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
“Sentient beings of the ten directions”, as mentioned in the 18th Vow, refers to all sentient beings dwelling in the worlds of the ten directions. It includes human beings, heavenly beings, animals, insects and fishes, etc. So, it says “all kinds of heavenly and human beings, flying and wiggling species”. Other translations of the Sutra say “all kinds of heavenly and human beings, both flying and wiggling species, and all beings of the Six Realms.”
Thoroughly investigating the spirit in which Amitabha made his vows, the 19th Vow is only confined to those who are capable of cultivating various merits and virtues, and genuinely aspire to be reborn; so, the Vow says “those who practice the Bodhisattva Way,” in the two versions of translation in Han and Wu dynasty. The 20th Vow is also confined to those who are capable of cultivating the roots of virtues and genuinely dedicating them for rebirth. They are called “the people in other Buddha-lands.”
(to be continued tomorrow)
第十八願之「十方眾生」,總稱棲息於十方世界無數生類之十方眾生,亦即總括人類、天眾、禽獸、蟲魚等。故漢吳兩譯言「諸天人民蜎飛蠕動之類」,可知六道眾生皆包含在內,不但人天,亦攝惡趣。
蓋究其立願精神,十九願僅限於堪能修諸功德而至心發願欲生之人,故漢吳兩譯言「有作菩薩道者」;二十願亦限於堪能植諸德本而至心迴向欲生之人,故漢吳兩譯言「他方佛國人民」。
Namo Amituofo!
