Clarifying Doubts About the Pure Land (I)
淨土釋疑(一)
17.Question: Master, please explain the “Three Selections among the Four Verses”.
Answer:
Master Honen said at the end of his Collection on the Selection of Amitabha-Recitation (Nembutsu):
If one wishes to quickly escape birth and death,
Between the two superior paths, set aside the Sacred Path and choose the Pure Land Gate.
If one wishes to enter the Pure Land Gate,
Among the right and miscellaneous practices, abandon the miscellaneous and choose the right practice.
If one wishes to cultivate the right practice,
Among the main and auxiliary practices, again set aside the auxiliary and choose to focus on the true practice of right mindfulness.
The practice of right mindfulness is the exclusive recitation of Amitabha Buddha’s Name.
When one recites the Name, one is assured of rebirth — because it relies on the Buddha’s Fundamental Vow.
These four verses serve as a summary of the Collection on the Selection of Amitabha-Recitation (Nembutsu), encapsulating the key messages from each chapter.
(to be continued tomorrow)
17問：請師父解釋一下「四偈三選」。
答 (1/ 6)：
法然上人《選擇集》最後說：
欲速離生死，二種勝法中，且擱聖道門，選入淨土門。
欲入淨土門，正雜二行中，且拋諸雜行，選應歸正行。
欲修於正行，正助二業中，猶傍於助業，選應專正定。
正定之業者，即是稱佛名，稱名必得生，依佛本願故。
這四首偈，等於是《選擇集》的一個總結，《選擇集》各章的含義都在裏面。
Namo Amituofo!
