Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teaching about Classification of Teachings – the Sacred Path and the Pure Land Path
淨宗判教 – 聖淨二門判
The two paths (Sacred and Pure Land) classified by Master Daochuo, are based on the classification of the Difficult Path and the Easy Path by Nagarjuna Bodhisattva, and the classification of Self-Power and Other-Power by Master Tanluan.
Taking all of Shakyamuni’s teachings into consideration, Nagarjuna Bodhisattva analyzed and organized the teachings into these two, the Difficult Path and the Easy Path. He explained the Difficult Path as cultivation entirely relying on self-power. He then drew the analogy of walking, which can be painful, may take a long time to reach your destination, and falling (with the risk of giving up)”, and compared the characteristics of the various practices to these. However, the Easy Path, which entirely relies on Amitabha’s deliverance, is like sailing on a ship. It is pleasant, speedy, and you are assured of reaching your destination, through the “single practice of Amitabha-recitation”.
(to be continued tomorrow)
聖道淨土二門說,是道綽大師遠承龍樹菩薩之難行易行二道判,及近繼曇鸞大師之自力他力二力論而來。
龍樹菩薩將釋尊所說一切教法,分析歸納成為難行與易行二道,並說明難行道是全靠自力修行,猶如步行,是苦,其內容是「諸、久、墮」;而易行道是全靠彌陀救度,猶如乘船,是樂,其內容是「一、速、必」。
Namo Amituofo!
