Clarifying Doubts About the Pure Land (I)
淨土釋疑(一)
Question 35:
Just now I heard the Master say that if we exclusively recite “Namo Amitabha Buddha,” we immediately receive the benefit of Amitabha Buddha’s never-abandoning embrace, and our rebirth is already decided. How is this different from what people commonly say about attaining rebirth at the moment of death?
Answer to Q35 :
A person who, at this very moment, entrusts himself to Amitabha’s deliverance
and exclusively recites Namo Amitabha Buddha ; that person’s rebirth is already settled. It is not something that is only decided at the time of death.
At the end of life, even if one is lying on a sickbed, suffering physically and mentally, and unable to recite Namo Amitabha Buddha, one will still be reborn. One’s mind will remain calm and at ease; there will be no fear, anxiety, or uneasiness simply because one cannot do the recitations..
If that were not the case, it would indicate that the Dharma one previously heard was not heard sufficiently, and the faith was also insufficient.
Therefore, in the Pure Land teaching it is important to understand the principle of Amitabha Buddha’s deliverance.
However, some people may understand the principle and yet still feel uneasy. Even so, Amitabha Buddha is still bestowing his supportive power upon us—removing our obstacles and bringing peace to our minds. Thus, we should simply continue to exclusively recite Namo Amitabha Buddha; and naturally Amitabha’s support will be present. There is no need to worry or be anxious.
35問：剛才聽師父講，要是現在稱念「南無阿彌陀佛」這句名號，就蒙受無量壽 佛攝取不捨的利益，現在就決定往生，那麼與一般人所說的臨終往生有什麼 區別？
答：當下信受彌陀救度而一向專稱彌陀佛名永不改變的那種眾生，他的往生 是在他當下接受的時候決定下來的，不是等到臨終那個時候才決定的。臨終 即使躺在病床上身心痛苦、念不出佛，也照樣往生，而且內心也安穩，不會因 為念不出佛就有恐懼、掛礙、不安什麼的，不會。否則，表示當初所聽聞的是 聞不足，信也不足。
所以，淨土法門要瞭解阿彌陀佛救度的原理。
不過，有的人原理瞭解了，但是心仍不安，即便如此，阿彌陀佛也時時刻刻在 加被我們、排除我們的障礙、使我們心安。所以，我們只要一向稱名，自有彌 陀的加被，其他那些掛礙不用去擔心。
Namo Amituofo!
