Dec 8, 2019
Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about the Contemplation Sutra
《佛說觀無量壽經》
In the passage on rebirth for those at the lowest level of the low tier, the word “nian” (to think of and mentally invoke) appears six times in five different places. Some of them are crucial. They are the following:
The first place is “to tell him the wonderful Dharma and teach him to think of Amitabha Buddha”;
The second place is “as he is tormented by pain, he cannot invoke a thought of Amitabha Buddha even for a short time”;
The third place is “If he cannot concentrate on Amitabha Buddha, then he should say Amitayus Buddha.”
“Nian” is a kind of mental karma in the three cases above. This means to mentally perceive Amitabha Buddha’s merit and virtues, through remembering the Name of Amitabha Buddha.
(continued)
在《觀經》下品下生這短短的經文當中,念佛的「念」,總共出現在五個地方,有六個字,這一些地方都是關鍵的地方。
第一個地方是「為說妙法,教令念佛」;
第二個地方是「彼人苦逼,不遑念佛」;
第三個地方是「汝若不能念彼佛者,應稱無量壽佛」。
以上這三個「念」是屬於意業,也就是指心中思惟阿彌陀佛救度的功德,憶念阿彌陀佛的名號。
Namo Amituofo!
