Common Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
Two Kinds of Deep Faith (continued)
It was the original intent of Master Shandao to address the concept of the two kinds of deep faith and to reveal the correct understanding of true faith in Amitabha’s Great Vow. In the Praise of the Rite of Rebirth, Master Shandao explains the Three States of Mind, and says, “the Deep Mind is true faith”, when he talks about the two kinds of deep faith.
Originally, faith in the Great Vow refers to the abandonment of the mind of self-power , and fully entrusting in the mind of other-power ; so, the former is revealed through deep faith in aptitude and the latter is revealed through deep faith in the teaching. It doesn’t mean that these two kinds of deep faith happen at the same time. It simply shows that those sentient beings who deeply believe that they do not possess the capacity or the conditions to leave the six realms, and must fall into the wretched realms, will attain assured rebirth if they entrust themselves to Amitabha Buddha’s power. Simply speaking, we deeply believe that sentient beings of all kinds are assured of rebirth through total reliance on Amitabha’s power.
(to be continued tomorrow)
128 二種深信(一)
善導大師提出二種深信的本意,是為了詳細揭示出弘願真實信心的內涵。善導大師在《往生禮讚》中對安心、起行、作業加以說明,在說明安心時舉出《觀經》之三心,而說「二者深心,即是真實信心」,由這句話可以得知大師之所以提出二種深信的原由。
本來弘願之信心是指拋棄自力、投託他力,所以才要通過提出機深信顯示自力思想之應當棄捨,通過提出法深信揭示出投託他力所應具備的相狀。如前所述,二種深信的要點在於捨棄自力、歸投他力,所以雖言二種,但卻並不意味著有兩種不同的心同時生起,而只是深信無有出離之緣,而且必墮地獄的我等眾生,一旦乘託佛力則必得往生。簡言之,即深信不論何等眾生,彌陀都必定救度。
Namo Amituofo!
