Basic Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
154. The Meaning of the Title of the Amitabha Sutra (continued 5/9)
(2) Clearly Revealing that This Sutra Takes “The Name as Its Essence, and Name-Recitation as Its Practice”
The Sutra title is extraordinarily skillful. Since the three characters “Amitabha” encompass all the contents of the Sutra, it is evident that the Name itself is the essence (ti 體) of the teaching; and because the Name is the essence, it is equally clear that reciting the Name is the core practice (zong 宗).
With this kind of skillful, profound intent, the three-character “Amitabha” was rightly chosen as the title of the Sutra.
(to be continued tomorrow)
154 《阿彌陀經》名義 (續 5/9)
（二）顯明本經「名號為體，持名為宗」
經名非常善巧，「阿彌陀」三個字既然把經的所有內容包含在內了，很顯 然，就是以名號為體；既然名號為體，那也很顯然，就是以稱名作為修行的根 本宗要。
有這種種的善巧、殊勝，所以就用「阿彌陀」三字來作為經名。
Namo Amituofo!
