A Discussion on Excerpts from the Scriptures of the Pure Land School
淨土宗精要法語討
11. The Infinite Life Sutra - “A friend uninvited”
“Uninvited, they become friends to multitudes of beings and shoulder their heavy karmic burdens”...Unsolicited, they offer the Dharma to ordinary beings; and behave as a truly filial child should, out of love and respect for his parents. Theytreat sentient beings as themselves.
Question 11.1:
Someone says, “ If one should bear the consequences of one’s own offenses.” How can our retributions be borne by others? The concept of redemption is found in external paths, isn’t it?
Answer:
To shoulder heavy karmic burdens for sentient beings, and to suffer for them, is the spirit of Mahayana Buddhism. It advocates great kindness and compassion in comprehensive deliverance of sentient beings.
All of the various schools of the Sacred Path emphasize self-powered cultivation, and not deliverance powered by Amitabha Buddha. The Pure Land School emphasizes the teaching of rebirth in the Pure Land, to achieve Buddhahood there, with recourse to the power of Amitabha Buddha’s vow. It is based on other-powered deliverance.
The karmic offenses of 8 billion kalpas are eradicated by Amitabha-recitation just ten times. It is like darkness vanishing when brightness comes. So, it is a kind of dependent origination related to other-power. In the Law of Dependent Origination there is no differentiation between self and other ; so, self and other are said to be interdependent.
The one to be delivered depends on the compassion of the one who delivers ; and, the one who delivers acts upon the mind of the one to be delivered.Amitabha’s compassionate deliverance is far beyond the redemption taught in all other worldly religions; because, regardless of one’s faith, aptitude, or slandering,
Amitabha’s compassionate deliverance is absolutely equal. Sentient beings are delivered by the power within Amitabha’s Name; so, those who recite his Name will automatically be delivered. It couldn’t be simpler!
Once they are delivered to the Land of Bliss, they are assured of becoming Buddhas. Hence, their emancipation is thorough and ultimate.
11. 《無量壽經》不請之友
為諸庶類,作不請之友;荷負群生,為之重擔。......以不請之法,施諸黎庶。如純孝之子,愛敬父母。於諸眾生,視若自己。
11.1 問:有人說,「眾生自因自果,怎麼可能自己造罪別人負擔?這種救贖思想,外道才有」,是這樣嗎?
答:荷負群生,代眾受苦,這正是大乘佛法「大慈大悲,普度眾生」的具體表現。聖道諸宗靠自力修行,不強調佛力救度;淨土宗乘佛願力往生成佛,盛談他力救度。
十聲佛號滅八十億劫生死之罪,如光來暗滅,此為「他力緣起」。緣起法中,本無自他,強立自他,互為自他。
被救者因救度者之緣而被救,救度者因被救者而起救度心行。
阿彌陀佛的慈悲救度,非世間宗教的救贖所能比:不問信仰、根機,誹謗者也慈心救度,絕對平等;名號度眾生,稱名願生即可得度,無上方便;救到極樂世界必定成佛,究竟徹底。
Namo Amituofo!
