Important Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
172 - The Dharma of Removing Suffering and Affliction (continued 6/7)
Furthermore, the sutra text of the Ninth Contemplation also states:
“Because one sees Amitabha Buddha’s body, one also sees his mind. Amitabha’s mind is great compassion.
With unconditional compassion, it can embrace all sentient beings.”
That is to say, when Queen Vaidehi saw Amitabha Buddha, she also understood Amitabha Buddha’s mind. Seeing Amitabha’s body is seeing his mind; and what is Amitabha’s mind? His mind contains infinite compassion. What is infinite compassion? It is equal and unconditional, universally saving all willing sentient beings without discrimination.
Thus, seeing the Buddha’s body is seeing the Buddha’s mind; seeing the Buddha’s mind is knowing that Amitabha Buddha’s mind is dedicated to universally saving sentient beings who exclusively recite Namo Amitabha Buddha. The fulfillment passage of the 18th Vow says:
“All sentient beings who hear Amitabha’s Name,
Rejoice in faith,
And sincerely aspire to be born in his land,
Immediately attain rebirth and abide in non-retrogression.”
“Hearing the Name and rejoicing in faith” mean that, upon hearing Amitabha’s Name and giving rise to joyful faith, one “immediately attains the assurance of rebirth.”
(to be continued tomorrow)
172 除苦惱法 (續 6 / 7)
再來，第九觀的經文也說：以見佛身故，亦見佛心。佛心者，大慈悲是，以 無緣慈，攝諸眾生。
也就是說，當韋提希夫人看到阿彌陀佛的時候，也曉得阿彌陀佛的心，因 為看到佛身就看到佛心；那佛的心是什麼？佛的心整體就是大慈悲。什麼是 大慈悲呢？大慈悲是平等的、不講條件的、沒有選擇對象的，平等普遍地要 救度任何眾生。所以看到佛身，就看到佛心，看到佛心，就知道阿彌陀佛的佛 心是以大悲的名號普遍的廣度眾生，就像第十八願成就文所講的：
諸有眾生，聞其名號，信心歡喜，乃至一念，至心迴向，願生彼國，即得往生， 住不退轉。
所謂「聞名信喜」，聽到他的名號而信心歡喜，就「即得往生」，當下獲得往 生的身分。
Namo Amituofo!
