Important Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
177. Aspiring to Be Born Is Itself Being Born (3 /4)
(3) In an Even Broader Space-Time Perspective
Since Amitabha attained Buddhahood ten kalpas ago, innumerable Buddhas throughout the ten directions have each, in their own lands, proclaimed and praised Amitabha’s Name and universally exhorted beings to be born there.
“Already vowed” refers collectively to those over the past ten kalpas who, through the exhortations of the Buddhas of the ten directions, have already aroused the aspiration for birth — such as the Sravakas, bodhisattvas, humans, and devas now dwelling in that land.
“Now vow” refers to those in the Saha world in the present time, who assemble to be taught Shakyamuni Buddha’s Amitabha Sutra. It also applies to beings in the ten directions who hear their respective Buddhas bear witness to, encourage faith in, and thereby arouse the aspiration for birth.
“Will vow” refers to all times in the Sahā world, or throughout the ten directions during Amitabha’s immeasurable lifespan, when beings arouse the aspiration for birth.
Thus, from the time Amitabha became a Buddha ten kalpas ago until the endless future, whenever any being hears any Buddha encourage faith in Amitabha’s Name, and arouses the aspiration to be born in his land, that being will certainly be born — without exception.
(to be continued tomorrow)
177 願生即生 (3/4)
（三）如果放在更廣大的時空範圍，阿彌陀佛既然成佛十劫，十方無量諸 佛各在本國宣揚讚歎阿彌陀佛的名號，普勸眾生往生，「已發願」，即是總指 十劫以來，經由十方諸佛勸導，而已經發起願往生心的眾生，如現在彼國的 聲聞、菩薩、人、天等；「今發願」，指《阿彌陀經》法會當下，娑婆世界聞釋迦牟
尼佛說法，以及十方世界各聞其佛證誠勸信而發起願往生心；「當發願」，指娑 婆及十方世界，隨阿彌陀佛無量壽時劫，任何時候發起願往生心。也就是阿 彌陀佛成佛十劫以來，乃至盡未來際，任何時候，聽聞任何一尊佛勸信阿彌 陀佛名號，而發起願生阿彌陀佛國的心，這樣的眾生，都必定往生，無一遺漏。
Namo Amituofo!
