Aug.19, 2026
Clarifying Doubts About the Pure Land (I)
淨土釋疑(一)
Answer to Q44 : (2 /3)
As for whether, while reciting, he has a complete understanding of Amitabha's deliverance, that is no longer essential. His rebirth is assured because he already fulfilled the conditions for rebirth: renouncing the Saha World, aspiring to be reborn in the Land of Bliss, and exclusively reciting Namo Amitabha Buddha.
Otherwise, people often abandon the practice halfway. For example, someone may be told that this Name is wonderful—that simply by reciting it one can eradicate karmic obstructions, and increase blessings and wisdom. However, because such a person does not earnestly seek liberation from birth-and-death, when illness or adversity arises, he stops reciting. Once he stops, the karmic connection is, in a sense, interrupted or weakened.
The Amitabha Sutra says:
If there are good men or good women
who have already made the vow,
who are now making the vow,
or who will make the vow,
all of them will attain non-retrogression
toward Anuttara-samyak-saṃbodhi.
They have already been reborn, are now being reborn,
or will be reborn in Amitabha’s Pure Land
This means that, once one genuinely aspires to be reborn, one's rebirth is immediately determined. If it is not yet determined, it is because the necessary causes and conditions are still incomplete. If one is not presently reborn , then upon aspiring in the future, one will certainly be reborn.
That is why the sutra says, "they have already been reborn, are now being reborn, or will be reborn." Those who have already made the vow, have already established the conditions for rebirth. Otherwise, one can make the vow now and attain rebirth now. Whether sooner or later, rebirth is certain. Hence, the sutra speaks of those who "have already made the vow, are now making the vow, or will make the vow," corresponding to "have already been reborn, are now being reborn, or will be reborn."
The issue is not whether one will be reborn, the real issue is whether one has this aspiration. Once one truly wishes to leave the Saha World and be reborn in the Land of Bliss, one will naturally recite Namo Amitabha Buddha.
(to be continued tomorrow)
44問：
答(2 /3)：
至於說他有了這個動機而稱念這句名號的時候，他對於彌陀的救度是 否有充分的瞭解，那已經無關緊要了，往生是必定的，因為，他已經合乎往生 的條件了——厭離娑婆，願生極樂，專稱彌陀佛名。
如果不是這樣的話，往往會半途而廢，就像有的人，告訴他這句名號非 常好，只要稱念，就能消業障、增福慧，可是他生死心不切，一遇到病痛、逆境，就不念了；那不念了，似乎這個緣就斷了，就減少了。
《阿彌陀經》說：
若有人，已發願，今發願，當發願，
是諸善男子、善女子，
皆得不退轉於阿耨多羅三藐三菩提，
於彼國土，若已生，若今生，若當生。
意思是說，現在有真正的願，現在就決定往生。如果沒有決定，是因為 因緣不具足。現在不往生，將來發願也會往生。所以經文就說「是諸人等，若 已生，若今生，若當生」，已發願的已經往生，不然的話，就現在發願往生，不 管早與晚，都會往生，所以說「已發願，今發願，當發願」，就「若已生，若今生 ，若當生」。不怕不往生，就怕沒有這個願，厭離娑婆，願生極樂，自然就會稱名。
Namo Amituofo!
