A Verse offering Compassionate Advice and Cautions - quoted from ‘In Praise of Pratyutpanna’ by Master Shandao
善導大師《般舟讚》慈悲勸誡
Because of the differences in aptitudes and capacities among sentient beings, there are as many as 84,000 teachings in Buddhism.
If a person wishes to find a dwelling place for eternal settlement, he should find the path that leads him to the True Teaching.
Though all teachings are different, these are called Gradual Teachings. It takes ten thousand eons to realize them through cultivation and hardship.
However, if a person exclusively recites Amitabha’s Name, he will be instantly welcomed and transported by the Buddha just before his last breath.
Just as it takes a certain amount of time to finish a meal, it takes a thousand eons to eliminate greed and hatred.
The path towards the human and heavenly realms are blocked by greed and hatred, and people are dragged into the Three Wretched Realms and the Four Paths.
佛教多門八萬四,正為眾生機不同;
欲覓安身常住處,先求要行入真門。
門門不同名漸教,萬劫苦行證無生;
畢命為期專念佛,須臾命斷佛迎將。
一食之時尚有間,如何萬劫不貪瞋,
貪瞋障受人天路,三惡四趣內安身。
Namo Amituofo!
