Clarifying Doubts About the Pure Land (I)
淨土釋疑(一)
Question 41: Master, I have two questions.
First, in the past I had a fixed daily practice: in the morning I recited the Forty-Eight Vows from the Infinite Life Sutra, and in the evening I recited Chapters 33 to 37, followed by the Buddha's Name. Since I had a regular schedule of practice, what should my daily practice be now?
Second, after reaching the Land of Bliss, we will still have to return to save sentient beings. Wouldn't it be better to learn as much as possible now? If we still have to study after arriving in the Land of Bliss, shouldn't we hurry and learn more while we are here? Is this way of thinking correct?
Answer to Q41:
Regarding a fixed daily practice, it varies from person to person.
If you have the time, you may recite the Infinite Life Sutra. You may also recite the Forty-Eight Vows, or the Amitabha Sutra. However, once you understand the teachings and their meaning, there is no need to continue reciting the sutras. You may simply devote yourself to the exclusive recitation of Namo Amitabha Buddha. Your morning and evening practice can consist entirely of: "Namo Amitabha Buddha, Namo Amitabha Buddha..." There is no need to recite the sutras.
The primary purpose of the sutras is to help us understand their meaning and practice according to their teachings. The main focus should be the exclusive recitation of Namo Amitabha Buddha with faith in Amitabha’s boundless compassion.
For example, the Infinite Life Sutra teaches Amitabha Buddha's deliverance of sentient beings. Yet some people have recited it thousands of times without understanding what Amitabha's deliverance actually means. They do not understand the origin of Namo Amitabha Buddha, nor its principles and significance. In that case, they do not fully appreciate the very purpose for which Shakyamuni Buddha appeared in this world, and Amitabha Buddha's five kalpas of contemplation and inconceivably long ages of arduous practice. For ten kalpas he has been reaching out and seeking to save us.
Therefore, your morning and evening practices may consist of the exclusive recitation of Namo Amitabha Buddha. At other times, you can read the Infinite Life Sutra or books that explain the doctrines and principles of the Pure Land teaching.
That is the answer to your first question.
(to be continued tomorrow)
41問：請問師父兩個問題：第一、過去早上念《無量壽經》四十八願，晚上念三 十三至三十七品，再念佛號，有定課，現在的定課怎麼做？第二、到了極樂世界，還要回來度眾生，不如現在趕緊多學，到極樂世界還學，這種想法不知對不對？
答 (1 /3)：定課因人而異，有時間誦《無量壽經》也可以，或者誦四十八願也可 以，或者誦《阿彌陀經》也可以。不過你如果瞭解教義之後，不必誦經，你專門 念佛就可以了，早晚課都是「南無阿彌陀佛、南無阿彌陀佛……」其他經典不 用念。
經典主要是讓我們瞭解意義、依教奉行的，主要不在讀誦。讀誦如果不懂經 義，得到讀誦的一點點功德而已。像《無量壽經》在說阿彌陀佛的救度，可是 我們誦了幾千遍，還不曉得彌陀救度是什麼，這句六字名號的來源、它的原 理通通不懂得，枉費了釋迦牟尼佛出世的本懷，也辜負了阿彌陀佛五劫思
惟、兆載永劫的苦行啊！阿彌陀佛都在那裏傷心流淚了。他站在那裏十劫， 手伸了很久，就是為了呼喚我們、救度我們。
所以，早晚可以通通念佛，其他時間再去看《無量壽經》，或者看闡述淨土法 門教理的著作。這是第一點。
Namo Amituofo!
