Common Knowledge in Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
(continued)
The Three Meritorious Deeds
3. Blessing of Cultivation
“Awakening aspiration for Enlightenment, believing deeply in the law of causality, reading the Mahayana sutras and encouraging people to follow these teachings.”
There are two kinds of aspiration for Enlightenment, one is the Sacred Path and the other is the Pure Land Path. In the former, the practitioner has to aspire and practice in his own land, while in the latter, the practitioner can aspire in his own land and practice in the Land of Bliss. In order to believe deeply in the law of causality, the practitioner has to believe in all causalities in the Six Ordinary Realms and the Four Sacred Realms. To read all of the Mahayana Sutras, one must read all scriptures of the Sacred Path, as well as the Pure Land Path. When encouraging people to follow one’s teachings, a practitioner should set an example by doing the practice and teach others to do the same. This will inspire them to aspire for perfect Enlightenment.
The difference between the Three Meritorious Deeds and the Nine Levels of Rebirth is simply folding and unfolding. To practice each of the virtues of the Three Meritorious Deeds, and dedicate that merit and virtues to rebirth is regarded as a Miscellaneous Practice.
三福
3. 行福
「發菩提心,深信因果,讀誦大乘,勸進行者」,菩提心有聖道、淨土不同。聖道菩提心,願行皆在此土。淨土菩提心,此土發願,淨土修行。深信因果,即總信一切六凡四聖因果。讀誦大乘,也通含聖道、淨土一切大乘經典。勸進行者,為自行教他,共向佛道。
三福與九品是開合之異,三福諸善,一一迴向求生極樂,總為雜行。
Namo Amituofo!
