Sept. 23, 2025
Clarifying Doubts About the Pure Land (I)
淨土釋疑(一)
Question 17: Master, please explain the “Three Selections among the Four Verses” (continued 4 /6)
Verse 3:
"If one wishes to cultivate the right practice..." - Even among the five right practices, four are auxiliary, while only one is the main practice.
"Among the main and auxiliary practices, still set aside the auxiliary and choose to focus on the main practice of right concentration." - The four auxiliary practices support the main one ; but, the central, essential practice is exclusively reciting Amitabha Buddha’s Name. All other right practices exist to support this:
1. Reciting the sutras helps understand the teaching and purpose of Amitabha-recitation.
2. Visualizing the Pure Land fosters aspiration and joy, which motivate the recitation.
3. Bowing and offering are expressions of reverence and to deepen faith; but, they are ultimately to reinforce recitation.
Recitation of Amitabha’s Name is accessible at all times, regardless of location or circumstances. While offering and bowing may require a temple or altar, reciting the Name does not. Thus, making it the most suitable and powerful practice for people today.
(to be continued tomorrow)
17問：請師父解釋一下「四偈三選」。 續答 (4/ 6)
第三首：
「欲修於正行，正助二業中，猶傍於助業，選應專正定」：那麼，已經進入這 五種正行、專修這五種正行了，可是五種正行有四種是助成的，是引導作用 的，另外一種是最主要的。
那麼，我們就暫時把那四種放在旁邊，而專依那個最根本、最主要的，那個就 是稱名。意思就是說：你之所以讀淨土三部經，目的不在讀誦，目的為了瞭解 經義，明瞭這部經的目的所在，我們依教奉行。那麼，淨土三部經，乃至剛剛 講的《往生論註》，都在教導我們：依靠彌陀的願力，念佛必定往生，我們依教 奉行之後，就一輩子地稱名念佛，這是正定之業。
所以，五種正行都是為了瞭解正定業，為了歸入正定業。如果懂得這一點 ，四種助業就融化在正定業裏面了。怎麼講呢？以前有時間就是讀經，現在 曉得經義，目的就是要我們念佛，所以我們現在就來念佛；觀察正行——想像 極樂世界莊嚴也是一樣；禮拜正行——禮拜阿彌陀佛也是一樣，都把它們融 入在稱名當中，轉成為稱名了；讚歎供養也都是這樣。
因為稱名最容易，二六時中都可以稱名，不管你到哪個地方，都可以稱名。不然的話，你要供養，只能在大殿裏邊了；你要禮拜，只能在有佛像的地方，那 沒有佛像怎麼供養禮拜呢？可是稱名就不是這樣了，沒有佛像，任何時間、 任何地點都能念佛，所以要專於稱名正定之業。
Namo Amituofo!
