Oct 22

Oct 22, 2017
慧淨上人法語
專稱彌陀佛名

(continued)

So, Master Shandao—the incarnated body of Amitabha and Master Honen—the incarnated body of Mahasthamaprapt never teach and guide others with their own experiences throughout their life. They only advise and guide people to aspire after that land and exclusively recite Amitabha’s name from up to the rest of life and down to even ten times, one time, or one thought, which is really in accordance with Amitabha’s Fundamental Vow. Those who learn should learn this; those who believe should believe in this; those who practice should practice this. You can see the teachings in all the books written by Master Shandao and Master Honen.

If Amitabha takes the experience of “one thought” as the benchmark of rebirth, there will be few sentient beings in the ten directions who can attain rebirth, and many cannot. So, Amitabha’s Fundamental Vow does not take it as the benchmark for rebirth, and set “aspire to be reborn, recite just even ten times” as the single benchmark of rebirth.

故彌陀化身的善導，勢至再來的法然，一生之中從不以自己的體驗勸導他人，唯勸導願生彼國專念佛名，上盡一形，下至十聲一聲一念，真正合乎彌陀本願；學者學此，信者信此，行者行此；此理善導、法然之書隨處可見。
若彌陀以一念的體驗為往生的標準，則十方眾生能夠往生者甚少，不能往生者甚多；是故彌陀本願不以此作為往生標準，唯以「欲生我國，乃至十念」立為往生標準。

Namo Amitabha!