Important Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
183. “Welcoming at Ordinary Times” and “Welcoming at the Time of Death” (1 /3)
“Welcoming” refers to one of the functions by which Amitabha Buddha receives and guides sentient beings to be reborn in the Pure Land.
The 19th Vow declares:
“At the moment of death, if I do not appear before that person surrounded by a great assembly, I will not attain perfect Enlightenment.”
This shows that those who aspire to be born in the Land of Bliss, according to the 19th Vow, will certainly be welcomed by Amitabha when they are about to die.
It is also said in The Amitabha Sutra:
“Whoever exclusively recites Namo Amitabha Buddha, when that person is about to die, Amitabha Buddha and the assembly of sages will appear before him.”
From this we know that those who exclusively recite Namo Amitabha Buddha will be welcomed by the Buddha at the time of death.
This raises the question, why does the 18th Vow not speak of “welcoming at death,” while the 19th Vow specifically mentions it?
(to be continued tomorrow)
183 「平生來迎」與「臨終來迎」(1/3)
「來迎」是阿彌陀佛接引眾生往生的作用之一。
第十九願誓言：「臨壽終時，假令不與大眾圍繞現其人前者，不取正覺。」 說明依第十九願求生極樂的眾生，在臨終時，佛必定現前來迎。
《阿彌陀經》言：「執持名號……一心不亂，其人臨命終時，阿彌陀佛與諸 聖眾現在其前。」可知專稱佛名者佛亦臨終來迎。
然而，為何第十八願不說「臨終來迎」，而在第十九願特別加以說明呢？
Namo Amituofo!
