Master Huijing’s Short Teaching about Pure Land Buddhism (I)
淨土短文 (一)
20. The Main Meaning of the Chapter on Perfect Penetration Through Mindfulness of Amitabha Buddha Can Be Summarized with Five Points:
1. It explains the principle by which mindfulness of Amitabha Buddha enables one to draw near to the Buddha, see the Buddha, and ultimately become a Buddha. The principle of this is that Amitabha remembers sentient beings, and sentient beings remember Amitabha. When Amitabha and beings mutually recollect one another, they attract each other just as magnets do. As a result, the practitioner’s "aptitude" and the Dharma ("teaching") become one reality. Amitabha Buddha and ordinary beings are no longer separated. Therefore, one can draw near to Amitabha Buddha, see Amitabha, and attain Buddhahood.
2. It also reveals Amitabha’s mind. Where is Amitabha’s mind? It is found in sentient beings who exclusively recite Namo Amitabha Buddha.
3. This clarifies the relationship between Amitabha Buddha and sentient beings.
4. It explains the cause and attainment (the practice and realization) of Great Strength Bodhisattva (Mahasthamaprapta).
5. It shows the basis by which one attains Samadhi.
The first three points demonstrate that the Pure Land teaching is both an easy-to-practice path and, at the same time, a supremely excellent, perfect, and sudden Dharma gate.
20. 圓通章大意有五：
一、念佛之能近佛、見佛、成佛的原理，亦即佛生憶念。佛生憶念，如磁相吸， 即能機法一體，佛凡不離，故能近佛、見佛、成佛。
二、亦在開示佛心。佛心在哪裡？佛心在眾生身上。
三、開示佛與眾生的關係。
四、說明大勢至菩薩的因果。
五、表明得三摩地之由。
前三顯示淨土宗，是既易行又殊勝的圓頓法門。
Namo Amituofo!
