Don’t worry about being unable to study the sutras deeply

Don’t worry about being unable to study the sutras deeply

Master Huijing PureLandBuddhism 8月25日

QUESTION 4: Today most major Dharma centers in mainland China teach Pure Land Buddhism, and other schools are declining. Won’t Buddhism be enfeebled if we do not propagate the teachings of other schools such as Yogacara (Consciousness Only) and Tiantai? Wouldn’t the Common path and its teachings become available in fewer and fewer Dharma centers? 

ANSWER:

Shakyamuni Buddha appeared in this world to deliver sentient beings. As long as that goal is met, his purpose for manifesting in our world is fulfilled.

If we learn Buddhism and cannot gain rebirth in the Land of Bliss, but continue in the cycle of rebirth, even if we penetrate deeply the scriptures and master all the 84,000 schools of teaching, that would not be the aim of Shakyamuni Buddha. Nor would it be our purpose for learning the Dharma.

Once we reincarnate, we may not be able to remember what we learned in this lifetime. Besides, we would be reborn according to our karma. If we fall into the hell realm, we would suffer in both body and mind. It would not be possible for us to recall teachings that we learned in the past. For example, should we enter the embryo of a pig, we would take on the habit energy, characteristics and the ignorance of a pig.

Thus it is most important, when learning the Dharma, that we go deeply into the Pure Land teachings, so we can be reborn in the Land of Bliss.

Not only should we learn them, but we should convince people we know to do so as well. To learn these teachings indicates great wisdom, and propagating them is a demonstration of great kindness and compassion. To be able to learn Pure Land is to have abundant virtuous roots and meritorious blessings.

All the scriptures will vanish during the Age of Dharma Extinction, except the Infinite Life Sutra, which expounds the Pure Land teachings. If this sutra remains, it means that all sutras are preserved.

That’s because the aim of all the sutras and treatises is to free us from the cycle of rebirth. If we are so liberated, the goal of all the scriptures will have been met.

So don’t worry about being unable to study the sutras deeply; fret only about the inability to be reborn in the Pure Land. Once in the Land of Bliss, we will have a deep understanding of all sutras.

An Excerpt from What Kind of Buddha Is Amitabha? – Q&A 

阿弥陀佛是怎样一尊佛（现场答疑）

问题4：目前国内道场大都在弘扬净土法门，其他法门相继衰落，如果不大力弘扬其他宗派如唯识、天台等，佛教是否越来越衰微？通教通宗的道场越来越少？

 

答：释迦牟尼佛出现在这个世间的目的就是为了要广度众生，只要能够广度众生，佛陀出现在世间的目的就达到了。

那如果我们众生学佛不能往生极乐世界，死后还是继续轮回，即使通宗通教、深入经藏，通达八万四千法门也不是释迦牟尼佛的目的，也不是我们学佛的目的。

因为一旦轮回的话，这一辈子所学的下一辈子未必仍能记得，何况我们随业力流转，假如堕落地狱的话，只有受苦，整个身心只有苦，不可能再有心力去回想起以前所学过的法门，比如如果堕入猪胎的话，就是猪的习气、性情、愚痴。

所以，学佛最重要的就是要深入净土这一个法门，往生极乐世界。

不但自己学这个法门，也劝导所有与我们有缘的人都来学这一个法门，能够学这个法门就是大智大慧，能够将这个法门传播出去就是大慈大悲，大家若都能够学这个法门，大家就都是大善根、大福德了。

所有的经典到灭法时代通通都消灭了，只有宣扬这个法门的《无量寿经》不消灭，这一部经不消灭，等同于所有的经通通没有消灭。

因为佛说千经万论的目的都是要让我们解脱，我们如果能够解脱的话，千经万论的目的就都达到了。

所以不怕不会深入经藏，只怕不能往生，因为一旦往生，岂止深入经藏，三明六通，百千陀罗尼立刻就全都现前了。

作者： suifo

本愿称名 凡夫入报