Clarifying Doubts About the Pure Land (I)
淨土釋疑(一)
Question 22 :
Answer continued (3 /3):
For example, there was once a monk named Master Fali. He was very poor. When building a small temple, he lacked thatch for the roof. Hearing that someone in the mountains had some, he begged for it and received a cartload. On the way home, exhausted, he lay down and fell asleep. Nearby a fire broke out, and since his cart was downwind, the flames quickly spread toward him. He awoke too late to escape. Because he usually recited Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva (Guanyin), he immediately called upon him. Just as he uttered “Guan…,” the fire stopped instantly.
We know that Avalokiteśvara is the compassionate manifestation of Amitabha. The Bodhisattva’s purpose is to relieve suffering; but, the ultimate power to save lies in entrusting in Amitabha’s deliverance. Thus, Avalokiteśvara’s purpose is to skillfully guide us to recite “Namo Amitabha Buddha” and thereby receive Amitabha’s salvation. Otherwise, Avalokiteśvara would have to continue, life after life, endlessly responding to cries of suffering. That would not be a complete solution. We should understand that Avalokiteśvara is the compassionate expression of Amitabha. When we realize this connection, we will not waver but continue exclusively reciting “Namo Amitabha Buddha.”
22問
續答 (3/3):
舉一個例子來講：以前有一個師父叫做法礪法師，他很貧窮，當要建設精舍的時候，缺少茅草，聽說山上某某人有，就向他化緣，要了一牛車的茅草。回家時走到半路，他很累，就躺在那裏睡著了，剛好附近發生火災，而且他的車就在下風，火已經快燒到了，他一醒過來，已經來不及了，因為他平時是念觀世音菩薩的，他趕緊念觀世音菩薩，「觀」才出口，火就停止了。
我們曉得觀世音菩薩是阿彌陀佛慈悲的顯現，觀世音菩薩的存在是要救苦救難，而能夠絕對性地救苦救難，就是信受阿彌陀佛的救度。所以，觀世音菩薩的存在，等於是方便地接引我們去稱念「南無阿彌陀佛」，來讓阿彌陀佛救度，不然的話，觀世音菩薩生生世世、世世生生都要為了我們而聞聲救苦，在那裏救苦救難，那不徹底呀。我們應該知道：觀世音菩薩是彌陀慈悲的展現，我們瞭解這個感應之後，我們就會不改變念「南無阿彌陀佛」。
Namo Amituofo!
