Clarifying Doubts About the Pure Land (II)
淨土釋疑(二)
Answer to Q49 (7 / 9)
If we compare the Nine Grades and the Three Grades, their nature is the same. If we compare the Nine Grades, Three Grades, and the Womb Palace, their nature is likewise the same.
Our Dharma Path leads directly into the Reward Land. It does not enter the Womb Palace.
Although we may possess an identity corresponding to one of the Three Grades, our rebirth does not depend upon that grade.
For example, I may be a monastic; but, my rebirth does not depend upon my identity as a monastic. It depends upon the merit and virtues contained in Amitabha’s Name.
However, this principle is generally not understood. People may think that Buddha-recitation leads to a lower-grade rebirth, while other practices lead to a higher-grade rebirth. Consequently, they think, “We cannot only recite the Buddha’s Name. We must also do other practices.”
They may even think that simply reciting Namo Amitabha Buddha is insufficient and that they must raise the amount of their recitations until their “practice becomes continuous,” or to the state in which waking and dreaming are one, or even attain Buddha-Recitation Samadhi. They believe that doing these practices would make their rebirth more secure and their grade of rebirth higher.
Such interpretations belong to the Path of Importance, not to the Path of the Great Vow.
(to be continued tomorrow)
續答 (7 /9)
如果「九品」和「三輩」對比，「九品」和「三輩」的性質是一樣的，「九品」、「三 輩」、「胎宮」對比，性質也是一樣的。我們個這法門是進入報土，不在胎宮裡 面，雖有三輩的身份，不依三輩往生。
如我的身份是出家，但我往生不是靠出家的身份，是靠這一句名號的功德。 可是這種道理一般不了解，會認為念佛是下品生，其他是上品生，所以我們不能只是念佛，還要做其他的；甚至認為單這樣念佛不夠，還要把念佛的功夫 提升到功夫成片，夢寐一如，甚至進入念佛三昧，以為這樣往生比較可靠，品 位比較高超，這樣的解釋就是「要門」，不是「弘願門」了。
Namo Amituofo!
