Common Knowledge in Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
Nine Grades or Nine Levels
According to the Contemplation Sutra, sentient beings are generally divided into nine different grades or levels. Among the nine grades are: the highest grade in the high tier, the medium grade in the high tier, and the lowest grade in the high tier are for Bodhisattva practitioners of the Mahayana teachings; the highest grade in the middle tier, the medium grade in the middle tier, and the lowest grade in the middle tier are for practitioners who have taken the precepts of the Theravada teaching. The people in these two groups are regarded as virtuous.
The highest grade in the low tier is a wicked person who committed the Ten Evil Deeds. The medium grade in the low tier is a wicked person who has broken the precepts. The lowest grade in the low tier is a wicked person who has committed the Five Gravest Transgressions. All of these three kinds of people have only evil karma.
Master Shandao says, “The Buddha says all sentient beings have different virtuous roots, aptitudes, and capacities - high, medium, and low. He advises all of them to exclusively recite Amitabha’s Name.” So, all sentient beings of the nine grades or levels are the targets of Amitabha Buddha’s deliverance.
九品
依《觀無量壽經》,眾生大分為九種品類。九品之中,上品上生、上品中生、上品下生為大乘行善,中品上生、中品中生為小乘戒善,中品下生為世間善,此六品機為善人。
下品上生為十惡罪人,下品中生為破戒罪人,下品下生為五逆罪人,此三品機,皆唯惡無善。
善導大師言:「佛說一切眾生,根性不同,有上中下。隨其根性,佛皆勸專念無量壽佛名。」故九品眾生,皆是阿彌陀佛救度的對象。
Namo Amituofo!
