十大违反直觉的净土真谛
[34] Top Ten Counterintuitive Pure Land Truths
[1] Death: Although the Pure Land Dharma Door (净土法门) seems to teach much about preparation for death (死亡) and rebirth (往生) in Pure Land, its practices also bring about much blessings from the Buddha (Āmítuófó: 阿弥陀佛), for eliminating karmic obstacles (消业障), for living a more fortunate life now.
[2] Easiness: Although the key Pure Land true practice (实行) of mindfulness of Buddha (念佛) seems very easy, it is relatively not so easy for the average person without the right guidance (开示), to give rise to profound Faith (深信) and sincere Aspiration (切愿) for powering it.
[3] Provisions: Although good roots (善根) and blessed virtues (福德) are needed to reach Pure Land, the main (主) method to accumulate them is mindfulness of Buddha that expresses the Three Provisions (三资粮) of Faith, Aspiration and Practice (信愿行), while other extra methods are considered supportive (助).
[4] Healing: Although most crave to live on when severely sick, there should be wholehearted mindfulness of Buddha (一心念佛) then, to reach Pure Land, where healing will be complete and permanent. With this aspiration, there might be healing in this defiled land (秽土) if one’s karma allows. However, even if with partial or complete healing, it will be impermanent, due to still eventual ageing, sickness and death (老病死).
[5] Longevity: Although the blessings from mindfulness of Buddha can extend life (延寿) for those still able to heal here, the ultimate lengthening of life is in Pure Land, where there will be immeasurable life (无量寿).
[6] Youthfulness: Although there is the common perception that mindfulness of Buddha is mostly learnt and practised by the elderly, since death can occur at any age, to babies, toddlers, teenagers, young adults and the middle-aged too, it is always better to prepare for it sooner than later, as young as possible. Those prepared will be able to guide those departing before them too.
[7] Wellness: Although it is natural for many to most sincerely aspire for rebirth in Pure Land when on the deathbed, or even right after dying, when there is no wiser choice then, it is actually safer to aspire to reach Pure Land when well. This is when there will be no distracting pain and suffering. (However, right after death, although in a more precarious state, with the mind disconnected from the body, there will be no more pain.)
[8] Immediacy: Although birth in Pure Land is usually thought of occurring later, at life’s end, those who have nurtured the Three Provisions already have their lotus flowers (莲花) (as the vehicles of reaching Pure Land) blossoming. In this sense, birth in Pure Land is a process that begins here and now.
[9] Separation: Although the reaching of Pure Land seems like being separated from still living loved ones, upon reaching it, with the Buddha’s empowerment, all present and even past lives’ loved ones can be connected to, with blessings and guidance personally offered to them as practising Bodhisattvas (菩萨).
[10] Return: Although many assume Pure Land is a final destination, it functions as the most efficient yet blissful Dharma school for perfecting our learning and practice (修学), so as to return as Bodhisattvas (and Buddhas) with great ease (自在), to deliver (度) more beings to reach the Pure Land too. This is also how there can be reunion with loved ones there.
相关教理
Related Teachings:
净土教理十大系列
Pure Land Teachings’ Top Ten Series
https://purelanders.com/shida
