The Patriarchal Lineage of the Pure Land Teaching - Master Shandao
善導大師
The recitation of Amitabha’s Name is incomparable to any other Buddhist teachings or practices, because its power and effects are Infinite. The practice of reciting the Name is absolutely splendid. It is the core principle of the Pure Land teaching of the Shandao lineage.
All other masters see Amitabha as one of the Real Marks. They see Amitabha-recollection as just another form of Contemplation. They also teach the Six Paramitas and a myriad of other practices that they view as superior to Amitabha- recitation. However, Master Shandao, an incarnation of Amitabha, deeply knows that the Name contains an absolute value, that no other
practices can compare with.
Thus, Master Shandao says in the Chapter on Meditative Virtues in his Commentary on the Contemplation Sutra, “Though other practices are called “virtuous ", none of them are comparable to Amitabha-recitation. These are the characteristics within the practice of Amitabha-recitation, as taught by Master Shandao.
名號勝諸行,與任何之行相比,名號都是絕對性的殊勝之行,這是淨土宗善導流的特質。
其他諸師皆以實相念佛、觀想念佛或六度萬行為勝行,以稱名念佛為劣行;然,彌陀示現的善導大師深知名號具有絕對性之價值,非其餘諸行所可比較。
而於《觀經疏》「定善義」言:自餘眾行,雖名是善,若比念佛者,全非比較也。此是善導大師「稱名說」之特色。
Namo Amituofo!
