Clarifying Doubts About the Pure Land (I)
淨土釋疑(一)
Question 21
Answer continued (4/4):
Thus, as long as you exclusively recite Namo Amitabha Buddha, every recitation is already a vow and dedication. Each recitation manifests the merits Amitabha dedicated to us, and our acceptance of his offer of salvation. Every recitation of Namo Amitabha Buddha expresses this.
It is common for some people to believe we must dedicate merits to heavenly guardians or protective deities. However, when we recite Namo Amitabha Buddha, without our asking or even knowing it, those powers naturally respond.
Therefore, the Pure Land way is this: by exclusively reciting Namo Amitabha Buddha, one is already repaying the “fourfold gratitude above” and relieving the “sufferings of the three evil paths below.” As Buddhists, we should never forget the kindness of our parents, teachers, our country, and all sentient beings. The only way to repay these four great debts is to recite Namo Amitabha Buddha. By doing so, without any conscious intention or request, we naturally bring deliverance to our ancestors and protection to our descendants. Even if we are not thinking about repayment, the power of Amitabha Buddha ensures that it is accomplished.
21問:
續答 (4/4):
你只要時時刻刻稱名，念念之中都是在發願，都在迴向。所以，每句名號 裏面，都是在流露彌陀迴向給我們的功德，呼喚我們讓他救度，也都是在流 露自己隨順、信順彌陀的救度，領受他的功德，願往生極樂世界。所以，聲聲 名號都是在表達這種心，所以說「一念相應一念佛，念念相應念念佛」。
一般要迴向龍天護法，要迴向什麼什麼的。其實，在念念稱名當中，不祈 求、也不知道，自然就有那種功能。不必我們迴向，龍天護法自然就來護我們 的法，保護我們。
所以，淨土法門是：只要專稱彌陀佛名，自自然然就是在「上報四重恩，下 濟三途苦」。我們學佛的人，不能忘掉父母恩、師長恩、國土恩、眾生恩，要報 這四重恩，就只有稱念彌陀名號。稱念彌陀名號，你不知不求，自然就能超度 祖先，就能庇蔭兒孫。我們的心雖然沒有想到報答不報答，但是佛力的緣故， 自自然然就會有報答的功能。
Namo Amituofo!
