Basic Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
157. The Deliverance of Ordinary Beings according to the Pure Land School (1 / 2)
Ordinary beings are seen as being full of afflictions, having shallow understanding, attachment to the five desires, and are difficult to save. The founder of the Pure Land school, Master Shandao, explained that the three Pure
Land sutras reveal that even such ordinary beings can be reborn in the true and wondrous realm of Amitabha.
Therefore, Shandao promoted the doctrine of "the vow that saves all beings through the exclusive recitation of Amitabha Buddha’s Name."
Regardless of whether one is male or female, noble or lowly, a layperson or monastic, good or evil, all beings are considered ordinary beings. This includes those who commit sins and those filled with afflictions. Shandao considered everyone, whether good or evil, to be "ordinary beings who commit offenses and have karmic obstructions," or “ordinary beings full of afflictions”.
"Ordinary beings who commit offenses and have karmic obstructions" is quoted from Master Shandao’s Commentary on the Contemplation Sutra, which refers to all people nowadays. He says “we are all iniquitous ordinary beings subject to endless rebirths. Since time immemorial, we have died and been reincarnated, without any causal conditions to leave the cycle of rebirth.”
“Ordinary beings full of afflictions” is quoted from the Verse on the Rites of Rebirth, which says, “We are ordinary beings full of afflictions.”
(to be continued tomorrow)
157 救度凡夫的念佛法門 (1 / 2)
凡夫雖被稱為是煩惱者、淺識者、執著五欲者、染著身見者，而且還被認 為是難救度者。但是淨土宗的開宗祖師善導大師依據淨土三經，闡釋即使是 這樣的凡夫，也能因為專一念佛而被阿彌陀佛救度，往生阿彌陀佛真實高妙 的報土，而提倡「本願念佛，凡夫入報」說。
不論是佛在世或佛滅後，不論男女貴賤、出家在家、善人惡人，所有眾生 都是凡夫。可說此凡夫是「罪障造惡凡夫」、「具足煩惱凡夫」。
「罪障造惡凡夫」一語，是依據善導大師《觀經疏‧散善義》中所說的現實之 人：「自身現是罪惡生死凡夫，曠劫以來常沒常流轉，無有出離之緣。」
「具足煩惱凡夫」一語，是依據善導大師《往生禮讚》所說「自身是具足煩惱 凡夫」，可說凡夫是具足煩惱者。
Namo Amituofo!
