Common Knowledge in Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
(continued)
Rebirth in the Reward Land for Ordinary Beings
In the Chapter on the Profound Meaning in the Commentary on the Contemplation Sutra, it says,”
Question: This Buddha’s Land is said to be a Realm of Reward. The Reward Land is so profound and wonderful that Theravada practitioners will have difficulty reaching it.
If this is so, how can ordinary people, with all of their obstructions and defilements, enter [Buddha’s land]?
Answer: Taking into account their obstructions and defilements, it is really difficult for ordinary beings to enter [the Reward Land]. It is because of the strong causal condition of the power of the Buddha’s vow that all beings in the Five Vehicles can enter [the Reward Land] together.”
This means, with recourse to Amitabha’s vow-power as the determining condition, ordinary beings, including those at the lowest level with the heaviest obstructions, and the bodhisattvas of the highest rank, with all ignorance eliminated, are equally reborn in the Land of Bliss.
(to be continued tomorrow)
凡夫入報
《觀經疏.玄義分》說:
問曰:「彼佛及土,既言報者,報法高妙,小聖難階;垢障凡夫,云何得入?」
答曰:「若論眾生垢障,實難欣趣。正由託佛願以作強緣,致使五乘齊入。」即託佛願力以作強緣,惑障深重之最下凡夫,與豁破無明之上位菩薩,平等往生彌陀報土。
Namo Amituofo!
