Common Knowledge in Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
We live our lives alone and no one else can live them for us
The Infinite Life Sutra says, “In the midst of worldly desires and attachments, one comes and goes alone, is born alone and dies alone. After death, one goes to a painful or pleasant state of existence. Each receives his karmic consequences and no one else can take his place.”
Because of the cravings caused by the Five Desires, people in this world always live in the grasp of their sensual desires. We actually “come alone and go alone, are born alone and die alone”.
This indicates that it is not just living alone and dying alone; but, when we die we are reborn alone and again live alone.
(to be continued tomorrow)
身獨不相代
《無量壽經》言:
人在世間,愛欲之中,獨生獨死,獨去獨來。
當行至趣,苦樂之地,身自當之,無有代者。
人在這個世間,因為貪圖五欲,所以都在「愛欲之中」,但其實都是「獨生獨死,獨去獨來」—— 這並不表示我們死的時候才是獨死、才是獨去,連我們生的時候,也是獨生獨來。
Namo Amituofo!
