Common Knowledge in Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
108 Replete with the Three States of Mind
Master Honen says, “It is said that the Three States of Mind generally refer to single-minded aspiration for rebirth. If the mind of aspiration to be reborn is genuine, the Three States of Mind are naturally included.”
“Sincerely and joyfully entrust and wish to be reborn,” as said in the 18th Vow, are called the “Three States of Mind.” These are - the mind of “sincerity”, the mind of “joyfulness”, and the mind that “wishes to be reborn”. Though there are three states of mind taught by the Buddha, they are really only one. What is it? It is the mind of aspiration. That’s it! Why do I say that?
The sincere mind is the most fundamental of the three minds, and is the basis of the mind of aspiration. If the mind of aspiration is not false or pretentious; but, is genuine and natural, it is regarded as being replete with the Three States of Mind. That is to say, the joyful and sincere minds are included within the mind of aspiration.
108 具足三心
法然上人說:雖言三心,總而言之,唯一願生心,願心不偽,真欲往生,自然三心具足。
第十八願說「至心信樂,欲生我國」,這也叫「三心」:「至心」的心、「信樂」的心、「欲生我國」的心。雖然有「三心」,總而言之只有一個心,什麼心?「願生心」,就這樣而已。為什麼?
「至心」,那是最根本的,貫徹信心跟願生心。願心不偽、願心不虛假,真的嚮往,自自然然,不假造作,就會三心具足。這樣講起來,「至心、信樂、欲生」是只要我們存著一顆願生極樂之心,誓畢此生,永不退轉,這樣的話,至心在裏面了,信樂的功能也在裏面了。
Namo Amituofo!
