Clarifying Doubts About the Pure Land (I)
淨土釋疑(一)
Question 23 (see yesterday’s post )
Answer continued:
We are ordinary beings and at times will inevitably give rise to arrogance. What should we do then? We should continue exclusively reciting Namo Amitabha Buddha, and “with every recitation, always repent.”
Some people, when writing their own names, will add “Always Repenting So-and-so,” or “Always Ashamed So-and-so,” or simply “Ashamed So-and-so.” But to be honest, we are not even truly capable of feeling deep shame or remorse. To be worthy of being called “Always Ashamed,” Master Yinguang certainly qualified, he had the roots of a patriarch; but, we do not. Therefore, we must have this self-awareness. Otherwise, we will confuse the ordinary with the saintly, and carelessly call ordinary beings saints.
23問：
續答：
我們是凡夫，難免會有驕慢的心，這個時候怎麼辦呢？還是念佛，所謂 「念念稱名常懺悔」。
有的人在寫自己名字的時候，都寫上「常懺悔」、「常慚愧某某」，或者是 「慚愧某某」，認真說起來，我們其實連慚愧都沒有，能夠稱為「常慚愧」的，印 光大師他就夠格，印光大師是祖師的根性。而我們是沒有的，所以我們要有 這一種認知。不然的話，就會以凡濫聖，把凡夫隨便稱為聖人。
Namo Amituofo!
