Important Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
177. Aspiring to Be Born Is Itself Being Born (2 /4 continued)
(2) According to Shakyamuni Buddha’s Lifetime Teaching
“Already vowed” refers to those who previously heard Shakyamuni expound the Infinite Life Sutra and the Contemplation Sutra, and aroused the aspiration for birth.
Now “vow” refers to those in this assembly who, after hearing him preach the Amitabha Sutra, aroused the aspiration for birth.
“Will vow” refers to any time in the future, after Shakyamuni’s passing, when his teaching remains in the world. Whoever hears the teaching and arouses the aspiration for birth — including us today, and even beings ten thousand years into the Dharma-ending Age — are included here.
Thus, whether Shakyamuni Buddha was present in the world or after his passing, any being who hears the teaching of Amitabha and birth in the Pure Land, and arouses the aspiration to be born in Amitabha’s land, will certainly attain birth.
When we reflect that more than two thousand years ago Shakyamuni so compassionately cared for us beings of the latter age, meager in merit and heavily burdened with karmic evil. He entrusted us to Amitabha’s deliverance and assured us of our birth. The thought of this moves us deeply, as though we were personally hearing his voice while he was still in the world.
(to be continued tomorrow)
177 願生即生 (2/4)
（二）如果從釋尊一期教法來說，「已發願」，指前面已經聽聞釋尊宣說《無 量壽經》、《觀經》等而發起願生心；「今發願」，指本次法會聽聞釋尊宣說《阿彌 陀經》而發起願生心；「當發願」，指未來釋迦滅後，教法留存世間的任何時候 ，因聽聞而發起願生心，正指今天我等乃至末法萬年後的眾生。也就是「若佛 在世、若佛滅後」的任何眾生，聽聞念佛往生的教法，而發起願生阿彌陀佛國 的心，都必定往生，無一遺漏。
想到釋尊兩千餘年前為我等末法福薄罪重的眾生如此深心呵護，付囑 念佛，授記必生，如同親聞釋尊在世的教導一般，心中無限感動。
Namo Amituofo!
