I think the important point to establish here is, what is
considered 'slandering'. The above example provided by the sutra is
indeed 'slandering' without a doubt. There is even physical
violence on the part of the slanderers as well.
I had asked about repentance, because this is something that the
Buddhist teachings would often emphasise.
However, from the sutra, it seems to suggest repentance is
useless, or maybe futile?
sorry, which statement says that they truely repented?
i think in terms of repentence, it do depends on one's true
sincerity.
One good example is Vasubandhu (bodhisattva).
Vasubandhu (Bodhisattva)
(fl. 4th cent. AD)
The second of three sons, born in Purusapura (Peshwar), India,
into the Kausika family of Indian Brahmins. All three sons were
called Vasubandhu and all three became Buddhist Bhikshus. His older
brother was known as Asanga and his younger brother as
Virincivatsa. He is known simply as Vasubandhu. In his youth he
adhered to the Hinayana teachings of the Sautrantika School and
wrote the Abhidharmakosa, perhaps the most well-known of
all treatises on the Abhidharma. He was converted to the Mahayana
by his older brother the Bodhisattva Asanga. After his conversion,
he wrote many celebrated works on the Consciousness-Only School of
the Mahayana, including the Twenty Verses on
Consciousness-Only and the Thirty Verses on
Consciousness-Only.
VASUBANDHU'S CONVERSION
"Asanga, teacher of the Law [Dharma], saw that his younger
brother was endowed with an intelligence surpassing that of others,
his knowledge being deep and wide, and himself well-versed in
esoteric and exoteric doctrines. He was afraid that the latter
might compose a sastra and crush the Mahayana. He was
living then in the land of the Hero (Purusa-pura) and sent a
messenger to Vasubandhu in Ayodhya with the following message: "I
am seriously ill at present. You had better attend to me quickly."
Vasubandhu followed the messenger to his native land, saw his
brother and inquired what was the cause of his illness. He
answered: "I have now a serious disease of the heart, which arose
on account of you." Vasubandhu again asked: "Why do you say on
account of me?" He answered: "You dot no believe in the Mahayana
and are always attacking and discrediting it. For this wickedness
you will be sure to sink forever in a miserable Life. I am now
grieved and troubled for your sake to such an extent that my life
will no long survive. On hearing this Vasubandhu was surprised and
alarmed and asked his brother to expound the Mahayana for him. He
then gave him a concise explanation of the essential principles of
the Mahayana. Thereupon the Teacher of the Law (Vasubandhu), who
was possessed of clear intelligence and especially of deep insight,
became at once convinced that the truth of the Mahayana excelled
even that of the Hinayana.
"He then fully investigated, under his brother, the principles
of the Mahayana. Soon after he became as thoroughly acquainted with
the whole as his brother was. When its meaning was already clear to
him, he would meditate on it. From the beginning to the end
everything was perfectly in accordance with the truth, there being
nothing contradictory to it. For the first time he realized that
the Hinayana was wrong and the Mahayana right. If there were no
Mahayana, then (he thought) there would be no path (marga)
and no fruition (phala) of the Tri-yana [Three Vehicles].
Since he formerly did harm by speaking ill of the Mahayana, in
which he then Bodhisattva Vasubandhu
had no faith, he was now afraid that he might fall into a
miserable life on account of that wickedness. He deeply reproached
himself and earnestly repented of his previous fault. He approached
his brother and confessed his error, saying: 'I now desire to make
a confession. I do not know by what means I can be pardoned for my
former slander.' He said (further): 'I formerly did harm speaking
ill (of the truth) by means of my tongue. I will now cut out my
tongue in order to atone for my crime.' His brother answered:
'Even if you cut out your tongue a thousand times, you
cannot wipe out your crime. If you really want to wipe out your
crime, you must find some other means.' Thereupon he asked his
brother to explain the means of wiping out the offence. The latter
said: 'Your tongue was able to speak very skillfully and
effectively against the Mahayana, and thus discredit it. If you
want to wipe out your offence, you must now propound the Mahayana
equally skillfully and effectively.'" (The Life of
Vasubandhu, J. Takakusu, tr., pp. 290-292)
A eulogy says:
It is difficult to practice two teachings at once.
He brought forth the secret meanings of the Compassion ate
Sage.
In awesome Shastras like piled up clouds,
Explaining the untransmitted doctrine,
Revealing the Consciousness-Only,
complete in both the Nature and Appearance Schools.
An eternal Dharma lamp,
He lights a million generations.
(VBS #20, p. 2)
another good example is Master Yin Guang. He also used to
slander Pureland teaching. But look at Him, He became the 13th PL
patriarch! but old Master Chin Kung thinks that, this is
just an act/display of teaching people, as Master Yin Guang is the
emanate of Great Strength Bodhisattva.
Master Chin Kung also don't use to believe in PL method.
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