Common Knowledge in Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
Sentient beings are always drowned
“Sentient beings are always drowned” refers to those sentient beings who fall into the Three Wretched Realms. “Drowned” means “sinking down”. The great sea means reincarnation within the Six Realms. When your head floats above the water, you are regarded as being born in the human or heavenly realms. When it sinks below, you are destined to fall into a hell, hungry ghost, or animal realm.
Master Shandao says in the Commentary on the Contemplation Sutra, “Determinant deep faith means: We are iniquitous ordinary beings subject to endless rebirth. Since time immemorial, we have died and been reincarnated, without any causal conditions to leave the cycle of rebirth.” He also says, “The great compassionate Buddhas are inclined to have more sympathy for those who suffer, particularly those who are repeatedly drowned.”
So, if there is no Amitabha’s 18th Vow, if Dharmakara Bodhisattva failed to attain perfect Enlightenment to become Amitabha Buddha, if we don’t believe in and accept Amitabha’s deliverance, and do not exclusively recite Amitabha’s name, we are bound to fall into a hell, hungry ghost, or animal realm again.
常沒眾生
「常沒眾生」指墮落三惡道的眾生。「沒」,是沉下去。以在大海中譬喻六道輪迴,浮出水面,就代表生於人界或天上;沒入水中,就代表墮落地獄、餓鬼、畜生。
善導大師《觀經疏》言:「決定深信:自身現是罪惡生死凡夫,曠劫以來常沒常流轉 無有出離之緣。」又言:「諸佛大悲於苦者,心偏愍念常沒眾生。」
所以,如果沒有阿彌陀佛的第十八願,如果法藏比丘不完成正覺而成為阿彌陀佛,或者我們今生今世不信受彌陀救度、不專念彌陀佛名、不願生彌陀淨土,則勢必再度墮落地獄、餓鬼、畜生。
Namo Amituofo!
