[28] The Noble Eightfold Path In Pure Land 净土之八正道

[Note: On the picture above, due to different word choices, Right Intention is Right Thought below, and Right Effort is Right Diligence below.]

净土之八正道
[28] The Noble Eightfold Path In Pure Land

「八圣道分」，亦名「八正道分」：

[The] Eight Noble Path Factors, [are] also named [as the] Eight Right Path Factors.

[Note 1: See Related Article below on how the Eight Right Path Factors (八正道分) are connected to the Main Pure Land Practice (净土正行).

修无漏行观，见四谛分明，名正见；

[1] Cultivating practices [and] contemplations without outflows, [with] seeing [of the] Four [Noble] Truths clearly understood, [is] named [as] Right View.

以无漏心相应思惟，动发觉知筹量，为令增长，入大涅槃，名正思惟；

[2] With [the] mind without outflows’ corresponding thought, initiating awareness [and] knowing, planning [and] preparing, for enabling [it to] increase [and] grow, [to] enter Great Nirvāṇa, [is] named [as] Right Thought.

以无漏慧除四邪命，摄诸口业，住一切正语中，名正语；

[3] With wisdom without outflows eliminating [the] Four Evil Livelihoods, gathering all verbal karmas, abiding within all [of] Right Speech, [is] named [as] Right Speech.

[Note 2:

Four Evil Livelihoods (四邪命):

(1) (Canvassing In Four) Directions (For) Rations (方口食): Flattering the tyrannical and powerful
(2) (Looking At Four) Directions (For) Rations (维口食): Looking at forms to tell fortunes (with divination), and at terrains to give geomantic advice
(3) Looking Up (For) Rations (仰口食): Looking up at celestial phenomena for speculation on various matters
(4) (Going) Down (For) Rations (下口食): Going down to plant in fields (and sell agricultural produce, or to mix medicines and see patients)

These kinds of livelihoods, especially the first three, often create many evil karmas (恶业) by
Evil Speech (恶语) of:

(1) False Speech (妄语) instead of True Speech (真实语),
(2) Frivolous Speech (绮语) instead of Right (And) Direct Speech (正直语),
(3) Double-Tongued (Speech) (两舌) instead of Harmonious Speech (和合语), and
(4) Harsh Speech (恶口) instead of Gentle (And) Soft Speech (柔软语).]

以无漏慧除身一切邪业，住清净正身业中，名正业；

[4] With wisdom without outflows eliminating [the] body [of] all Evil Karmas, abiding within pure [and] right physical karmas, [is] named [as] Right Karma [i.e. Action].

以无漏慧通除三业中五种邪命，住清净正命中，名正命；

[5] With wisdom without outflows completely eliminating [the] five kinds [of] Evil Livelihoods within [the] Three Karmas, abiding within pure [and] Right Livelihood, [is] named [as] Right Livelihood.

[Note 3:

Three Karmas (三业):

(1) Body (Physical) Karma (身业)
(2) Speech (Verbal) Karma (口业)
(3) Mind (Mental) Karma (意业)]

[Note 4:

From the Treatise (On) Perfection (Of) Great Wisdom《大智度论》by Nāgārjuna Bodhisattva (龙树菩萨):

问曰：何等是五种邪命？
Question: What are (the) five kinds (of) Evil Livelihoods?

答曰：
Answer:

一者、若行者为利养故，诈现异相奇特；
(1) First, those ascetic practitioners, for gains (and) support thus, pretending (to) appear (with) different forms (that are) unusual (or) special.

二者、为利养故，自说功德；
(2) Second, for gains (and) support thus, personally speaking (of one’s) meritorious virtues.

三者、为利养故，占相吉凶，为人说；
(3) Third, for gains (and) support thus, divining appearances (for the) auspicious (and) inauspicious, for people speaking (of them).

四者、为利养故，高声现威，令人敬畏；
(4) Fourth, for gains (and) support thus, (speaking) loudly (and) appearing ‘majestic’, (to) enable people (to) revere (and) fear.

五者、为利养故，称说所得供养，以动人心。
(5) Fifth, for gains (and) support thus, stating those attained offerings, with (it to) move people’s hearts.

邪因缘活命故，是为邪命。
(With) evil causes (and) conditions (for) maintaining life thus, these are Evil Livelihoods.

(With the above more for monastics, laypersons especially, should not be involved in the creating, providing, promoting and selling of five kinds of products and services in terms of the below.

(1) Weapons [for killing and harming],
(2) Sentient Beings [for enslaving, exploiting, abusing, trafficking, breeding and slaughtering],
(3) Meats [involving slaughtering and selling],
(4) Intoxicants [like alcohol and drugs for clouding and confusing the mind]
(5) Poisons [for killing and harming].

Essentially, anything done that breaks any precept and harms sentient beings for making a living is considered evil, while that which avoids the above can be considered as a Right Livelihood [正命].)]

以无漏慧相应，勤精进修涅槃道，名正精进；

[6] With wisdom without outflows corresponding, constantly [and] diligently cultivating Nirvāṇa’s path, [is] named [as] Right Diligence.

以无漏慧相应，念正道及助道法，名正念；

[7] With wisdom without outflows corresponding, mindful [of the] Right Path and Path Supportive Dharma [teachings, is] named [as] Right Mindfulness.

以无漏慧相应入定，名正定。

[8] With wisdom without outflows corresponding entering concentration, [is] named [as] Right Concentration.

– 净土宗九祖蕅益大师
《佛说阿弥陀经要解》

– Pure Land Tradition’s 9th Patriarch Great Master Ǒuyì
(Essential Explanation [Of The] Sūtra [In Which The] Buddha Speaks [Of] Amitā[bha] Buddha)

Namo Amituofo : Translation and notes by Shen Shi’an

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