Common Knowledge in Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
Entering the Assurance of Nirvana
The Assurance of Nirvana is Avinivartaniya or the State of Non-retrogression.
The passage on the Fulfillment of the 18th Vow in the Infinite Life Sutra reads: “All sentient beings who, having heard his Name, rejoice in faith, remember him even once and sincerely transfer the merit of their virtuous practices to that land, aspiring to be born there, will attain birth and dwell in the Stage of Non-retrogression.”
Master Tanluan says in his Commentary on the Shastra on Rebirth: “If a person merely hears about the purity, peace and joy of that Land [of Bliss], and aspires to be reborn there, he can attain rebirth and immediately receive the Assurance of Nirvana. It reveals that receiving the Assurance of Nirvana is attained in the present life, and it is not necessary to wait to be reborn in the Land of Bliss after the present life ends.
(to be continued tomorrow)
入正定聚
「正定聚」,就是「阿鞞跋致」「不退轉」。
《無量壽經》第十八願成就文說:諸有眾生,聞其名號,信心歡喜,乃至一念, 至心迴向,願生彼國,即得往生,住不退轉。
曇鸞大師《往生論註》說:若人但聞彼國土清淨安樂,剋念願生,亦得往生,即入正定聚。顯示「入正定聚」是在現生所獲得的,不必等到命終往生極樂世界之後。
Namo Amituofo!
