Common Knowledge in Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
The Five Doors of Amitabha-Invocation – describe the commencement of practice for rebirth in the Land of Bliss, originally proposed by Vasubandhu Bodhisattva in his Shastra on Rebirth. The Five Doors of Amitabha-Invocation are: Reverent Prostration - bodily karma, Praise and Aspiration - vocal karma, Perceiving and Dedication - mental karma.
The word Door implies entering. Each of these five practices can lead us to enter the Pure Land with an ease of mind. That is why they are called the Five Doors of Amitabha-Invocation. As the Shastra on Rebirth says, “If a good man or good woman practices the Five Doors of Amitabha-invocation, he or she can eventually attain rebirth in the Land of Peace and Joy, and see Amitabha Buddha.”
Regarding the Five Doors of Amitabha-invocation, Master Shandao calls them the Five Primary Practices. They are interrelated and complement one another.
五念門
五念門為往生之起行,源於天親菩薩的《往生論》。五念門即身業禮拜門、 口業讚歎門、作願門、意業觀察門、迴向門之五種行。「念」有安心之義。
「門」即能入之義。此五種行,一一具安心故,能入往生淨土之門,故說五念門。如《往生論》說:「若善男子、善女人,修五念門行成就,畢竟得生安樂國土,見彼阿彌陀佛。」
善導大師《往生禮讚》對五念門有解說。五念門與五種正行,並非完全不同,而是互有開合,半開半合。
Namo Amituofo!
