Yen-shou (Yung-ming) Advocates Pure Land

 by Master Tsung-pen

Question 

[In Zen] we just see reality-nature and awaken to the Path, and immediately transcend birth and death. What is the use of tying the attention to Amitabha Buddha and seeking to be born in his land? 

Answer 

People who genuinely cultivate practice must examine themselves. It is like a person drinking water who knows for himself whether it is cold or warm. Now I will present some guidelines to break up the many forms of delusion. 

Good people, you must observe yourselves. In your practice and your understanding, have you really managed to see reality-nature and awaken to the Path? Have you received the Tathagata's prediction of enlightenment and succeeded to the station of the patriarchs like Ashvaghosa and Nagarjuna? Have you attained unobstructed powers of argument and witnessed lotus flower samadhi like Chih-i of T'ien-t'ai? Have you mastered and practiced all the teachings of the Zen school like National Teacher Chung? 

All these great beings understood the teachings imparted by Buddha and all of them urged people to be born in the Pure Land. In this they were benefitting both self and others. How could they have been misleading people and fooling themselves? Buddha himself praised [the Pure Land] and instructed people again and again [to seek to be born there]. I hope you will follow the virtuous ones of olden times and accept the Buddha's commands. They are surely not wrong. There are also the many clear stories of lofty people ancient and modern recorded in the Pure Land biographies. You should carefully read through them so that you may reflect on them. 

You should also consider whether or not you are certain that you will be free to go or stay when you are about to die. 

Are you sure that the barriers of evil karma from time without beginning will not appear before you? 

Are you sure that this body of yours will escape from the cycle of birth and death? 

Are you sure you can appear and disappear freely and without affliction on the evil paths of the three mires and nonhuman incarnations? 

Are you sure there will be no impediment to your being born as you wish in the worlds of devas and humans? 

If you are not sure, then do not make yourself sink down for eternal ages because of your temporary feeling of lofty self-satisfaction, and lose the advantages [of practicing Pure Land Buddhism]. ... 

[Yung-ming's essay entitled] Four Choices says: 

First: Zen without Pure Land. Nine out of ten people take the wrong road here. If objects appear before them [as they meditate], they immediately follow them off. 

This choice means that people only [strive to] illuminate reality-nature, and do not make vows to be born in the Pure Land. But as long as they flow along in this world "Endurance," there is the danger of falling back [into delusion] . . . 

Second: Pure Land without Zen. Of ten thousand who practice [Pure Land Buddhism], ten thousand go [to the Pure Land]. They just get to see Amitabha Buddha: what worry is there that they won't be enlightened? 

This choice means that they have not yet illuminated reality-nature, but they just vow to be born in the Pure Land. Because they are riding upon the power of Buddha, they are sure to be free from doubt. 

Third: Both Zen and Pure Land. This is like putting horns on a tiger [adding to its already formidable powers]. In this life these people will be teachers, and in lives to come they will be buddhas and patriarchs. 

Since they profoundly comprehend the Buddha Dharma, they can be teachers to devas and humans. Moreover, they take vows to go to the Pure Land and ascend quickly to the stage from which there is no falling back . . . 

Fourth: Neither Zen nor Pure Land. This brings the torments of hell for ten thousand eons, with no one to rely on. 

They do not understand the principles of Buddha, nor do they make vows to be born in the Pure Land. They sink down [into the sea of suffering] for eternal ages with no way to get out. 

Good people, if you want to transcend birth and death, and experience enlightenment, choose well among these four options! 

related post:  This World and the Pure Land

Source Of Information:
《Pure Land Pure Mind 心净佛土净》, by Master Chu-hung and Tsung-pen, translated by J.C.Cleary, distributed by: Persatuan Penganut Agama Buddha Amitabha Malaysia, 90 & 92, Jalan Pahang, Gombak, 53000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.)
*** The information provided above does not contain personal opinion of this blog.