A Discussion on Excerpts from the Scriptures of the Pure Land School
淨土宗精要法語討論
25. The Contemplation Sutra - Eradication of the Five Gravest Transgressions by Reciting Amitabha Buddha’s Name (continued)
Question 25.7 In daily practice, should we recite the six-character Name or the four-character Name?
Answer: It is preferable to recite the six-character Name. The Contemplation Sutra says, "With utmost sincerity, completing ten recitations of 'Namo Amitabha Buddha'." In fact, in all of the three main Pure Land sutras, whenever the method of recitation is specifically described, it is always the six-character Name.
However, if someone has been reciting the four-character Name (Amitabha Buddha alone) for many years and is unaccustomed to adding "Namo" (Namo meaning "I take refuge in" or "homage to), that is also perfectly fine. If someone who is ill finds reciting the six characters too difficult, they may switch to the four-character version. Near the end of life, when breathing becomes short and even four characters are hard to follow, simply reciting "Buddha" alone is still effective for attaining rebirth without obstruction.
25. 《觀經》稱名除五逆罪 (續)
25.7 問：平時念佛，念六字還是四字？
答：宜念六字。《觀經》言「如是至心，具足十念，稱南無阿彌陀佛」。經土三 經具體講到如何念佛，唯是六字。
但若四字稱念多年，不習慣六字，那也無妨。病苦之人，若稱六字困難，也 可改稱四字。臨終前氣息短促，四字也跟不上，可隨念一個「佛」字，無礙往 生。
Namo Amituofo!
