西方合論 8.14

8.14

三、隨語墮者，六祖言：「東方人造罪，念佛求生西方；西方人造罪，念佛求生何國？」龐居士云：「事上說佛國，此去十萬里；大海渺無邊，動即黑風起。」因此一輩無知，傳虛接響，謂淨土不足修，自障障他，深可憐憫。夫論宗門提唱，尚不言有佛，何況佛國；為欲破相明心，是非俱剗。如吹毛利刃，執則傷手；金剛栗棘，豈是家常茶飯。且宗門中，此等語句甚多，若一一執之，釋迦老子出世，將真以飼雲門狗子乎！又古德云：「如何是佛？乾屎橛。」果爾則凡見糞車糞檐溷廁，應當一一禮拜供養。《彌陀疏鈔》曰：「西方去此十萬億土，《壇經》言十萬八千者，是錯以五天竺等為極樂也。」此語近是，為六祖未閱大藏，聞人說西方，即以為五天竺者有之。教中分明言：極樂國三毒不生，得不退轉。今言西方造罪，求生何土？此亦一證也。然宗門中，此等一期之語最多，亦不足辯。噫！學人果能頓悟頓修，解行相應，如六祖投金漢水，遊戲生死中；如龐老雖不求生，亦何害于生哉。

Third, those who fall by following words: the Sixth Patriarch said, 'People of the east commit sins and practice buddhānusmṛti seeking rebirth in the west; when people of the west commit sins and practice buddhānusmṛti, in what land do they seek rebirth?' Upāsaka Pang said: 'Speaking of the Buddha-land in terms of phenomena, it is one hundred thousand li from here; the great sea is vast and boundless, and as soon as there is movement, the dark wind rises.' Because of this, a group of ignorant people transmit illusions and catch at echoes, saying that the Pure Land is not worth cultivating; obstructing themselves and obstructing others, they are deeply to be pitied. Now, regarding the promotions and teachings of the Chan school, they do not even speak of the existence of a Buddha, much less a Buddha-land; desiring to break forms and clarify the mind, right and wrong are both razed. It is like a hair-severing sharp blade: if you grasp it, it cuts your hand; like a vajra chestnut burr, how could it be everyday tea and rice? Moreover, in the Chan school such expressions are very numerous; if one clings to each and every one of them, would the appearance of old Śākya in the world truly have been to feed Yunmen's dog? Furthermore, an ancient worthy said, 'What is the Buddha? A dry piece of shit.' If it were really so, then whenever one sees a dung-cart, a dung-carrier, or a privy, one should bow and make offerings to each and every one. The Amitābha Commentary says: 'The Western Land is ten billion lands away from here; when the Platform Sūtra speaks of one hundred and eight thousand, it is a mistake, taking the Five Indias and so forth to be Sukhāvatī.' These words are close to the truth; for since the Sixth Patriarch had not read the great canon, it did happen that hearing people speak of the Western Land, he took it to be the Five Indias. The scriptures clearly state: in the land of Sukhāvatī, the three poisons do not arise, and one attains non-retrogression. Now to say that when those in the west commit sins, what land do they seek rebirth in—this is also a proof. However, in the Chan school, such occasional provisional words are most numerous, and are not worth debating. Ah! If a student can truly attain sudden enlightenment and sudden cultivation, with understanding and practice corresponding to each other, like the Sixth Patriarch casting gold into the Han River, disporting in saṃsāra; like Old Pang, even if he did not seek rebirth, what harm would there be in rebirth?