Basic Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
139. The Theory of Setting Directions and Naming Forms (continued)
From the point of view of equality, there is no difference between a pure and a defiled land; so, the Pure Land can be said to be “expansive, vast, great, boundless, and borderless.”
From the point of view of differentiation, the Land of Saha is produced by negative karma; but, the Pure Land is produced by the Buddha’s perfect and complete vows and practices. So, there must be a huge difference between the two. This is the reason why the Pure Land is “passing 10 trillion Buddha realms to the west of here.”
Equality and differentiation are very different ; but, their original substance is just one. It is just like still ocean water and an ocean wave. Whether the ocean is calm or rough, it is still water. A wave of water does not leave the water.
So, as it pertains to the Pure Land, we can say it is finite and in the West on one side, and also infinitely vast on the other. These are two sides of a single coin.
Differentiation does not negate equality. It is finity without leaving infinity, and it is also infinity without leaving finity. No infinity within the finity, but infinity includes finity. In order to express these two aspects, there are two kinds of descriptions in the Infinite Life Sutra.
139 指方立相論 (續)
若從「平等觀」來看,本無淨穢之別,淨土可說「恢廓曠蕩,無邊無際」。
若從「差別觀」來看,以凡夫迷妄為因所成的娑婆,和以佛願行圓滿為因所成的淨土,當然有很大的差別,這就是淨土何以在西方十萬億佛土之外的原因。
平等與差別有很大的差異,但本體是一。如同波浪和海水,風平浪靜和驚濤駭浪時的海都是水,波浪沒有離開水。
故淨土「有限的西方說」和「無限的廣大說」,也只是一體兩面,「差別」並無離開「平等」。即不離無限而有限,不離有限而無限;有限之內沒有無限,但無限包含了有限。為了顯出這兩面,在《大經》中才有二種說法。
Namo Amituofo!
