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!
