判」,至結論之「覈求其本釋」,始終以「佛本願力」為主線, 貫穿全註。
《往生論註》的主旨,在揭示彌陀本願力之增上緣,勸導一切眾生乘佛願力,往生淨土。
Namo Amituofo!
