Oct 5

Oct 5, 2017
慧淨上人法語
念佛方法

If we can recite every Amitabha's name clearly one after the other, just do it in this manner. However, if we cannot keep [our mind] serene [in reciting] at this moment, we can recite under such a circumstance too. In other words, whether our mind is serene or not, we can still be embraced by Amitabha without forsaking, as long as we recite his name. Hence, we can feel relieved in name-recitation under different states of mind.

Of course, since we have been reciting Amitabha’s name, we should try our best to recite with a serene mind. However, even we cannot reach the state of serenity during recitation, we don’t need to worry, or feel uneasy.

Some people emphasize on Amitabha-recitation with a fixed mind because they do not understand the aforesaid principle. In their mind, they will not feel relieved until they reach the state of a fixed mind during Amitabha recitation. If they cannot fix their mind, they will feel uneasy. It is a different mindset.

如果能念念分明，就念念分明念佛；如果當下不能那麼寂靜，那麼就以當下不寂靜的心念佛。也就是說，不論寂靜不寂靜，只要我們念佛，就能得到彌陀的攝取不捨，所以各種狀態我們都能夠安心。
當然我們既然念佛，就盡量寂靜的念佛，但即使不能達到寂靜也沒有顧慮，沒有不安。

有人強調「定心念佛」，這是他不了解以上的道理，他是心存唯有念佛能夠達到定心，他才能夠安心，如果達不到定心他就不安心，所以在心態上是有不同。

Namo Amitabha!