Dec 21

Dec 21, 2017
慧淨上人法語
正依經典
(continued)

The same approach is used in the Contemplation Sutra. He does not start with this teaching [of Amitabha-recitation], but the 13 contemplations in the meditative virtues, and then goes on with the Three Meritorious Deeds and the Nine Levels of Rebirth. Only in the final section he speaks of this teaching [of Amitabha-recitation].

The sutra that entirely devotes to this teaching is the Amitabha Sutra. Among the three Pure Land sutras, the Amitabha Sutra can be regarded as the conclusive one. The Amitabha Sutra does not talk about the Three Meritorious Deeds and the Nine Levels of Rebirth, not about the 13 contemplations in the meditative virtues, not about the Three Learnings and a myriad practices of the Six Paramitas,; it talks only about holding fast Amitabha’s name, and the Three States of Mind and Name-Recitation of the Eighteenth Vow.

就像《觀經》一樣，一開始不講這個法門，先講十三種定觀、三福九品，最後才講這個法門。

純粹講這個法門的是《阿彌陀經》。就三經來講，《阿彌陀經》可以說是一部結論的經。《阿彌陀經》不講三福九品、不講十三定觀、不講三學六度萬行，只講執持名號，只講十八願的「三心」和「稱名」而已。

Namo Amitabha!