Important Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
159. The Three Levels of Nianfo ( Recitation of Amitabha’s Name) (continued)
3. The Nianfo Chosen in Amitabha’s Fundamental Vow
On top of the meaning of the “Fundamental Vow Nianfo,” this third level adds the dimension of “chosen”. This teaching was established by Master Honen based on the Larger Sutra of Infinite Life (The Larger Sutra of Amitabha Buddha).
The intention is to clearly reveal that Amitabha’s 18th / Fundamental Vow arises from his profound compassion and boundless wisdom. In order to universally and equally save all sentient beings—whether good or evil, wise or foolish—Amitabha formulated his Primal Vow after reviewing the vows and practices of 210 billion Buddhas and their lands.
In doing so, he rejected the difficult practices of the Sacred Path —whether meditative or non-meditative—contained in the 84,000 Dharma gates. He solely chose the practice of “Nianfo ” (reciting Amitabha Buddha’s Name) as the practice for beings to attain rebirth in his Land of Bliss.
Hence, this practice is called the “ Nianfo Chosen in Amitabha’s Fundamental Vow ”, in order to highlight the two key virtues of Nianfo as established in the Fundamental Vow - its superiority and its ease.
People commonly believe that a practice which can be carried out by all, regardless of whether one is lay or monastic, good or evil, must be a shallow method, with inferior merit, and not suitable for the wise or diligent. Conversely, they assume that difficult practices must be deep and profound, with greater merit, and consequently more appropriate for those who are intelligent and diligent.
Master Honen, in order to correct this mistaken view, relied on the Larger Sutra to explain Amitabha’s deliberate selection. He made it clear that Nembutsu/Nianfo based on the Fundamental Vow is not only easy, but also supreme. This teaching is aimed at awakening faith in Nianfo among ordinary, deluded, and karmically burdened beings.
(to be continued tomorrow)
159 三重念佛 (續)
三、選擇本願念佛。於本願義之上，更加「選擇」一義。這是法然上人依《大 經》所立，意在顯明此之本願，乃是阿彌陀佛悲智深廣，為了容易普遍平等地 救度一切善惡凡夫，乃從二百一十億諸佛願行之中所「選擇之本願」，亦即選 捨聖道定散八萬四千之難行法門，唯獨選取「但念佛」之一行，作為眾生往生 極樂淨土之「行門」，故名「選擇本願念佛」，以突顯本願念佛之「勝易二德」。 一般以為，「不分道俗善惡都能實行之法，即是淺法，其功德劣，利智精進之 人莫修之；若是難行之法，即是深法，功德殊勝，利智精進之人正可修之」。法 然上人為了糾正此種謬見，是故依據《大經》彌陀之選擇，顯明本願念佛不但 「易」，而且「勝」，以啟發我輩愚惡凡夫念佛之信心。
Namo Amituofo!
