Apr. 28, 2025
Clarifying Doubts About the Pure Land (I)
淨土釋疑(一)
Question 7: There is a saying: "True faith must include the Name, but merely reciting the Name does not necessarily mean one has true faith." Could you explain this?
Continued Answer:
If someone says, “I already have faith, so I don’t need to recite the Buddha’s Name anymore,” that is false faith. A person who truly accepts Amitabha’s deliverance will naturally integrate their faith into the practice of reciting. This is not because reciting is difficult or because one is clinging to a mere form - it’s not like that at all! Whether reciting quietly or aloud, whether joyfully exclaiming the Name or quietly reciting it, the practice arises naturally. As the saying goes: "Upon hearing Amitabha’s Fundamental Vow, one rejoices and spontaneously recites the Buddha’s Name."
Without even realizing it, one will start reciting "Namo Amitabha Buddha."
That being said, if one struggles to grasp the full meaning of faith, it is best to set aside that overthinking. Simply believe this: “Amitabha still delivers even those who question the depth of their faith.” In that very belief, faith is already present. From there, just continue to chant the Name.
If you have one day to live, chant for that day. When the day ends and life reaches its limit, you will naturally be reborn in the Pure Land. If you have two days, chant for two days. If you have seven days, fourteen days , seven weeks, or even seventy years, dedicate that time solely to reciting the Buddha’s Name.
It would never occur to someone with true faith to think, “I have so much time; I should go practice this or that instead.” That simply wouldn’t happen.
續答：
如果有人說「我已經信了，我可以不用念佛了」，那是虛假的信心。真正 信受了，他會把信心融入念佛之中的，並不是說念佛有什麼辛苦，或什麼著 相，不是的！稱名念佛，念在心中也好，念在口中也好，高興起來，歡喜跳躍 地念也可以，這個會自自然然在心中產生的，「聽聞彌陀本願力，歡喜不覺稱 佛名」，會不知不覺念出這句名號來。
不過，固然不瞭解信與不信的內容到底怎麼樣，乾脆把它們擺到一邊，你 只要相信：「即使不信的人，阿彌陀佛也要救度。」這樣，信就在其中了，之後 就稱名。
今天有一天的時間，就稱一天的名號，這一天過完了，壽命到了，自然 往生極樂世界。若是有兩天，你就稱兩天，若是有七天，或者是兩個七天、七 個七天，或者七年、七十年，你就用這些時間一味地去念佛。不會說：「我時間 那麼多，我來修這個、修那個……」不可能會這樣的。
Namo Amituofo!
