The Patriarchal Lineage of the Pure Land Teaching - Master Shandao
善導大師
It is not unusual for us to misunderstand when Master Shandao explains “sentient beings in the ten directions” as “all good and evil ordinary beings”. He did this because the scope of sentient beings in the ten directions is too broad, and this may cause us to believe that we are excluded from Amitabha’s deliverance.
This is because we think we are of the low level, and not good enough to be included. So, Master Shandao is straightforward when he includes “ALL good and evil ordinary beings” to explain “sentient beings in the ten directions”. It gives us absolute hope, knowing that “sentient beings in the ten directions” INCLUDES ME.
(to be continued tomorrow)
善導大師用「一切善惡凡夫」來解釋十方眾生,對我們而言是很貼切的,也讓我們容易掌握。因為十方眾生看起來範圍太廣了,我們會誤以為其他的眾生能夠往生,恐怕我沒有份,遺漏了我,因為,我是一個卑賤低下、惡多善少的凡夫,恐怕是沒有份吧?所以善導大師就直截了當的用「一切善惡凡夫」來顯示十方眾生的涵義,給我們很大的、絕對性的希望,曉得十方眾生就是指「我」。
Namo Amituofo!
