Basic Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
137. General Discussion on Pure Land (continued)
With respect to the joy of the Pure Land, it is not based on the kind of jeweled trees, jeweled ponds, heavenly music, and wonderful fragrances that we are used to experiencing. Actually, the true “joy” in the Pure Land is Dharma joy, not a joy dependent upon the kinds of matter and sounds we are accustomed to.
Apart from the delight of hearing the Dharma, Dharma joy is a kind of deeper joy that transcends all worldly joys and is known as “utmost bliss.” As said in Amitabha’s 39th Vow - “If, when I attain Buddhahood, humans and devas in my land should not enjoy happiness and pleasure comparable to that of a monk who has eliminated all of his passions, may I not attain perfect Enlightenment.”
The happiness and pleasure of a monk who has eliminated all of his passions is the wondrous joy of emancipation generated by his realization of the nature of Nirvana, which transcends all thoughts and words in the realm of relativity. This is the aim of the Pure Land teaching through the ultimate value and meaning of our faith in Amitabha and Shakyamuni. It is a most important aspect of our teaching that is always neglected in other Buddhist teachings.
Regarding the other challenge about the thirty-two marks of excellence of a male and dislike of a female body, it originates from Indian tradition and the environment of the Buddha’s time. The history of human civilization has generally been male-centered. This is a matter of fact.
Regardless of its morality or unfairness, it is our history. In male-centered societies, it's an inevitable fact that females suffer from bullying and discrimination. Please never forget that a primary focus of Shakyamuni’s teaching is the elimination of Suffering for All beings. Quite clearly women were and are included in Buddhism’s mission.
If the Buddha were to share the Dharma with Americans today, he would certainly use more egalitarian and inclusive language. Moreover, it should be noted that the Mahayana Sutras are totally different from those of earlier Buddhism. In the Mahayana teachings the Buddha strongly praises women, and gives examples of women becoming Buddhas. He also shared teachings showing that women are certainly capable of exceeding men.
(to be continued tomorrow)
137 淨土泛論 * (續上)
關於淨土之「樂」，其實根本不是什麼寶樹、寶池、天樂、妙香那一套。淨土中真正的「樂」乃是法樂而非聲色之樂。
法樂除了由聽聞法要而產生之悅樂外，還有一個更深入的超越世間一切喜樂之「極樂」，此即第三十九願所明者：設我得佛，國中天人所受快樂不如漏盡比丘者，不取正覺。
漏盡比丘所享之樂，乃證入涅槃性所生起之解脫妙樂，其樂超絕言思及分別境界，乃原始佛教所追尋之目標，具有宗教之究極價值及意義，這一點常被學人所忽略了。
關於第二個質難：淨土中盡是三十二大丈夫相及厭棄女身等，亦是因當時印度之社會及習俗環境而起。
人類的社會一向都是以男性為中心的，固不論其道德是非究竟如何，男性中心為人類歷史之主流實為不爭之事實，在男性中心之社會中，女性所受之欺淩及歧視亦是不可否認的事實，深觀世法皆苦的佛教當然不會忽略此極為普遍的大痛苦。
因此，「女身」就成為必須要解脫的對象。我想佛陀如果對1980年代的美國人說法就不會採用這種方式了。再者，許多大乘佛經都一反原始佛教的傳統看法，極力讚揚女人，女人剎那成佛的例子，及女勝於男的故事到處皆是，在密宗裡，女性之地位更是優越，幾乎有超勝男性的趨勢。
Namo Amituofo!
