Important Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
179. What Kind of Pure Land Is the Land of Bliss? (3/3)
Regarding the patriarchs of past generations:
● Vasubandhu Bodhisattva, in his Treatise on Rebirth, explained the twenty-nine kinds of adornments of the Pure Land—concerning both the land and the beings within it—and stated that it is not a realm where the Two Vehicles or beings within the three realms can dwell.
● Master Daochuo, in his Collection on Peace and Bliss, cited the Same Nature Mahayana Sutra to determine that the Western Land of Bliss is a Reward Land.
● Master Shandao, in his Commentary on the Contemplation Sutra in Four Fascicles, concluded that the Dharma-gate of Amitabha allows ordinary beings to enter the Reward Land.
Therefore, practitioners who exclusively recite Namo Amitabha Buddha should understand that, according to the doctrinal interpretations of these Pure Land patriarchs, the Land of Bliss is the Reward Land of the Reward Buddha.
Although this differs somewhat from the Tiantai classification of the Three Bodies and Four Lands, each approach has its own skillful means. The situation described as “womb birth in a transformation land” simply refers to those reborn who harbor doubts about the Buddha’s wisdom and temporarily remain inside the lotus bud.
When we compare the related sutra passages, we can infer that the “borderland city of doubt” refers precisely to this womb birth, which is likened to a
transformation land. The lotus palace itself is still within the Reward Land. Remaining within the lotus bud is only temporary. As soon as the doubt is exhausted, the lotus flower opens, and one immediately emerges — equally experiencing transformation birth in the Reward Land.
179 極樂世界是什麼樣的淨土？(3/3)
就歷代祖師大德而言，天親菩薩於《往生論》中，闡明極樂依正二十九種 莊嚴，非二乘三界能居。道綽大師於《安樂集》中，則引《大乘同性經》而判定 西方極樂世界為報土；善導大師則於《觀經四帖疏》中，判彌陀法門為凡夫入 報。
念佛人應知，淨土宗祖師依經典教判，極樂世界乃是報佛報土。雖然這與 天臺的三身四土教判不盡相同，但各有善巧方便。而化土胎生之景象，也不 過就是「往生者疑惑佛智，暫時處於蓮苞內」的狀況。比對相關經文，就可以 推知，「邊地疑城」即是所比喻的「化土胎生」，而蓮宮也是生在報土之中，住 胎不過是一時的，只要疑惑一盡，隨即蓮花開敷，同樣化生於報土。
Namo Amituofo!
