Voice of Master Jingzong - Q and A about the Purpose of Life
淨宗之聲 - 人生目的問答
(Continuation 3/3 to answer the question: What is the meaning of the Land of Bliss, if
there is no desire and no goal in pursuit?)
It is a kind of Dharma joy and happiness, perfect and complete, persisting forever and transcending all kinds of relativity. However we describe it in words, we still cannot grasp how it truly is.
We are just like a poor man, who cannot understand how rich the richest man in the world is, or like a starving person who cannot tell when he feels full while eating. He knows the state of “not hungry” and aims for it.
I think a poor man need not worry about how rich a rich man is. As ordinary beings in the Land of Saha, we need not worry about the bodhisattvas in the Pure Land, and say, “Why should I want to go there?” It’s better to go there first and ask about it later.
Upon arrival in the Pure Land, your mind, wisdom and enlightenment will be totally different. Thus, your definition of sorrow, joy, and the other feelings will also be different.
它是一種圓滿的、永恆持續的、超越分別對待、自心具足的法喜法樂。即使把這些詞說出來,我們仍然不知道那究竟是什麼樣的境界。所以,還是從“諸苦的止息”,從反面來理解就好了。
就好像一個窮人,跟他講世界首富怎麼有錢,他不知道的。像一個生下來就挨餓的人,從來沒吃飽過,他只知道“我不餓了”這種狀態,盼望這個。
所以我想,就像窮人不必擔心富人“你那麼多錢有啥意思啊?”我們在娑婆世界,不必擔心佛菩薩在淨土,說“那也沒啥意思啊,去幹什麼?”還是去了再說。
到了淨土,你的心量、智慧、覺悟就完全不一樣了。當然,關於苦樂的定義和感受,也完全不一樣。
南無阿彌陀佛。
Namo Amituofo!
