The Patriarchal Lineage of the Pure Land Teaching - Master Shandao
善導大師
Master Shandao says, “The functional capacity of the Samadhi of Amitabha-Recitation is transcendental and absolute. None of the other miscellaneous practices can compare with it.” Miscellaneous here refers to both the meditative and non-meditative categories. It includes as many as ten thousand practices. It doesn’t mean confused or have a negative connotation.
In Buddhism, we can delineate all of the practices into the meditative and non-meditative categories. That is to say, all merit and virtues can be included within the meditative and non-meditative practices.
The exclusive recitation of Amitabha’s Name is single-minded. Shakyamuni Buddha’s other teachings include both meditative and non-meditative practices, of which there are many different types and levels.
善導大師說:「念佛三昧,功能超絕,實非雜善,得為比類。」這裏講的「雜善」,就是指定善及散善。
佛教的修行,歸納起來離不開定善及散善,亦即:定善和散善涵蓋了佛教所有修行(也就是六度萬行)的功德。所以,「雜」是指「諸行」「萬行」,不是雜亂或鄙視的意思。
因為念佛只是「專一、專念」彌陀佛名,其他的法門,不管定也好、散也好,就不只是專一地念一佛之名,而是千差萬別,且各有高低。
Namo Amituofo!
