Clarifying Doubts About the Pure Land (I)
淨土釋疑(一)
Continued Answer to Question 10 ( 3/6):
Those inner transformations are not always easy. To forgive someone, if he/she is a good person who simply made a mistake, can be easy; but, to forgive someone who is truly difficult to forgive, that requires a deeper strength. This strength does not come from ourselves alone, it also comes from Amitabha Buddha.
Why is it that we are able to forgive someone whom others cannot forgive? It is because Amitabha Buddha has already forgiven us. He has embraced us completely, just as we are.
Think about it—what kind of beings are we? Our hearts can be so lowly, so defiled, so impure, full of shame, and hidden darkness; yet, Amitabha Buddha does not judge us. Not at all. He never turns us away.
When we truly feel and understand the depth of Amitabha’s compassion, we naturally begin to accept and forgive others. No matter who they are, we embrace them with that same boundless heart.
Of course, this is not about setting a rigid standard, after all, beings across the ten directions are all different. Yet, the power of transformation is real. That possibility is always there.
10問:請問師父,念佛的人也有苦惱,平時說念佛法喜,苦惱時念佛還法喜 嗎?他的心中有些什麼轉化?
續答(3/ 6):
這些轉化,其實是不容易的,我們要去寬諒一個人,這個人如果是個好人 ,他做錯了,我們去寬諒他,這是很容易的。但是,不容易寬諒的人,我們也 去寬諒他,這個必須從我們內心有一種力量,這個力量來自阿彌陀佛。為什 麼?別人不可寬諒他,我們可以寬諒,是因為阿彌陀佛寬諒了我們、阿彌陀 佛包容了我們。
我們想一想,我們是怎樣的眾生?這顆心可以說是很卑賤、很污穢、很骯 髒、不可告人、無地自容的,阿彌陀佛一點都不計較。如果體會到阿彌陀佛這 種慈悲的話,所有的人,我們都會去包容他、原諒他。
當然,這並不是一個標準,因為十方眾生各不一樣,可是轉化的功能是存 在的,是有那個可能性的。
Namo Amituofo!