Clarifying Doubts About the Pure Land (I)
淨土釋疑(一)
Question 19 :
May I ask, Master: the patriarchs have said that the 18th Vow is the ‘King of all Vows,’ while the 19th and 20th Vows are ‘Expedient Vows.’ Could you please explain the relationships between the 19th and 20th Vows and the 18th Vow?
Answer:
Amitabha Buddha’s fundamental vow is the 18th Vow, and the objects of the 18th Vow are all sentient beings in the ten directions, whom He saves equally.
However, among beings in the ten directions, there are different capacities: some, even after hearing about the 18th Vow, still harbor doubts, while others may
never even hear of it . These two kinds of beings must also be saved—so what should be done? The answer lies in the 19th and 20th Vows.
The 19th Vow relates to the Three Grades and Nine Levels of rebirth; in these three grades and nine levels, the methods of practice for each category are all different.
The reason is that they are unaware of the full meaning of the 18th Vow. If they understood the 18th Vow, there would be no need for such categories, nor would they cling to these various practices. They would all return to the Amitabha-recitation taught in the 18th Vow.
Whether ordained or lay, they would not cling to their ordained or lay status; but, would all become part of the “sentient beings of the ten directions” addressed in the 18th Vow.
If this point is not understood, distinctions of grades and ranks will arise. For example:
● Those of the upper grade are monastics who have aroused the bodhi mind.
● Those of the middle grade are laypeople who have aroused the bodhi mind and perform various virtuous deeds.
● There are others who cannot become monastics, have limited faculties, may also be very poor, and cannot engage in various practices or accumulate merit through good deeds. These are considered lower grade beings.
(to be continued tomorrow)
19問：請問法師，古德說：第十八願是王本願，十九願、二十願是方便願，那麼 ，請您給講一下，十九願、二十願與第十八願是什麼樣的關係呢？
答：
阿彌陀佛的根本願就是第十八願，第十八願的對象就是十方眾生，平 等的救度。而十方眾生有十方根性，有的即使聽到了第十八願，也會產生懷 疑，而有的根本連第十八願也聽不到，那麼，這兩種眾生還是要救度啊，那怎 麼辦呢？就在第十九願與二十願裏面。
第十九願屬於三輩九品，三輩九品及修持的方法，各個都不一樣。
因為不曉得第十八願，如果曉得第十八願的話，他就不是那種身份，也沒 有修行各種法的那種執著的心，就通通歸入第十八願「乃至十念」的念佛。雖 是出家，也不執著出家身份；在家，也不執著在家身份，就通通是第十八願的 「十方眾生」了。
如果不能體會這一點，就會產生種種品位、階級出來。譬如「上輩」的人就 是出家而發菩提心；「中輩」的人沒有出家，但是能夠發菩提心，修種種善事功 德；還有的人既不能出家，根器也很低劣，同時又很貧窮，不能修種種行，也 沒辦法作種種善事功德，這種就是「下輩」。
Namo Amituofo!
