Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about the Patriarchal Lineage of the Pure Land School – the 18th Vow
淨宗傳承之第十八願
Among the 48 vows, the words ‘should they not be born there, may I not attain perfect Enlightenment’ are found only in the 18th Vow, not in the 19th or 20th Vows.
So, the 18th Vow is the fundamental vow among the 48 vows. It is only the 18th Vow upon which the unique pristine Pure Land School is founded. It is because, without the 18th Vow, none of the sentient beings of the ten directions can be reborn. If there were no 18th Vow, there would be no Pure Land School.
四十八願當中,「若不生者,不取正覺」這八個字只有第十八願才有,第十九願沒有,第二十願也沒有,所以第十八願是四十八願的根本,也唯有第十八願,是淨土宗專一純粹之所在,也是淨土宗的根本。因為若沒有第十八願,就沒有十方眾生之往生,若沒有第十八願,也不能建立起淨土宗根本的教理。
Namo Amituofo!
