Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teaching about Classification of Teachings – the Two Paths (of Importance and the Great Vow)
要弘二門判
The Path of Importance includes the thirteen meditative contemplations - to calm one’s anxieties by reducing the activity of the mind, and the Three Meritorious Deeds in the Nine Levels, in order to eliminate evil and nurture goodness, as said in the Contemplation Sutra. The practitioner has to dedicate these two kinds of merits and virtues, and aspire to be reborn in the Land of Bliss.
Master Shandao made a sharp turn regarding the Pure Land Teachings , when he clarified the meaning of Amitabha’s Great Vow by teaching “All good and evil ordinary beings will be unable to attain rebirth [in the Pure Land] without relying upon the karmic power of Amitabha’s Great Vow.”
This means that, no matter whether referring to meditative or non-meditative virtues, a person’s rebirth does not rely upon his own skills. It totally relies upon Amitabha’s great vows, great practices, and great power.
It doesn’t matter whether one is a good ordinary being with merit and virtues, or an evil ordinary being without merit and virtues; he can only be reborn with recourse to the karmic power of Amitabha's Great Vow. If it weren’t for the karmic power of Amitabha’s Great Vow, neither evil people nor good people could be reborn.
(to be continued tomorrow)
所謂「要門」,就是《觀經》中「息慮凝心」的十三種定觀,以及「廢惡修善」的三福九品,將所修的這兩種功德,迴向往生極樂世界。
可是善導大師筆鋒一轉,什麼是「弘願」呢?——「一切善惡凡夫得生者,莫不皆乘阿彌陀佛大願業力為增上緣也。」
意思是說,不管定善也好,散善也好,他的往生既不是靠定善的功夫,也不是靠散善的功德,而是靠阿彌陀佛的大願、大業、大力。不管善凡夫有功德也好,惡凡夫無功德也好,只要有彌陀的大願業力,就能夠往生;如果沒有彌陀的大願業力,惡凡夫不能往生,善凡夫也不能往生。
Namo Amituodo!
