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  1. Pure Land Doubts Resolved (淨土疑辯)
  1. Pure Land Doubts and Discernment (淨土疑辨)
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Pure Land Doubts and Discernment (淨土疑辨)

About 淨土疑辨

Ming · by 袾宏撰

1,107 · about 4 min

The "Discourse Resolving Doubts about the Pure Land" by the eminent late-Ming dynasty master Lianchi (Zhuhong) is an important treatise of the Pure Land school. Addressing numerous doubts within the Buddhist community of his time regarding the Pure Land teachings, the master refuted misconceptions with incisive arguments and systematically elucidated the sublime principles of Pure Land doctrine and the practice of Buddha-recitation. This work establishes faith, aspiration, and practice as the three essential provisions for rebirth, emphasizes the feasibility of attaining rebirth through Amitābha Buddha's vow-power while carrying karmic burdens in this Dharma-ending age, and harmonizes Chan and Pure Land thought. It exerted a profound influence on the development of Pure Land faith during the Ming and Qing dynasties, is revered as an authoritative scripture of the Pure Land school, and remains an essential foundation for studying and practicing the Pure Land teachings to this day.


或問:「淨土之說,蓋表法耳,智人宜直悟禪宗。而今只管讚說淨土,將無執著事相,不明理性?」
答:「歸元性無二,方便有多門。曉得此意,禪宗、淨土,殊途同歸。子之所疑,當下氷釋。昔人於此,遞互闡揚,不一而足。如中峰大師道:『禪者,淨土之禪;淨土者,禪之淨土。而修之者必貴一門深入。』此數語,尤萬世不易之定論也。故大勢至菩薩得念佛三昧而曰:『以念佛心,入無生忍。』普賢菩薩入華嚴不思議解脫而曰:『願命終時,生安樂剎。』是二大士,一侍娑婆教主,一侍安養導師,宜應各立門戶,而乃和會圓融,兩不相礙,此皆人所常聞習知,那得尚執偏見?
「且爾云:『淨土表法者』,豈不以淨心即是淨土,豈復更有七寶世界?則亦將謂善心即是天堂,豈復更有夜摩忉利?惡心即是地獄,豈復更有刀劍鑊湯?愚癡心即是畜生,豈復更有披毛帶角等耶?
「又爾喜談理性,厭說事相。都緣要顯我是高流,怕人說我不通理性。噫!若真是理性洞明,便知事外無理,相外無性,本自交徹,何須定要捨事求理,離相覓性?況土分四種,汝謂只有寂光土更無實報、莊嚴等土乎哉?若一味說無相話以為高,則資性稍利者,看得兩本經論,記得幾則公案,即便能之,何足為難?且汝既了徹自心,隨處淨土。吾試問汝:『還肯即廁溷中作住止否?還肯就犬、豕、馬、牛同槽而飲噉否?還肯入丘塚,與臭腐、屍骸同睡眠否?還肯洗摩飼哺伽摩羅疾,膿血屎尿諸惡疾人,積月累年否?』於斯數者,歡喜安隱,略不介意,許汝說高山平地總西方。其或外為忍勉,內起疑嫌,則是淨穢之境未空,憎愛之情尚在,而乃開口高談大聖人過量境界,撥無佛國,蔑視往生,可謂欺天誑人,甘心自昧。苦哉!苦哉!
「又汝若有大力量、有大誓願,願於生死海中頭出頭沒,行菩薩行,更無畏怯,則淨土之生,吾不汝強。汝或慮此土,境風浩大,作主不得;慮諸佛出世難值,修學無繇;慮忍力未固,不能於三界險處度脫眾生;慮盡此報身未能永斷生死,不受後有;慮後有既在,捨身受身前路茫茫,未知攸往。則棄淨土而不生,其失非細。
「此淨土法門似淺而深,似近而遠,似難而易,似易而難,他日汝當自知。汝今參禪、念佛,不妨隨便一門深入。但忌認鍮作金,得少為足,便似管窺小解,恣意妄談,非詆淨土。喻如癡狂之子,罵斥父母,父母慈憐雖不加責,其如天理之不容,王法之必戮何?彼妄談者報亦如是。可懼也夫!可悲也夫!」

淨土疑辨序
淨土疑辨後跋

CBETA Code: T1977

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Copyright: Original texts from CBETA
AI translation for reference only — not authoritative, not a statement of final truth. Awakening of the Dharma requires personal practice.