A verse saying “Amitabha-recitation is unsurpassed” from “In Praise of Dharma Practice” by Master Shandao
善導大師《法事讚》「無過念佛」之偈:
The Tathagata incarnates himself in the world of Five Kinds of Turbidity,
For the sake of delivering sentient beings through his expedient teachings according to circumstances,
Sentient beings may be liberated by hearing many of his discourses, or
By hearing few; but, concentrating on attaining the Three Insights.
By cultivating wisdom and merits to eradicate the two karmic barriers, or
By engaging in practices of meditation and contemplation.
All the teachings will lead to emancipation,
However, none of them is better than the teaching of rebirth in the West through Amitabha-recitation,
Recite the Buddha-Name for a lifetime, as few as ten times, or
Even three or five times; and, upon your death the Buddha will come to receive you.
It is because Amitabha’s vows are so powerful and all encompassing,
That they enable ordinary beings to attain rebirth immediately through Amitabha-recitation.
如來出現於五濁,隨宜方便化群萌;
或說多聞而得度,或說少解證三明;
或教福慧雙除障,或教禪念坐思量;
種種法門皆解脫,無過念佛往西方;
上盡一形至十念,三念五念佛來迎;
直為彌陀弘誓重,致使凡夫念即生。
Namo Amituofo!
