Basic Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
152. A Brief Explanation of the Text of the Infinite Life Sutra - “ Auspicious Appearance of the Five Virtues”
The Infinite Life Sutra says,
“Today the World-Honored One resides in the extraordinary Dharma. Today the World Hero resides where all Buddhas reside.
Today the World’s Eyes focus on the undertakings of a guide and teacher. Today the World Valiant One resides upon the supreme path.
Today the Heaven-Honored One displays the virtues of the Tathagatas.
There are five sentences. It can be seen that these five sentences each consist of two parts: the first part is in praise of the Buddha, while the second part praises the Dharma.
In general, this describes how, before our master Shakyamuni Buddha, was about to reveal the wondrous Dharma of Amitabha Buddha’s vow of deliverance, five extraordinary and auspicious phenomena appeared, manifesting his joyful anticipation of fulfilling his original intent.
Shakyamuni Buddha preached numerous sutras in this Saha world, yet the ultimate wondrous Dharma that ensures all sentient beings can attain Buddhahood within a single lifetime, and accomplish universal deliverance, had not yet been expounded. Finally, the opportunity to reveal it had arrived. In such a moment, these auspicious signs appeared.
(to be continued tomorrow)
152 「五德瑞現」文略解
這段文出自《佛說無量壽經》（《淨土宗聖教集》第56頁）：
今日世尊，住奇特之法；
今日世雄，住諸佛所住；
今日世眼，住導師之行；
今日世英，住最勝之道；
今日天尊，行如來之德。
一共有五句話。看得出來這五句話都有前後兩節：前面一節是呼喚、讚歎 佛，後面是歎法。
總的來說，這是本師釋迦牟尼佛將要宣說阿彌陀佛的本願救度妙法之前 ，顯現出五種奇特祥瑞之現象，以顯明他將要滿足本懷的喜悅心情。
釋迦牟尼佛來此娑婆世界講了那麼多經，而一切眾生決定能夠一生成佛 ，能夠達成普度的妙法，今天終於有機緣可以講了。所以在這種情況下，顯示 出這樣的相狀。
(待續)
Namo Amituofo!
