念佛法門是從果上修的

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念佛法門是從果上修的 - 第268集

Buddha Mindfulness is a method that cultivates from the result.

「又《甄解》據從果向因義，釋云：如來一切功德寶藏，佛果功德也。此之功德大寶海，說言佛法藏，即是佛所得一乘也」。《甄解》這個意思也說得好，從果向因專說念佛法門，因為這名號是果德，名號不是因，我們執持名號，從果上修的，把如來果當作我們的修因，這是特別法門。

“Based on 甄解 (zhēn jiě); the Annotation of the Infinite Life Sutra^[1]’s connotation of using the resultant merit of buddhas for causal practice, all treasure of merits of the Tathāgatas refer to the resultant merit of buddhas. These merits which are as great as the treasure of the ocean, are called ‘Dharma Store.’ They are the Single Vehicle attained by buddhas.” This meaning in the annotation is very well said. ‘Using the resultant merit of buddhas for causal practice’ refers specifically to the Buddha Mindfulness method because this Amitabha Buddha’s name is the resultant merit of buddhas (it is not a cause). When we practise Buddha Mindfulness, we are using the resultant merit of buddhas for our causal practice, so it is a special method.

佛果功德就是如來一切功德寶藏，這個功德大寶海，給它說個名詞，叫佛法藏。即是佛所得一乘，一乘是圓滿的，一乘在大乘法裡頭最高的。經教裡面講一乘就兩部經，《華嚴》、《法華》講一乘，其他教裡頭都不是一乘教。大乘，小乘，大乘是菩薩乘，一乘是佛乘，聲聞緣覺是小乘。

The resultant merit of buddhas refers to all treasure of merits of the Tathāgatas. These merits, which are as great as the treasure of ocean, are called ‘Dharma Store’ and are the Single Vehicle attained by buddhas. Single Vehicle, which is perfection, is the highest realisation in Mahayana Buddhism. There are two sutras which expound the Single-vehicle teachings, namely, the Avatamsaka Sutra and the Lotus Sutra. Other teachings are not Single Vehicle. Mahayana Buddhism is the bodhisattva-vehicle, while Single-vehicle is the Buddha-vehicle, and śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas are the lesser-vehicle.

「《甄解》之說，顯會中諸菩薩皆是大權示現，從果向因，已入如來一乘果海，但不捨因行，故來會贊助釋尊」。這個意思深，來參加釋迦牟尼佛大會這些菩薩，他們都是果後大權。

The annotation states, “According to 甄解 (zhēn jiě); the Annotation of the Infinite Life Sutra^[1], the bodhisattvas in the general assembly are incarnations of great bodhisattvas that returned by vow. Even though they had already entered the Thus Come One’s Ocean of Single Vehicle (i.e., they had attained Buddhahood), they did not relinquish their causal practice (as bodhisattvas), so they came to the assembly to assist Sakyamuni Buddha, the World Honoured One.” This meaning is deep. These bodhisattvas who came to take part in Sakyamuni Buddha’s general assembly are post-enlightenment great bodhisattvas.

果後是什麼？已經成佛了。現在釋迦牟尼佛在這示現成佛，教化眾生，他們來幫忙，幫忙不能以佛身，他們用菩薩的身分來幫忙。實際上？實際上早就成佛了。像前面所說的文殊、普賢、彌勒，這個地方所說的十六位正士，在家菩薩統統早都成佛了，是佛來示現。

What is post-enlightenment? It is having attained Buddhahood. Now that Sakyamuni Buddha manifested to become a buddha in this world to edify sentient beings, they came to lend their helping hand. Instead of manifesting as a buddha, they manifested as a bodhisattva to help the Buddha out. Who are they actually? In fact, they had already attained Buddhahood long ago. Like Mañjuśrī Bodhisattva, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva and Maitreya Bodhisattva mentioned above, the sixteen bodhisattvas of the laity mentioned in this place had attained Buddhahood long ago.

所以從果向因，果是一乘，因是菩薩，應以菩薩身分來度眾生。統統現菩薩身分，而且都現的是等覺菩薩。使釋迦佛這個法會更殊勝，他們這些人在座，讓學習的人生起信心，對這個法門不再懷疑，有真誠的信心，有真實的願心，願生淨土，不再在這個六道裡面逗留了，決心一生求生淨土，所以他們是來贊助釋迦牟尼佛。

All of them are buddhas (i.e., Single Vehicle) who manifested in the form of bodhisattvas as they should, to help sentient beings. Moreover, all of them had manifested as virtually enlightened bodhisattvas, thereby making the Dharma assembly of Sakyamuni Buddha more exceptional and enabling the audience to grow in confidence and no longer doubt this Dharma method. With sincere confidence and true vow, they resolved to be reborn in the Pure Land and no longer stayed in the Six Realms. That’s why these incarnations of great bodhisattvas had come to assist Sakyamuni Buddha to realize this mission.