Important Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
162. The Explanation of the Three Key Perspectives
The Contemplation Sutra teaches that even those who have committed the Five Most Grave Offenses and the Ten Evil Deeds can attain rebirth in the Pure Land, by reciting Amitabha Buddha’s Name as few as ten times at the time just before their deaths. However, some argue that the Five Gravest Offenses are extremely serious, while ten recitations of Amitabha’s Name seem light. Based on the principle that "karma is like a scale—whichever is heavier pulls first." They believe that one should first fall into hell in accordance with karmic retribution.
In response to this doubt, Master Tanluan, at the end of the first fascicle of his Commentary on the Treatise on Rebirth, presents three key perspectives—mind, conditions, and decisiveness—to compare the weight of the Five Gravest Offenses and the ten recitations. He concludes that the ten recitations are actually heavier (i.e., more powerful) Therefore, the person does not fall into hell but is instead reborn in the Pure Land.
1. Mind (在心):
This compares the nature of the mind behind the actions. The Five Gravest Offenses are committed with a deluded, inverted, and false mind—thus the sins are ultimately unreal and illusory. The ten recitations arise from hearing the true Dharma of Amitabha and generate true and real merit.
2. Conditions (在緣):
This compares the object the mind is focused on. Sinful acts are committed by deluded beings and are the karmic results of defilements—thus they are based on
illusion. The ten recitations are focused on the Name of Amitabha Buddha, which is the embodiment of real virtues and true merit.
3. Decisiveness (在決定):
This compares the timing and urgency of the actions. The Five Offenses are committed during one’s healthy, ordinary life, with a relaxed, wavering, and distracted mind—thus they lack final determination. The ten recitations are made at the moment of death, with a desperate and undistracted mind, when no time remains. This mind is without delay, without remainder, and totally focused.
Through this threefold comparison, it is understood that the ten recitations carry more spiritual weight. Therefore, even those who have committed the Five Gravest Offenses can attain rebirth in the Pure Land through ten continuous recitations.
162 三在釋
《觀經》針對造五逆十惡者，說臨命終時念佛，十念相續即得往生淨土。然 有人認為五逆是重，十念(阿彌陀佛名號)是輕，所謂「業道如秤，重者先牽」， 故順業報之理，應當先墮地獄。
曇鸞大師《往生論註》卷上末，針對此疑，舉出「在心、在緣、在決定」三義 ，比較五逆和十念的輕重。結論謂十念重，故不墮地獄而得往生淨土。
一、在心：就能造之心的虛實作比較。即五逆是以虛妄顛倒心造作，其罪 虛妄；十念是聞彌陀實相之法所生，其德真實。
二、在緣：就所對之境的真妄作比較。即造罪是緣煩惱虛妄之果報眾生而 起；十念是緣阿彌陀佛真實功德名號而起。
三、在決定：就造業時期的緩急作比較。即造罪是在平生康存之日，以容 與不定的有後心、有間心所造作；十念是在臨終迫切，以無有餘生的無後心、 無間心而生，其心無有容與。
如是比較三義，而知十念重，因此五逆之人得由十念相續得往生。
Namo Amituofo!
