A Discussion on Excerpts from the Scriptures of the Pure Land School
淨土宗精要法語討論
25. The Contemplation Sutra - Eradication of the Five Gravest Transgressions by Reciting Amitabha Buddha’s Name (continued)
Question 25.2 : Some say, "The reason for rebirth for those in the lowest level of the lowest tier attaining rebirth [in the Pure Land] is because they have deep roots of virtue from past lives. For example, Devadatta, though he committed the five gravest offenses, was a high-level bodhisattva in the past." Is this correct?
Answer : If we interpret those reborn in the lowest level of the lowest tier as bodhisattvas rather than ordinary beings, then it would mean that ordinary beings have no hope of being saved. This is a crucial point Master Shandao emphasized in his effort to "clarify the truth [of the Pure Land teaching] across past and present." In his Commentary on the Contemplation Sutra (Section on Profound Meaning), he devotes a great amount of effort to refuting the view of some masters that "the nine grades of rebirth are not for ordinary beings," and strongly promotes the idea that "ordinary beings can enter the Pure Land."
In essence - high level Bodhisattvas, being freely endowed with supernatural powers and compassionately transforming beings throughout the ten directions,
without being influenced by birth and death, would have no need to rely on Vaidehi’s request to seek rebirth! Therefore, the nine grades described are purely and truly ordinary beings! He says, "this Contemplation Sutra was spoken by Shakyamuni Buddha for the sake of ordinary beings, not for sages."
25. 《觀經》稱名除五逆罪 (續)
25.2 問：有人說，「下下品之人之所以往生，是因為宿善深厚。比如提婆達多， 雖犯五逆，本地是深位菩薩」，是這樣嗎？
答：下品下生人若解釋為菩薩，不是凡夫，則眾生得救無望。此是善導大師 「楷定古今」的重要方面。《觀經疏‧玄義分》以很大篇幅破斥諸師「九品非凡 夫」之說，力倡「凡夫入報」，大意：菩薩神通自在，悲化十方，不染生死，「更憂 何事，乃藉韋提請求生也？」所言九品，皆是地地道道的凡夫，「但此《觀經》， 佛為凡說，不干聖也」。
Namo Amituofo!
