Important Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
182. The 19th Vow: “Cultivating Various Merits”(continued)
Master Shandao also says in the Hymns of the Dharma Services:
“The Land of Bliss is the unconditioned realm of Nirvana;
With mixed and miscellaneous good deeds according to circumstances, rebirth there is difficult to achieve.
Therefore the Tathagata selected the essential method, instructing us to exclusively recite Namo Amitabha Buddha.”
Only by exclusively reciting Namo Amitabha Buddha and receiving the merits contained in the Name, can the provisions for rebirth be fully accomplished.
If a practitioner does not understand this and relies solely on merits cultivated through self-power to attain rebirth, yet maintains the aspiration for rebirth until the moment of death, Amitabha Buddha will still receive and guide them. However, because inwardly they do not exclusively rely on Amitabha’s power and do not trust his wisdom, they are born by womb-birth in the borderland, where for five hundred years they do not see the Three Jewels.
During their lifetimes, when dedicating their accumulated merits toward rebirth, their minds may still feel uncertain, not knowing when their merits will be complete. Only when Amitabha Buddha and the sages come to welcome them do they finally realize that their efforts have not been in vain.
If, however, a practitioner in this life can clearly and deeply trust the Buddha’s wisdom, understand the origin and purpose of the Pure Land and the Name, then they will naturally be softened and guided by the Buddha’s compassion. They will return to the 18th Vow, joyfully recite Namo Amitabha Buddha, and calmly await the Buddha’s welcoming at the end of life.
182 第十九願「修諸功德」論 (續)
善導大師《法事讚》說：
極樂無為涅槃界，隨緣雜善恐難生；
故使如來選要法，教念彌陀專復專。
唯有稱佛名號、領納名號功德，方可資糧具足。
行者沒有認識到這一點，一味靠自力所修功德去往生，若願生心徹至臨 終，雖也蒙佛接引，但由於內心不靠佛力、不信佛智之故，胎生邊地，五百歲 不見三寶；平生的修功迴向，也難免心有不安，不知何時功德圓滿，直到佛聖 來迎，方知功不唐捐。
行者今生若能明信佛智，了知極樂與名號的施設本末，自能被佛的悲心 調柔，歸入第十八願，歡喜稱名，靜待來迎。
Namo Amituofo!
