Clarifying Doubts About the Pure Land (I)
淨土釋疑(一)
Answer to Q33: (3 /6)
Will beings like us, who create so much negative karma, become arrogant and complacent upon receiving Amitabha’s Compassion? No. On the contrary, we will become more understanding toward others. Because Amitabha truly understands us, he made vows and practiced on our behalf beforehand. His vows and practices were all made for us. What he vowed and cultivated he gives to us freely — without asking for anything in return. His only wish is: “Just come to the Land of Bliss and accept its Infinite Life and Infinite Light.”
This is like a mother who wholeheartedly gives herself to her child without expecting repayment. Once a child is born, a mother naturally has the feeling: “I will protect this child with my life.” This is a natural instinct.
Confucius said, “No woman learns how to raise children before she marries.” No one needs to learn this beforehand. Once the child is born, love and care naturally arise.
Amitabha’s Infinite compassion is also like this—it is his natural state. His very existence is for saving ordinary beings.
It is like a compassionate wealthy person who gives money to those in need. If someone already has money, he would not need to give it. Because he is so wealthy, giving away money causes him no loss at all. He doesn’t give it to the rich, but to those who are poor and in need.
(to be continued tomorrow)
33問 (3 /6)：
我們這種造罪造業的眾生，領受彌陀的救度、稱念這句名號是否就自驕 自滿、洋洋得意呢？不會，反而會去體諒別人，因為阿彌陀佛體諒我們，為我 們預先發願，為我們預先修行，他的願、他的行是為我們而發、為我們而修的 ，他把所發的願、所修的行，原原本本地白白送給我們，不要我們一毛一點點的回報都不要，他的目的是說：「你只要到極樂世界來，你只要隨順我的 救度」，就這樣而已。
譬如為人母親的人，專心為兒女付出，不求回報，兒子生下來，就有一種 心：「我要以我的生命來保護這個嬰兒。」這是天性。孔子說：「未有學養子而後 嫁者也。」沒有人會說「我要嫁人了，我要先去學習養兒育女的心與方法」，沒 有，也不必，因為只要兒子生下來了，自自然然就會天性地去愛護他、養育他。
阿彌陀佛救度我們，也是天性。他的天性，他的存在，就是要救度罪業的 眾生。
好比一個富有而又慈悲的人，他既然錢拿出來了，就是要給沒錢用的人， 如果對方有錢，他就不用給他。他有愛心，而且富有，他即使拿再多的錢出來 ，對他來講，一點損失都沒有，因為他太有錢了。他拿錢出來，不是給有錢的 人，而是給沒錢而又需要錢的人。
Namo Amituofo!
