Basic Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
134. Expedient and Real (continued)
Comparing the 19th Vow to the 18th Vow - the 19th Vow is unreal (an expedient teaching), and the 18th Vow is real ( a real teaching).
Thus, in the Pure Land teaching, Amitabha-recitation in accord with the Fundamental Vow is: simple, easy, stable, secure, extremely splendid, round, and spontaneous.
The Commentary on the Treatise on Rebirth says, “It is the supreme instruction of the Mahayana, like a leeward vessel that never retreats.”
The Concise Interpretation of Amitabha also says, “It is foremost in expediency among all kinds of expedient teachings. It has an unsurpassed ultimate meaning among all ultimate meanings. By far the most round and sudden teaching among all others in the same category.
134 方便與真實 ( 續)
十九願望十八願:以第十九願望第十八願,則第十九願假(權教),而第十八願真(實教)。
是故,淨土宗之本願念佛,至為簡易穩當,極其殊勝圓頓。《往生論註》說:「上衍之極致,不退之風航。」
《彌陀要解》說:「方便中第一方便,了義中無上了義,圓頓中最極圓頓。」
Namo Amituofo!
