Clarifying Doubts About the Pure Land (I)
淨土釋疑(一)
Question: I am not well versed in the Pure Land teachings. However, I do firmly believe that "reciting Amitabha Buddha’s Name ensures rebirth," regardless of the timing, whether near death or far from it, and regardless of whether I am walking, standing, sitting, or lying down. Master, does my belief align with the 18th Vow?
Answer: Yes, this completely aligns with the 18th Vow. Since you are single-mindedly reciting Amitabha’s Name, without concern for the length of time or the circumstances, and remain unwavering in your practice, you are fully following the Eighteenth Vow.
Rebirth is not something dictated by our own ideas of “this way” or “that way.” It is entirely due to the power of Amitabha’s Name and its merit. Therefore, anyone who sincerely recites the Name—whether they fully understand it or not, naturally contains the power for rebirth within them.
Furthermore, people who recite Amitabha Buddha’s Name are embraced by his light, with a radiant aura above their heads. This happens naturally. Even if they are unaware of it or do not see it, the effect is still present because of the inherent power and nature of the Name.
It is like fire, whose natural function is to burn. Once ignited, it will inevitably burn, whether one understands it or not, even if one wishes for it not to burn. As long as fire is lit, burning is inevitable—because burning is the very nature of fire.
6問:我沒有那種信心開發那一時刻的體驗,我只信知「稱名定往生」,不論時節久近,不論行住坐臥。請問師父,這種感受是否符合第十八願?
答:這都符合第十八願。因為,你既然是一向專念彌陀名號,不問時節久近,行住坐臥,念念不捨,這樣無形中就在第十八願裏邊了。因為往生並不是在我們眾生這裏講說「要這個樣子、要那個樣子」,不是的!往生本來就是彌陀名號的功德力在運作。
所以,稱念這句名號的人,不管他知與不知、求與不求,自自然然有那一種往生的功能潛在其中。如一個念佛的人身上有佛光、頭上有毫光,這是自然的。儘管他不知道、沒有看到,可是自然會有這種功能,因為名號的功能、名號的自性就是這個樣子。
好像火的功能就是燃燒,一旦點火就必燃燒,不管你知道或不知道,甚至你在口中或心中認為它不會燃燒,要它不燃燒,它也必定燃燒,除非你不點火,一點火就必定燃燒,因為燃燒就是火的功能。
Namo Amituofo!