Clarifying Doubts About the Pure Land (I)
淨土釋疑(一)
Question No. 4
Many people practice visualization while reciting Amitabha Buddha’s Name. Some seek enlightenment through Chan meditation, while others engage in esoteric practices such as mantra recitation or Phowa. They all seem to have strong faith. Is their faith different from the “faith and joy” described in the 18th Vow?
Answer:
Of course, there is a significant difference! The “faith and joy” in the 18th Vow refer to entrusting oneself to Amitabha’s deliverance, which means that one has already attained the requirements necessary for being reborn in Amitabha’s PureLand. Upon the end of this life, such a person directly enters the Realm of Rewards and is reborn through the transformation of a lotus flower.
Other paths do not function in the same way. If one wishes to be reborn in the Pure Land through those [self-powered] practices, they must dedicate the merits accordingly, and their rebirth would be in the womb-born form.
Therefore, in the Pure Land practice, we exclusively recite Amitabha Buddha’s Name and rely upon his “Other-power.” In doing so, there is no need for Chan meditation, visualization, or esoteric practices such as the “Three Mysteries”. None of these are necessary.
Having said that, if someone enjoys meditation, they may certainly do so; but, they should simply use their meditation time to recite Amitabha Buddha’s Name, without becoming attached to their meditative skill.
4問：很多人在念佛的時候用觀想，或者是坐禪悟道，還有修密宗持心咒、修頗瓦法的，看他們都是人人信心十足，那麼，他們的信心與第十八願的「信樂」是否有所不同？
答：當然這有很大的不同。第十八願的「信樂」是隨順彌陀救度，而且是現在已經獲得往生的身份，命終的時候就進入報土，蓮花化生。其他法門就不是這樣，如果想往生，必須迴向才能往生，而且是胎生。
所以，我們信受淨土法門，就是專稱這句名號，不必坐禪，不必觀想，不必修學密宗的三密相應，不必的。
剛剛講了不必坐禪，可是如果有人喜歡打坐，那也可以，就以靜坐的方式稱念這句名號，當然你不是執著你的功夫。
Namo Amituofo!
