Wonderful Metaphors of the Pure Land School
淨土宗妙喻
The parable of “Two Rivers and a White Path” by Master Shandao (continued)
3.Aspiration for Rebirth in the Western Land of Bliss Gives Birth to a Pure Mind
Greed and hatred naturally contaminate the purity of our minds. In contrast, the white path of Amitabha’s vows is pristine in its essence. To the Buddha, the white path is established through the power of his vows. From the viewpoint of sentient beings, this is known as “the pure mind that aspires to be reborn in the Western Land of Bliss”. It is the power of Amitabha’s vows that arouses sentient beings’ aspirations for rebirth. Since the power of the Buddha’s vows comes from the pure essence of his merits and virtues, minds which aspire to be reborn are considered “pure” as well.
Provided that a person aspires to be reborn in the Pure Land, his mind is considered “the pure aspiring-mind”. This “pure aspiring-mind” is the absolute uncorrupted mind. It is the mind of Amitabha Buddha’s great vows, which abides permanently. The pure aspiring-mind is created by the virtue of the dedication of the Buddha’s power to sentient beings. It is free from contamination by the greed and hatred of ordinary beings. It dwells in the troubled minds of ordinary beings forever.
(to be continued tomorrow)
二河白道喻 (續)
3.願生心即是清淨心。
貪瞋煩惱,染污為性;願力白道,清淨為體。在佛一邊稱為“願力之道”,在眾生一邊稱為“清淨願往生心”,這是因為彼佛願力發起眾生願往生心。彼佛願力以清淨功德為體,故眾生願生心也稱“清淨”。
只要願生淨土,這個心就是清淨的,所以叫“清淨願往生心”。
“清淨願往生心”是絶對的清淨心,是佛的大願心,常住不滅;是佛力回向所產生的願往生心,不被凡夫的貪瞋煩惱所染,永住凡夫的貪瞋煩惱之中。
Namo Amituofo!
