General Confusions 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 be reborn there by Amitabha-recitation.”?!
Comment: (continued)
In the Dharma-Ending Age, those people who can uphold the precepts and only practice good are few. If upholding the Five Precepts and the Ten Wholesome Deeds are added as conditions for rebirth, many people will be excluded from Amitabha Buddha’s deliverance, and it could no longer be considered the Easy Path . Actually, the Five Precepts and the Ten Wholesome Deeds are the teachings for those who wish to be reborn as human and celestial beings.
However, those who are able to ascend to the celestial realm are as rare as the horn of a phoenix; but, those who fall into the Three Wretched Realms are as many as the hairs of a cow. This is because not many people can uphold the precepts and practice only good. However, rebirth in the western Land of Bliss with recourse to the power of Amitabha Buddha’s vow, is easier than becoming human beings in the next life. So, Master Yinguang said, “There are two things that are easiest in this world - one is attaining assured rebirth in the West, and the other
is falling into hell.
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:(續上)
末法時代,持戒行善者少,如果增加五戒十善的條件才可以往生,就有很多人排除在阿彌陀佛的救度之外,就不是最容易的法門。
五戒十善是人天道法,來生做人升天者少如鳳角,墮落三途者多如牛毛,就是因為人多不能持戒行善。而靠阿彌陀佛的願力往生西方極樂世界比來世做人容易,所以印光大師就說:這個世界有兩件事最容易,一個是生西方,一個是墮地獄。
Namo Amituofo!
