Basic Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
The Great Path Apart from Other Teachings (continued)
Master Shandao says in his “In Praise of Pratyutpanna”: All of the 84,000 different teachings are expounded for the purpose of extinguishing the karmic causes of ignorance.
Amitabha's Name is a sharp sword. It can eradicate all karmic offenses through even one recitation.
It also says: Because of the differences in aptitudes and capacities among sentient beings, there are as many as 84,000 teachings in Buddhism.
Though all teachings are different, these are called Gradual Teachings. It takes ten thousand eons to realize them through cultivation and hardship.
Master Shandao also says in his “ In Praise of Dharma Practice”:
The Tathagata incarnated in the world of Five Kinds of Turbidity,
For the sake of delivering sentient beings through his expedient teachings according to circumstances.
Sentient beings may be liberated by hearing many of his discourses or by hearing few,
While concentrating on attaining the Three Insights.
By cultivating wisdom and merits to eradicate the two karmic barriers or,
By engaging in the practices of meditation and contemplation.
All of the teachings will lead to emancipation,
However, none of them is better than the teaching of rebirth in the West through
Amitabha-recitation.
Recite Amitabha Buddha’s name for a lifetime, as few as ten times, or even three or five times.
Just before your death the Buddha will come to receive you.
This is because Amitabha’s vows are so powerful and all encompassing,
That they enable ordinary beings to attain rebirth immediately through Amitabha-recitation.
The above explains how it is the function of Amitabha-recitation that it is replete with ultimate, round and sudden benefits, which transcend all of the other 84,000 teachings.
135 門餘大道
善導大師《般舟讚》說:門門不同八萬四 為滅無明果業因,利劍即是彌陀號 ,一聲稱念罪皆除(《聖教集》924頁)
又說:佛教多門八萬四,正為眾生機不同,門門不同名漸教,萬劫苦行證無生(《聖教集》925頁)
善導大師《法事讚》說:
如來出現於五濁 隨宜方便化群萌
或說多聞而得度 或說少解證三明
或教福慧雙除障 或教禪念坐思量
種種法門皆解脫 無過念佛往西方
上盡一形至十念 三念五念佛來迎
直為彌陀弘誓重 致使凡夫念即生(《聖教集》787頁)
這都是在說明念佛功能具足圓頓最極的利益,高超八萬四千法門之外。
Namo Amituofo!
