The Pure Land school is needed in the human realm
The Pure Land school is needed in the human realm
“Needed in the human realm” means something that every person requires. It is needed in all eras during which there are human beings.
A human lifetime is full of hustle and bustle; all day long, we busy ourselves with this and that. We have a thousand cares, ten thousand tasks to perform. What is a person’s basic wish? What does he need? What does she seek? In plain language: to leave suffering behind and obtain happiness! That is the instinctive pursuit of human beings. It is so with everyone. There is no one who doesn’t aspire to happiness and joy, no one who doesn’t want to avoid misfortune and pain.
The Pure Land school advocates seeking rebirth in the Land of Bliss. The Infinite Life Sutra, one of the Three Pure Land Sutras, has this to say about the name of that realm and the reasons for wanting rebirth there:
Not even the names of the suffering in the Three Wretched Realms are heard there, only the spontaneous sounds of happiness. That is why it is called the Land of Peace and Joy.
The sutra also says:
It is devoid of distinctions and beyond all boundaries. You should each strive diligently to attain it, rising above the worldly realms and achieving rebirth in the Land of Peace and Joy. By horizontally transcending the Five Unfortunate Realms, they will naturally be closed off.
The Amitabha Sutra says:
The sentient beings in Amitabha Buddha’s realm are free from all suffering and experience only manifold joys. That is why it is called the Land of Bliss.
The Contemplation of Infinite Life Sutra says:
I should seek rebirth where there are no worries or vexations. I take no delight in Jambudvipa, for it is a turbid and unwholesome world.
The Commentary on the Treatise on Rebirth in the Pure Land notes:
If someone hears of the purity, peace and joy of his [Amitabha’s] land and develops an aspiration to be born there, this person too will gain rebirth, immediately attaining the karma of assurance. Thus the very name of this land is a Dharma activity. How inconceivable!
The Land of Bliss is also known as the Land of Peace and Joy. If one wishes to be reborn there after learning of the happiness there, that is sufficient for rebirth. From the name “Land of Bliss,” we can see how deeply concerned is the Pure Land school with the most fundamental of human aspirations. Such a focus transcends race, nation, social status, ideology and even religion. It is something all people need. It was so in ancient times, is so now, and will be so in the future.
Human beings instinctively seek happiness and joy. This is the humanist characteristic of the Pure Land school.(Master Jingzong)
Article excerpted from 《Pure Land Perspectives on 'Humanist Buddhism'》
Namo Amituofo
淨土法門為人間所必需
文：淨宗法师
所謂人間所需，是指人類間任何人皆需要，只要人類間存在之任何時代皆需要。
人之一生，汲汲營營；人之每天，忙忙碌碌；千般思慮，萬般勞作。他根本的意願是為了什麼？他需要什麼？他求什麼？一句話——厭苦求樂！這是人的本能追求，每一個人都為了此，沒有一個人不是為了追求幸福、快樂，沒有一個人不是為了遠離不幸、痛苦。
淨土法門宣導求生極樂淨土，關於極樂之得名，及求生極樂之理由，《淨土三經》之《無量壽經》說：
無有三塗，苦難之名；但有自然，快樂之音。是故其國，名曰安樂。
又說：
著於無上下，洞達無邊際；
宜各勤精進，努力自求之。
必得超絕去，往生安樂國；
橫截五惡道，惡道自然閉。
《阿彌陀經》說：
其國眾生，無有眾苦，但受諸樂，故名極樂。
《觀無量壽經》說：
無憂惱處，我當往生。不樂閻浮提，濁惡世也。
又，《往生論註》說：
經言：若人但聞彼國土清淨安樂，剋念願生，亦得往生，即入正定聚。此是國土名字為佛事，安可思議！
「極樂」，又稱「安樂」。聞樂願生，剋念即生。由極樂之立名，就可知淨土法門是如何深切地關注人性最根本的意願。這種關注，超越種族，超越國家，超越階級，超越一切意識形態，乃至超越宗教，而為人人所需；亙古如此，現在如此，將來也如此。
人性本能，偏好極樂。這是淨土法門人間特質。
南無阿彌陀佛
文章摘自《淨土法門的人間佛教觀》
