Basic Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
The Five Virtues of a Lotus ( continued)
1. The virtue of ‘being uncontaminated despite living in a muddy pond”
Faith in Amitabha’s deliverance blooms even within the hearts of wicked people. As said in the Vimalakirti Sutra, “Lotus flowers do not grow in the highland, but in the humbly wet and muddy soil. The highland represents the spiritual cultivation of kind, benevolent and vigorous people , while the wet and muddy soil represents iniquitous people who suffer with no motivation to cultivate.
Master Shandao says in the parable of “The Two Rivers and the White Path” in the Commentary on the Contemplation Sutra, “ despite their afflictions due to greed and hatred, ordinary beings can produce a pure mind of aspiration for rebirth”. Those who deeply see themselves as iniquitous will believe in and accept Amitabha’s deliverance, and receive the lotus flower of genuine faith. If a person thinks he is benevolent and kind, and is vigorous in cultivation, he will not wholeheartedly accept and receive Amitabha’s deliverance with his entire being.
In Buddhism, the definition of evil people is different from those in the mundane world. In the mundane world, evil people refer to those who break the law, or do something that violates morality, such as cheating, stealing, killing people, setting fires, or hurting their parents. However, in the context of Buddhist teaching, it refers to the realization that our own nature is steeped in greed, hatred and delusion. This coincides with what Master Shandao says - “we are iniquitous sentient beings subject to birth and death without any of the causal conditions that are necessary to enable us to leave.” So, we shouldn’t misunderstand and believe that the only “evil” people are criminals. All of us do some level of evil deeds and must bear the unfortunate consequences for those offenses.
“Not contaminated” means “not contaminated by the karmic obstructions of afflictions.” Though our afflictions still exist they cannot obstruct Amitabha’s deliverance. Thus, iniquitous sentient beings are assured of leaving the cycle of birth-and-death through assured rebirth and the realization of Nirvana in the Land of Bliss. It is similar to a lotus flower that blooms in the mud without being contaminated by it.
Those afflicted ordinary beings who believe in Amitabha Buddha and recite his Name can attain the reward of Nirvana despite the fact that they have not severed their afflictions of greed, hatred and delusion. It is the same as what Master Tanluan says - “they are qualified to attain Nirvana without severing their afflictions.”Master Shandao also says, “None of their deviant karma can bind, because Amitabha Buddha’s power cannot be negated.” Amitabha also says, “ If you come here single-mindedly with right mindfulness, I will protect you. You need not fear the jeopardy of falling into the rivers of greed and hatred.”
(to be continued tomorrow)
130 蓮花五德 (續)
一、污泥不染之德：
彌陀救度的信心，開在惡人的心中。
《維摩詰經》說:「高原陸地不生蓮花，卑濕污泥乃生蓮花。」
蓮花生長在卑濕污泥之中，而不是高原陸地。高原陸地譬喻善人、賢人、精進修行之人；卑濕污泥譬喻愚惡罪苦難以精進之人。
善導大師《觀經疏》〈二河白道喻〉說：「眾生貪瞋煩惱中，能生清淨願往生心。」深感愚惡罪苦之人的心中，才會信受彌陀的救度，而開出真實信心的蓮花。若自覺是個賢善精進之人，則不會全身心徹底領受彌陀救度。
佛教所說的惡人與世間所說的惡人不同，世間所說的惡人是指犯法，或違背倫理道德，如作奸犯科、偷盜詐欺、殺人放火，或忤逆父母等；而佛教所說的惡人，是指機深信的人，亦即是體悟到自己的本質是貪瞋癡，是善導大師所說的「自身是罪惡生死凡夫，無有出離之緣」的人。若誤解為要成為世間作奸犯科的惡人，而無惡不作，就會因自作自受，遭到惡因惡果的不幸。
「不染」是指不受煩惱業障所染，煩惱雖然仍在，但不礙彌陀救度，必出輪迴，必生極樂，必證涅槃而成佛，如同蓮花開於污泥之中而不受污泥所染。
信佛念佛的煩惱凡夫，在不斷煩惱（貪欲、瞋恚、愚癡）的當下，獲得涅槃的果實，即是曇鸞大師所說的「不斷煩惱得涅槃分」，善導大師所說的「諸邪業繫無能礙者」「汝一心正念直來，我能護汝，眾不畏墮於水火之難。」
Namo Amituofo!
