Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teaching about Classification of Teachings – the Two Practices (Primary and Miscellaneous)
正雜二行判
We are a Dharma Site focused on the teachings of Master Shandao, who synthesized the Pure Land teachings and emphasized the exclusive recitation of Amitabha’s Name. (Exclusive, not mixed, pristine and uncontaminated) There is only one main cause of rebirth, not two, which is the exclusive recitation of Namo Amituofo. Why?
In order to enter Amitabha’s reward land, we rely on Amitabha’s merit and virtues, not our own merits or practices. So, as householders we just do what we usually do, and monastics perform their own duties.
Having said that, no matter how excellent or proficient we are in our practices, we should not dedicate these for rebirth. If we do, they will be regarded as miscellaneous practices based on “self-power”.
By not entirely relying on Amitabha Buddha’s power and mixing it with a certain amount of self-power, the practitioner may think: Amitabha’s six-syllable name is not as great as they say and does not contain enough virtues to deliver me. I have to add some of my own merit and virtues, or reach a certain level in my practice, in order to supplement Amitabha’s deliverance. As a result, it will be more powerful than Amitabha’s deliverance alone, and my rebirth is more assured.” If we have these kinds of thoughts, we are pursuing a miscellaneous practice mixed with self -cultivation. This is absolutely rejected.
我們是淨土宗專修的道場,是專而不雜,是純而無染的;往生的正因,只有一個,沒有兩個,就是專念南無阿彌陀佛。為什麼?
我們是靠南無阿彌陀佛的功德,進入阿彌陀佛的報土,不是靠我們自己的功行,我們只是行所當行;出家眾有出家眾的本份,在家眾有在家眾的本份,各安本份。
但是你再怎麼樣做得完美,覺得功行高深,都不以這一些來迴向往生,如果這樣的話,那就是雜行,就是靠自力。
多少靠一些自力,不完全仰靠阿彌陀佛的力量,就會認為:「阿彌陀佛的六字名號,不是萬德洪名,祂要救度我,可是還要加上我某一種功德,或者是某一種功夫,來輔助阿彌陀佛的救度,來迴向給阿彌陀佛,這樣阿彌陀佛要救度我,才比較有力量,我的往生也比較可靠。」如果抱著這種觀念,就是雜修雜行,這種觀念絕對不可以。
Namo Amituofo!
