What Is The Order To Learn The Pure Land Scriptures? 净土经的学习顺序是什么？

净土经的学习顺序是什么？
What Is The Order To Learn The Pure Land Scriptures?

Question: Is there a recommended sequence for studying The Pure Land Tradition’s Five Sūtras《净土五经》?

Answer: There are two possible sequences.

[i] First Sequence

The First Sequence is as compiled by the Pure Land Tradition’s 13th Patriarch Great Master Yìnguāng (净土宗十三祖印光大师) in his checked publication of The Pure Land Tradition’s Five Sūtras: https://purelanders.com/wujing:

As [1], [2] and [3] below are The Pure Land Tradition’s Three Sūtras《净土三经》, that form the core of the Five Sūtras《五经》, they should be studied first. The notes following explain the rationale for the sequence, based on their contents and length.

[1]《佛说阿弥陀经》
The Sūtra In Which The Buddha Speaks Of Amitābha Buddha (Amitābha Sūtra)
https://purelanders.com/sutra

Note 1: There should be starting here as this sūtra is the shortest within the Three Sūtras《三经》, while being a concise introduction to the essence of the Pure Land teachings. This explains why it is recited by many monastic and lay practitioners daily, including at wakes for offering guidance to the deceased.

[2]《佛说观无量寿佛经》
The Sūtra In Which The Buddha Speaks Of Contemplation On Immeasurable Life Buddha
https://purelanders.com/guanjing

Note 2: This sūtra is second in length within the three. With other contents, it further describes the Pure Land’s features, and how to be reborn there via the Nine Grades’ (九品) criteria.

[3]《佛说无量寿经》
The Sūtra In Which The Buddha Speaks Of Immeasurable Life (Immeasurable Life Sūtra)
https://purelanders.com/dajing

Note 3: This sūtra is the longest within the three (and Five Sūtras). With other contents, it explains how Āmítuófó (阿弥陀佛) and his Pure Land arose, with the full benefits of reaching it, and how to do so, via his 48 Great Vows (大愿) and the Three Grades‘ (三辈) criteria. It also further describes the Pure Land’s features. As this seems to extend the Amitābha Sūtra, it is also named the Great(er) Sūtra《大经》, in comparison to the first, as the Small(er) Sūtra《小经》.

[4]《大佛顶首楞严经·大势至菩萨念佛圆通章》
The Great Buddha Crown’s Śūraṅgama Sūtra’s Section On Great Power Arrived Bodhisattva’s Perfect Penetration With Mindfulness Of Buddha
https://purelanders.com/yuantong

Note 4: This section is the shortest text within the Five Sūtras. With other contents, it explains the nature of Āmítuófó’s relationship with us, and how we should relate in return, so as to connect to him sincerely, for reaching his Pure Land successfully. It can be seen as a succinct summary of the key Pure Land teachings, in terms of the attitude to have, and the method to practise.

[5]《大方广佛华严经·普贤菩萨行愿品》
The Great Right And Vast Buddha’s Flower Adornment Sūtra’s Universal Virtue Bodhisattva’s Practices And Vows’ Chapter
https://purelanders.com/xingyuan

Note 5: This chapter can be seen as a final ‘extension’ of the Pure Land teachings, as it summarises the key Bodhisattva (菩萨) practices and vows (行愿), which include dedication of meritorious virtues (回向功德) for reaching Pure Land at the ‘end’, for final learning and practice to attain Buddhahood (佛果), for the welfare of one and all. (Even non-Bodhisattvas should practise what they can now, and dedicate towards birth in the Pure Land, where they will be able to practise and perfect the Bodhisattva path.)

[ii] Second Sequence

The Second Sequence is according to the known sequence of the sūtras’ eventual disappearance as this Dharma-Ending Age (末法时期) deepens, with those first to disappear first to be studied, those last to disappear later studied, and the others in between. With their impending disappearance, there is corresponding urgency.

It is also with learning from sūtras and putting their teachings into practice, that they do not ‘disappear’, helping to perpetuate their essence, to keep them alive for benefitting more. The notes following explain the rationale for the sequence, based on their ‘lifespans’ and contents.

However, if all Five Sūtras still exist, the First Sequence should be followed. It is best to completely study all five as soon as possible, before any of them start to disappear, even in part.

[1]《大佛顶首楞严经·大势至菩萨念佛圆通章》
The Great Buddha Crown’s Śūraṅgama Sūtra’s Section On Great Power Arrived Bodhisattva’s Perfect Penetration With Mindfulness Of Buddha
https://purelanders.com/yuantong

Note 6: As the Śūraṅgama Sūtra《楞严经》, in which this section is, will be the first sūtra to disappear in this Dharma-Ending Age, it is listed first.

[2]《佛说观无量寿佛经》
The Sūtra In Which The Buddha Speaks Of Contemplation On Immeasurable Life Buddha
https://purelanders.com/guanjing

Note 7: This is positioned here in the First Sequence too, with the reasons stated in Note 2.

[3]《大方广佛华严经·普贤菩萨行愿品》
The Great Right And Vast Buddha’s Flower Adornment Sūtra’s Universal Virtue Bodhisattva’s Practices And Vows’ Chapter
https://purelanders.com/xingyuan

Note 8: As explained in Note 5, as ‘this chapter can be seen as a final “extension” of the Pure Land teachings’, especially on dedicating Bodhisattva practices (菩萨行) for reaching Pure Land, its relatively more advanced teachings are thus positioned here.

[4]《佛说无量寿经》
The Sūtra In Which The Buddha Speaks Of Immeasurable Life (Immeasurable Life Sūtra)
https://purelanders.com/dajing

Note 9: As this will be the last sūtra to disappear, it should be listed last, but it is listed second last instead, with the reasons stated in Note 10.

[5]《佛说阿弥陀经》
The Sūtra In Which The Buddha Speaks Of Amitābha Buddha (Amitābha Sūtra)
https://purelanders.com/sutra

Note 10: Although in itself, the Immeasurable Life Sūtra《无量寿经》, also named the Great(er) Sūtra《大经》, is stated to be the very last sūtra to disappear, as the Amitābha Sūtra《阿弥陀经》is at times regarded as a smaller subset of it, (although there are some teachings distinct in each sūtra), this Small(er) Sūtra《小经》is at times regarded as the ‘actual’ last sūtra to disappear, after the Great(er) Sūtra does.

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