Sep 18, 2018
Master Huijing’s Dharma Words about Taking Refuge to Amitabha
皈命彌陀
When we make an obeisance, our exclusive object of worship is Namo Amitabha Buddha, because He is our only Principal Buddha, and all other buddhas and bodhisattvas are not. Can we prostrate them then? Of course, we can show our reverence for them! However, they are not the specific Buddha or bodhisattva that we always make an obeisance to.
The main reason is that our prostration before Amitabha Buddha is one way of taking refuge with our body and mind in life and reliance on Amitabha’s deliverance. So, we prostrate ourselves before Amitabha Buddha to express our deep gratefulness for his kindness. The feelings of making obeisance to other buddhas and bodhisattvas are different. Being so, are we not paying respect to other buddhas and bodhisattvas? No, it is not. Conversely, we abide by the teachings of the buddhas – obeying their advices and instructions.
我們禮拜時，對象只有禮拜南無阿彌陀佛，祂是我們唯一的本尊，其他諸佛菩薩都不是我們的本尊，那可不可以禮拜？當然可以禮拜，只是我們不是專門的、常常去禮拜這些佛菩薩。
主要原因在於我們禮拜阿彌陀佛是一種身心性命的歸投、依靠彌陀的救度，所以對阿彌陀佛是感恩戴德的禮拜；對其他諸佛菩薩的禮拜心情就不一樣了。那這樣是不是對其他諸佛菩薩的不敬呢？其實不是，反而是「順佛教故」──隨順諸佛的教導。
Namo Amitabha!
