A Discussion on Excerpts from the Scriptures of the Pure Land School 淨土宗精要法語討論
26. Eradication of the Offenses of Breaking the Precepts through Hearing the Name
Those reborn in the middle level of the lower grade are sentient beings who violate the Five Precepts, Eight Precepts or All of the Precepts. These ignorant beings steal the communal property of the Sangha, plunder the personal possessions of resident monastics, teach the Dharma with impure motives without shame or remorse, thus defiling themselves with a variety of evil karmas. Because of their misdeeds, these offenders are destined to fall into hell.
“As they approach death, all the flames of hell arise at the same time. Then they encounter a Dharma friend with great compassion, who praises and expounds the ten powers and majestic virtues of Amitabha Buddha. He extensively praises his radiant light and supernatural powers, and extols his vows, meditative concentration, wisdom, liberation, knowledge and vision of liberation (the five attributes of the Dharma Body).
“Hearing this, the beings’ reincarnation-fated negative karma of 8 billion kalpas is eliminated. The fierce fires of hell transform into cool breezes that carry numerous heavenly flowers. On each flower are emanated Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, arriving to welcome the dying. In an instant, they are reborn in the Pure Land.
Question : Some people say, “If even those who break the precepts can be reborn in the Pure Land, wouldn’t promoting this idea lead to a loosening of moral discipline?”
Answer : The words of the Buddha in the sutras are true and should be faithfully believed. Rebirth in the Pure Land is based on hearing Amitabha’s Name and aspiring to be born there: “If sentient beings sincerely entrust themselves with joyful faith, wish to be born in my land, and recite my Name as few as ten times, are not born there, I will not attain Enlightenment.”
It is not because one keeps the precepts, nor does it depend on whether one breaks them. Even those who have broken the precepts are not abandoned. This precisely reveals Amitabha Buddha’s boundless compassion and wisdom.
To say, “Since I can be saved even if I break the precepts, why bother keeping them?” is to misunderstand the Buddha’s compassion. For those who have already broken the precepts, the Buddha shows special pity. As long as they turn their hearts toward him, he will save them all.
They should think, even someone like me, who has broken the precepts, is not forsaken by Amitabha Buddha. I must diligently follow the Dharma and gratefully repay the Buddha’s grace. This is true faith. On the other hand, someone who is lax and shameless, like a person who hears of a famous doctor who can mend broken bones, and then deliberately breaks his/her own legs just to seek treatment. This person is only bringing suffering upon him/her self.
26. 《觀經》聞名除破戒罪
下品中生者，或有眾生，毀犯五戒、八戒及具足戒；如此愚人，偷僧祇物 ，盜現前僧物，不淨說法，無有慚愧，以諸惡業而自莊嚴。如此罪人，以 惡業故，應墮地獄。命欲終時，地獄眾火一時俱至。遇善知識，以大慈悲，即 為讚說阿彌陀佛十力威德，廣讚彼佛光明神力，亦讚戒、定、慧、解脫、解脫知見。此人聞已，除八十億劫生死之罪。地獄猛火化為清涼風，吹諸天 華。華上皆有化佛菩薩，迎接此人。如一念頃，即得往生。
26.1 問：有人說，「破戒也得往生，這樣提倡，是否會造成鬆弛戒律？」
答：佛經實語，應當諦信。往生是因聞名願生，「至心信樂，欲生我國，乃至 十念，若不生者，不取正覺」，不因持戒，更不因破戒。破戒眾生也不遺棄，正 顯阿彌陀佛的慈悲與智慧。
「反正破戒也能得救，何必費力持戒？」這是誤解佛的慈悲。已經破戒之人， 佛特加憐憫，但能迴心向佛，佛皆救度。「像我這樣的破戒之人，佛也不棄，唯 有勤心奉法，仰謝佛恩」，這是真具信心。若是放逸無慚，猶如聽說有接骨神醫，自殘雙腿以求醫，這樣只能自己受苦。
Namo Amituofo!
