Clarifying Doubts About the Pure Land (II)
淨土釋疑(二)
Question 53: If we focus only on reciting the Buddha’s name, are we not placing too little emphasis on human values and morality?
Answer to Q 53: If we genuinely follow and accord with this Dharma path, we will necessarily come to recognize ourselves as ordinary beings burdened by offenses and caught in birth-and-death. A person who truly realizes this cannot help but become humble and gentle. There is no room for arrogance, conceit, or constant concern with comparing oneself with others. One’s character will naturally begin to change.
Thus, in our Dharma path, even while realizing the ultimate truth, we are able to appreciate the conventional truth; and through understanding the conventional truth, we can enter into the ultimate truth. The two complement and support each other.
The Five Precepts and Ten Wholesome Deeds are the most basic practices for anyone who learns Buddhism. In The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment, the path is divided into the paths of the lower, middle, and superior practitioners. Before attaining Buddhahood, at the very least, one should complete the path of the lower practitioner—that is, maintain a human rebirth. At the minimum, this requires keeping the Five Precepts pure.
Of course, this is a path based on self-power. In the Saha world, if we do not attain Buddhahood in this lifetime, we continue in the next; if not in the next, then in the following one, and so on. In order to continue practicing from lifetime to lifetime, we must maintain a human rebirth and encounter the Dharma in every lifetime. If in any one lifetime we fall into one of the Three Wretched Realms, our practice is interrupted. To regain a human rebirth after falling into the three evil realms depends on whether the karmic conditions from our past lives have matured sufficiently to allow us to be born human again. This is why it is called a difficult path. As Bodhisattva Nagarjuna said, it is “as difficult as climbing to heaven.”
(to be continued tomorrow)
第53問：如果只談念佛，是否太忽視人文、道德的部份了？
答：如果真的相應我們這個法門，一定會相信自己是一個罪惡生死凡夫，一個真正體會到罪惡生死凡夫的人，一定會謙卑柔軟，貢高我慢不起來，也傲慢計較不起來，這樣性情就會轉變。所以我們這個法門，即使是真諦也能體會俗諦，體會俗諦就能進入真諦，是相輔相成的。
五戒十善是一個學佛的人最平常的，《菩提道次第廣論》就有分下士道、中士道、上士道。在還沒有完成佛果之前，最起碼要完成下士道，也就是保持人身，這起碼要五戒清淨。當然這是自力法門，在娑婆世界這輩子沒有完成佛果就下輩子，下輩子沒有完成就下下輩子……，為了生生世世的修行，所以必須生生世世都保持人身遇到佛法，如果有一世墮落到三惡道就無法再繼續了。墮落三惡道要再得人身，就要看他過去世有沒有轉世為人身的緣成熟，所以是難行道。龍樹菩薩才會說：「難如登天」。
Namo Amituofo!
