Basic Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
153. The Meaning Within the Name - "Amitabha’s Pure Land (continued)
6. Infinite Compassionate Transformation
The name "Bliss" fulfills the infinitely compassionate vow of Shakyamuni Buddha and all Buddhas to guide and liberate sentient beings.
The Commentary on the Contemplation Sutra states:
Amitabha’s forty-eight vows—each vow establishes supreme causes. From these causes arise superior practices, from these practices come supreme results, from these results come excellent rewards, from these rewards the Pure Land emerges, from the Pure Land arises universal compassionate transformation, and from this compassionate
transformation, the gateway to wisdom is revealed. Compassion is boundless, and wisdom is infinite. When compassion and wisdom function together, the sweet nectar of the Dharma flows freely, nurturing and embracing all beings.
"Universal compassionate transformation through joy" means that the joy of the Pure Land itself reveals the Buddha’s great compassion. This is because the "bliss" of the Pure Land manifests the compassionate heart of the Buddha. This compassion means both relieving suffering and bestowing joy, and the Buddha’s guidance of beings is centered on the concept of joy.
Through this great compassionate teaching, wisdom naturally emerges. The gateway to wisdom is opened by compassion, and the salvation of infinite beings in the Western Pure Land requires great wisdom. Without it, the results would be limited.
"Compassion is boundless, and wisdom is infinite."
Compassion and wisdom operate together, opening the path to liberation through the teachings of the 84,000 Dharma gates.
From the Pure Land perspective, the Buddha’s wisdom arises from the great compassion he uses to guide sentient beings. After guiding beings, they return to the Buddha’s compassionate heart, as expressed in the saying:
"The Buddha’s heart is great compassion itself, embracing all beings with unconditional kindness."
(to be continued tomorrow)
153 極樂之立名(續)
6.悲化無盡
有「極樂」這個名稱，就能達到釋迦牟尼佛、諸佛大悲化度眾生的無窮無 盡的願望。
《觀經疏》言：
彌陀本國四十八願，願願皆發增上勝因，依因起於勝行，依行感於勝果，依果 感成勝報，依報感成極樂，依樂顯通悲化，依於悲化顯開智慧之門；然悲心無 盡，智亦無窮，悲智雙行，即廣開甘露，因茲法潤，普攝群生也。
「依樂顯通悲化」，「樂」就是極樂世界的極樂。之所以「依樂顯通悲化」，因 為極樂世界的「樂」字，其清淨喜樂顯明了佛的大悲心，佛的大悲就是拔苦與 樂，佛度化眾生就是抓住「樂」字。
由這樣的大悲教化，從「悲」出「智」，顯開智慧之門。以大悲為本救度無量 的眾生，引導到西方極樂世界，一定要有大智慧，否則就收效有限了。
「悲心無盡，智亦無窮。」智慧無窮就會「悲智雙行，廣開甘露」，就講了八 萬四千法門。
在淨土門的立場上，佛是大悲出智，由智慧攝化眾生；攝化眾生之後，又 回到其滿足大悲之人，回到其大悲的本心，所謂「佛心者，大慈悲是，以無緣 慈攝諸眾生」。
(待續)
Namo Amituofo!
