Q and A about Practicing Amitabha-Recitation
Part Four - The Mindset and Practice in Daily Life
念佛實用問答(4) - 日常心行
Question 81 : Having heard about the Pure Land Dharma Path, but lacking a strong resolution to practice, I sometimes recite Namo Amitabha Buddha and sometimes do not. Can I still attain rebirth in the Land of Bliss?
Answer to Q81 : There are two kinds of resolutions in Buddhist practice:
1. The aspiration for rebirth — the sincere wish to be born in the Land of Bliss.
2. The resolution to practice diligently — the determination to persevere and advance in practice.
If one’s aspiration for rebirth is uncertain —sometimes wanting to be reborn and sometimes not—and one sometimes recites Namo Amitabha Buddha and sometimes does not, then rebirth in the Pure Land is likewise uncertain. When one’s resolve is strong, it leads to rebirth, if it is uncertain it leads to non-rebirth.
However, if one’s natural disposition is characterized by laziness or weakness, so that one is unable to recite Namo Amitabha Buddha with diligence and vigor, (sometimes recites and sometimes does not); but, one’s sincere aspiration for rebirth remains firm and unshakable, then one can still attain rebirth.
Moreover, when your aspiration for rebirth is truly sincere, you will naturally and gradually increase in the number of recitations of Namo Amitabha Buddha.
82問：聽到淨土法門，但道心不強，時念時不念，這樣能否往生？ 答：道心有兩種：
一、願生心。
二、精進心。
如果願生心若有若無，往生也可、不往生也可，時念佛時不念佛，那麼往 生就不定了。不定者，進則往生，退則不生。
如果因根機懈怠軟弱，念佛不精進勇猛，時念時不念，然真願往生之心不 容更改，那麼仍能往生。又，真願往生，念佛自必漸漸增進。
Namo Amituofo!
