Clarifying Doubts About the Pure Land (I)
淨土釋疑(一)
Question 12: (see yesterday’s post)
“That Buddha, in his causal stage, made great vows” - “That Buddha” refers to Amitabha Buddha. When he was still a Bodhisattva (Dharmakara) on his causal path, he established 48 great vows. Among them, the most vast and profound is the 18th Vow, which is directed at universally saving all beings.
The 18th Vow says: “All who hear my Name and recite it, I shall welcome.”
“All who hear his Name and recite it, he will welcome” - To “recite my Name” includes even as few as ten recitations—this is the essence of Amitabha’s vow. Amitabha said: “If those who recite my Name are not reborn in my Pure Land, I
will not attain enlightenment.” This is the meaning of: “Even if it’s just ten recitations, if they are not born [in my land], I will not realize Buddhahood.” Hence, he welcomes all who hear and recite his Name.
Now, looking at the kinds of sentient beings in the ten directions:
“He does not reject the poor or favor the rich” - The word “reject” (簡) means to select or discard. Amitabha does not reject the poor and welcome only the rich—he does not value wealth over poverty. Whether one is rich or poor, if they
recite Amitabha’s Name, they are all saved equally. As long as one accepts Amitabha’s deliverance with faith, they will be reborn—there is no discrimination.
“Nor slight the dull or prefer the wise” - “Dull” refers to those with little wisdom, those who are illiterate, ignorant, or mentally limited. “Wise” refers to those with sharp faculties and great understanding. Whether one is of high or low capacity, Amitabha saves all equally.
(to be continued tomorrow)
12問：師父能否解釋一下法照大師「彼佛因中立弘誓」的偈子？ 續答：
「彼佛因中立弘誓」：「彼佛」即阿彌陀佛。阿彌陀佛在因地的時候立下了四 十八大願，其中最弘廣的就是第十八願，第十八願是廣度眾生的。第十八願 說：「聞名念我總迎來。」
「聞名念我總迎來」：「念我」就是「乃至十念」，使「乃至十念」的眾生往生極 樂，是阿彌陀佛的本願。阿彌陀佛說：「稱我名號的人，如果不讓他往生極樂 世界，我就不成佛！」這就是「乃至十念，若不生者，不取正覺」，所謂「聞名念 我總迎來」。
那麼，就十方眾生來講是：
「不簡貧窮將富貴」：「簡」，簡別，捨棄。不簡別、不捨棄貧窮的人，而迎接 富貴的人——不是重富貴輕貧賤的。「富貴」、「貧窮」，只要他稱念彌陀名號， 就通通救度；只要是信受彌陀救度的人，就通通往生，不分別的。
「不簡下智與高才」：「下智」就是沒有智慧、不認識字的人，愚癡、愚劣的 人；「高才」即上根利器。上根利器也好，下根愚鈍也好，都平等救度。
Namo Amituofo!
