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 25.6 Why does Shakyamuni Buddha refer to beings who have committed the gravest offenses, the five heinous crimes, and the ten evils as "foolish people" rather than "evil people"?
Answer: The Buddha, out of compassion, sees that they are ignorant of the law of cause and effect, unaware that they themselves inherently possess Buddha-nature, and thus create evil and suffer for it. Ordinary people, with their clear-cut view of good and evil, often pride themselves on their own righteousness and call such offenders "evil people," with a sense of anger and condemnation, believing them to be beyond forgiveness. In contrast, the Buddha calls them "foolish people," analyzing the causes of their wrongdoing with understanding, and offering them acceptance, empathy, and deliverance.
25. 《觀經》稱名除五逆罪 (續)
25.6 問：五逆十惡的極罪眾生，釋迦牟尼佛為何稱其為「愚人」而非「惡人」？
答：佛憐憫其不知因果，不知自身具足佛性，造惡受苦。世人善惡分明，自 謂剛正，稱其為「惡人」，帶有憤恨情緒，以為不可原諒；佛稱其為「愚人」，為 他分析原因，予以包容、體諒、救度。
Namo Amituofo!
