Basic Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
154. The Meaning of the Title of the Amitabha Sutra (continued 7/9) 3. The principle is fully contained within.
By simply using the Buddha’s Name as the title, both praise and protective mindfulness are naturally encompassed. “The principle is self-contained” means that all the profound meanings are already included within the title.
“By merely presenting the Buddha’s Name, the praise of the inconceivable virtues and the protective mindfulness of the Buddhas are naturally included.”
What is being praised? — the Buddha’s Name.
Who is being protected and upheld? — those who recite the Buddha’s Name.
Therefore, just by placing the Name in the title, when we recite the three characters “Amitabha,” we are already praising its inconceivable virtues; and when we recite the Name, the Buddhas of the ten directions naturally extend their protection to us.
This is called “naturally encompassed” (ren yun zi she 任運自攝)— everything flows spontaneously, without the need for added effort. Whether it is praise or protection, both are fully included in the three-character “Amitabha.” Thus, the longer and more elaborate title is not omitted or lost—it is simply condensed into these three characters, making the profound principle self-contained.
(to be continued tomorrow)
154 《阿彌陀經》名義 (續 7/9)
3.三則理自包含。但標佛名，稱讚護念，任運自攝故。
「理自包含」，道理中已經包含了一切。
「但標佛名，稱讚護念，任運自攝故」，只要把佛名標出來，「稱讚不可思議 功德」的稱讚也在之內。稱讚什麼？稱讚佛名；「一切諸佛護念」也在之內，護 念什麼？護念念名號的人。
所以，只要是標了佛名，我們把名號「阿彌陀」三個字念出來，就是在讚歎 不可思議功德；我們把名號「阿彌陀」三個字念出來，十方諸佛自然給我們護 念。
「任運自攝」，自自然然，不加功用。不論稱讚或護念，都包含在「阿彌陀」 三字之內，原來長的、詳細的經題內容並未遺失，反而簡略地包含在內了，所 以是「理自包含」。
Namo Amituofo!
