Common Knowledge in Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
117 Buddha
Buddha is a Sanskrit word that is translated into Chinese in many ways. In the past, it was translated as “enlightened”. Now, it is generally translated as “the enlightened being”.
“Enlightenment” means “enlightenment through Truths”, or “enlightenment of the Way”. In the scriptures, there are two meanings of “enlightenment” - self-enlightenment and the enlightenment of others; or, three meanings by adding “perfect and complete enlightenment and cultivation”.
Master Huiyuan of Jingying Temple explained that “self-enlightenment” refers to one who differs from ordinary beings, and “ sharing enlightenment with others” refers to the one who differs from practitioners of the Two Vehicles. “Perfect and complete enlightenment and cultivation” refers to one who differs from bodhisattvas. This one is called a “Buddha”.
(to be continued tomorrow)
117 佛
佛是對梵語佛陀的略稱,又稱作佛馱、浮陀、浮圖、浮屠等。在舊譯中佛陀被譯為「覺」,在新譯中則譯為「覺者」。
「覺」在字典有悟道之義,指覺悟真理。《大般涅槃經》《大智度論》等以自覺、覺他二義解釋覺,而《觀無量壽經義疏》《大乘義章》則是以自覺、覺他、覺行窮滿三義來解釋。
《大般涅槃經》卷十八言「佛者名覺,既自覺悟復能覺他」,龍樹菩薩《大智度論》卷二十四言「一切世間煩惱睡,能自覺亦能覺人故,名為覺人。」
淨影慧遠《觀無量壽經義疏》卷上言「言佛者,此翻名覺......既能自覺,復能覺他,覺行窮滿,稱之為佛。言自覺者,簡異凡夫;言覺他者,別異二乘;覺行窮滿,彰異菩薩。是故獨此名之為佛。」慧遠在《大乘義章》卷二十也採用了與此相同的解釋。以三義解釋「覺」便是始自淨影慧遠。
Namo Amituofo!
