Important Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
167 - The Ten Powers of Amitabha Buddha’s Name
In the Contemplation Sutra, in the section on “Middle Grade, Low Birth,” it is said:
When one’s life is about to end, the fires of hell suddenly appear all around. At that time if one encounters a good teacher, who out of great compassion, praises Amitabha Buddha, extolling his “Ten Powers and Majestic Virtues.” He broadly proclaims the “miraculous power of Amitabha’s light,” and also praises his accomplishment of precepts, meditation, wisdom, and liberation. When this person hears such praise and wholeheartedly accepts it, he eradicates karmic offenses of eighty billion kalpas of birth-and-death.
Master Shandao, in his Commentary on the Contemplation Sutra (section on Non-meditative Virtues), explains this passage for those of the “Middle Grade, Low Birth.” He explained that Amitabha’s Name contains: “ the Ten Powers and Majestic Virtues,” “the Miraculous Power of Light,” and the “Fivefold Dharma Body.” This may be based on the Infinite life Sutra, particularly the wording of the 17th Vow and its accomplishment text.
167 十力佛名
《觀經》「下品中生」說：
命欲終時，地獄眾火一時俱至。遇善知識，以大慈悲，即為讚說阿彌陀佛「十力威德」，廣讚彼佛「光明神力」，亦讚「戒、定、慧、解脫、解脫知見」。此人聞已，除八十億劫生死之罪。
善導大師在《觀經疏‧散善義》中解釋「下品中生」的經文時，把「十力威德」、「光明神力」與「五分法身」統合起來，加以註釋，合稱之為「彌陀名號」。這可能是以《大經》所說的「第十七願願文」與「第十七願成就文」為根據而做的註釋。
Namo Amituofo!
