Important Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
161. The Meaning of “ The Only Ones Excluded Are Those Who Commit the Five Gravest Offenses or Slander the Right Dharma” (continued 2/5)
As Master Yinguang said in his Collected Works, Third Series:
“If one previously slandered the Dharma, but later repents, they can be reborn.
Just like a person who recovers from illness is healthy again, or a rebel who surrenders becomes a loyal citizen.
If we say that those who slandered the Dharma cannot attain birth even after repentance, then we’ve completely lost the standard of practice.”
It is like the way parents set many rules for their ignorant children, yet still forgive them when they make mistakes. It is also similar to the way a government sets strict rules to prevent fires; but, still rescues people when fires break out.
Imagine if someone who committed the five offenses or slandered the Dharma were to be permanently abandoned, or if people believed Amitabha Buddha lacked the power to save such beings; then wouldn't the so-called “great compassion” and “power to relieve suffering and bring happiness” become meaningless?
Therefore, whether it is exclusion or embrace, both are expressions of Amitabha Buddha’s great compassion and wisdom.
● Embrace is the unchanging fundamental principle.
● Exclusion is an expedient means for better embracing.
Both are essential. When we understand the subtle and profound compassion of Amitabha’s vow to save all beings, we will not take this as a license to do evil or indulge our passions. Rather, we will deeply appreciate his compassionate intention and wholeheartedly devote ourselves to reciting Amitabha Buddha’s Name.
161 「唯除逆謗」之義 (續5/5)
又如印光大師於《文鈔三編》言：
若先曾謗法，後知改悔，則得往生。
譬如病癒即是好人、歸降即是順民也。
若謂謗法之人後縱改悔亦不得往生，便完全失卻修持準繩。
又譬如，父母對無知之子女設下種種禁止規約，但在子女犯過失後，仍會 給予寬恕包容。或如官府嚴格防火的同時，也不會放棄救火之可能性。設想， 一旦犯了五逆謗法，就永遠被捨棄，或認為佛沒有力量救度我們，那所謂大 慈大悲的佛心，以及拔苦與樂的力量，豈非變成空談了？
是故，不論抑止或攝取，皆是阿彌陀佛慈悲與智慧雙重運作下所施的救 度。攝取是永不改變的大前提，抑止是為了更好的攝取，兩者皆不可少。若能 理解阿彌陀佛救度眾生的細膩悲願，我們就不會因為有阿彌陀佛這位高明的 醫生而服毒而縱惡為非，任憑三毒疾病潛滋暗長，而能深心體會佛的大悲本 懷，專志一心地念佛。
Namo Amituofo!
