January 26, 2025

Jan. 26, 2025

Basic Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching

淨土小常識

145 The Relationship between Amitabha’s Name and his Body (continued)

12. Master Linchi said, “ By reciting Amitabha Buddha’s Name one receives all of the circumstantial and direct rewards of the Land of Bliss, and the ocean of treasures of the Buddha.”

Amitabha’s Name has a myriad of virtues. No one single vow encompasses all of it, and the practice of reciting his Name is consistently thorough. For Amitabha’s Name has a myriad of virtues, and we attain all of those perfect and complete virtues by exclusively reciting his Name. Though not expecting particular blessings, all of these blessings are readily available.

One thought of Amitabha Buddha’s Name exceeds self-powered practices throughout countless eons. One single recitation of the Name is equivalent to all sacred beings.

13. Master Ouyi said, “Amitabha’s Name has a myriad of virtues. We can receive those virtues by reciting his Name.

Those who recite the Name have the same virtuous roots and blessings as Amitabha. So, every single recitation of the Name is abundant in virtuous roots and meritorious blessings. Those who recite the Name have the same light and life as Amitabha.

One recitation of Namo Amitabha Buddha contains the Anuttara-Samyak-Sambodhi attained by Shakyamuni Buddha in the wretched world of Fivefold Turbidity. Amitabha shares his Name. It is his reward to all sentient beings in this wretched world.

The Six-Character Name is the true Dharma Realm, so one will naturally laterally-transcend, without any other expedient means necessary.

(to be continued tomorrow)

145 彌陀名體之關係 (續)

十二、蓮池大師《彌陀疏鈔》言:極樂依正,言佛便周;佛功德海,言佛便周;一切功德,言佛便周。

彌陀萬德之名:無一願不包羅,無一行不體備,無一佛不貫徹。彌陀乃萬德名號,一名才舉,萬德齊圓,不期於福,福已備故。越三祇於一念,齊諸聖於片言。

十三、藕益大師《彌陀要解》言:阿彌陀佛是萬德洪名,以名召德,罄無不盡。

持佛名者,善根福德,同佛無異,則一一聲,悉具多善根福德也。持名善根福德同佛。持名者,光明壽命同佛無異。

一聲阿彌陀佛,即釋迦本師於五濁惡世所得之阿耨多羅三藐三菩提法。

今以此果覺,全體授與濁惡眾生。六字洪名真法界,不須方便自橫超。

Namo Amituofo!

January 25, 2025

Jan. 25, 2025

Basic Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching

淨土小常識

145 The Relationship between Amitabha’s Name and his Body (continued)

9. Master Shinran said, “This practice is called the Great Practice because: it encompasses all virtuous Dharmas, and is speedy, and complete. It contains True Suchness and Real Mark in One Vehicle, like an ocean with treasures of merits and virtues.”

10. Master Fawei said, “All Buddhas’ names are given to their virtues. So, reciting their names is the same as receiving their virtues. Virtues eradicate karmic offenses and result in blessings, just as the Name does.”

11. Master Yuanzhao said, “Not to mention Amitabha who receives sentient beings who recite his Name. Those who hear or recite the Name will absorb the sacred virtues into their consciousness, and nurture the seed of Buddhahood forever. Thus, all heavy karmic offenses accumulated during many eons will be cleared immediately, and the unsurpassed Bodhi will be realized.

(to be continued tomorrow)

145 彌陀名體之關係 (續)

九、親鸞上人《教行信證》言:此行即是攝諸善法,具諸德本,極速圓滿,真如一實,功德寶海,故名大

行。

十、法位大師《大經義疏》言:諸佛皆德施名,稱名即稱德,德能滅罪生福,名亦如是。

十一、元照律師《彌陀經義》言:況我彌陀,以名接物,是以耳聞口誦,無邊聖德,攬入識心,永為佛種,頓除億劫重罪,獲證無上菩提。

Namo Amituofo!

January 24, 2025

Jan. 24, 2025

Basic Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching

淨土小常識

145 The Relationship between Amitabha’s Name and his Body (continued)

7. Master Yinguan said, “Amitabha’s Name is replete with respect to all of the Tathagata’s practices and virtues, from his initial aspiration to his achievement of perfect Enlightenment.”

Amitabha’s Name does not just contain the merit and virtues of Amitabha; but, it encompasses the merits and virtues of all Buddhas.

Although this Name consists of just a few characters, it is replete with various virtues; just like a Mani pearl which, though small, produces immeasurable wealth.

8. Master Zhenhai said, “One ought to recite Amitabha Buddha’s Name, as it encompasses boundless and immeasurable merit and virtues. By reciting this Name immeasurable merits and virtues will be collected in my “body”, and all of the afflictions and evil karma I have accumulated in the past will be eradicated.”

(to be continued tomorrow)

145 彌陀名體之關係 (續)

七、永觀上人《往生十因》言:彌陀名號之中,即彼如來從初發心乃至佛果,所有一切萬行萬德,皆悉具足,無有缺減。

非唯彌陀一佛功德,亦攝十方諸佛功德。今此佛號文字雖少,具足眾德。如如意珠形體雖少,雨無量財。

八、珍海上人《菩提心集》言:應念阿彌陀佛名,此名攝無量無邊功德。稱念此名,無量功德來集我身,無始至今,煩惱惡業,皆悉消除。

Namo Amituofo!

January 23, 2025

Jan. 23, 2025

Basic Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching

淨土小常識

145 The Relationship between Amitabha’s Name and his Body (continued)

4. Master Honen said, “Here is an example of the extraordinary meaning of the Mahayana teachings. “There is no Name apart from Amitabha’s body, and there is no body apart from Amitabha’s Name.”

The most wonderful body, which possesses a myriad of virtues, is Amitabha’s six-syllable Name. It contains abundant merits and virtues, as many as the sands in the Ganges River. They are all consolidated within the singular practice of Name-recitation.

The huge amount of karmic power within Amitabha’s 48 vows enables the bestowal of a myriad of virtues to the practitioner of Name-recitation. Amitabha’s inconceivable other-power is skillful and expedient, and enables the merit and virtues of even one recitation to exceed those of various other practices.

Upon hearing the comprehensive praise of this teaching from a good advisor, hellfire transforms to a cool breeze. Upon hearing this teaching from a good advisor, a lotus flower becomes a bright sun. It is all due to the unsurpassed merit and virtues contained within Amitabha’s Name.

5. During his causal stage, Amitabha Buddha cultivated the Six Paramitas with a myriad of virtues for all sentient beings, and incorporated these merits and virtues within his six-character Name. Thus, there is nothing missing from the six-character Name, in terms of all Buddhist practices, merits, virtues, and the Paramitas of all Buddhas in the three periods of time. So, itis known as “the foremost and supremely virtuous Dharma”.

Master Genshin praised it by saying, “All practices: in the causal ground and in the reward ground, self-benefiting and benefiting others, internal realization and external functional uses, circumstantial rewards and direct rewards. All teachings, as many as there are sands in the Ganges River, and the merits and virtues of all Buddhas in the three periods of time are incorporated in the Six-Character Name. Thus, the merits and virtues of name-recitation are boundless.”

6. Master Honen also said, “Though there are only three characters in the Name, all merits and virtues realized internally and used externally by the Tathagata, and all profound teachings( as many as the sands in the Ganges River) are incorporated within it. How can we possibly fully comprehend it?”

(to be continued tomorrow)

145 彌陀名體之關係 (續)

四、法然上人〈大原談義〉言:至極大乘意者,體外無名,名外無體。萬善妙體即名號六字,恒沙功德備口稱一行。大願業力所構出,令萬德讓與行者;他力難思巧方便,令一稱超過眾善。知識廣讚,猛火為涼風;善友教稱,金蓮如杲日。名號大利無上功德也。

五、法然上人〈天臺宗人之問答〉:彌陀因位時,代一切眾生於兆載永劫之間修六度萬行、諸波羅蜜之一切行,其功德皆悉納於六字名號故,萬行萬善、諸波羅蜜、三世十方之諸佛功德,六字名號無有遺漏,是故名之為「極善最上之法」。

源信大師判為「因行果德、自利利他、內證外用、依報正報、恒沙塵數無邊法門、十方三世諸佛功德,皆悉攝於六字之中,是故稱名功德無盡」者,此意也。

六、法然上人〈三部經大意〉言:夫三字之名號雖少,如來所有內證外用之功德,萬德恆沙甚深之法門,皆悉攝在其中,誰可測量之乎?

Namo Amituofo!

January 22, 2025

Jan. 22, 2025

Basic Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching

淨土小常識

145 The Relationship between Amitabha’s Name and his Body (continued)

1. Master Tanluan said in his Commentary on the Treatise of Rebirth:

The Name, Tathagata of Unimpeded Light, can eliminate all kinds of ignorance in sentient beings, and also fulfill all of their wishes.

2. Master Shandao said in his Commentary on the Contemplation Sutra:

“Namo” means to take refuge. It also means to aspire for rebirth and dedicate one’s merit. Exclusively reciting “Namo Amitabha Buddha” is our practice. By adhering to these teachings the practitioner will certainly be reborn.

3. Master Honen said, “All of the Buddha’s merits and virtues, accumulated in his causal and reward grounds, are consolidated within the Name.Therefore, those who recite “Namo Amitabha Buddha” even once, will instantly attain unsurpassed virtuous roots.

It is also said, “Because all Buddhas accomplished this Name in their reward grounds through their vows and practices, those who simply recite Amitabha Buddha’s Name, that contains infinite virtues, will become highly virtuous people and be assured of rebirth.”

(to be continued tomorrow)

145 彌陀名體之關係 (續)

一、曇鸞大師《往生論註》言:

無礙光如來名號,能破眾生一切無明,能滿眾生一切志願。

二、善導大師《觀經疏》「六字釋」言:

「南無」者:即是「歸命」,亦是「發願迴向」之義; 「阿彌陀佛」者:即是其「行」。以斯義故,必得往生。

三、法然上人〈逆修說法〉言:

彼佛所有因位果上一切功德,皆悉攝在此名號中,是故一稱南無阿彌陀佛,即得無上大善根也。

是以《西方要決》曰:諸佛願行成此果名,但能念號具包眾德,故成大善不廢往生。

Namo Amituofo!

January 21, 2025

Jan. 21, 2025

Basic Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching

淨土小常識

145 The Relationship between Amitabha’s Name and his Body (continued)

The meaning of Amitabha is Infinite Light. His body/Name is the method for rescuing sentient beings. Thus, the Name and its meaning are inseparable and non-dual. Therefore, those who recite Amitabha’s Name have already absorbed Amitabha’s light.

Amitabha’s Name can eliminate all kinds of ignorance in sentient beings, and also fulfill all of their wishes. This is because Amitabha Buddha’s Name is one with Amitabha’s body. Amitabha Buddha’s Name is replete with all of Amitabha’s virtues and power. By reciting the Name with faith in his fundamental Vow, all of the ignorance of sentient beings can be eliminated, and all of their wishes fulfilled.

Amitabha’s Name is the Dharma that enables even an evil person to become a Buddha, as its merits and virtues are inconceivable, vast, and boundless. So, the Name is said to be inconceivable, as is the practice of Name recitation.

(to be continued tomorrow)

145 彌陀名體之關係 (續)

阿彌陀為名,以光明為義、為體、為法。此名與義,相即不二,故稱阿彌陀之名即已攝取光明矣。

彌陀名號「能破眾生一切無明,能滿眾生一切志願」。以彌陀佛名即是彌陀佛體故,彌陀佛名本身具備彌陀所有之全德全力,信而稱念,能破眾生一切無明,能滿足眾生一切志願。

彌陀之名號,為惡人成佛之法,其功德之廣大無邊不可思議,故謂之名號不思議。以其功德廣大無邊,不可思議,故稱名號不思議。

Namo Amituofo!

January 20, 2025

Jan.20, 2025

Basic Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching

淨土小常識

145 The Relationship between Amitabha’s Name and his Body (continued)

In a nutshell, the Name (Amitabha Buddha) encapsulates all of Amitabha Buddha’s vows and practices accomplished while in his causal ground, and all of the merits and virtues he attained while in his reward ground. This makes it replete with Infinite value.

Thus, Master Honen said in his Collection on Selection, “ the Name is the final settlement for a myriad of virtues”. Thus, the single Name of Amitabha Buddha includes all of the merits and virtues he realized internally, such as the Fourfold Wisdom, Threefold Body, Tenfold Power, Four Kinds of Fearlessness, etc. , and also includes all of the merits and virtues functionally used externally: correct actions, enlightened speech when sharing the Dharma,and benefiting sentient beings, etc. All of these are contained within Amitabha Buddha’s Name.

The exclusive recitation of Amitabha’s Name is the method through which Amitabha delivers sentient beings. The Name contains all of Amitabha’s phenomenal virtues and power. In other words, Amitabha accomplished his Name for the purpose of delivering all sentient beings easily, through the exclusive recitation of his Name. It is just like a doctor who prescribes a particular medicine to cure his patient’s illnesses.

(to be continued tomorrow)

145 彌陀名體之關係 (續)

要而言之,南無阿彌陀佛之名號綜合阿彌陀佛因位之大願大行與果上之一切功德,具絕大價值體。

故法然上人《選擇集》說:名號者是萬德之所歸也。然則彌陀一佛所有四智、三身、十力、四無畏等,一切「內證功德」,及相好、光明、說法、利生等一切「外用功德」,皆悉攝在彼佛名號之中。

彌陀名號是彌陀救度眾生之方法。彌陀全德全力表象之名號,換言之,成就此全德全力之結晶體的名號,其目的乃是為了容易救度罪惡之眾生,並以南無阿彌陀佛之名號作為救度我等之方法,譬如醫生用藥救療病者。

Namo Amituofo!