Dec 13, 2021
淨土小常識
Five Primary Practices
According to the Commentary on the Contemplation Sutra by Master Shandao, there are five kinds of Primary Practices:
1. Primary Practice of scripture recitation - reading and recitation of the Three Pure Land Sutras. Listening to others reading and explaining the Three Pure Land Sutras and the commentaries of the patriarchs of the Pure Land School.
2. Primary Practice of reflection - Reflecting on the direct and circumstantial rewards of the Land of Bliss. The direct rewards refer to the Buddha and bodhisattvas, and the circumstantial rewards refer to the landscape of the Land of Bliss. There are two meanings of reflection - one is capturing the image of the matter and the other is observing the details. Reflecting is a meditative practice like the 13 contemplations with a concentrated mind, and also includes the non-meditative practices, such as perceiving, imagining, admiring, and recollecting the adornments of the Land of Bliss with a distracted mind. Both are regarded as the Primary Practice of reflection.
(to be continued tomorrow)
五種正行
依善導大師《觀經四帖疏》,正行有以下五種:
1、讀誦正行:讀誦淨土三經。若聽聞他人讀誦、講解淨土三經及淨土宗祖師相承論釋,皆可攝於讀誦正行。
2、觀察正行:觀察極樂世界正報與依報莊嚴。正報指佛菩薩,依報指極樂國土。心緣其事為「觀」,觀心分明為「察」。觀察通於定、散。如定心修持十三定觀,及散心思維、想像、欣慕、憶念極樂莊嚴,皆為觀察正行。凡夫根劣,多為散心觀。
Namo Amituofo!
