Important Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
165 - Sentient Beings of the Ten Directions
Regarding the words “sentient beings of the ten directions,” Master Shandao explained:
All ordinary beings, regardless of the weight of their karmic good or evil, Regardless of how long or short the time may be; as long as they exclusively recite Namo Amitabha Buddha for as long as one hundred years, or as short as one day or seven days, they will certainly attain rebirth without the slightest doubt!
“ All ordinary beings”means whether they are good or evil, have more good and less evil, or more evil and less good—it does not matter. Nor does it matter how long they have practiced Buddhism or recited Amitabha Buddha’s Name: whether it has been for their whole life, just two or three years, or even only a few days ago. What is important is whether they exclusively recite “Namo Amitabha Buddha” (Namo Amituofo). If they can do this, they will certainly be reborn—rebirth is guaranteed.
Master Shandao also said: “All ordinary beings who commit evil, as long as they redirect their hearts and exclusively recite Namo Amitabha Buddha, aspiring to be born in the Pure Land, whether for: one hundred years, seven days, one day, ten recitations, three recitations, or even one recitation at the end of their lives. Amitabha Buddha and the holy assembly will naturally come to welcome them, and they will at once attain rebirth.”
Here, Master Shandao goes further and uses “ordinary beings who commit evil” as another representation for “sentient beings of the ten directions.”
(to be continued tomorrow)
165 十方眾生
宗祖善導大師釋
對於「十方眾生」，善導大師的解釋是：
一切凡夫，
不問罪福多少、時節久近，
但能上盡百年，下至一日、七日，
一心專念彌陀名號，定得往生，必無疑也！
「一切凡夫」，也就是指一切的凡夫之人，不論他是善是惡，是善多惡少還 是惡多善少，這一切都不問；也不問他學佛念佛的時間有多久，是一輩子，還 是兩三年，或者是最近幾日才開始念佛，這些都不問。重要的是他能否一心 專念南無阿彌陀佛。能夠這樣，毫無疑問就必定會往生，決定會往生。
善導大師又說：
一切造罪凡夫， 但迴心念阿彌陀佛，願生淨土， 上盡百年，下至七日、一日，十聲、三聲、一聲等， 命欲終時，佛與聖眾自來迎接，即得往生。善導大師在這裡又進一步將十方眾生以「造罪凡夫」來代表。
Namo Amituofo!
