May 4, 2025

May 4, 2025

Basic Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching

淨土小常識

153. The Meaning Within the Name - "Amitabha’s Pure Land (continued) 

5. The Name Leads to Rebirth

Upon hearing the name of the Land of Ultimate Bliss, if sentient beings believe in it and wish to be reborn there, they will attain rebirth.

The Treatise on Rebirth states:

"The Brahma sound reaches far and deep, its subtle wonders are heard in all directions."

The term "Brahma sound" refers to Amitabha’s Name, which "Reaches far and deep." This means it provides vast and ultimate benefits to sentient beings who exclusively recite it. " Its subtle wonders can be heard in all directions." This implies that hearing it can lead to awakening, allowing beings from all ten directions to attain deep realization. This is the function and power of Amitabha’s Name, which enables us to be reborn in the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Master Tanluan explained:

The scripture says, "If a person merely hears the name of the Land of Peace and Joy, desires rebirth, and sincerely aspires to it, they will be reborn as they wish." This confirms that the Name itself leads beings to enlightenment.

Another passage states: "If a person merely hears of that land’s purity and joy, deeply contemplates it with a sincere wish to be reborn there, they will attain rebirth and enter the stage of assured enlightenment."

Thus, the name of the Pure Land itself serves as a means of guiding beings, just like the Buddha guiding sentient beings. In fact, not only the name but also the lotus flowers and trees of the Pure Land possess this power—they all give benefits to sentient beings. This is because the Name of Amitabha’s Pure Land and its essence are one and the same, all arising from the vows of Amitabha Buddha.

(to be continued tomorrow)

153 極樂之立名(續)

5.令聞名得生

極樂世界之名，若眾生聽聞，願意往生，也能往生。

《往生論》說：「梵聲悟深遠，微妙聞十方。」「梵聲」是指極樂國土的名字； 「悟」是讓人可以得到淨土的利益；「深遠」是指能夠究竟廣大利益眾生；「微妙 聞十方」，是聞而使之開悟的意思，讓十方的眾生聽聞而能悟得深遠，這是極 樂淨土、極樂國土國名的功能和作用。

曇鸞大師解釋說：經言：「若人但聞安樂淨土之名，欲願往生，亦得如願。」 此名悟物之證也。經言：若人但聞彼國土清淨安樂，剋念願生，亦得往生，即 入正定聚。此是國土名字為佛事，安可思議！

聽說極樂世界很清淨，沒有三惡道、惡人、惡處，不用輪迴，也沒有生老 病死苦，沒有貧富懸殊，人人都是無量光、無量壽，自在安樂，於是「剋念願 生」，就是下定了決心，永不退轉，肯定要去往生，這樣的人「亦得往生，即入 正定聚」。

極樂國土的名字就可以度眾生，就像佛度眾生一樣。其實不光是極樂的 名稱，極樂的蓮花、樹等都有這樣的功效，能夠讓眾生得利益，名和體都有這 樣的利益，因為名體一如，皆是阿彌陀佛願力所成。

(待續)

Namo Amituofo!

May 3, 2025

May 3, 2025

Basic Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching

淨土小常識

153 The Meaning Behind the Name "Amitabha’s Pure Land (continued)

4. Embracing the Ignorant and the Difficult-to-Enlighten

The path for sacred beings emphasizes eliminating delusions,cultivating great compassion, and attaining enlightenment. However, this is a difficult path, suitable only for those with superior capacities and wisdom. The Pure Land path, on the other hand, focuses on relieving suffering and granting joy, something even ordinary beings with weak capacities can accept.

The Lotus Sutra states, "The world is filled with immense suffering, truly fearful and dreadful," using various metaphors to illustrate suffering. In contrast, the Amitabha Sutra conveys the message in just two sentences: "In the Pure Land there is no suffering, only the enjoyment of various pleasures." Being reborn in the Pure Land eliminates all forms of suffering and grants happiness.

Understanding delusion and enlightenment is difficult, and the Sacred path is hard to practice. However, suffering and happiness are easy to grasp and naturally inspire aspiration. Speaking of non-self may not be understood; but, speaking of suffering and happiness is comprehensible even to the most ignorant. Because

suffering and happiness align with human nature, they make the Pure Land path an easy and understandable practice that readily awakens joyful aspiration.

(to be continued tomorrow)

153 極樂之立名(續)

4.攝受下愚，難悟眾生

聖道門，講破迷開悟，興發慈悲，這是難行之法，是少數上根利智之人才 容易接受。淨土門，講拔苦與樂，離苦得樂，根機不堪的凡夫都願意接受。

《法華經》說「眾苦充滿，甚可怖畏」，種種比喻，說明是怎麼樣的苦。《阿彌 陀經》就兩句話「無有眾苦，但受諸樂」，免了一切苦苦，拔苦與樂。

說迷悟難解難行，說苦樂易知欣求。講無我，可能沒人聽得懂，但講苦樂 ，再愚癡的人都知道。因為苦樂符合人情，讓人知道這是易行法門，容易發起 欣求心。

(待續)

Namo Amituofo!

May 2, 2025

May 2, 2025

Basic Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching

淨土小常識

153. The Meaning Within the Name "Amitabha’s Pure Land (continued)

2. Following the Habits of Ordinary Beings to Inspire Joyful Aspiration All matters in the world can be categorized into suffering and happiness. People naturally desire to escape suffering and attain happiness. The various creations, facilities, and even cultural ideologies in the world ultimately arise from this fundamental aspiration. The Pure Land of Amitabha Buddha is named "The Land of Bliss" precisely to align with the common tendency of ordinary beings to reject suffering and seek joy.

3. Great Compassion Saves Us from Suffering, Urging Swift Liberation "The Buddhas have great compassion for those who suffer." Amitabha Buddha seeks to quickly free us from the world of suffering, which is why his land is called "Bliss." When those trapped in the sea of suffering hear of a land of happiness, their hearts naturally feel admiration and longing, leading them to aspire for rebirth there. This aligns with the compassionate intent of the Buddha.

(to be continued tomorrow)

153 極樂之立名 (續)

2.順凡夫習，令知欣求

世間之事皆可按苦、樂二字來劃分，而世人皆有願離苦得樂之趨向。世間 的各種創造和設施，甚至各種文化思想，本質皆是為了離苦得樂而來的。而 阿彌陀佛的淨土取名為極樂世界，就是為了隨順凡夫的厭苦欣樂的習性。

3.大悲救苦，急令出離

「諸佛大悲於苦者」，阿彌陀佛是為了讓我們趕快離開苦的世界，所以他 的世界取名「極樂」，在苦海中的人們，一聽到快樂之地，心之所向，自然生起 欣慕之心，願意往生，這就符合了佛的大悲本心。

Namo Amituofo!

May 1, 2025

May 1, 2025

Basic Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching

淨土小常識

153. The Meaning Within the Name - "Amitabha’s Pure Land (continued)

1. Aligning with the Nature of Sentient Beings and Forming Vast Dharma Connections

The "nature of sentient beings" refers to Buddha-nature, which is synonymous with great Nirvana—permanence, joy, self, and purity.

The "joy" of the Pure Land is not worldly pleasure but Dharma joy, the true, great, and Nirvanic bliss of permanence, joy, self, and purity. This joy is inherently present in all sentient beings: "How unexpected! My own nature is originally complete." The name of the Pure Land is thus established based on Buddha-nature, Dharma-nature, and enabling sentient beings to form deep Dharma connections. As Master Ouyi said: "All Buddhas manifest from the Dharma body to form karmic connections with beings."

Bodhisattva Dharmakara (who later became Amitabha Buddha) primarily connects with sentient beings on the level of Buddha-nature. However, he also manifests in countless forms to establish these connections. His mind pervades infinite space and the Dharma realm, completely uniting with the innate nature of all beings. When he dedicates merit, it is received across the ten directions of the Dharma realm. This reflects the great aspiration of a Bodhisattva. Therefore, all people inherently have a connection with Amitabha Buddha and the Pure Land—though the depth and closeness of that connection may vary.

(to be continued tomorrow)

153 極樂之立名 (續)

1.順眾生性，廣結法緣

「眾生性」，即佛性，佛性就是大涅槃、常樂我淨。極樂的樂不是世間樂， 而是法樂，是常樂我淨的真樂、大樂、涅槃之樂。這樣的樂是眾生本性所具足 的，「何期自性，本來具足」。這是依佛性、法性而立的名，能夠廣結法緣，蕅 益大師言「諸佛本從法身垂跡，固結緣種」。

法藏菩薩主要是在佛性層面和我們結緣，當然，也有分身無數來結緣的。 法藏菩薩的心盡虛空遍法界，和我們眾生的本性完全一體，他一迴向，十方 法界都收到了，這是菩薩發大心。所以，世間人人與阿彌陀佛有緣，與極樂世 界有緣，只是緣有深淺、親疏的不同。

(待續)

Namo Amituofo!

April 30, 2025

Apr. 30, 2025

Basic Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching

淨土小常識

153. The Meaning Within the Name - "Amitabha’s Pure Land"

The significance of the name "Amitabha’s Pure Land" pertains to the realm of the Buddha and can only be understood using the limited understanding of ordinary beings. Since Shakyamuni Buddha also provided an explanation, it can be understood through the phrase: "free from all suffering and experiencing only manifold joys".

In the Amitabha Sutra, there are three questions related to names: 1. Why is that land called the "Land of Bliss"?

2. Why is that Buddha named "Amitabha"?

3. Why is the sutra named The Sutra of All Buddhas’ Protection and Remembrance?

When Shakyamuni Buddha raised these three questions, the venerable Sariputra remained silent. Names are of great importance, especially the six-character Name, which represents the Dharma realm. This is a realm of the Buddhas—indescribable and beyond explanation, leaving only the Name to convey its meaning.

(to be continued tomorrow)

153 極樂之立名

極樂立名的意義，這是佛的境界，只能以凡夫的情量來推理而已。因釋迦 牟尼佛亦有解釋，可通過「無有眾苦，但受諸樂」這兩句話來說明。

《阿彌陀經》中有三問，皆與名字相關，分別是國名、佛名、經名：

彼土何故名為極樂？

彼佛何故號阿彌陀？

何故名為《一切諸佛所護念經》？

釋迦牟尼佛這三問，舍利弗尊者啞口無言，名字非常重要，尤其是六字名 號真法界。這是諸佛的境界，拿不出來，也講不明白，只能講個名字而已。

極樂立名之意義，略述幾點。

(待續)

Namo Amituofo!