Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teaching about Classification of Teachings – the Two Paths (of Importance and the Great Vow)
要弘二門判
Contemplating a Buddha is a self-powered and very difficult practice. It is not specified in Amitabha’s Fundamental Vow, it doesn’t abide by the original intent of Shakyamuni Buddha, and not all sentient beings in the ten directions are capable of doing so. However, Amitabha-recitation is the Other-Powered Easy Path, which is specified in Amitabha’s Fundamental Vow. It fulfills the original intent of Shakyamuni Buddha and all sentient beings in the ten directions are capable of doing it.
Master Shandao established the two paths in Pure Land Buddhism, the Path of Importance and the Path of the Great Vow. These were based on the two objectives of the Contemplation Sutra, namely, the Samadhi through Contemplation of the Buddha, and Recitation of the Buddha’s Name.
However, Master Shandao later abandoned the Samadhi through Contemplation of the Buddha ( as set forth in the Path of Importance) and established the Path of the Great Vow.This means he established the Samadhi through Recitation of the Buddha’s Name, which is actually one of its objectives.
It bears the explicit objective (Contemplation of the Buddha) and the implicit objective (Recitation of the Buddha), as well as, the expedient teaching of the Path of Importance and the real teaching of the Path of the Great Vow respectively.
In other words, it is a measure taken by Shakyamuni Buddha to lead those on the Sacred Path onto the Pure Land Path, and lead those on the Pure Land Path from the Path of Importance to the Great Vow - Amitabha-Recitation in accordance with Amitabha’s Fundamental Vow.
「觀佛」是自力難行之道,既非彌陀本願,也非釋尊本懷,更非十方眾生所能;而「念佛」是他力易行之道,是彌陀本願,釋尊本懷,十方眾生所能。
從「要弘二門」的「念觀兩宗」到「要弘廢立」(廢要門立弘願)、「念觀廢立」(廢觀立念)的「念佛一宗」,有「從假入真」(從方便入真實)的隱顯之意,亦即此是釋尊為了引導聖道門的諸種機類進入淨土門,再由淨土門中的要門導歸彌陀本願之弘願念佛的施設。
Namo Amituofo!
