Basic Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
140. Ten Kalpas and a Long Time Ago (continued)
With respect to the Amitabha Sutra, how do we interpret the meaning of “ ten kalpas”? It is also known as “ten kalpas in response to the conditions”, or “ten kalpas in constant”.
“Ten kalpas in response to the conditions” - is used in response to the aptitudes of sentient beings. Though it is a fact that Amitabha Buddha became a Buddha a long time ago, sentient beings may have doubts about just how long ago that was. In order to accommodate their aptitudes, “ten kalpas” is used to explain how Dharmakara Bodhisattva re-appeared, to make vows and cultivate practices to once again become a Buddha.
“Ten kalpas in constant” - ten is a number denoting full and complete. So, ten kalpas does not have any specific meaning, but sets a full number in terms of a period of time.
140 十劫久遠 (續)
至於本經的「十劫」之文又該如何解釋?有所謂「赴機十劫」或「常演十劫」二種說法。
「赴機十劫」:是「赴機」與「應機」之言,即阿彌陀佛久遠成佛之說雖屬真實,但
因時代遙遠,反而會引起眾生懷疑。為了相應眾生根機,因此十劫前再度示
現法藏菩薩發願修行而成佛。
「常演十劫」:十是常用的滿數,「十劫」只是舉出常用的滿數而已,無特別意義。
(待續)
Namo Amituofo!
