Widespread sources of Confusion and Misunderstandings regarding Rebirth by Amitabha-Reciters - By Master Jingzong
淨宗法師談念佛人的糊塗認識
#4 - “The Land of Bliss is a place where only superior virtuous people can be reborn. If you are not a virtuous person, you cannot go there through Amitabha-recitation.” Is this true?
Comment:
This is a misinterpretation of the meaning of the Sutra. “The good man and woman” mentioned in the Amitabha Sutra refers to all people who recite Amitabha’s Name. Master Shandao says, “those people who recite Amitabha’s Name are - good people , wonderful people, supreme people, rare people, and the most splendid people among all mankind” (five kinds of
compliments).
Amitabha Buddha says you can come to the Land of Bliss as long as you recite his Name with faith and aspiration. If we add perfecting “the Five Precepts and the Ten Wholesome Deeds”, we are opposing Amitabha Buddha’s instructions. If only good people can be reborn, the passages on rebirth for those in the three levels in the low tiers will become a joke! This violates the original intent of Shakyamuni Buddha and the primal vow of Amitabha Buddha.
(to be continued tomorrow)
淨宗法師 - 念佛人的糊塗認識
其四: “極樂世界是諸上善人聚會的地方,你不是善人念佛也不能去。” 真的嗎?
答:
這是錯解經義。《阿彌陀經》裏講的“善男子善女人”即是念佛之人。善導大師說:若念佛者,即是人中好人,人中妙好人,人中上上人,人中稀有人,人中最勝人也(五種嘉譽)。
阿彌陀佛說只要你信願持名念佛,就能到極樂世界來。如果我們再增加一個“五戒十善”的條件,就是和阿彌陀佛唱對臺戲。如果必須是善人才可以去,那麼《觀經》下品三生就成了無稽之談。這種認識違背了釋迦牟尼佛的本意和阿彌陀佛的本願。
(再續)
Namo Amituofo!
