Basic Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
146. The Three Kinds of Lateral Transcendence
The second fascicle of the Infinite Life Sutra says, “You will surely transcend [worldliness], end [samsara], escape [the Saha world], and be reborn in the Land of Peace and Joy. You will quickly cut off (the cycle of rebirth) in the Five Wretched Realms, which will end as a matter of course. “This Path of ascension is limitless.”
One ought to know that the Pure Land teaching is laterally transcendent and leads to rapid realization. There are three kinds of lateral transcendence in Amitabha’s deliverance of sentient beings:
1. Direct lateral transcendence of reincarnation within the Six Realms that ends our suffering forever.
2. The direct lateral transcendence for Sravakas and Pratyekabuddhas eliminates the detention of Hinayana practitioners.
3. Direct lateral transcendence that facilitates the three kinds of non-retrogression, and facilitates reaching Nirvana.
These three kinds of lateral transcendence are direct, simultaneous, and instant; bypassing eons of time, and the bodhisattva stages.
(to be continued tomorrow)
146 三橫超
《無量壽經》下卷也說:「必得超絕去,往生安樂國;橫截五惡道,惡道自然閉。昇道無窮極。」
可知,淨土宗是橫超速證的法門,彌陀救度眾生有三橫超:
一、直接橫超六道輪迴,永脫苦難;
二、直接橫超聲聞緣覺,不滯小乘;
三、直接橫超三不退轉,直至涅槃。
此三橫超是直接的、同時的、立即的,不經劫、不經位。
Namo Amituofo!
