釋淨土群疑論 5.2

5.2

Question: The Buddhapiṭaka Sūtra states: 'What is called an evil spiritual friend? What is called a good spiritual friend? The Buddha told Śāriputra: "If there is a monk who teaches other monks, 'You should be mindful of the Buddha, mindful of the Dharma, mindful of the Saṅgha, mindful of the precepts, mindful of generosity, mindful of the heavens. In such things, only contemplate nirvāṇa as peaceful, tranquil, and extinguished, and only cherish ultimate purity'—one who teaches in this way is called a false teacher and an evil spiritual friend. This person is called one who slanders me and assists the non-Buddhists. For such an evil person, I do not permit receiving even a single drink of water to sustain themselves as one who practices the teachings of Māra."' It also states: 'It is better to commit the grave sins of the five inexpiables than to form the view of a self, the view of a sentient being, the view of a soul, the view of a life-principle, the views of the aggregates, realms, and bases, and so forth—all of which consist in practicing buddhānusmṛti and the like with a mind of apprehension (upalambha).' The World-Honoured One offered various reproaches such as these. The same sūtra text also states: 'Hearing the Dharma of emptiness and non-apprehension, one spontaneously realizes: "What I previously held were all wrong views; regarding the Dharma of emptiness and non-apprehension I have no doubts and no regrets, penetrating it deeply, and not relying on any views of a self or views of a person." I say that this person is one of pure brahmacarya, and so forth.' Now, since you encourage people to engage in buddhānusmṛti with characteristics using a mind of apprehension, is this not reproached by the Buddhas?