Common Knowledge in Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
Merit-Dedication of Other-Power (continued)
The Infinite Life Sutra says, “If I should not become a great benefactor, in lives to come for immeasurable kalpas, and be able to save the poor and afflicted everywhere, may I not attain perfect Enlightenment.” It also says, “I will open the Dharma-Store for the multitudes, and endow them all with treasures of merit.”
Pure Land teaching is the Dharma Store accomplished by Amitabha Buddha for us. This Dharma store is the great six-syllable name. Amitabha Buddha is the great benefactor who gives his merit and virtues to us, so that we can leave the suffering of reincarnation within the Six Realms, and leave the spiritual poverty that prevents us from achieving Buddhahood. It shows that the cause and effect of our rebirth in Amitabha’s Pure Land is entirely Amitabha’s merit-dedication of Other-Power to us.
他力迴向
《無量壽經》說:「我於無量劫,不為大施主,普濟諸貧苦,誓不成等覺」。又說:「為眾開法藏,廣施功德寶」。
淨土法門,是阿彌陀佛為我們所完成的「法藏」,這個法藏就是六字名號。阿彌陀佛以「大施主」的身分將功德布施給我們,使我們離開六道輪迴之「苦」,離開不能成佛之「貧」。顯示往生彌陀淨土之因果,完全都是阿彌陀佛他力迴向給我們的。
Namo Amituofo!
