Q and A about Practicing Amitabha-Recitation
Part Three - Assisted-Recitation near the End-of-Life
第三部分 有關臨終助念
Question:
I’ve heard that when seeing Amitabha Buddha coming to welcome us, we must “rush forward.” After seeing Amitabha Buddha, how exactly should one “rush forward”?
Answer:
The phrase “rush forward” is not mentioned in the sutras; it may have been imagined by someone. In fact, all that is needed is the sincere aspiration to be born in the Pure Land. It is like lovers meeting. Even without being taught to, they are naturally drawn to each other.
When people who exclusively recite Namo Amitabha Buddha see the Buddha coming to greet them, they naturally move toward him. Just like those who are cold seek warmth and those in the dark seek light, it is a natural tendency. Moreover, with Amitabha’s miraculous power drawing them, the person aspiring for birth is like a small blade of grass caught in a great whirlpool—they are naturally carried along by the Buddha.
As described in the Contemplation Sutra for the nine grades of rebirth, Amitabha and the assembly of bohisattvas radiate light and extend their hands to welcome the practitioner. The person who exclusively recites Namo Amitabha Buddha naturally accepts the lotus seat, follows the Buddha, and proceeds directly into the lotus pond. We only need to focus on exclusively reciting Namo Amitabha Buddha. The way we sit on the lotus seat or are reborn in the lotus pond is entirely controlled by Amitabha Buddha, and we need not worry about it.
55問：聽說：見到阿彌陀佛接引要「衝上去」。見到阿彌陀佛後，要怎樣「衝上去」？
答：「衝上去」，沒見經上說，可能是有人想像出來的吧。其實只要有願生心就可以了，如同戀人相見，即使沒有人教，也會相互接近。
念佛人見到佛來迎接，很自然就會向佛而去，如冷者趨暖、暗者希光，都是自然傾向。何況有阿彌陀佛的神力攝取，這時願生人就像一小片草葉遇到巨大漩渦一樣，自然隨佛而去。
如《觀經》九品往生，皆是阿彌陀佛與諸聖眾放光授手接迎，念佛人自然升坐蓮台，隨從佛後，直入蓮池。我們只管念佛，如何坐上蓮台、如何往生西方蓮池，都是阿彌陀佛的事，不必我們擔心。
Namo Amituofo!
