Dec 17

Dec 17, 2017
慧淨上人法語
淨土宗宗風真諦

(continued)

Because believing in absolute other-power, therefore we exclusively recite Amitabha’s name. Name-recitation as such is performed at the level of absolute reality, not animitta (formlessness, nothingness), not to mention contemplation of a Buddhist image. So, we just exclusively recite Amitabha’s name without resort to any other expedient means.

Moreover, in this Saha world and at this time of degeneration and extinction of the Dharma, ignorant people with great curiosity are easily attracted by some Dharma teachers whose knowledge and views are incorrect but are eager to corroborate other practitioner’s here and there. Learners of our school can easily get lost at divergent points if they cannot stick to the tenets of “don’t esteem the mystical and fantastic, do cherish the plain and solid” and “don’t revere profundities, do appreciate what is ordinary”.

Insisting on these tenets is not easy because some people do prefer profundities and are fond of mysterious matters. If they have not accomplished a good understanding of the teachings, or have not gone through a variety of exploratory experiences and become completely aware of the fact that their own power is too little [for achievement of Nirvana], they will withdraw from our school and turn to other paths.

因為是絕對他力的信仰，所以是專稱彌陀佛名，是有相的稱名，而不是無相的念佛，至於觀想佛像就更不用講，也不需要，所以我們就只專稱彌陀佛名，不須假藉其他方便。何況在這個娑婆世界，又值末法時代，有一些弘法者，本身知見就已經不正了，又到處為人印證，無知的人就會因好奇而前往親近。所以學習我們這個法門如果無法「不好玄奇而平實化」、「不求高深而平常化」，往往就會走向岔路。

不過這一點也是不容易的，因為有些人總是喜好高深、貪好玄奇，如果對教理的認識沒有正確到一個程度，或者沒有經歷過多種的摸索體驗，徹底覺悟自身是卑微渺小無能為力的事實，往往都會由本門退轉而走向他途。

Namo Amitabha!