Basic Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
139. The Theory of Setting Directions and Naming Forms (continued)
From the perspective of differentiation, as said before, there is the Pure Land and the defiled land. However, why is it placed in the West among the ten directions? Actually, the Pure Land should be placed in the center of the realm of differentiation.
In the world of relativity, east represents the production of all matters, and west represents the way to return for all matters, like the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. Amitabha Buddha selected the direction of the west, which bears the meaning of the way to return to the Land of Peace and Joy, which will be our final destination for settlement. When we approach the end of this life, Amitabha and the bodhisattvas will compassionately return us to his Buddha-land in the West.
Actually, if we want to go deeper, the Pure Land is a matter that cannot be depicted or understood fully by ordinary beings. We can only admire the depictions Shakyamuni gave us and unceasingly believe in and accept the earnest compassionate offer from Amitabha in the west.
139 指方立相論 (續)
以上從差別面來說,有淨土、穢土之差別;然而十方世界中為什麼特指西方?這亦是以差別界為中心的說明。
這個差別的世界,「東方」表萬物之發生,「西方」表萬物之歸趨。如日出於東而沒於西。阿彌陀佛選擇含有歸趨意義的西方,特別建設安樂世界,作為我們最後的安住處。人生之夕來時,識心就靜靜回歸西方彌陀慈父的佛國。
其實,若深入探究,淨土是尚在迷中的凡夫所不能推其究竟之事,我們只有仰信彌陀從西岸不斷傳來的悲切呼喚聲而已。
Namo Amituofo!
