Common Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
Two Kinds of Deep Faith (continued)
The concept of the two kinds of faith are of the same taste; so, they are commonly applicable to both ordinary and sagely beings. Whether an ordinary being or a sagely being, if they wish to be reborn in Amitabha’s reward land, they must have the two kinds of deep faith. It is because Amitabha’s reward land was accomplished through the power of his vows; therefore, those who rely upon the mind of self-power cannot reach it. One can only be reborn by entrusting in Amitabha’s Fundamental Vow.
Sagely beings who have practiced for eons must dedicate the merit and virtues they accumulated and entrust themselves to Amitabha’s power, if they wish to be reborn in Amitabha’s reward land. It is similar to going to Beijing from Taipei. One must give up the idea of walking and change to going by ship or plane.
Master Shandao proposed the two kinds of deep faith for the sake of ordinary beings in his era in order to make it clear. Sagely beings were not mentioned in the context of deep faith in aptitude.
128 二種深信(一)
二種信心之相是一味的,所以二種深信通於凡夫與聖人。不論是凡夫還是聖人,如果想要往生阿彌陀佛之報土,都必須具足二種深信。因為彌陀願力所成就之報土,自力心行不能到,大小聖人都一樣,唯託彌陀本願力。
阿彌陀佛之報土,如憑自力之心行絕對不可能往生的,所以不論是經過多久時間積累修行的聖者,如果想要往生阿彌陀佛願力成就之報土,都必須拋棄自力,乘託阿彌陀佛之他力。這就好像有人從台北出發,想要前往北京,那麼不論此人腳力如何超出常人,他都必須放棄步行,改為乘船、搭機(捨自歸他)。
但善導大師主要是在教導與其同時代的的凡夫,所以只要說「自身現是罪惡生死凡夫」,無有出離之緣的理由也就清楚明瞭了,而聖者畢竟並非不停造作罪惡之機,故知,此句之敘說對象是凡夫,與聖者並無關係。
Namo Amituofo!
