Clarifying Doubts About the Pure Land (I)
淨土釋疑(一)
Question 38:
Master, if someone is reborn in the Pure Land but does not wish to return to this world; preferring simply to remain in the Land of Bliss, would that person be considered a follower of the Smaller Vehicle (Hīnayāna)? If so, would such a person still be able to see Amitabha Buddha?
Answer:
No matter who is reborn there, they will certainly see Amitabha Buddha, because the Land of Bliss is a Mahayana teaching and realm. If one is not reborn there, that is another matter; but once reborn, even a person with a Hīnayāna disposition will have their spiritual capacity transformed. Naturally and spontaneously, the vow to widely liberate sentient beings will arise.
It is like the various kinds of water found on the earth’s surface: some are clean, some unclean; some are in a cup, while others are from the Yellow River or the Yangtze River. Each is different; but , once all these waters flow into the great ocean, they become of one taste with the ocean—naturally, without any effort.
In the same way, the Land of Bliss can transform a Hinayana mindset into a Mahayana one. Therefore, we need only aspire to be reborn there; once we arrive, Amitabha will guide and harmonize us.
38問：請問一下師父，如果有的人往生以後，他不想再回來，就是願意在極樂 世界住著，這種屬於小乘的人對吧，這種人能不能見到阿彌陀佛？
答：不管什麼人往生，一定會見到阿彌陀佛，因為極樂世界是大乘法門，不往 生則已，一旦往生，就會改變小乘的根性，自自然然會發起廣度眾生的願。
好像路面上的水千差萬別，有的乾淨，有的不乾淨，有杯中的水，也有黃河的 水、長江的水，各不一樣，可是一旦流入大海，就跟大海一個味道，自自然然 地，不必勉強。極樂世界能夠轉小乘的心量為大乘的心量，所以，我們儘管往 生，到那裏自有佛的調攝。
Namo Amituofo!
