【THE THREE TYPES OF PERSONS 】- unnecessary detour

Thus, we understand the true marvel of the Buddha Dharma. Buddha, because he wanted to benefit all beings, eventually who receives the benefits, hey, how wonderful, he himself! How? All Buddhas, without exception all have the aspiration. What aspiration? For all living beings to achieve Buddhahood. Yet, in the end, there are still immeasurable living beings, but he achieved Buddhahood, right? This is the most practical and perfect example. So for us to truly seek to benefit ourselves, we still need to start from benefiting others. On the contrary, for Arhats, well! They only want to resolve their personal issues and, in the end, they attain arhatship. Eventually, they still make a big circle to achieve Buddhahood, how unjustified! Now, we say, “Chanting Buddha’s name does not work this way, right?” Sorry! It works in the same way. Even if you are reborn in the Pure Land to achieve arhatship. By then, you listen to Amitabha Buddha’s teaching of the Lotus Sutra and then turn around [to study the scriptures] in a big circle. All Buddhas’ paths are the same, so with this understanding of yours, we then will know this detour is pointless, an unnecessary detour!

SOURCE：

 33A 08’10” Vol 5 of Master Jih-Chang’s Discourse P7 L3
English Lamrim Vol 1 P130

日常师父法语📡 33A 08’10”手抄稿第5册P7 L3

道次引导 : 冤枉路

所以了解了佛法真正特殊的地方，他因为要利益一切有情，结果真正得到好处的，嘿，妙了，他自己！这话怎么讲啊？没有一个佛例外的，他都是要发这个心，说发什么心？为利一切有情然后成佛，结果有情还是无量无边这么多，他却成了佛了，对不对？这个现实的最圆满的例子。所以我们真正要求自利，还非从这上面不可。反过来是罗汉，哎呀！他是说我自己解决了算了，结果呢，他证了罗汉，最后还要转大圈子，还要成佛，真冤枉！我们现在说：“这个念佛，可不是这样吧？”对不起！一样的。你尽管现在去了，到了极乐世界到那里证罗汉果；然后呢证了罗汉果，到那时候听阿弥陀佛给我们讲《法华经》，然后才来转了个大圈子。佛佛道同，所以你了解了这一点，我们才晓得这个是冤枉路，冤枉路！