Common Knowledge in Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
113 Teachings in An Era Prior to the Preface
There is an often discussed subject among followers of the Pure Land School. In his era, did Shakyamuni Buddha offer the self-powered cultivation of the Sacred Path, to prepare his followers to receive the Pure Land teaching given in the Preface of the Contemplation Sutra? In other words, should all of the teachings of the Sacred Path be viewed as preliminary means to set the stage for expounding the Pure Land teachings?
“An era” refers to “the time in which Shakyamuni Buddha gave “the sacred teachings of the Huayin, Agama, Prajna, Fahua, and Nirvana sutras. “Prior to the Preface” is the title given by Master Shandao, to explain the Meaning of the Preface , in his Commentary on the Contemplation Sutra. It explains the following text in the beginning of the Sutra:
“Thus have I heard. At one time the Buddha was staying on the Vulture Peak in Rajagriha, with a large Dharma assembly of twelve hundred and fifty monks. He was also accompanied by thirty-two thousand bodhisattvas, led by Manjushri the Dharma Prince. At that time, in the great city of Rajagriha, there was a prince named Ajatashatru.”
“Thus have I heard” is used in the preface to certify faith.
“At one time the Buddha was staying on the Vulture Peak in Rajagriha...” is the “preface to speaking the Sutra”.
However, Master Shandao further added the “preface prior to the teaching” which began with “At one time the Buddha was staying on the Vulture Peak in Rajagriha,” and continued with “... led by Manjushri, the Dharma Prince.”
The rest of that section was “the main preface to beginning the teaching of the Sutra”.
(to be continued tomorrow)
113 一代化前
淨土宗學一論題。以釋迦牟尼佛一代之間所說的聖道門自力修行的法門作為宣講淨土門《觀無量壽經》之教化的序幕所訂的題目。換言之,聖道門的諸教
都是作為宣講淨土教的階梯方便。
因此,所謂「一代」就是「一代教」的略語,即是釋尊一代之間所說的聖道諸教。以經典而言,即是指《華嚴》《阿含》《般若》《法華》《涅槃》等之諸經為一代。
所謂「化前」,是出自善導大師《觀經疏‧序分義》的名目。《序分義》解釋《觀經》最初之「如是我聞,一時佛在王舍城耆闍崛山中,與大比丘眾千二百五十人俱,菩薩三萬二千,文殊師利法王子而為上首。爾時,王舍大城,有一太子,名阿闍世。」等之經文。
「如是我聞」之一句,是「證信序」。
「一時,佛在王舍城耆闍崛山中」以下之文為「發起序」。
更區分「發起序」,從「一時,佛在王舍城耆闍崛山中」到「而為上首」的經文為「化前序」。
「爾時王舍大城」以下為「正發起序」。
Namo Amituofo!
