Common Knowledge in Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
Real Benefits
In the preface of the Great Sutra Shakyamuni explicitly reveals his original intent: As the Tathagata, I regard beings of the three worlds with boundless compassion. The reason for my appearance in the world is to reveal teachings of the Way and save multitudes of beings by endowing them with real benefits.
The objective of the Great Sutra is to expound Amitabha’s Fundamental Vow for delivering sentient beings. The real benefit, broadly speaking, refers to Amitabha’s 48 vows and his earnest calling out to sentient beings, hoping they will wish to be reborn in the West by relying on his power.
(to be continued tomorrow)
真實之利
《大經.序分》開宗明義即顯示釋尊出世之本懷而言:
如來以無盡大悲,矜哀三界,所以出興於世,光闡道教,欲拯濟群萌,惠以真實之利。
《大經》旨在宣說彌陀救度眾生之本願,其真實之利者,廣而言之,即彌陀四十八願,所謂「四十八願殷勤喚,乘佛願力往西方」。
Namo Amituofo!
