Jun 10, 2020
Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about Faith in Pure Land Buddhism
淨土信仰
(continued)
It is the function of the Name to enable the reciter (Amitabha-reciter) to become a Buddha through rebirth in the Land of Bliss in the coming life (the next lifetime). That is why Shakyamuni Buddha praises the Name by using the analogy of the “Pundarika” (the white lotus flower). He says (to Ananda) that, among humankind Amitabha reciters are like “Pundarika” flowers.
No matter whether a person is a sacred being or an ordinary being, a good or an evil person, a monastic or a householder, an adult or a child, a human or an animal, a heavenly or a hell being, as long as he recites Amitabha’s Name, Ananda, you should not look down upon or neglect him, as this person is already a “Pundarika” among humankind.
這一句名號的功能,能使念祂的人(念佛人)次生(下一輩子)往生極樂世界成佛。因此, 釋迦牟尼佛就預先以「芬陀利華」來比喻、讚歎,而言:「若念佛者,當知此人則是人中芬陀利華。」
不管聖人、凡夫、善人、惡人、出家、在家,不管大人、小孩,不管人類、畜牲,不管天上、地獄,只要他能夠念佛的話,那麼阿難你要知道,你不要輕易的忽略,不要輕看念佛人,當知這個人就已經是人中的芬陀利華了。
Namo Amituofo!
