Nov 6, 2018
Master Huijing’s Short Teachings - The Infinite Life Sutra
《佛說無量壽經》
What does the Fundamental Vow talk about? It talks about “Name-recitation”, which is unique. Actually, the entire Infinite Life Sutra talks about Name-recitation.
There are two fascicles in the Infinite Life Sutra. The first fascicle talks about how Dharmakara makes vows and pursues his practices to become Amitabha Buddha. Among Dharmakara’s 48 Vows, the 18th is considered the Fundamental Vow. The 18th Vow talks about Name-recitation. So, doesn’t it mean that the core teaching of the first fascicle is Name- recitation?
The second fascicle explains the retributive rewards of Dharmakara after he becomes Amitabha Buddha. It also explains how sentient beings can be reborn, and how they can become Buddhas.
The first fascicle talks about the cause and effects of Dharmakara becoming Amitabha Buddha. The second fascicle talks about the cause and effect of sentient beings being reborn.
It means “the cause of rebirth permeates the sea of rewards, and the effect of those rewards penetrates to the origins of our suffering.” Thus, Master Shandao says, “The 48 vows in the Infinite Life Sutra, simply explain rebirth through exclusive recitation of Amitabha’s Name.”
本願講什麼？講「稱名」，獨一無二。
其實整部《無量壽經》都是在講稱名，《無量壽經》有上下兩卷，〈上卷〉是在講阿彌陀佛如何發願修行，講阿彌陀佛成佛發願的因，既然四十八願的根本願是第十八願，第十八願在講「稱名」，豈不是〈上卷〉的核心就在「稱名」兩個字；〈下卷〉是在說明阿彌陀佛成佛之後的果報，極樂世界的莊嚴，以及眾生如何往生、如何成佛。
所以〈上卷〉是講彌陀成佛的因果，〈下卷〉講眾生往生的因果而「因賅果海，果徹因源」，因此，善導大師就說：「《無量壽經》四十八願中，唯明專念彌陀名號得生。」
Namo Amituofo!
