Short Dharma Teaching about Faith in Pure Land Buddhism
淨土信仰
(continued)
If this is the case it shows that, on the one hand, such a person doesn’t understand Amitabha’s awesome majestic power or the merit and virtues he uses to deliver us.
He doesn’t understand that Amitabha made vows and practiced for us, the grace that Amitabha shares with us, or what we would be without Amitabha’s deliverance. On the other hand it also shows that, no matter what, we are basically sentient beings with severe afflictions and heavy obstructions; so, many of us cannot be delighted even when we should be.
Nevertheless, even under these circumstances, because of Amitabha’s deliverance, afflicted ordinary beings like us can arouse the pure mind of aspiration despite our afflicted minds. (as said by Master Shandao) No matter how afflicted we are, our minds can be at peace, level and harmonious. To encourage this our daily lives should be ordinary, simple, and regular.
如果是這樣的話,表示一方面他沒有體會到阿彌陀佛救度我們的大威神力、救度我們的功德、為我們怎麼樣的發願、怎麼樣修行、對我們有怎麼樣的大恩大德、我們跟阿彌陀佛有什麼樣的關係,而且我們如果沒有彌陀救度的話,我們又會是怎麼樣;另一方面也顯示我們本來就是煩惱強盛、業障深重的眾生,應該歡喜卻歡喜不起來。
不過即使是這樣,我們煩惱的眾生面對彌陀的救度,如果能夠像善導大師所講「在煩惱的心中,生起清淨的願生之心」的話,即使再怎樣的煩惱苦惱,但是內心卻是安詳、平靜、平和、祥和的,同時過著一種平凡、平常、平淡、平實的生活。
Namo Amituofo!
