Clarifying Doubts About the Pure Land (I)
淨土釋疑(一)
Question 25:
Answer continued (3/3)
Another implication is this: What is the fundamental nature of the beings of the ten directions? They are beings who possess the potential to commit the five
gravest offenses and slander the Dharma—beings capable of generating such karma. It is through this example of the five grave offenses and slandering the Dharma that the text reveals who the beings of the ten directions truly are.
Some people may doubt and think: “Only eminent patriarchs, great virtuous masters, and bodhisattvas can attain rebirth.” If so, we ordinary beings would believe we have no possibility of being reborn. What then?
Amitabha Buddha rescues beings like us—those who might even commit the five grave offenses and slander the Dharma. We are all the objects of his deliverance. This even more clearly shows what kind of beings “beings of the ten directions” refers to. Therefore, the phrase “except for those who commit the five grave offenses and slander the true Dharma” is added afterward.
To summarize these three points: the teaching on “five grave offenses and slandering the Dharma” is meant to show us that all sentient beings are able to be saved; not a single being lies outside the scope of deliverance.
So, according to the explicit meaning, there are twelve great kalpas; but according to Amitabha’s Reward Land, there are no twelve great kalpas. Which then, is correct—are there twelve great kalpas or not? This is something we will know only once we reach the Land of Bliss; we cannot know it here.
In essence, there are no twelve great kalpas. But if we simply say that there are none, some people may become arrogant. Therefore, the teaching speaks of “twelve great kalpas.” As to whether there truly are or are not—there is no need for us to debate this. When we arrive in the Pure Land, we will naturally understand without needing to ask.
25問
續答: (3/3)
再一個含義就是說：十方眾生的本性是哪一種眾生呢？就是有五逆謗法根性 的，會造作五逆謗法的眾生，以這個五逆謗法來顯十方眾生。
有人懷疑說「唯有祖師大德才能往生，唯有菩薩才能往生」，那我們就自 卑沒有份了。怎麼辦呢？阿彌陀佛就以我們這種有可能會犯五逆謗法的眾生 為救度的對象，這樣愈能顯明十方眾生是哪一種眾生，所以後面加上了「唯除 五逆，誹謗正法」。
總括這三點來講，這個「五逆謗法」是讓我們知道：所有一切眾生都要救度 ，沒有一個眾生不在救度的範圍之內。
那麼，從顯義來講有十二大劫，從彌陀的報土來講，沒有十二大劫。究竟 是有十二大劫還是沒有十二大劫呢？這個要到極樂世界才知道，我們在這裏 不知道。
從它的本質來講，沒有十二大劫，但如果講沒有十二大劫，有人會驕慢， 所以給你講十二大劫，那到底有沒有？這一點我們不必多加談論，到極樂世 界自然不問自知。
Namo Amituofo!
