Clarifying Doubts About the Pure Land (I)
淨土釋疑(一)
Question 24:
Master, you have taught that by entrusting oneself to Amitabha Buddha’s saving grace, one will certainly attain rebirth in the Pure Land.
In that case, since we are now ordinary beings, will we be reborn in the Land of Common and Sagely Beings Dwelling Together (the lowest of the four Pure Lands)?
Or will we be reborn directly in the Land of Eternal Quiescent Light, where the Buddhas dwell?
Answer:
Master Shandao taught that the Land of Bliss is the Reward Land.
As for the classifications of the four lands:
the Land where Common and Sagely Beings Dwell Together,
the Land of Expedient Liberation,
the Land of True Reward and Adornment,
and the Land of Eternal Quiescent Light.
These divisions do not come from the Pure Land tradition. They are distinctions made according to the Tiantai school’s doctrinal framework.
Such classifications are mistaken when applied to the Pure Land. The Land of Bliss is not like that—it is the Reward Land.
“Reward Land” means the Buddha-land accomplished through Amitabha Buddha’s vows and practices. Because that land is the fruition of Amitabha’s merit and vows, when we are born there, we all share Amitabha’s rewards equally.
Amitabha’s reward is Infinite Light—thus we, too, possess Infinite Light. Amitabha’s reward is Infinite Life—thus we, too, possess Infinite Life. Amitabha’s reward body possesses the Thirty-two Marks. Thus, we too entirely possess the Thirty-two Marks.
This is what is meant by the Reward Land. Therefore, the Pure Land path is both profoundly simple and its merits supremely excellent.
(to be continued tomorrow)
24問：請問師父，信受阿彌陀佛救度，就必定往生。那麼，現在是凡夫身，以後 往生到凡聖同居土呢，還是到佛住的常寂光土？
答：
善導大師是講報土，極樂世界是報土。
至於說凡聖同居土、方便有餘土、實報莊嚴土、常寂光土，那不是淨土宗 的判釋，那是依天臺教來分判極樂世界。這種分判是錯誤的，極樂世界不是 那樣的國土，是報土。所謂報土，就是阿彌陀佛發願修行成就的國土，叫做報 土。所以，我們到那裏都得到阿彌陀佛的果報，阿彌陀佛的果報是無量光，我 們就無量光；阿彌陀佛的果報是無量壽，我們就無量壽；阿彌陀佛的果報是三 十二相，我們就三十二相，都跟阿彌陀佛一樣，這就是報土。所以，淨土法門 既簡單而功德又殊勝。
Namo Amituofo!
