Common Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
The Two Kinds of Deep Faith (II)
The two kinds of deep faith, in aptitude and in teaching:
1. Deeply believe that you are destined to fall into hell.
2. Deeply believe that, though you are destined to fall into hell, you have already been rescued by Amitabha.
For the former, the Nirvana Sutra says, “Though you can recover your body in Brahma Heaven, or even in the Heaven of Non-perception and No Non-Perception, you will ultimately fall into the Three Wretched Realms when that life ends.”
The Sutra of Mindfulness of the Proper Dharma also says, “The karma net covers the entire world of birth-and-death without beginning, sentient beings must eventually fall from heaven into hell.”
For the latter, it says, “Be assured of rebirth with recourse to the power of Amitabha Buddha’s vow, without any worries or doubts.”
The two kinds of deep faith refer to the fact that, once faith is determined, rebirth is also determined. This is because the aspirant is already protected and embraced by Amitabha’s unobstructed light all along the White Path. The aptitude and teaching are one entity, and the Buddha and ordinary beings are also one entity.
Thus, an aspirant who truly understands this lives with great joy and contentment. Amitabha-recitation is his life, and his life is Amitabha-recitation.
(to be continued tomorrow)
129 二種深信(二)
機法二種深信:
一者,深信自己必定墮地獄。
二者,深信必墮地獄的自己,已蒙彌陀所救。
前者,如《涅槃經》說:「雖復得受梵天之身,乃至非想非非想天,命終還墮三惡道中。」又如《正法念處經》說:「無始生死中,業網覆世界。從天生地獄。」
後者,所謂「無疑無慮,乘彼願力,定得往生」。
二種深信,即是信心決定,往生一定,已行走在彌陀保護的無畏之白道,佛光攝取的無礙之一道,機法一體,佛凡一體,過著大安心大滿足,念佛即生活,生活即念佛的生活。
Namo Amituofo!
