Clarifying Doubts About the Pure Land (I)
淨土釋疑(一)
Question 22 :
Master, when reciting Amitabha Buddha’s Name, there is a two character, four-character, and a six-character form. Which one should we recite?
Answer: (1 / 3)
Whether one recites two characters, four characters, or six characters, as long as one entrusts in Amitabha’s deliverance, they are all equal. This is because Amitabha’s deliverance is not determined by the number of syllables. From Amitabha’s standpoint, whether two characters, four characters, or six characters; they are all Amitabha himself, all mutually inclusive and interconnected.
However, when we recite, it is more complete to recite the six-character phrase “Namo Amitabha Buddha.” Why? Because it accords with Amitabha’s 18th Vow. The Vow says: “If, with a sincere mind of faith and aspiration, one desires to be born in my land…” this is represented by “Namo.”
Then it says: “…even up to ten recitations”—this is practice, represented by the four characters “Amitabha Buddha.” Thus, the 18th Vow itself embodies faith, aspiration, and practice: “Namo” is faith and aspiration, and “Amitabha Buddha” is the practice.
“Namo” refers to us sentient beings, while “Amitabha Buddha” refers to Amitabha’s saving power. Therefore, in the 18th Vow, “sentient beings of the ten directions” (Namo) and “Amitabha Buddha who has attained perfect enlightenment” are realized together, in one unified whole. Hence, reciting the six-character phrase accords fully with the 18th Vow, making it complete.
22問：請問師父，念佛有四字念法與六字念法，那麼我們應該怎樣念呢？
答：
信受彌陀的救度，執持二字、或者四字、或者是六字，都離不開彌陀的救度，因為彌陀的救度不是以文字的多寡論。同時，從彌陀本身來講，二字也是他本身，四字也是他本身，六字也是他本身，都是互相融通包含的。
只是我們如果稱念的話，是以稱念六字——「南無阿彌陀佛」比較完整。那為什麼？合乎第十八願！
第十八願說「至心信樂，欲生我國」，這個就是信願，也就是「南無」；「乃至十念」——這個就是四字，就是「阿彌陀佛」。所以，第十八願的本身就是信願行，就是「南無」，就是「阿彌陀佛」。
「南無」是指我們眾生，「阿彌陀佛」是指救度的本身。所以，第十八願裏就有「十方眾生，若不生者，不取正覺」，因此，「南無」的十方眾生，與已成正覺的「阿彌陀佛」，在第十八願一體成就。
所以，我們稱念這句六字名號合乎第十八願，是完整性的。
(明天待續)
Namo Amituofo!
