Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about the Amitabha Sutra
《佛說阿彌陀經》
The Amitabha Sutra was spoken by the Buddha without it being requested. This means the Sutra was spoken at the Buddha’s own discretion. In this Sutra, Shakyamuni Buddha downgrades the merit and virtues of the meditative and non-meditative practices as “few in roots of virtues and meritorious blessings”, and do not enable rebirth. Only Amitabha-recitation is the most virtuous among all kinds of virtues, and the most blessed out of all kinds of blessings. This means, Amitabha-recitation is abundant in roots of virtues and great in meritorious blessings, the most splendid and inconceivable roots of virtues, so that rebirth is assured.
In the Amitabha Sutra, it does not mention rebirth for those in three tiers, nor at the nine levels, because it says those reborn are all bodhisattvas in the state of non-retrogression, Buddhas - to - be in one more lifetime. All of them are superior virtuous beings. They are all of the same status and dwell in the same realm.
《阿彌陀經》是佛「無問自說」,也就是「隨自意」而說的經典,經中將一切定善散善功德貶為「少善根福德」,不能往生,獨獨以念佛為善中之善、福中之福,以念佛為多善根、大善根、最勝善根、不可思議善根,必定往生。
在《阿彌陀經》中,往生也不談三輩,也不說九品,因為只要念佛都是「不退轉」,都是「一生補處」,都是「諸上善人俱會一處」,都在同一個地位,處於同一個境界。
Namo Amituofo!
