Important Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
180. Attaining Buddhahood in Ten Kalpas (2 /3)
From the standpoint of the Sacred Path (Self-Power path), the teaching of Amitabha attaining Buddhahood in the distant past is emphasized. Why? Because the Sacred Path involves cultivating practice in this Sahā world through one’s own effort, in order to realize one’s Buddha-nature and attain Buddhahood. Since Buddha-nature is equal in all beings and beyond the distinctions of time, it does not belong to the past or the future; it is eternally present. In truth, there is neither past nor future, and even the notion of the present ultimately does not apply.
From the standpoint of the Pure Land path, however, the emphasis is on Amitabha’s attainment of Buddhahood ten kalpas ago. This is because ordinary beings who have not yet realized their Buddha-nature naturally perceive distinctions. To accord with the capacities of ordinary beings, there must be a definite number that people can understand, recognize, believe in, and rely upon. Therefore, both the Larger Sutra and the Amitabha Sutra clearly state that Amitabha Buddha attained Buddhahood ten kalpas ago. The patriarchs in the Pure Land lineage have likewise explained it in terms of ten kalpas.
(to be continued tomorrow)
180 十劫成佛 (續 2 /3 )
若以聖道門來說，聖道門重視久遠劫。為什麼？因為聖道門是在娑婆世 界以自力修行來領悟佛性，證悟佛果。而佛性平等，在時間上平等，不屬過去 跟未來，永遠都是現在，正是沒有過去也沒有未來，其實也沒有現在。
若以淨土門來說，淨土門重視十劫的成佛。因為還沒證悟到佛性的凡夫 眾生，都有差別的觀念，要符合凡夫的根機，必須要有一個數目，可以去了 解、認識、信仰跟依靠。所以《大經》和《小經》也都揭示彌陀成佛以來是十劫， 淨土宗傳承祖師的說法，也是以十劫來說。
Namo Amituofo!
