The Patriarchal Lineage of the Pure Land Teaching - Master Shandao
善導大師
As long as we recite Amitabha’s Name, we possess the unsurpassed merit and virtues necessary to become a Buddha. We are acclaimed as Pundarikas (Great White Lotus Flowers). Thus, Master Shandao says, “The functional capacity of the Samadhi of Amitabha-Recitation is absolutely transcendental. None of the miscellaneous virtues or other practices can be compared.”
He also concludes, in the Dissemination Chapter of his Commentary on the Contemplation Sutra by saying, “Though the preceding passages spoke of the merits of the meditative and non-meditative virtues, the Buddha’s underlying wish is that sentient beings recite Amitabha’s name single-mindedly.”
In the preceding passages, though Shakyamuni teaches the cultivation and benefits of the meditative and non-meditative virtues in great detail, his intention is to guide all varieties of evil and ordinary beings to exclusively recite Amitabha’s Name. (as stated in Amitabha’s Fundamental Vow) There is no need to include other teachings. Simply and exclusively rely on Amitabha’s deliverance and not on your own power.
只要我們念佛,就擁有成佛的無上功德,而且被讚歎為芬陀利華。因此善導大師才說:「念佛三昧,功能超絕,實非雜善,得為比類。」並且於《觀經》〈流通分〉的最後做出總結論而說:上來雖說定散兩門之益,望佛本願,意在眾生,一向專稱,彌陀佛名。
上來釋尊雖然廣開定散兩門的修行與利益,但是望向彌陀的本願,則釋尊的本意卻是要一切善惡凡夫都一向專稱彌陀佛名,不要夾雜其他法門;專靠彌陀救度,不靠自己功夫。
Namo Amituofo!
