Feb 28

Feb 28, 2018
慧淨上人法語
專稱彌陀佛名

With respect to single-minded and exclusive recitation of Amitabha Buddha’s name, the emphasis is given on singleness in mind, which also means exclusivity. Master Honen said, “Reciting Amitabha Buddha’s name single-mindedly is in nature having the Three States of Mind”. Although you may not know, the Three States of Mind already exist there naturally. Why? Because the name “Namo Amituofo” itself has this kind of function.

一向專念阿彌陀佛名號，都是強調「一向」，也就是要專。法然上人說：一向專稱名號，自然具足「三心」。即使你不知道，自自然然地就具足「三心」，為什麼？因為「南無阿彌陀佛」名號本身就有這種功能。

Namo Amitabha!

Feb 27

Feb 27, 2018
Quotation of Master Shandao善導大師語錄
解釋第十八願《觀念法門》本願釋:

If, when I achieve Buddhahood, sentient beings of the ten directions who wish to be reborn in my land and recite my name, even ten times, should fail to be born there relying on the power of my Vow, may I not attain perfect enlightenment.

若我成佛，十方眾生，願生我國，稱我名字，下至十聲； 乘我願力，若不生者，不取正覺。

Versus the original text of the 18th Vow in the Infinite Life Sutra:

If, when I achieve Buddhahood, sentient beings of the ten directions who sincerely and joyfully entrust themselves to me, wish to be reborn in my land and recite my name, even ten times, should fail to be born there, may I not attain perfect enlightenment. Excepted are those who commit the five gravest transgressions or slander the correct Dharma.

對文增減《無量壽經》「第十八願」：

設我得佛，十方眾生，至心信樂，欲生我國，乃至十念； 若不生者，不取正覺。唯除五逆，誹謗正法。

Namo Amitabha!

Feb 26

Feb 26, 2018
慧淨上人法語
出離與輪迴

If a person does not aware of the existence of the Three Domains and the Six Realms, and does not believe that there are the good and bad retributions being governed by the Law of Cause and Effect in the three periods of time, he will think that man will live his life only once, and no afterlife. He also thinks man dies once, and there is nothing after death, and no such a thing as reincarnation. He confines his life to the present one, and hence spends his whole life to pursue ways to make his present life happy.

However, if he believes the cause and effect in the three periods of time, and good and bad retributions, reincarnation within the Six Realms, and if he understands that life is impermanent, temporarily short, and full of various kinds of afflictions and sufferings, he will diligently seek for eternal emancipation for the future in order to depart from suffering and attain happiness forever in his short life.

一個人如果不知有三界六道輪迴，不信有三世因果的善惡報應，他就會認為人只不過是活一次，沒有第二次；他會認為人只不過是死一次，死了就沒有了，沒有所謂的輪迴；他只曉得有現生這一輩子，因此他一生所追求的就是如何使這一輩子快樂。

但是如果確信有三世因果、善惡報應、六道輪迴，而且了解人生無常、短暫，並且充滿種種苦惱，那時他就會努力在這短暫的人生當中尋求未來永恆的解脫、永遠的離苦得樂。

Namo Amitabha!

Feb 25

Feb 25, 2018
慧淨上人法語
佛法知見

Owing to the fact that sentient beings who have not cut off or subdue his greed, anger and delusion, they are forever attached. If our mind is attached, it is completely impossible for us to match with the Buddha Nature, which has no attachment. So, if we want to achieve Buddhahood with our own power, it is more difficult than ascending to the sky. However, if we make recourse to external power, i.e. to the Buddha power, it will be extremely easy to achieve Buddhahood.

眾生在貪瞋癡還沒有斷除、降伏之下，永遠都是有執著的。心若有執著，要和沒有執著的佛性相應，那是完全不可能的。所以，要以自己的力量達到成佛，真的是比登天還難。但如果有外力──也就是藉助佛的力量，那我們成佛就非常容易。

Namo Amitabha!

Feb 24

Feb 24, 2018
慧淨上人法語
淨土信仰
(continued)

For now, we are not just born to be human beings, but also encounter the Buddhist teachings, and the Pure Land teaching, in particular, the real teaching that enables us to be liberated in this lifetime.  It is the result of Amitabha’s compassionate and sagacious guidance in many lives, so that we can be born as human beings even though we are not  ‘qualified’, and also encounter Amitabha’s teaching of deliverance under various favorable and unfavorable circumstances, up and down situations.

如今我們不只生而為人，且遇到佛法，更遇到佛法之中能真實解脫、當生成就的淨土法門，這可說是百千萬世承受阿彌陀佛慈悲智慧的導引，才使我們這一輩子本來不能出生為人而終於出生為人，不能逢遇佛法卻在種種順境、逆境中，遇到了彌陀救度的法門。

Namo Amitabha!

Feb 23

Feb 23, 2018
慧淨上人法語
淨土信仰

During the 49 years after his Enlightenment, Shakyamuni Buddha preached the teachings in more than 300 assemblies. His teachings were expounded in accordance with the aptitude of sentient beings, some are expedient, and some are real. The final aim is to lead them from expedient to real teachings.

If we cannot differentiate between the expedient and real teachings, and do not know that expedient teachings are just transitional to the real teachings, and we attach to or stay along with the expedient teachings, we have no way to be liberated. We cannot be liberated in this lifetime, and have to wait other lifetime in future.

(to be continued tomorrow)

佛陀成道後四十九年間，講經說法三百餘會，都是隨著眾生的根機，有方便性的、有真實性的，最終的目的是以方便導入真實。

學佛如果不知道分辨方便與真實，不曉得方便是進入真實的通道，而執著、停留在方便上，就無法解脫了；這一輩子沒有解脫，還要等到未來世。

Namo Amitabha!

Feb 22

Feb 22, 2018
慧淨上人法語
淨土宗宗風俗諦

All the Buddhas who descend to this world urge us sentient beings “to refrain from evil deeds, and to practice various virtues”. In [Amitabha’s] Fundamental Vow, It is also said that “excluded are those who commit the five gravest offences and abuse the right Dharma”. In the Second Fascicle of the Larger Sutra, the meaning of this statement is augmented to the admonition of the Five Virtues and the Five Evils.

So, we know that Amitabha deeply wants all Amitabha-reciters “be sincere and scrupulous in interpersonal relationships; avoid evil and cherish good; be an upstanding citizen by showing civic-mindedness and respecting the law”, just like the second statement in the attributes of the Pure Land Sect of Buddhism (2): Worldly Truths (governing everyday life).

諸佛出世，皆勸「諸惡莫作，眾善奉行」，本願亦言「唯除逆謗」，《大經》卷下更擴充「唯除逆謗」之意，而廣說「五善五惡」之勸誡。

可知：彌陀深欲念佛之人，「敦倫盡分，閑邪存誠，奉公守法，為世良民」，如「宗風二──俗諦（處世之道）」。

Namo Amitabha!

Feb 21

Feb 21, 2018
慧淨上人法語
淨土宗宗風真諦

In regard to issues that we don’t understand or have doubt, we have to approach like-minded practitioners for guidance and counseling, otherwise our knowledge and views will not be correct, and we will obstruct ourselves.

Some people are fond of “mixed circumstances” (i.e. good and virtuous fellow of other schools), and like to get close to practitioners of other paths. Eventually it will end up with obstructing rebirth of ourselves as well as of others. Therefore, Master Shandao urges us to develop close ties with like-minded practitioners, and discuss the dharma with them. On the other hand, do keep a distance from practitioners of different schools in order to avoid obstructing ourselves or others. If not, we will be distracted from our own practice.

對於自己不了解或者是有疑問的，若不親近同行善知識來請益、受開導，知見難免會不正確，這樣就自己覆蓋自己、障礙自己了！

有的人「樂近雜緣」，所謂「雜緣」，就是非同行善知識，喜歡親近非同行善知識，結果不但障礙自己，也障礙了別人的往生。所以，善導大師就是要我們親近同門，來切磋法義，不是同門，就不要接近，以免障礙自己，也障礙別人，那就退失了。

Namo Amitabha!

Feb 20

Feb 20, 2018
慧淨上人法語
念佛利益

As long as we invoke the Buddha in mind, we are protected by the manifested buddhas and manifested bodhisattvas surrounding us in thousands of layers. We are always protected and supported by Amitabha, various buddhas, bodhisattvas, as well as dragon kings and devas, the dharma protectors day and night.

In other words, it doesn’t matter who, when, where, and under what circumstance, or whoever, whenever, wherever, and whatever the case is – as long as we recite Amitabha’s name, the Buddha must appear and emit light to protect us, and receive us near the end-of-life. Isn’t it we are comforted, feeling safe and delighted?

我們只要心中念佛，化佛、化菩薩也同樣是百重千重圍繞在我們身邊保護我們。我們二六時中都在彌陀、諸佛、菩薩、護法龍天的擁護當中，亦即：不論何人、何時、何處、何緣，亦即不管什麼人、在什麼時候、什麼地方、做什麼事，只要念佛，佛都會出現，放光加持，臨終就會來接引。這豈不很讓我們感到安慰、安全而喜樂呢！

Namo Amitabha!

Feb 19

Feb 19, 2018
慧淨上人法語
專稱彌陀佛名

If you can affirm that rebirth is assured through exclusive Amitabha-recitation and recite Amitabha’s name for the rest of your life, you are assured 100 percent for rebirth [in the Land of Bliss]. Certainly you can be reborn there!

This is because our teaching is based on “other-power”. We may not know that when we aspire to be reborn, Amitabha Buddha has, begged us with joined palms in front of us for ten eons, not to mention that we are now reciting his name with the mind of renunciation of the Saha and aspiration to the Sukhavati.

The function of the name is now working naturally, so as to enable us to be reborn in the Land of Bliss. So, at this point, we have already thrown away the concepts of “self-power” and “other-power”, as well as the question about faith and doubt. Faith exists naturally within [the practice of] name-recitation.

你如果能夠肯定「專稱佛名必定往生」而一生念佛下去，百分之百往生，必定往生！

因為這個法門是他力法門，我們不知道求往生的時候，阿彌陀佛都在我們面前合掌，十劫以來都在要求我們了，何況我們有厭離娑婆、欣生極樂的心而稱名號？

自自然然這句名號的功能就在運作，使我們往生極樂世界。所以，從這一點來講，已經拋開自力他力，已經拋開是信是疑了，自自然然地信就在裏面。

Namo Amitabha!

Feb 18

Feb 18, 2018

善導大師語錄
第十八願《觀經疏》〈玄義分〉本願釋

Only if one can [recite Amitabha’s name] for the rest of one’s life at most and for even invoking as few as ten times only, with recourse to the Buddha’s vow power, none cannot be reborn. So, that is why it is called ‘easy’.

但能上盡一形，下至十念，以佛願力，莫不皆往，故名易也。

Versus the original text of the 18th Vow in the Infinite Life Sutra:
If, when I achieve Buddhahood, sentient beings of the ten directions who sincerely and joyfully entrust themselves [to me], wish to be reborn in my land and recite my name, even ten times, should fail to be born there, may I not attain perfect enlightenment. Excepted are those who commit the five gravest transgressions or slander the correct Dharma.

對文增減《無量壽經》「第十八願」：
設我得佛，十方眾生，至心信樂，欲生我國，乃至十念； 若不生者，不取正覺。唯除五逆，誹謗正法。

Namo Amitabha!

Feb 17

Feb 17, 2018
慧淨上人法語
佛法知見

If you find the right teaching, you can escape from reincarnations within the Six Realms in this lifetime, and expedite the achievement of Buddhahood as well. If you cannot find the right teaching, you can only make a karmic connection with the Buddha, and you will have another lifetime in future.

With respect to our speech and conduct in this life, we have committed more karmic offenses than virtuous acts. Having undergone such a review, it is not easy for us to keep a human body in our next lifetime. If we wish to have a human body, we must perform basic practices in accordance with the Buddhist teachings. If we can find the right teaching, we can be liberated no matter we know how to practice or not.

如果找對了法門，今生今世，不但可以脫離六道輪迴，而且能夠快速成佛。如果沒有找對法門，這輩子只是結個佛緣，還會有下輩子。
就我們一生當中的言行來說，其實是惡多善少，這樣檢討之下，下輩子是不容易保持人身的，要保持人身，就必須在佛法中有基本的修行。所以如果找對法門的話，不管自己會不會修行，都能夠解脫。

Namo Amitabha!

Feb 16

Feb 16, 2018
慧淨上人法語
正依經典

The Infinite life Sutra, the Contemplation Sutra and the Amitabha Sutra are the three principal sutras that Pure Land teaching is based on. No matter how profound and mysterious, or how simple and easy a presentation of the Pure Land teaching is, it should not violate the aim and objectives of the three sutras.

If there are violation and distortion, or slight deviation, it is not the Pure Land teaching anymore; it is a deviant, or even heterodox, teaching. The teaching principle of the three Pure Land sutras is not different from each other’s; they are the same and consistent. They all talk about the teaching of deliverance, not the teaching of cultivation. So, we must clearly grasp the main theme and meaning of the three sutras.

《無量壽經》、《觀無量壽經》、《阿彌陀經》這三部經是淨土法門正依經典，淨土法門的教理講得再怎樣高深玄妙，或者簡單容易，都不可違背這三部經的宗旨。

如果有所違背，稍有偏差，就不是淨土法門，甚至是外道了。淨土三部經的教理，並不是各別不同，而是相同的、一致的，都是在講救度的法門，不是在講修行的法門。所以，我們對這三部經的大意，一定要很明確地掌握。

Namo Amitabha!

Feb 15

Feb 15, 2018
慧淨上人法語
淨土信仰

Generally, many Amitabha-reciters do not understand the principle of deliverance of Amitabha’s 18th Vow. Though they recite Amitabha’s name, their mind is not at ease. At the near end of their life, they are vexed and annoyed. As they do not understand the Buddha’s mind, they let others to worry whether they are assured of rebirth.

If they understand the Buddha’s kindheartedness, the functional principle of Amitabha-recitation, their mind will be at ease, without any doubt, regardless of  the way of reciting Amitabha’s name.

很多念佛的人，往往因不瞭解阿彌陀佛第十八願的本願救度道理，所以雖然有在念佛，卻心生不安，到了臨終之時，也還苦苦惱惱，甚至於讓別人擔心他到底是否有往生，那都是因為他對佛心不瞭解。

如果瞭解佛心，瞭解念佛的道理，不管他怎麼樣的念佛，他的心都是安穩的，不會懷疑。

Namo Amitabha!

Feb 14

Feb 14, 2018
慧淨上人法語
淨土宗宗風俗諦

If a person is in emotion, feeling unfairly treated or wronged, it shows he has two kinds of deficiencies:

One is that he does not realize the relationship between ‘aptitude’ and ‘teaching’. He thinks he is a benevolent person making no mistake, and he does not realize the love and forgiveness of Amitabha Buddha.
And the other is that he is a beginner of this teaching, so his realization is not deep enough.

一個人如果起情緒、心中不平了，感覺受委屈了，這表示兩方面不足：一方面是對「機、法」沒有體會，以為自己是一個賢善、沒有過失的人，同時也沒有體會到彌陀的愛跟包容；另方面是他初學這個法門，所以感受的深度還不夠。

Namo Amitabha!

Feb 13

Feb 13, 2018
慧淨上人法語
淨土宗宗風真諦

Good and virtuous friends are very important to us. Sakyamuni Buddha says, good and virtuous friends are the totality, not a half, of the causes and conditions for our emancipation and achievement of buddhahood. In other words, the reason why we can be delivered for rebirth and become a buddha is that we depend on the good and virtuous friends who give us help and guidance.

善知識對我們來講是非常重要的，釋迦牟尼佛說，善知識不只是我們得到解脫成佛的半因緣，而是全部的因緣。也就是說，我們之所以能夠解脫，能夠往生成佛，都是仗著善知識給我們的提攜指導。

Namo Amitabha!

Feb 12

Feb 12, 2018
慧淨上人法語
念佛利益

Recitation of Amitabha’s name is not just for relief from disasters or enrichment in blessings; but, more importantly, for attainment of direct rebirth in the rewarded Land of Bliss. This is due to Amitabha Buddha’s setting forth his Fundamental Vow that “rebirth be assured by name recitation”.

稱念阿彌陀佛的名號，不只是一般的消災增福而已，更重要的是進而能直接往生極樂報土，這是因為阿彌陀佛發了「稱名必生」的本願。

Namo Amitabha!

Feb 11

Feb 11, 2018
慧淨上人法語
專稱彌陀佛名

For a person who exclusively recites Amitabha’s name, if he understands the principle of ‘matching of aptitude and teaching’ and believes it without any doubt, he is regarded as ‘full understanding of believing the Buddha’s wisdom’. If he is puzzled due to lacking of understanding, but keeps exclusively reciting Amitabha’s name, without mixing with any miscellaneous practices, it is known as ‘naturally combined with the wonderful truth without awareness’.

These two kinds of people are always embraced by Amitabha’s light forever. As they are embraced, they will not be retrogressed, reincarnated, chased by the creditors and enemies or obstructed by the heterodox demons.

專念彌陀名號的人，如果他了解機法相應的道理 而信受不疑，他就是「明信佛智」；如果不了解這種道理，心中躊躇不已，可是他還是專稱彌陀佛名，不雜行雜修，這個就是「暗合道妙」。

這兩種人都永遠在阿彌陀佛的光明攝取當中，既是已在阿彌陀佛的攝取裏面，就不可能再退轉、輪迴，或是受冤家債主的討債，也不受天魔外道的障礙。

Namo Amitabha!

Feb 10

Feb 10, 2018
善導大師語錄
Master Shandao’s interpretation of the Fundamental Vow (the 18th Vow) quoted in the Chapter of the Profound Meaning in the Commentary on the Contemplation Sutra:

None cannot be reborn [in the Land of Bliss] with recourse to the Buddha’s vow power, as they joyfully entrust [to Amitabha Buddha] with singleness of mind, aspire to be reborn there, and evoke at most for the rest of their life or as few as ten times only.

善導大師解釋第十八願《觀經疏》〈玄義分〉本願釋
一心信樂，求願往生，上盡一形，下收十念，乘佛願力， 莫不皆往。

Versus the original text of the 18th Vow in the Infinite Life Sutra:
If, when I achieve Buddhahood, sentient beings of the ten directions who earnestly believe and rejoice, wish to be reborn in my land and recite my name, even ten times, should fail to be born there, may I not attain perfect enlightenment. Excepted are those who commit the five gravest transgressions or slander the correct Dharma.

對文增減《無量壽經》「第十八願」：
設我得佛，十方眾生，至心信樂，欲生我國，乃至十念； 若不生者，不取正覺。唯除五逆，誹謗正法。

Namo Amitabha!

Feb 9

Feb 9, 2018
慧淨上人法語
正依經典

Within the Tripitaka and the Twelve Divisions, the sutras that exclusively talk about the Pure Land teachings are the three Pure Land sutras: the Infinite Life Sutra, the Contemplation Sutra, and the Amitabha Sutra. These sutras are the principal texts [of our teachings].  Some other sutras also mention about Amitabha Buddha and his Pure Land, such as the Chapter on Practice and Vow of Bodhisattva Samantabhadra in the Flower Adornment Sutra, and the Chapter on the Complete Paranormal Power through Amitabha-invocation by Bodhisattva Mahasthamaprapta in the Suramgama Sutra.

The Pure Land Trilogy of Sutras begin with the Infinite Life Sutra, elaborate on the theme in the Contemplation Sutra, and make conclusion in the Amitabha Sutra.

三藏十二部中，專講淨土法門的就是淨土三部經──《無量壽經》《觀無量壽經》《阿彌陀經》，也就是「正依經典」。其他也有講到阿彌陀佛跟淨土的，稱為「旁依經典」，譬如《華嚴經普賢行願品》、《楞嚴經大勢至菩薩念佛圓通章》。
淨土三經的開頭是《無量壽經》，開顯的是《觀無量壽經》，結論則在《阿彌陀經》。

Namo Amitabha!

Feb 8

Feb 8, 2018
慧淨上人法語
淨土信仰

There is only one purpose for Amitabha to make the 48 great vows, or to cultivate in countless eons, or to complete the splendid Land of Bliss, or to accomplish the Buddha Body that all buddhas cannot compare -  longing for us, sentient beings of the ten directions, to be reborn in the Land of Bliss that he specifically built for us.

If it is not for this purpose, Amitabha does not need to attain the Perfect Enlightenment. So, all in all, these are done for our rebirth.

阿彌陀佛四十八大願也好、兆載永劫的修行也好，祂成就的極樂世界那麼殊勝莊嚴，祂成就的佛身又是諸佛所不能及，這些都只有一個目的：就是盼望我們十方眾生都能往生祂為我們所建設的極樂世界。

如果不是為了這個目的，阿彌陀佛就不需要取這樣的正覺。所以，一切的一切，都是為了我們的往生。

Namo Amitabha!

Feb 7

Feb 7, 2018
慧淨上人法語
淨土宗宗風俗諦

“Be reverential and trusting towards Amitabha Buddha”. That means “to learn from Amitabha Buddha’s great compassion: Treat others the way Amitabha treats you”. It is, of course, merely a kind of admiration; but having such a mind is better than none. Although we cannot reach [Amitabha’s level], we can at least do whatever we can [in that direction].

「對彌陀恭敬信順」，就是要「學佛大悲心，彌陀如何為我，我便如何為人」，當然這是一種嚮往，不過，有嚮往總比沒嚮往好，雖不能至，至少能做到幾分。

Namo Amitabha!

Feb 6

Feb 6, 2018
慧淨上人法語
淨土宗宗風真諦

“As for those who follow a different path, we should keep our distance”. That means we do not get close to good and virtuous fellows of different schools. As this tenet falls into the sector of absolute truth, and not worldly truth, it doesn’t prevent us from maintaining our human relationship, or fulfilling related responsibilities or obligations. When we say to keep a distance away from those who follow a different path, we are not talking about the way of life in the mundane world.
Our goal for getting close to the like-minded practitioners is to study and discuss the Dharma, i.e. to learn from them in order to perfect our wisdom, deepen our faith, and encourage our practices. So, if the good and virtuous fellow does not belong to the same school, developing close ties with him is not beneficial to our learning of the Dharma. On the contrary, such ties will prevent us from getting the correct knowledge and views for rebirth.

「若非同門，不親不近」，也就是不親近非同門的善知識，這屬於真諦而不是俗諦的範圍，因此並不妨礙我們的人情義理或責任義務。我們這裏所寫的「若非同門，不親不近」，並不是指俗諦的待人處世，因為我們親近同門的目的是為了切磋法義，所謂的切磋，就是向他學習，向他請益，好讓我們的知見端正，信心增長，策勵我們的行業。如果不是同門善知識，親近他就得不到法益，反而會妨礙我們的正知正見，障礙我們的往生。

Namo Amitabha!

Feb 5

Feb 5, 2018
慧淨上人法語
念佛利益

Amitabha’s Fundamental Vow is the original intent of all buddhas. All buddhas urge us to believe; they also extol and praise, also protect the Vow. That is to say, this teaching is the original intent of all buddhas, and protected by all buddhas, making sure that it will not get lost in lineage transmission.

All Amitabha-reciters are also protected by all buddhas, cherished by all buddhas, never be forgotten or discarded. This benefit can only be seen, be understood, and be afforded to be praised by the buddhas.

彌陀本願就是諸佛的本懷，諸佛勸信、諸佛稱揚、而且是諸佛護念。也就是說，這個法門是諸佛本懷，也是諸佛所保護，不使它失傳。

凡是念佛的人，也是諸佛保護、諸佛懷念，永遠不會忘記、不會捨離的。這種利益，唯有佛才看得到，了解得來，讚歎得起。

Namo Amitabha!

Feb 4

Feb 4, 2018
慧淨上人法語
念佛方法

Start a day in our living with Amitabha-recitation, Namo Amituofo, Namo Amituofo, Namo Amituofo.

一天的生活，從念佛開始，南無阿彌陀佛、南無阿彌陀佛、南無阿彌陀佛。

Namo Amitabha!

Feb 3

Feb 3, 2018
慧淨上人法語
專稱彌陀佛名

As Amitabha-reciters, what we have is just this Buddha’s name. We begin the New Year with this Buddha’s name, and also at its closing in the New Year Eve. We recite “Namo Amituofo” at funerals, as well as weddings. This never changes.

Our Pure Land teaching is unique and incomparable. What we recite is “Namo Amituofo”, what we prostrate our fundamental Buddha is “Namo Amituofo”, and what we provide for offering is “Namo Amituofo”.

What we praise, extol, and introduce to others is also “Namo Amituofo”, and what we pay respect to is “Namo Amituofo” too, and nothing else.

我們念佛人就只有一句佛號，一年的開始是一句佛號，即使是除夕也是一句佛號，婚喪喜慶都是一句「南無阿彌陀佛」，這是永遠不改變的。
所以我們這個法門可說是獨一無二的法門，我們所念的是「南無阿彌陀佛」，所拜的本尊是「南無阿彌陀佛」，所供養的是「南無阿彌陀佛」，所為人稱揚、讚歎、介紹的，也是只有「南無阿彌陀佛」；即使我們要瞻仰，也是瞻仰「南無阿彌陀佛」，沒有其他。

Namo Amitabha!

Feb 2

Feb 2, 2018
善導大師語錄
Master Shandao’s interpretation of the Fundamental Vow (the 18th Vow) quoted in the Chapter of the Profound Meaning in the Commentary on the Contemplation Sutra:

If, when I achieve Buddhahood, sentient beings of the ten directions who wish to be reborn in my land and recite my name, even only ten times, should fail to be born there relying on the power of my Vow, may I not attain perfect enlightenment.

Versus the original text of the 18th Vow in the Infinite Life Sutra:

If, when I achieve Buddhahood, sentient beings of the ten directions who earnestly believe and rejoice, wish to be reborn in my land and recite my name, even ten times, should fail to be born there, may I not attain perfect enlightenment. Excepted are those who commit the five gravest transgressions or slander the correct Dharma.

善導大師解釋第十八願《觀經疏》〈玄義分〉本願釋

若我得佛，十方眾生，稱我名號，願生我國，下至十念； 若不生者，不取正覺。

對文增減《無量壽經》「第十八願」：

設我得佛，十方眾生，至心信樂，欲生我國，乃至十念； 若不生者，不取正覺。唯除五逆，誹謗正法。

Namo Amitabha!

Feb 1

Feb 1, 2018
慧淨上人法語
正依經典

The Infinite Life Sutra and the Contemplation Sutra too, are the principal sutras of the Pure Land teachings, all about Amitabha’s proactive, equal, and unconditional deliverance.

As they are the principal sutras of the Pure Land teachings (main basis, essential foundation), their general idea must be the identical and consistent; and it is not possible to be different, varied, and conflicting.

《無量壽經》也好，《觀無量壽經》也好，都是淨土法門的正依經典，都是講阿彌陀佛主動、平等、無條件的救度。既然是淨土法門的正依經典（主要依據的、根本依據的），那麼，它們的大意始終都是一致的、一貫性的，是不可能有不同、有差別、有矛盾的。

Namo Amitabha!