Basic Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
140. Ten Kalpas and a Long Time Ago (continued)
As said above, a Buddha from “ten kalpas ago” or “a long time ago” are basically one entity. Amitabha was clearly an ancient Buddha, and now it is said that he became a Buddha ten kalpas ago. These are just expedient means for delivering sentient beings in the ten directions for rebirth after his Buddhahood. Hence, it doesn’t matter whether he appeared to cultivate and attain perfect Enlightenment again and again.
As said in the Sutra of Adornment: “That Tathagata Buddha comes from nowhere and goes to nowhere, because he is beyond birth and extinction. His existence is not subject to our concepts of past, present, or future. “He appeared in the West ten kalpas ago, to deliver sentient beings in keeping with his causal vows.”
In this respect, we clearly know that Amitabha makes a tremendous effort, in keeping with his infinite compassion, in order to rescue us from suffering.
140 十劫久遠(續)
如上所述,「久遠」與「十劫」之佛其實是一體的。彌陀是久遠的古成之佛,而成佛十劫之說,乃是果後方便──為使十方眾生都能往生成佛,所以一次又一次連續不斷地示現修行成道。
如《莊嚴經》云:「彼佛如來,來無所來,去無所去,無生無滅,非過現未來;但以酬願度生,現在西方,於今十劫。」由此更能清楚瞭解佛為拯救我們所付出的勤勞苦心。
Namo Amituofo!
