Pure Land Patriarch - Master Daochuo
道綽大師
The matching of “era” with “teaching” means: a practitioner who resolves to end the suffering of birth-and-death in this life and expedite the attainment of perfect enlightenment, must consider these things from the point of view of the present “era” and his own “aptitude and capacity” in selecting the appropriate teaching to cultivate.
When Master Daochuo was born, the Dharma-Ending Era had commenced. The book (“the Collection of Peace and Joy”) advocates a teaching which is suitable for the people in this era to practice, and that matches their own aptitudes and capacities.
This is rebirth in the Land of Peace and joy through the exclusive recitation of Amitabha Buddha’s Name. The book (“the Collection of Peace and Joy”) says in the beginning of the first chapter: “Taking the era and the aptitude of people into consideration, I urge them to return to the Pure Land.” He indicated that it is easy to practice and understand because the teaching is aligned with the aptitudes in that era; but, it is difficult to follow and practice if the teaching is inappropriate for the aptitudes in that era.
So, when we cultivate the Way, we should observe the time we live in and our aptitude first, with reference to the trustworthy words in the Sutra of Mindfulness of the Proper Dharma, and the Sutra of the Great Collection of the Moon Store below.
(to be continued tomorrow)
時教相應說:對一個志在今生速出生死,速得菩提的行者來講,在他選擇修行的「教法」時,必定會站在當今「時代」和自己「根機」的立場上來考量。而道綽大師誕生之時,正是所謂初入「末法時期」。本書(《安樂集》)主張適合「末法」之「根機」的「教法」即是「稱名念佛,往生安樂」。
本書(《安樂集》)於第一大門第一章〈教相章〉即開門見山的說:「約時蒙所以修道必先觀察機宜,並引用《正法念處經》及《大集月藏經》為聖言量以證誠此說。
Namo Amituofo!
