Important Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
183. “Welcoming during Ordinary Times” and “Welcoming at the Time of Death” (2/3)
The 18th Vow: Welcoming Already Accomplished in This Life
For practitioners who exclusively recite Namo Amitabha Buddha, Amitabha has made the vow:
“If they are not born in my land, I will not attain perfect Enlightenment.” As long as one exclusively recites Namo Amitabha Buddha, one is embraced and protected by Amitabha’s light. At that very moment the karmic cause for rebirth is accomplished, and rebirth is decisively settled.
In other words, the practitioner who exclusively recites Namo Amitabha Buddha (the one who receives) and Amitabha (the one who delivers) become one. Wherever and whenever the practitioner may be, he is always one with Amitabha. It is only because ordinary beings are blinded by afflictions that they cannot perceive this. Only at the moment of death do they clearly see Amitabha, who has always been protecting them.
Therefore, it is not said that Amitabha “comes to welcome” only just before death or only in this lifetime. Rather, the welcoming has already taken place. It is not that Amitabha first comes to welcome only at the final moment.
(to be continued tomorrow)
183 「平生來迎」與「臨終來迎」(2/3)
第十八願：平生已來迎
念佛行者有阿彌陀佛「若不生者，不取正覺」的誓願，只要專稱佛名，就蒙 受阿彌陀佛光明攝護，當下業成，決定往生。也就是說，念佛行者與阿彌陀佛
機法一體，無論身處何時何地，都與佛同在。只是凡夫煩惱障眼，未能得見， 直到臨命終時，才徹底明見平時攝護之佛身。因此，不說臨終或平生，現在就 「已來迎」，而不是臨終才「始來迎」。
Namo Amituofo!
