Clarifying Doubts About the Pure Land (I)
淨土釋疑(一)
Question 11 (see post dated July 2, 2025)
Answer (continued 3/5):
If Amitabha Buddha were to set such conditions for our salvation, then sentient beings across the ten directions would have no hope of rebirth. Would the all-compassionate, all-wise Amitabha not already know this? Would he still insist on placing such conditions? That is impossible.
It’s like loving parents who lost their beloved young child many years ago. One day, they finally discover that their son is living. They see him suffering, exposed to the elements, starving, and in hardship. Their hearts ache for him, and they desperately want to bring him home to free him from his misery.
Unfortunately the son, with his ignorance and low self-esteem, believes he is unworthy of returning home. He thinks that, in order to return to his parents' abundant noble home, he must first meet certain conditions, perhaps becoming more capable or more accomplished.
Having lived apart for so long, the child develops a deep sense of inferiority and fails to understand his parents’ boundless love. This only causes the parents more pain and sorrow.
Likewise, when we fail to accept Amitabha Buddha’s deliverance and cling to such self-powered thinking, we are, in effect, stabbing a knife into Amitabha’s compassionate heart. This mindset reflects a self-powered approach to reciting the Buddha’s name.
(to be continued tomorrow)
11問：剛才聽師父講，《觀經》的眼目就在「一向專稱彌陀佛名」，稱名定往生， 但是，這種稱名，它和有一種理論解釋的，就是要稱到什麼樣子才能獲得不 退，是否一樣？請師父再把這兩種稱名具體的含義解釋一下。(14/25)
續答3：
如果阿彌陀佛給我們立下某種條件的話，十方眾生就不可能往生了，阿彌陀 佛大慈大悲的智慧心中難道不知道，而會硬要立下某種條件嗎？這是不可能 的！
慈愛的爸媽，早年失去了最疼愛的幼子，現在發現了兒子的住所，這個兒子 在那裏受風受雨、受苦受難、三餐不濟，慈愛的爸媽一看就心疼，所以，巴不 得趕快把兒子接回家裏，免除他的貧窮困苦。但是兒子一直愚癡，心性低劣， 以為爸媽所擁有的榮華富貴，自己沒有資格，要能夠回去的話，起碼要怎麼 樣怎麼樣才能回去。
所以，兒子在外面待久了，自會有一種卑劣的想法，不能體會父母的悲心，那 樣的話，就會使父母更加心疼。所以，我們不接受彌陀的救度，對彌陀懷有的 那一種觀念，等於是拿一把小刀插在彌陀的胸膛上。那是一種自力的念佛心態。
Namo Amituofo!
