Basic Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
146. The Three Kinds of Lateral Transcendence (continued)
These are the three hurdles for sentient beings who try to cut off all delusions and realize ultimate truths through self-power: difficulty in leaving the cycle of birth-and-death, in avoiding detention in the Hinayana, realizing the state of non-retrogression in the Mahayana, and the great difficulty of reaching Nirvana directly.
Amitabha knows very well that ordinary beings have committed heavy karmic offenses, and have insufficient power to leave Samsara, not to mention becoming Buddhas? Thus, he enables sentient beings to recite his Name in accordance with his Fundamental Vow; so, they can directly leave reincarnation within the Six Realms, and attain rebirth in Amitabha’s Pure Land. This vow enables sentient beings to transcend both the Hinayana and Mahayana, and directly reach the reward land of Buddhahood. Thus, sentient beings can smoothly pass through the three hurdles, which is the meaning of lateral transcendence and rapid realization.
All sentient beings in the ten directions can attain assured rebirth by simply believing in Amitabha Buddha, accepting his deliverance, and exclusively reciting his Name. Once reborn, they are assured of becoming Buddhas. Once becoming Buddhas, they will comprehensively deliver sentient beings in the ten directions.
146 三橫超 (續)
此三橫超正是眾生自力斷惑證真的三道難關:脫離生死輪迴難、不滯小乘證入大乘不退轉位難、直趨大涅槃難。
彌陀深知凡夫業深障重,無力出離輪迴,何況成佛?因此以根本願使眾生念佛,直接脫離六道輪迴,往生彌陀淨土;並以此願使眾生超越小乘與大乘,而直至佛果,使眾生順利度過三關,此即橫超速證。
十方所有一切眾生,只要信佛念佛,必定往生,往生必定成佛,成佛必定廣度十方眾生。
Namo Amituofo!
