A Discussion on Excerpts from the Scriptures of the Pure Land School
淨土宗精要法語討論
10. The Infinite Life Sutra - Amitabha reflected for five Kalpas and cultivated for countless kalpas.
“For five full kalpas Amitabha reflected deeply to decide upon the pure practices to create his splendid Buddha-land.......Over inconceivably, countless kalpas, Dharmakara cultivated and accumulated infinite Bodhisattva virtues.”
Question 10.1: “Reflecting on the content of his vows for five Kalpas” Why did Dharmakara Bodhisattva reflect for such a long time? Usually, it takes hundreds and thousands of eons to achieve Buddhahood. Why did Amitabha take countless eons to do so?
Answer: It is because Dharmakara needed to devise the easiest method to deliver sentient beings who commit the heaviest karmic offenses, and also those ordinary mortal beings who have shallow faith and heavy karmic obstructions. Aren’t they just like us?
For these reasons, he had to cultivate for countless eons in order to accumulate sufficient power to deliver all levels of sentient beings, and accumulate adequate merits,virtues, and credentials; in order to enable all sentient beings to be reborn and attain perfect Enlightenment. Think about this! Amitabha Buddha reflected on his vows for five kalpas, and cultivated merit and virtues for countless eons, In Order To Save Me! How can I possibly repay his grace?
10. 《無量壽經》五劫思惟兆載修行
具足五劫,思惟攝取莊嚴佛國清淨之行。......於不可思議兆載永劫,積植菩薩無量德行。
10.1 問:五劫思惟,法藏比丘發願為什麼需要這麼長的時間?成佛通常需要三祇百劫,阿彌陀佛成佛為什麼需要兆載永劫?
答:之所以思惟五劫,是為了思惟如何用最簡易的方法救度罪業最重的眾生,或者說正是為了思惟如何救度我這種信心薄淺、業障深重的生死凡夫。
兆載永劫修行,也是為了具備救度極惡眾生的能力,預先積植令一切眾生皆能往生成佛的功德資糧。(五劫思惟,兆載修行,為我一人,細細想來,佛恩難報。)
Namo Amituofo!
