Basic Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
138. A World with No Desires (continued)
Why is the Land of Bliss or Pure Land situated in the West? Not the East, the South or the North? It is because there are Buddhas in the worlds of the ten directions, and they each have their own Buddha-lands “built” by them. It is said in the Sutras that the Land of Bliss is located in the West.
West is the direction where the sun sets. People in ancient times liked the reality and the metaphor of a beautiful sunset, as it gave them hope and a favorable impression of what rebirth in Amitabha’s world would be like after they die.
If anyone has a chance to see a sunset in India, you will know why Indians believe Amitabha’s Land of Bliss is located in the West.
138 無欲的世界 (續)
又,為什麼以西方來稱極樂或淨土?而不說東方、南方或北方呢?因為十方世界有十方諸佛,而每一位佛都有自己的國土──佛國土,是由他自己所建立的世界。而經典說阿彌陀佛的極樂世界在西方。
西方,是太陽下沉之方向,大概是古代的人們,一面看到傍晚美麗的夕陽,一面想到死後所往的阿彌陀佛世界,產生一幅很美的景象,才有了各種期盼。
住在大都市的人們,可能沒有機會看到,如果在印度看過一次向西方沈落的太陽,就會知道為何印度人相信極樂是在西方。
Namo Amituofo!
