Basic Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
153 The Meaning Behind the Name "Amitabha’s Pure Land (continued)
4. Embracing the Ignorant and the Difficult-to-Enlighten
The path for sacred beings emphasizes eliminating delusions,cultivating great compassion, and attaining enlightenment. However, this is a difficult path, suitable only for those with superior capacities and wisdom. The Pure Land path, on the other hand, focuses on relieving suffering and granting joy, something even ordinary beings with weak capacities can accept.
The Lotus Sutra states, "The world is filled with immense suffering, truly fearful and dreadful," using various metaphors to illustrate suffering. In contrast, the Amitabha Sutra conveys the message in just two sentences: "In the Pure Land there is no suffering, only the enjoyment of various pleasures." Being reborn in the Pure Land eliminates all forms of suffering and grants happiness.
Understanding delusion and enlightenment is difficult, and the Sacred path is hard to practice. However, suffering and happiness are easy to grasp and naturally inspire aspiration. Speaking of non-self may not be understood; but, speaking of suffering and happiness is comprehensible even to the most ignorant. Because
suffering and happiness align with human nature, they make the Pure Land path an easy and understandable practice that readily awakens joyful aspiration.
(to be continued tomorrow)
153 極樂之立名(續)
4.攝受下愚，難悟眾生
聖道門，講破迷開悟，興發慈悲，這是難行之法，是少數上根利智之人才 容易接受。淨土門，講拔苦與樂，離苦得樂，根機不堪的凡夫都願意接受。
《法華經》說「眾苦充滿，甚可怖畏」，種種比喻，說明是怎麼樣的苦。《阿彌 陀經》就兩句話「無有眾苦，但受諸樂」，免了一切苦苦，拔苦與樂。
說迷悟難解難行，說苦樂易知欣求。講無我，可能沒人聽得懂，但講苦樂 ，再愚癡的人都知道。因為苦樂符合人情，讓人知道這是易行法門，容易發起 欣求心。
(待續)
Namo Amituofo!
