A Discussion on Excerpts from the Scriptures of the Pure Land School
淨土宗精要法語討論
13. The Infinite Life Sutra - Softened by the Encounter with Light
“When sentient beings encounter Amitabha’s light, their Three Defilements are eliminated and their bodies and minds soften. They rejoice with excitement and generate virtuous thoughts. When those in extremely miserable places, such as the Three Wretched Realms, see his light, they are all freed from suffering. After death, they all attain liberation.
Question 13.1:
Someone says, abiding by the Five Precepts is the minimum requirement for rebirth. As ordinary human beings we cannot always do this ; so, how can we be reborn and become Buddhas?”
Answer:
To achieve rebirth, the benchmark is Amitabha’s 48 vows. The Five Precepts are the basic guidelines for how Buddhists are to conduct themselves. The Buddha says, the precepts are our teachers, so we should be cautious with the three karmas(which are mental,verbal, and physical actions). Thus, the Five precepts govern our behaviour in daily life ; but, are not the principles that govern emancipation in Buddhism.
Moreover, as Pure Land practitioners, we are softened by our encounters with Amitabha Buddha’s light. Amitabha Buddha awakens imperfect sentient beings like us; so, we should try our best to benefit others as well. Amitabha Buddha shares his merit and virtues with us, so that we can attain rebirth and become Buddhas. Just as we are moved by the Buddha’s compassion, we must voluntarily care for other people.
It is totally from the bottom of our hearts, not based on the selfish motives of “dedicating merit and virtues for rebirth”, or “failing to be reborn if my practice of precepts is not perfect and complete”. Amitabha Buddha’s deliverance benefits all sentient beings, as said in the passage on rebirth for those at the lowest level in the low tier. (from the Contemplation Sutra) Even though we cannot live perfectly as human beings, Amitabha Buddha will still receive us if our minds are redirected towards the exclusive recitation of his Name. Those in the three wretched realms are not human beings; but, they can still be reborn through Buddha-recitation.
There is a great deal of evidence in the scriptures and also accounts of rebirth through Buddha-recitation. So, we should not establish our own charter in this respect.
13. 《無量壽經》觸光柔軟
其有眾生,遇斯光者,三垢消滅,身意柔軟,歡喜踴躍,善心生焉。若在三塗極苦之處,見此光明,皆得休息,無復苦惱。壽終之後,皆蒙解脫。
13.1 問:有人說,「五戒是往生的最低標準,做人都做不好,怎能往生成佛?」
答:往生以四十八願為準。五戒是做人的基本行為規範,佛說「以戒為師」,教誡謹慎三業,這是日常行儀,並非解脫綱領。
淨土宗行者,更有「觸光柔軟」的佛力作用:像我這般罪苦眾生,佛都如此包容,我也盡量包容別人;佛把所有功德都惠賜給我,讓我往生成佛,我被佛的慈悲感動,不由自主地也會愛護別人。
完全發自內心,沒有「以此功德迴向往生」或「若不圓滿戒律就不能往生」的心理。佛的救度惠及所有眾生,《觀經》下品眾生,雖然還沒來得及做一個好人,迴心念佛,佛也接引往生;三惡道眾生,未能做人,念佛亦得往生,多有經文證據和往生事例。所以,不可自立章程。
Namo Amituofo!
