Clarifying Doubts About the Pure Land (I)
淨土釋疑(一)
Question 26:
Master, I now feel joyful and full of faith, knowing that I can attain rebirth. I enjoy listening to others speak about the Dharma, and I also enjoy sharing it with others. However, some people say, “You have not received the Bodhisattva Precepts, so you cannot teach others.”
I would like to ask: If one has not received the Bodhisattva Precepts, may one still share this teaching with others?
Answer:
Whether one has received the precepts or not, or even whether one has taken refuge or not—as long as one understands the compassion of Amitabha Buddha, one may, according to conditions and one’s ability and circumstances, speak to others and share the joy of the Dharma. In this way, the light of Amitabha’s salvation may also illuminate them.
However, what we must be mindful of is this: we need to understand the other person’s capacity, and know how to speak so that they are able to receive and believe. Our purpose is not simply to speak for the sake of speaking; our purpose is that they may enter the ocean of Amitabha’s Vow and accept Amitabha’s salvation. For this reason, skillful means and compassionate adaptability are very important. We must consider how to help them receive the teaching—that is what we need to pay attention to.
We speak for their benefit and acceptance—not for our reputation or gain. As for others’ comments or criticisms, we should not be swayed by them.
Furthermore, beforehand we should understand the other person’s disposition. Only then will our sharing not lead to disputes. Otherwise, if both sides end up red-faced and part unhappily, it achieves no result and instead creates adverse conditions. Therefore, we must first understand the other.
26問：請問師父，我現在信心歡喜，知道自己能往生了，喜歡聽別人講，也喜 歡給別人講，可是有人說：你沒受菩薩戒，不能給別人講。不知未受菩薩戒能 不能給人講？
答：
不管有沒有受戒，甚至有沒有皈依，只要懂得阿彌陀佛的慈悲，就可以 隨緣、隨份、隨力去給人家講，把我們的法喜與別人一起分享，讓彌陀救度的 光明也普照到他們身上。
只是要注意的是：我們也要瞭解對方的根機，知道怎麼講對方才能信受， 因為我們的目的不是為了講而講，而是為了他能夠進入彌陀願海，能夠信受 彌陀救度。這樣的話，方便善巧非常重要了，怎樣才能使他接受，這個就是我 們所要注意的。
我們是為了對方接受，不是為了名利。至於對方怎樣的評論，我們不會被 左右的。
而且，在這之前，我們要瞭解對方的根性，講起來才不會產生爭執，不然 到最後面紅耳赤、不歡而散，這樣沒有達到效果，反而結了惡緣，所以要先瞭 解對方。
Namo Amituofo!
