Clarifying Doubts About the Pure Land (I)
淨土釋疑(一)
Question 20:
Master, many Buddhists are deeply concerned about the issue of karmic cause and effect. For someone who accepts and entrusts themselves to Amitabha’s salvation, how does karmic retribution work for them?
Answer:
A person who accepts and entrusts themselves to Amitabha’s salvation is one who possesses both “deep faith in oneself as the sentient being” and “deep faith in the Dharma.”
To possess “deep faith in oneself as the sentient being” means to realize: “I am a deluded, sinful being, bound to birth-and-death. Through my own practice I
cannot free myself from saṃsāra, nor can I repay the karmic debts I have incurred. Inevitably, I will fall into hell.” This awakening is called “deep faith in oneself as the sentient being”.
“Deep faith in the Dharma” means realizing: “Even someone like me, burdened with grave karmic evils, will certainly attain birth in the Pure Land through exclusively reciting Namo Amitabha Buddha. At the moment I hear of and trust in Amitabha Buddha’s unconditional salvation, my rebirth is settled.” This is the “deep faith in the Dharma”, which Master Shandao explained as: “ By relying on the power of Amitabha’s 18th Vow, one is assured of rebirth.”
How does karmic cause and effect apply to a person who holds these two kinds of settled faith?
(to be continued tomorrow)
20問：請問法師，很多學佛人都非常關心因果報應的問題，那麼信受彌陀救度 的人，他的因果報應的情況是怎麼樣呢？
答：(1 / 6)
信受彌陀救度的人，就是具足「機深信」與「法深信」的人。
具足「機深信」就是體悟到：自己是個罪惡深重的生死凡夫，以自己的修行不 能解脫自己的生死輪迴，不能還清自己所欠的業債，一定會墮落地獄。這種 體悟叫做「機深信」。
「法深信」就是體悟到：像我這種罪惡深重的眾生，只要稱名，必定往生，當下 聞信阿彌陀佛的無條件救度，當下決定往生。這種叫做「法深信」，善導大師 的解釋是「乘彼願力，定得往生」。
有這兩種決定深信的人，他的因果怎麼樣呢？
Namo Amituofo!
