Sept.12, 2024
Basic Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
132 The Name of Ultimate, Perfect, and Harmonious Virtue (continued)
The Tientai School always talks about “perfect and complete”, based on the dogma of “no difference between mind, Buddha and sentient beings”. It means one’s mind is replete with Buddhas and sentient beings in the ten Dharma Realms.
Deluded mind refers to sentient beings and enlightened mind refers to the Buddha, so they talk about ‘perfect and complete”, mainly with reference to mind.
However, when the Pure Land School talks about “perfect and complete”, it only refers to Amitabha Buddha. It is Amitabha’s Name that contains ultimate, perfect, and harmonious virtues. If ordinary beings believe this and recite it, they will be rescued and delivered without any interference.
The following are quotations from the Buddhas and our patriarchs as evidence:
“If those who earnestly believe, rejoice , wish to be reborn in my land, and recite my Name even ten times, should fail to be born there, may I not attain perfect enlightenment.”
“Those who rejoice in faith, recite his Name even once, and sincerely dedicate their merit in aspiration to be reborn there, will immediately attain rebirth and achieve non-retrogression.
“If someone hears the Buddha’s Name, rejoices, and recites it even once, you\should know that this person has received the utmost benefit.”
“When I complete the Buddha-path, my Name shall transcend all in the ten directions. Should it not be heard everywhere, May I not attain perfect enlightenment.”
“By the power of that Buddha’s Fundamental Vow, those who hear his Name and wish to be reborn, will all reach his land and naturally attain the state of non-retrogression.”
“When I attain Perfect Enlightenment, my Buddha Name shall be Amitayus. All sentient beings who hear this Name will be transported to my land. Their bodies will be golden in color, just like mine, and all their forms will be splendid, perfect and complete. Moreover, they will be enabled to benefit various kinds of sentient beings through the greatness of their compassionate minds.
(the above quoted from the Great Sutra)
(to be continued tomorrow)
132 圓融至德嘉號 (續)
天臺宗盛談圓融,是立足於「心佛及眾生,是三無差別」之教理,亦即吾人之心具足佛、眾生及十法界之故,心迷即是凡夫,悟即是佛。以心為主而談圓融。
然而淨土宗是在阿彌陀佛之上談圓融,故謂彌陀名號是圓融至德嘉號,凡夫信之念之,能夠自在無礙地被救。
引證佛言祖語如下:
•至心信樂,欲生我國,乃至十念,若不生者,不取正覺。
•信心歡喜,乃至一念,至心迴向,願生彼國,即得往生,住不退轉。
•其有得聞彼佛名號,歡喜踴躍乃至一念,當知此人為得大利,則是具足無上功德。
•我至成佛道,名聲超十方,究竟有不聞,誓不成等覺。
•其佛本願力,聞名欲往生,皆悉到彼國,自致不退轉。
•我若成正覺,立名無量壽,眾生聞此號,俱來我剎中;
如佛金色身,妙相悉圓滿,亦以大悲心,利益諸群品。
──《大經》
Namo Amituofo!
