Wonderful Metaphors in the Pure Land School
淨土宗妙喻
Metaphor 67: The Joy of the Third Dhyana
What kind of joy can those who are reborn in the Pure Land [at the lowest level of the lowest tier] experience? Master Shandao, referring to the Nirvana Sutra, compares it to the profound sense of inner peace and happiness in the Third Dhyana, as experienced by a meditating Bhikhu.
The Infinite Life Sutra also describes the joy felt by this category of beings in the Pure Land, likening it to the spontaneous bliss experienced in the Trayastriṃsa Heaven. What did Master Shandao mean to tell us when he referred to the Nirvana Sutra instead of citing the Infinite Life Sutra?
The twenty-first chapter of the Nirvana Sutra describes the Land of Immobility, a Buddha world where the fragrance of flowers brings blissful joy to its inhabitants. This passage may be the basis for Master Shandao’s viewpoint. The Land of Immobility is a world of profound joy that delights both the body and mind, much like the Third Dhyana.
The greatest joy in the Saha World is the joy of the Third Dhyana, while the most severe pain is the suffering in Avici Hell.
(to be continued tomorrow)
67. 三禪之樂喻
怎樣的喜樂呢？善導大師在這裏引《涅槃經》說「猶如比丘，入三禪之樂」。 在這方面，《無量壽經》也說如同忉利天所享受自自然然的樂，善導大師在此 未引用《無量壽經》卻引用其他的經典，到底有何含義呢？
《涅槃經》第廿一就說：「有佛世界，名曰不動，若有眾生，聞其花香，身心安 樂，譬如比丘，入第三禪。」善導大師依據的可能是這一段經文，隨義轉用。這 一段經文說，有一個佛的世界叫做不動世界，那裏的眾生只要聞到不動世界 的花香，當下就身心充滿了甚深安樂，那種安樂如同比丘入第三禪。我們娑 婆世界最快樂的是什麼樂？就是第三禪的樂，我們娑婆世界最痛苦的是什麼 痛苦？是墮入阿鼻地獄的痛若。
Namo Amituofo!
