Important Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
160. The Real Mark Body and the Body for Saving Sentient Beings
Master Tanluan used two terms to explain the nature of Amitabha Buddha: one is called the “Real Mark Body” (實相身), and the other is the “Body for Saving Sentient Beings” (為物身).
The “Body for Saving Sentient Beings” (為物身) refers to the Buddha-body that was accomplished specifically for the sake of sentient beings.
The “Real Mark Body” (實相身) refers to Amitabha Buddha’s own realization of infinite light and infinite life, the Embodiment of True Suchness (真如實相).
This teaching explains that the Name “Namo Amituofo” (南無阿彌陀佛)is itself True Suchness, the Real Mark , and at the same time, it is the Name that we sentient beings can actually recite. Because it is the Body for Saving Beings, we are able to call upon it, reciting “Namo Amituofo, Namo Amituofo...” — this gives us a doable form of practice (事修).
If Amitabha Buddha had not realized this Name for our sake, how could we , as ordinary beings , possibly make contact with him?
Amitabha abides in the realm of the unborn and undying (the non-arising, non-ceasing), while we dwell entirely in the world of birth and death, of arising and ceasing. Without Amitabha’s Name there would be no way for us to connect or communicate with him spiritually.
Only if we ourselves reached the state of the unborn and undying, could our hearts intersect with the radiance of Amitabha’s mind. Only upon realizing infinite light and infinite life could we truly merge with Amitabha Buddha’s infinite light and life.
(to be continued tomorrow)
160 實相身、為物身
曇鸞大師用兩個名詞來說明阿彌陀佛，叫做「實相身」、「為物身」。 「為物身」就是指為了眾生而成就的這尊佛身；
「實相身」是指佛本身所證悟的無量光明、無量壽命，是真如實相的本身。
這句話是說明，這句「南無阿彌陀佛」本身，它是真如實相，同時，它是讓 我們眾生可以稱念得來的佛號。因為它是「為物身」，我們就可以念它，「南無 阿彌陀佛、南無阿彌陀佛……」，我們才可以有「事修」。
阿彌陀佛如果不是為我們成就這句名號，凡夫怎麼和阿彌陀佛接觸？因為阿 彌陀佛是在不生不滅的境界當中，我們完全在生滅的境界裡邊，我們沒法和 阿彌陀佛產生心靈的溝通。除非我們達到不生不滅了，才可以和阿彌陀佛的 心光相交集；證悟了無量光、無量壽，才可以和阿彌陀佛的無量光、無量壽碰合。
Namo Amituofo!
