Clarifying Doubts About the Pure Land (I)
淨土釋疑(一)
Question 28: Some people, based on the passage in the Amitabha Sutra that says “those who have already made the vow, are now making the vow, or will make the
vow”, think that when reciting the Buddha’s Name they should first: make a vow, then perform a dedication of merit, and even dedicate it to beings such as devas, nāgas, the Eightfold Assembly, or leaders of various countries. Is this necessary?
Answer to Q28 (1 /3):
Actually, there is no need to do this.
The purpose of our recitation of Namo Amitabha Buddha is rebirth in the Land of Bliss. Moreover, the Six-Character Sentence (Namo Amitabha Buddha) already fully contains faith, vow, and practice. There is no need to deliberately add a separate vow.
The passage in the Amitabha Sutra that says, “If there are persons who have already made the vow, are now making the vow, or will make the vow,” is meant to explain the principle that those who aspire to rebirth and exclusively recite Namo Amitabha Buddha will certainly attain rebirth. It is not saying that one must first make a vow before reciting, and then make another vow while reciting. That is not its meaning.
The making of vows and the dedication of merit can be understood from the Buddha’s side and from our side.
(to be continued tomorrow)
28 問：有人依據《阿彌陀經》「已發願，今發願，當發願」這段經文，在念佛的時 候先發願，之後迴向，並且還給天龍八部、各國領導人等迴向……
答 (1/ 3)：
其實，不必這樣，我們念佛的目的，就是為了往生極樂世界，同時，這六字名 號就已經具足了信願行，不必另外再刻意地去發願。《阿彌陀經》裏面所說的 「若有人已發願，今發願，當發願」，這是說明願往生、稱名號的人必定往生的
道理，並不是要你現在念佛就先發個願，等一下念佛又要發個願，不是這樣 的。
發願迴向，有從佛那一邊來講，有從我們這一邊來講的。
Namo Amituofo!
