Pure Land Patriarch - Master Daochuo
道綽大師
(continued)
The formulation of the Sacred Path and the Pure Land Path were inherited from Nagarjuna Bodhisattva, who also defined and named the two teachings of the Difficult Path and the Easy Path. Another patriarch of our lineage (Master Tanluan)defined and named the two teachings of Self-Power and Other-Power.
Nagarjuna Bodhisattva analyzed the teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha and divided them into those of the Difficult Practices and the Easy Practices. He explained that the Difficult Path totally relies on self-powered practices. He compared them to walking a long distance, which can be painful, tiring, and runs the risk of injury. The Easy Path totally relies on Amitabha’s deliverance. He compared it to sailing on a ship in smooth waters, and we are quickly and easily delivered to Amitabha’s Pure Land.
(to be continued tomorrow)
此聖道淨土二門說,是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!
