Basic Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
147 - The Three Vows about the Causes and Effects of Rebirth and Becoming a Buddha (continued)
How can sentient beings receive the benefits of the merits and virtues stated above? Master Tanluan said in his Commentary on the Shastra of Rebirth, we must rely upon Amitabha Tathagata’s 18th/ Fundamental Vow. In order to receive these merits and virtues, we must rely upon the 18th Vow, because it is most suited for ordinary beings. Our rebirth in the Pure Land, becoming a Buddha, and returning to the Saha worlds to deliver sentient beings, is already included within it.
Thus, Amitabha Buddha consolidates all of his merits and virtues within his six-character Name, to facilitate our rebirth and becoming a Buddha in his Pure Land. We then return to the defiled lands to benefit others through sharing our merits and virtues.
It is like a father who provides travel expenses to a child leaving home, these funds naturally cover both the journey to the destination and the return. Similarly, the essence of transferring merit and dedicating virtue is entirely embodied in Amitabha’s sacred Name. At the moment we hear about this Name, have faith in its virtues, and exclusively recite it; we immediately receive the benefits we need for rebirth in the Pure Land. Once there we attain Buddhahood and return to this defiled land to deliver sentient beings.
The forty-eight vows are fully realized as one, with these three vows serving as the framework that encompasses rebirth in the Pure Land, attaining Buddhahood, and guiding others. Thus, Amitabha’s 18th, 19th, and 20th vows are the core teachings of the Pure Land School.
147 往生成佛因果三願 (續)
前述之功德利益,眾生是如何領受的?曇鸞大師在《往生論註》言往還因果「皆緣阿彌陀如來本願力故」。探其源由,三願中以第十八願為根本,若能往生,成佛、度生自在其中。
因此阿彌陀佛將往生淨土成佛和還來穢土利他的功德,全部凝聚在一句六字名號裡,並以此迴向施予眾生。如父親給予離家的遊子旅費,此費用自然具有前往目的地和從目的地返回的功能。所以若論迴向之法體,則完全在於這句名號。而我等在聞信名號之當下,便頓時領受往生與成佛度生之功德,而無前後次第之分別。
四十八願一體成就,並以此三願為綱,總攝往生、成佛、度生。因此,此三願是淨土宗的核心。
Namo Amituofo!
