前魔后修，亦能生西
Earlier Demons Who Later Cultivate Are Also Able To Be Born In The Western Pure Land
如我先说于当来世多作佛者，即此众中百亿诸魔，却后皆于安乐国中成佛世尊。
Like I first spoke, of the future period’s many of those who become Buddhas, they are thus within this assembly, the hundred koṭis of all demons, who will however, later all in the Land Of Peace And Bliss within, accomplish as Buddha World-Honoured Ones.
尔时无有魔军娆乱彼诸众生，亦不习学外道经籍，多受快乐无有穷尽，调柔易化少欲知足，各行慈心不用多功，有所成办从【阿弥陀】佛所闻，佛菩提事皆能受行。
At that time, there are no Māra’s armies disturbing and confusing all those sentient beings, who will also not learn and practise that from external paths’ scriptural texts. With much receiving of happiness and bliss that do not have exhaustion, they are harmonious and gentle, easily transformed to have few desires and know contentment, with each practising the compassionate mind without using much efforts, having that accomplished and done by following [Amitā(bha)] Buddha with that heard, Buddhas’ Bodhi practices are all able to be received and practised.
释迦牟尼佛
Śākyamuni Buddha
《大法炬陀罗尼经》
Great Dharma Torch’s Dhāraṇī Sūtra
十大将往生净土之魔的教训
Top Ten Lessons From Demons Destined For Pure Land
[1] Less Demonic Inclination: As the demons above, were recognised by the Buddha, as those becoming more human(e) and less demonic without further spiritual backsliding (退转), they are able to reach the Pure Land with the Three Provisions (三资粮) eventually.
[2] More Demonic Inclination: If we, although as humans, are becoming more demonic and less human(e), with neglect of the Five Precepts (五戒) and such, we are spiritually backsliding now, with ever lessening possibilities of reaching Pure Land, if not reversing this tendency in time.
[3] Present Identity: Our present identity as humans does not guarantee that we will reach Pure Land, just as those as demons does not mean that they cannot reach Pure Land. What decides is the inclination, as expressed through conduct of body, speech and mind (身口意).
[4] Alignment To Buddha-Nature: Since all sentient beings have Buddha-nature (佛性), humans are not intrinsically superior and demons are not intrinsically inferior. What makes the difference however, is whether one is more or less aligned to one’s Buddha-nature.
[5] Precepts And Habits: Thus, we should strive to be more mindful in our three karmas (三业) of thoughts, words and deeds, by observing the Precepts more strictly, to transform negative habits more readily. Higher moral conduct also leads to a higher grade of birth in Pure Land.
[6] Retrogression: We should keep advancing towards goodness and purity, and not be content to just stay put, to become spiritually ‘stagnant’, which usually leads to backsliding, since all are impermanent in nature, including our conduct.
[7] Progression: With genuine sincere mindfulness of Buddha (念佛), we will surely progress towards goodness and purity. This also means that if we are not progressing morally, our mindfulness of Buddha is yet to be genuinely sincere, to create this purifying effect.
[8] Repentance: Just as the demons must have true repentance (忏悔) of their ill ways to truly progress spiritually, so should we humans, (even if we have relatively less ill ways in general), with recognition of our transgressions, and resolution to not repeat them.
[9] Karmic Obstacles: The possibility of ‘bringing (evil) karmas to be reborn’ (带业往生) in Pure Land does not mean there should be neglect of evil karmas (恶业) created continually, as the more they are, the harder it becomes to be mindful of Buddha well, to bring them to be reborn, as there will be more karmic obstacles (业障) when departing.
[10] Higher Grade: If there is settling for very low criteria for reaching Pure Land, due to setting such low moral standards, there is the danger of missing them, thus not reaching Pure Land at all. Therefore, it is safer to set higher moral standards, to meet higher criteria for a higher grade of birth.
相关教理
Related Teachings:
净土教理十大系列
Pure Land Teachings’ Top Ten Series
https://purelanders.com/shida
