Was going
through briefly the Mahayana Mahaparinirvana Sutra on the subjects
of the 'five deadly sins' and on the Icchantikas. Found there were
actually quite a lot of inconsistencies on these two subjects in
the Sutra, maybe because of the English translated. But it make for
very interesting reading. Certainly looking forward to write
something on it although sinweiy have a thread on the subject of
‘Icchantika’ way back in 2007.
Hi Aik,
wonder if this helps
Can
The Extremely Evil Reach Pure Land?
Question: The Infinite Life
(Sukhavativyuha) Sutra says that 'excluded [from possibility of birth in Pure Land]
are those who created the five heinous misgivings, who
slandered against the right Dharma' in the 18th Vow of Amituofo [as
below], while the Contemplation (Amitayurdhyana) Sutra says
'those who attain birth [in Pure Land]
as the lowest level of the lowest grade' can also be 'beings who
created karma that is immoral [not good], [via] the five heinous
misgivings'. How do we reconcile what seems to be a
contradiction? Here are the sutra excerpts:
If, when I [Dharmakara
Bodhisattva] attain Buddhahood [as Amituofo], beings of the ten
directions with complete [wholehearted/single-minded] sincerity,
firm faith and joyful devotion who desire to be born in my land,
and are mindful [of my name 'Amituofo'] for even ten [thought]
moments should not be born there, may I not attain perfect
awakening. Excluded are those who created the five heinous
misgivings, who slandered against the right Dharma.
- Infinite Life Sutra
The Buddha said to
Ananda and [Queen] Vaidehi, 'Of those who attain birth [in
Amituofo's Pure Land] as the lowest level of the lowest grade, or
beings who created karma that is immoral [not good], [via] the five
heinous misgivings and the ten evil acts [ten unwholesome deeds: of
(1) killing (2) stealing (3) sexual misconduct (4) divisive speech
(5) harsh speech (6) false speech (7) idle speech (8) greed (9)
anger (10) wrong views], having all kinds of immorality, such fools
should, due to evil karma, fall to the evil realms, and experience
many kalpas [1 kalpa is about 1343, 840, 000 years] of boundless
suffering.
If such a fool, when nearing the end of life [dying], meets a
good-knowing adviser [spiritual friend], who encourages
[consoles/comforts] one in various ways, telling one the wonderful
Dharma, teaching and urging one to be mindful of [Amita(bha)]
Buddha [Amituofo], [and] if such a person is pressed by suffering,
with not enough time to be mindful of Buddha, the good friend tells
one these words, "If you cannot be mindful of that Buddha, you
should chant [call the name of; be mindful of] 'Amitayus
[Immeasurable Life] Buddha [Wu Liang Shou Fo; Amituofo]'. With such
sincerity of mind [and heart], let this voice be unceasing
[continuous], completing ten moments of mindfulness, chanting
'Refuge in [Homage to] Amita Buddha [Namo Amituofo]'.
Due to chanting of the Buddha's name, within moment to moment
mindfulness, the misgivings of life and death of eighty kotis [1
koti is about 100 million] of kalpas are extinguished [diluted by
the merits created by oneself and as shared by Amituofo through
connection with him]. Within the lotus flower, after 12 full great
kalpas, when the lotus flower blossoms, Avalokiteshvara and
Mahasthamaprapta [Bodhisattvas], with their voices of great
compassion, extensively teach that person the suchness of all
dharmas, which extinguishes one's [remaining] misgivings [upon
realising them]. Having heard [learnt] these [teachings], one
rejoices, and immediately aspires to the mind [and heart] of
Bodhicitta [to guide one and all to awaken; to attain Buddhahood].
This is called one who is born of the lowest level of the lowest
grade, [and] is called the contemplation of the lowest grade [with
the highest and middle levels of the lowest grade together], called
the sixteenth contemplation."
- Sutra
of Contemplation of Amitayus Buddha
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