Common Knowledge in Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
The Six-Character Name is Like a Mani Pearl (continued)
(to be continued tomorrow 3/5)
Master Tanluan says in the Commentary on the Treatise of Rebirth: There is a functional capacity within each Mani Pearl. No matter how dirty, turbid, poisonous or impure the water is, it will immediately become clear once a Mani Pearl is placed in it. Though the water is contaminated, poisoned and harmful, it will become clean when a Mani Pearl is placed in it. This is because of the power of the Mani Pearl.
For all those in the lowest level of the low tier, who commit the Five Gravest Transgressions and slander the Right Dharma, the turbidity of their offenses will be extinguished with every recitation of Amitabha’s Pure Name, and they will achieve the ultimate state of non-birth. The mind of an iniquitous sentient being is like dirty sewer water and the Six-Character Name is like a Mani Pearl. When a Mani Pearl is placed in sewer water, it will naturally become pure and clean.
六字名號如摩尼寶珠
曇鸞大師在《往生論註》說：
淨摩尼珠有一種功能，無論水再怎樣染污、渾濁，再怎樣有毒、不清淨，把淨摩尼珠往裡一放，水立即清淨。水本身是濁染的、有毒的、有害的，裡面充滿了種種毒害物質，但是只要把淨摩尼珠一放進去，水即清淨， 所以完全是淨摩尼珠的力量。
所有造作五逆謗法的罪惡眾生下下品人，聽聞阿彌陀佛至極無生清淨的名號，念念之中罪濁就被滅。眾生罪惡的心如渾濁的污水，六字名號如淨摩尼珠，摩尼寶珠投入濁水，濁水就自然清淨了。
Namo Amituofo!
