Clarifying Doubts About the Pure Land (I)
淨土釋疑(一)
Question 16: Master, may I ask—“Entering the garden of birth and death, the forest of afflictions, playing with supernatural powers”— is that something that happens after rebirth in the Pure Land?
Answer:
Yes, that refers to abiding by one’s vow after attaining rebirth in the Pure Land. As mentioned earlier, the Pure Land Teaching is a Mahayana path. After being reborn and attaining Buddhahood, one will go to all worlds to save sentient beings. Going to those worlds is what’s meant by “entering the garden of birth and death, the forest of afflictions.” It’s not something for now.
Right now, we simply act according to conditions, based upon our capacity, our strength, and our aptitude to “have faith in ourselves and help others generate faith.” We haven’t yet reached true freedom. True freedom is attained only after rebirth in the Land of Ultimate Bliss.
That’s why I said earlier: Don’t worry about not being able to teach the Dharma or saving beings—only worry about not being reborn. Don’t worry about not being reborn. Don’t worry about doubting Amitabha’s salvation—only worry that you don’t recite his Name.
Reciting the Name of Amitabha guarantees rebirth. Once reborn, you will naturally become a Buddha. It’s like water flowing into the ocean. Could it possibly not share the same taste as the ocean? It’s impossible.
(to be continued tomorrow)
16問：請問師父，「入生死園、煩惱林，遊戲神通」，那是不是往生以後再回來 的事？
答：
那是往生之後乘願再來的事。因為剛剛講過，淨土法門是大乘的法門，往生 成佛之後就會到十方世界度眾生，到十方世界就叫「入生死園、煩惱林」。不 是現在的事。現在我們只是隨緣、隨份、隨力、隨根器去「自信教人信」而已， 還不能達到自在，真正達到自在，是往生極樂世界以後。所以，我剛才講，不 怕不會說法度眾生，只怕不往生；不怕不往生，只怕你懷疑彌陀的救度；不怕 懷疑彌陀的救度，只怕不稱名。稱名念佛，必定往生。
往生自然能成佛，不管你想成佛、不想成佛，都一定會成佛。就像水既然流入 大海的話，你說不與大海同一個味道，可能嗎？不可能的。
Namo Amituofo!
