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 5 /6)
Verse 4:
The practice of “right concentration” is the exclusive recitation of Amitabha Buddha’s Name.
When one exclusively recites Amitabha’s Name, one is assured of birth — because it relies on Amitabha’s Fundamental Vow."
Reciting the Name is in accord with Amitabha Buddha’s Fundamental / 18th Vow, which promises that those who exclusively recite his Name will be reborn in his Pure Land.
Master Shandao said: “Of the 48 Vows, the one that highlights Name-recitation is the most intimate.”
“Only by reciting his Name can one receive the light and embrace of Amitabha. Know that the Original Vow is the strongest among all causes.”
Thus, the Eighteenth Vow is the core of Amitabha’s compassionate intent. Only those who recite his Name are fully embraced by his light; because the Name is inseparable from the Light, and vice versa. When we recite with our hearts and mouths, we unite with the Buddha’s Light and are already within the sphere of his salvific power.
Master Shandao further said:
“When sentient beings exclusively recite Amitabha Buddha’s Name, he hears them.
When they constantly bow to Amitabha , he sees them.
When they constantly think of Amitabha, he knows them.
If beings remember Amitabha , he also remembers them.
The three karmas (body, speech, and mind) of reciters and Amitabha are never separated.”
(to be continued tomorrow)
17問：請師父解釋一下「四偈三選」。
續答 (5/ 6)
第四首：
「正定之業者，即是稱佛名，稱名必得生，依佛本願故」：同時，這個稱名正 定之業就是順阿彌陀佛的本願，其他的都不是阿彌陀佛的本願，善導大師說： 弘誓多門四十八，偏標念佛最為親。
阿彌陀佛廣發四十八大願，其中只有第十八願的稱名念佛是最根本的， 而且與阿彌陀佛沒有離開的，所以說「最為親」。同時又說：唯有念佛蒙光攝， 當知本願最為強。
只有稱名念佛才蒙受彌陀光明的保護、攝取，為什麼？因為這是他的本 願（第十八願——念佛往生願），是一切因緣當中最有力、最能夠救度我們的 一個強緣，所以說「當知本願最為強」。
我們知道，「念佛往生」是四十八願裏的第十八願，所以，第十八願就是 「本願」，就是「稱名」。善導大師說，唯有這個第十八願的稱名念佛才蒙受光 明的照攝、保護。因為名號就是光明，名號離不開光明，光明離不開名號。所 以，現在我們以心、口來稱念這句名號，我們的心、口與彌陀的名號結合為一 體，就在彌陀的光明裏邊了。
善導大師又說：眾生起行，口常稱佛，佛即聞之；身常禮拜佛，佛即見之； 心常念佛，佛即知之。眾生憶念佛者，佛亦憶念眾生，彼此三業，不相捨離。
所以，念佛的人與阿彌陀佛三業都在一起，不相捨離。
那我們是要與彌陀親近呢，還是要與彌陀疏遠？當然與彌陀親近啦，與 彌陀親近，現在就已經具足往生的身份了；與彌陀疏遠，就要繼續輪迴。
Namo Amituofo!
