Common Knowledge in Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
114 The Concluding Sutra of Shakyamuni’s Era (continued)
So, all of the various teachings of the Sacred Path, like the round teaching of Huayen and the One-Vehicle teaching of Fahua are considered a prelude to expounding the Pure Land Teachings. Therefore, all of the sutras of the Sacred Path are covered in the Preface Section of the Three Pure Land Sutras.
In addition, the Great Sutra and the Contemplation Sutra are the teachings that include the teaching of deliverance and those sentient beings to be delivered. These teachings were introduced in the Main Section, as they are the core principles of the teaching of the other-powered Pure Land Path.
Following the principles in the Great Sutra and the Contemplation Sutra, the Amitabha Sutra reveals the way to rebirth through Amitabha-recitation, attained by ordinary beings in this defiled world.
In these Sutras, the attestations of the Buddhas in the six directions are revealed. It says, all good men and women who recite the Name of Amitabha Buddha are protected by all Buddhas and dwell in the Stage of Non-retrogression, for realizing the highest perfect Enlightenment. This is why, Shariputra, you should accept my words and the teachings of all Buddhas.
Here, Shakyamuni Buddha advised Shariputra and the rest of his disciples to disseminate the essence of all of his teachings (Amitabha Buddha’s Name) with all sentient beings in their present and future lives. This is why the Amitabha Sutra is considered to be the Dissemination Section.
As said above, the Amitabha Sutra is considered to be the ultimate teaching for Disseminating all of the Sutras. Hence, it is called the Conclusive Sutra among all of the teachings Shakyamuni gave in his life.
故聖道門諸教,不論是《華嚴》圓教,甚至是《法華》一乘教,都是為了宣講淨土門而鋪陳的序幕。故聖道門諸經都是淨土三部經之序分。
另外,《大經》與《觀經》是顯示救度之法與救度之機的經典,因為這兩部經都是在闡述淨土門他力教之要旨,所以才將這兩部經作為正宗分。
而《阿彌陀經》則是承接《大經》與《觀經》的宗旨,開闡五濁惡世濁惡之人念佛往生之道。
經中列舉六方諸佛之證誠,謂若有善男子善女人(只要念佛即稱為善男子善女人)執持阿彌陀佛之名號,則其人皆為諸佛之所護念,必至不退轉之果位,所以釋尊才勸導舍利弗,謂汝等要信受阿彌陀佛之名號。
在這裡,釋尊是將一代佛教之精髓──這句阿彌陀佛名號付囑於舍利弗等諸弟子,希望諸弟子弘布流通於後世。因此《阿彌陀經》即為流通分。
如上所說,以《阿彌陀經》為一切經典的流通分,故稱《阿彌陀經》為一代結經。
Namo Amituofo
