Common Knowledge in Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
102 The Abandonment of Contemplation and Establishment of Recitation
In the Contemplation Sutra, the Two Objectives (of Contemplation and Recitation) are taught. Contemplation is Abandoned and Recitation is Established.
That is to say, through the processes of manipulation, establishment and abandonment, the Sutra can be interpreted as having two objectives - the thirteen contemplations/meditative practices having one objective, and Amitabha-recitation having another.
Master Shandao says, “ in the Contemplation Sutra, the Samadhi gained through Contemplating the Buddha is one objective, and rebirth in the Pure Land through exclusive Amitabha Recitation is another. “
This is known as the “Two Objectives (of Contemplation and Recitation).”
However, it is unacceptable to have two objectives in a Sutra. It must be a process of guiding practitioners through skillful means, from pursuing the Samadhi of Buddha Contemplation to rebirth in the Pure Land through exclusive Amitabha Recitation. This reveals the concept of “ the Abandonment of Contemplation and the Establishment of Amitabha Recitation.”
At the end of the Contemplation Sutra, Shakyamuni Buddha abandons the Samadhi of Buddha Contemplation and establishes rebirth through Amitabha Recitation.
102 念觀廢立
《觀經》有所謂「念觀兩宗」與「念觀廢立」的教理。也就是說,從施、開、廢的過程來看,可以就兩宗來解釋──以十三定觀為宗,並以念佛為宗。所以善導大師在《觀經疏‧玄義分》就說:
今此《觀經》,即以觀佛三昧為宗,亦以念佛三昧為宗。
這就是「念觀兩宗」。
但不可能一經有兩宗,這只是引導的過程,是一種施設的善巧方便,目的在於以觀佛三昧導入念佛三昧,所以最後顯明「念觀廢立」。因此《觀經》的最後,是廢觀佛三昧,立念佛三昧。
Namo Amituofo!
