A Discussion on Excerpts from the Scriptures of the Pure Land School
淨土宗精要法語討論
31. The Contemplation Sutra - Amitabha’s Light Permeates Everywhere, to Embrace Those Who Invoke his Name
Each beam of light permeates all worlds in the ten directions, embracing and never abandoning sentient beings who invoke Amitabha’s Name.
Question: Amitabha Buddha’s light permeates all of the ten directions. Why does it only embrace those who recite his Name?
Answer: Those who recite Amitabha Buddha’s Name are following his 18th vow: “If they exclusively recite my Name, I will assuredly transport them to be reborn in my land.” This is called “ being in accord with Amitabha Buddha’s vow.” Their hearts are undivided, free from distractions or mixed practices, and thus closely aligned and resonant with Amitabha’s mind. The Buddha remembers them, as they remember the Buddha—the connection is mutual and unbroken.
Other forms of practice involve our scattered minds and divided attention, making it difficult to directly connect with the Buddha’s light. Though merit may still be transferred toward rebirth, such a connection remains distant and mixed.
Amitabha’s light consists of two aspects: the light of his body (visible light) and the light of his mind. The bodily light is “permeating light,” shining across all worlds in the ten directions, gently nurturing all beings. The mind’s light is “embracing light,” which actively gathers those who recite Amitabha’s Name and leads them to be reborn in the Pure Land.
As Master Shandao explained in his “Dharma Gates of Contemplation and Invocation”:
“Only those who exclusively recite Amitabha Buddha’s Name have his mind-light constantly shining upon them, embracing and protecting without ever abandoning them. This does not apply to those practicing assorted or mixed karmic acts.”
Those who do not recite Amitabha’s Name are not aligned with Amitabha’s Fundamental Vow, that saves all beings through the Other-Power contained within his Name. They receive only the general nurturing of the Buddha’s “bodily light”; but, not the direct embrace of his “mind-light”.
31. 《觀經》光明遍照唯攝念佛
一一光明遍照十方世界，念佛眾生攝取不捨。
31. 問：阿彌陀佛光明遍照十方，為何只攝取念佛眾生？
答：念佛眾生遵守「稱我名號，必令往生」的誓約，所謂「順彼佛願」，不雜餘 心餘行，與佛心親近、相應，彼此相憶，不相捨離。其他修行，心有旁騖，不能 與佛光對接，雖可迴向，終顯疏雜。阿彌陀佛的光明，有身光（色光），有心 光。身光是「遍照光明」，遍照十方世界，調熟一切眾生；心光是「攝取光明」， 攝取念佛行人，接引往生。善導大師《觀念法門》：「但有專念阿彌陀佛眾生， 彼佛心光常照是人，攝護不捨；總不論照攝餘雜業行者。」不念佛之人，心與 阿彌陀佛「名號度眾生」的誓願不相順，只受身光調熟，不受心光攝取。
Namo Amituofo!
