General Confusion and Misunderstandings by Amitabha-Reciters in terms of Rebirth - By Master Jingzong
淨宗法師談念佛人的糊塗認識
#5 – “To clear a karmic obstruction, you should recite the name of Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha. To avoid calamities, escape jeopardies, or pray for babies, you should recite Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara’s name. To awaken one’s mind with wisdom, you should recite Bodhisattva Manjusri’s name. To heal an illness and ask for longevity, you should recite the name of Bhaisajyaguru Buddha. Amitabha Buddha is only concerned with rebirth 。” Is this true?
Comment:
For one who exclusively recites Amitabha’s Name, all of these other types of name-recitation are not necessary. In exclusive Amitabha recitation, we only recite his Name – Namo Amituofo. All of the other types of name-recitation are included in Amitabha’s Name. If you recite Namo Amituofo on one hand, and recite other names for different purposes, it means you do not understand the infinite power of Amitabha’s Name on one hand, and you fail to grasp the fundamental essence of the practice of the Pure Land School on the other.
By simply focusing on Amitabha-recitation all of the other practices are included. For the clearing of karmic obstructions, recitation of Namo Amituofo contains infinite light. The Buddha of infinite light can clear boundless offensive karma and darkness.
For awakening wisdom in one’s mind, because Amitabha Buddha is the Buddha of Infinite Light (wisdom), none of the other Buddhas’ lights can compare; not even the light of Bodhisattva Manjusri. As you see, Amitabha awakens wisdom in our minds each time we recite his Name. In order to increase longevity, because Amitabha is the Buddha of Infinite Life, reciting his name can naturally cure diseases and extend one’s life. In order to avoid calamities and jeopardy, Amitabha’s name contains infinite merit and virtues, which can of course,eliminate them. All of these are naturally included. Reciting Amitabha’s Name is also effective when praying for babies.
Amitabha is the king of all Buddhas - the king of the Dharma, Mantras, merits and virtues. By exclusively reciting this one Buddha’s Name – Namo Amituofo, all of the Buddhas in the ten directions will naturally protect and be conscious of you. “To protect and be conscious of ” means “to keep you at peace and secure from any obstructions or disasters”.
(to be continued tomorrow)
淨宗法師 - 念佛人的糊塗認識
其五:“消業障就念地藏王菩薩,消災免難、求子念觀音,開智慧念文殊菩薩,治病、求延壽念藥師佛 ...... 阿彌陀佛只管往生。” 是嗎?
答:
這個對於專修念佛的人來講,都不必如此。我們專修念佛,就專念這一句南無阿彌陀佛,其他所有一切都包含在這句名號當中。如果一方面念南無阿彌陀佛,另一方面為了求這個念這個、求那個念那個,一方面說明你不懂得佛法圓融的教義,另一方面,對淨土宗來講,行持上沒有把握住它的根本。
所以,你只管念佛就好了,通通在這裏邊都有了:消業的話,念南無阿彌陀佛是無量光,無量光明的佛,就能消無邊的罪業、黑暗;如果求開智慧的話,阿彌陀佛是無量光佛,十方諸佛光明所不能及,文殊菩薩的光明也就不能比了,那麼,我們念阿彌陀佛無量光的名號,就可以開無邊的智慧;如果求延壽的話,阿彌陀佛是無量壽,那自然就可以愈病,自然可以延壽;如果要求消災免難,阿彌陀佛名號是無量功德,有功德才可以消災免難,是自自然然這些都有了;如果要求子,念阿彌陀佛也可以。
一句彌陀,是佛王、法王、咒王、功德之王。專念“南無阿彌陀佛”一佛,十方諸佛自然護念。“護念”即是守護憶念,令其安穩,無諸障難。
(再續)
Namo Amituofo!
