Important Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
175. The Five Kinds of Difficulties (3 /5)
The third chart presents these points in terms of corresponding contrasts:
1. Inner vs. outer: non-Buddhists represent outer paths; the bodhisattva Dharma is the inner path.
2. Lesser vs. greater: Sravakas belong to the Lesser Vehicle; great compassion belongs to the Mahayana.
3. Good vs. evil: reckless and evil persons obstruct the superior virtues of practitioners.
4. Defiled vs. pure: inverted teachings are defiled, while pure conduct (brahma-carya) is undefiled.
5. Self vs. other: one relies delusively on self-power; the other relies entirely on the Other power of Amitabha Buddha’s vows.
Master Tanluan explains that all of the above obstacles are visible everywhere; therefore, this is called the Difficult Path. He then immediately elucidates the meaning of the Easy Path:
The Easy Path refers to simply relying on the causal conditions of faith in Amitabha Buddha, aspiring to be born in the Pure Land; and, by relying on the power of Amitabha’s vows, attaining rebirth in the Pure Land. By fully relying on Amitabha Buddha’s power, one immediately enters the rightly established group of the Mahayana; and achieves non- retrogression. It is like joyfully traveling by water in a boat.
(to be continued tomorrow)
175 五種難 (3/5)
第三組是相對的關係。
一、內外對：外道是其他宗教，內道是菩薩法。
二、大小對：聲聞是小乘，大慈悲是大乘。
三、善惡對：無賴惡人是惡，障礙了修行人的勝德。
四、染淨對：顛倒法是染污的，梵行是清淨的。
五、自他對：一是妄想靠自力，一是完全仗佛願力。
曇鸞大師說，前面那些障難，到處可見，所以是難行道。
緊接著，就闡釋易行道的內涵：易行道者：謂但以信佛因緣，願生淨土，乘佛 願力，便得往生彼清淨土；佛力住持，即入大乘正定之聚，正定即是阿毗跋 致。譬如水路，乘船則樂。
Namo Amituofo!
