淨土十疑論 1.17

1.17

答：「釋有二義：一者、總答；二者、別答。總答者，汝若言：『求生西方彌陀淨土，則是捨此求彼，不中理。』者，汝執住此，不求西方，則是捨彼著此，此還成病，不中理也。又轉計云：『我亦不求生彼，亦不求生此。』者，則斷滅見。故《金剛般若經》云：『須菩提！汝若作是念，發阿耨菩提者，說諸法斷滅相。莫作是念！何以故？發菩提心者，於法不說斷滅相。』

Answer: 'The explanation has two meanings: first, a general answer; second, a specific answer. As for the general answer, if you say, "Seeking rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Amitābha is abandoning this and seeking that, which does not accord with principle," then by clinging to this and not seeking the West, you are abandoning that and clinging to this; this likewise becomes an illness and does not accord with principle. Furthermore, if you shift your view and say, "I neither seek rebirth there nor seek rebirth here," this is the view of annihilationism. Therefore the Vajracchedikā Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra says: "Śāriputra, if you think, 'Those who generate anuttarā samyaksaṃbodhi speak of all dharmas as having the mark of annihilation,' do not think this! Why is this? Those who generate bodhicitta do not speak of dharmas as having the mark of annihilation."