Common Knowledge in Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
(continued)
Our Rewards Resulting from the Efforts of Others
Master Tanluan says in his Commentary on the Treatise of Rebirth, “Whoever is to be reborn in that Pure Land, whatever practices are performed by bodhisattvas, heavenly, and human beings arise from the power of the Fundamental Vow of Amitabha Buddha.”
This explains that, not only sentient beings who want to be reborn in the present rely on the power of the Fundamental Vow of Amitabha Buddha; but, also those already born in the Land of Bliss. All who want to become Buddhas and comprehensively deliver sentient beings in future also rely on the power of the Fundamental Vow of Amitabha Buddha. That means, both “going to the Pure Land” and “returning from the Pure Land” are accomplished through the power of the Fundamental Vow of Amitabha Buddha.
The cultivation of Amitabha Buddha and the merit and virtues attained upon completion of his vows and practices, are given to sentient beings. This is known as “our reward resulting from the efforts of another.”
他作自受
曇鸞大師在《往生論註》卷下說:
「凡是生彼淨土,及彼菩薩人天所起諸行,皆緣阿彌陀如來本願力故。」顯示不僅現在要往生的眾生,是靠彌陀的本願力;即使往生到了極樂世界, 將來成佛,廣度眾生,也是由於阿彌陀佛的本願力所成就的,也就是「往還皆由本願力」。
阿彌陀佛修行,願行圓滿所得的果,由眾生來接受,這個叫作「他作自受」。
Namo Amituofo!
