曇鸞 = Tanluan; 世親 = Vasubandhu; 無量壽經優婆提舍願生偈 = Verses on the Pure Land Aspired for by Queen Vaidehi; 二道二力說 = Two Paths Two Powers Doctrine; 十念 = Ten Recitations
摘要
淨土宗之所以能廣泛流傳至今，主要是曇鸞註解了世親菩薩的論著――《無量壽優婆提舍願生偈》，又稱為《往生論》或《淨土論》。這本論註對後世的淨土思想產生了巨大影響，尤其傳入日本後，形成了日本淨土宗及淨土真宗等教派，而這兩宗派均將曇鸞奉為祖師。 曇鸞大師在日常中一面修持淨土，一面對淨土思想理論進行了深入研究和註解，並提出了淨土宗派的兩個基本要點。一是「二道二力說」，認為追求佛道之法，有難行、易行二道，於五濁惡世無佛住世之時，求不退轉地是為難行道，因為在無佛之時，「唯是自力，無他力持」，憑一己之力的修持而欲證得聖果，有如陸地步行，十分艱難，這種憑自力修行就是難行道。而以信佛之因緣，一心念阿彌陀佛，仗佛的本願力，入大乘正定聚，得以往生淨土，這就好比水路行舟，可以憑借他力之助，既省力且又容易達成目的；二是「倡導口念」，如《略論安樂淨土義》：「又宜同志五三，共結言要，垂命終時，迭相開曉，為稱阿彌陀佛名號，願生安樂，聲聲相次，使成十念也。」。這種以稱名念佛為主要修持方法，改變了以往的禪觀等修行方法，同樣如《往生論》最後一句，簡單易行以得阿耨多羅三藐三菩提。 The widespread of the Pure Land Buddhism to this day is mainly attributed to the commentary provided by Master Tanluan on the treatise of Bodhisattva Vasubandhu, known as the "Verses on the Pure Land Aspired by Queen Vaidehi," also called the "Contemplation Sutra" or "Pure Land Sutra." This commentary greatly influenced subsequent Pure Land thought, especially after its introduction to Japan, which led to the formation of schools such as Jodo Shinshu and Jodo Shu, both of which revere Master Tanluan as their patriarch. In the daily life of Master Tanluan, he engaged in both the practice and in-depth research and annotation on theory of Pure Land thought. He proposed two fundamental points for the Pure Land Buddhism. The first is the "Two Paths, Two Powers Doctrine," asserting that in the pursuit of the Buddha's path, there are two paths: the difficult path and the easy path. In the corrupt age devoid of a Buddha's presence, the difficult path involves seeking enlightenment without retreating. This is considered difficult because during the absence of Buddha, "only through self-power, without reliance on others" can one strive for enlightenment, akin to walking on land, which is exceedingly challenging. This self-power is the difficult path. On the other hand, having faith in the Buddha and reciting the name of Amitabha with one’s heart, entrusting in the Buddha's original vow, aligning with Mahayana Samadhi concentration and being reborn in the Pure Land. This is like sailing on the water, where assistance from external forces makes the journey both effortless and likely to achieve its goal. The second point is the "Advocacy of Vocal Recitation," as stated in "Brief Commentary on the Meaning of Rebirth in the Blissful Pure Land": “That it is also appropriate for three or five like-minded individuals to collectively pledge, at the time of approaching the end of life, to remind and encourage each other to recite the name of Amitabha, aspiring for birth and nurturing in the Pure Land, that with each utterance succeeding one another, and making up ten recitations." This method is primarily focused on vocal recitation and name chanting, which deviates from previous meditation-based practices. It simplifies the approach, as highlighted in the final line of the "Contemplation Sutra," emphasizing a simple and easy path to attain the unsurpassed enlightenment of Buddhahood.
