Dec 6, 2021
上人法語
淨宗傳承之第十八願
In simple words, the 18th Vow can be expressed as follows: When I, Dharmakara, become a Buddha, any sentient being in the ten directions who truly believes in and joyfully accepts my deliverance, wishes to be reborn in my land, and recites my Name once, ten times, or for his whole life, I must deliver him to be reborn. If not, I vow not to become a Buddha.
“Even ten times” is interpreted to be recitation of Amitabha’s Name as long as one’s whole life or as short as one or ten recitations, in order to attain assured rebirth. For a person who does not come across this teaching in his present life; but, only comes across it near the end-of-life, it is enough for him to recite once or ten times before his last breath, then he will be reborn in the Land of Bliss. Those of us who come across this teaching in the present life should exclusively recite “Namo Amituofo” throughout our entire lives.
第十八願白話試譯:若我法藏成佛之時,十方世界之任何眾生,只要真心信受、歡喜我的救度,欲生我國,而長在一生、短在十聲一聲,稱念我名,必使其往生,若不得往生,我誓不成佛。
第十八願講「乃至十念」,譯為「長在一生、短在十聲一聲,稱念我名,必使其往生」,對一個平生沒有遇到而臨終才遇到這個法門的人來講,只有「短在十聲一聲」的時間,他念十聲一聲之後就斷氣往生極樂世界了;至於我們是平生就遇到這個法門,所以就「長在一生」,「長在一輩子」專念「南無阿彌陀佛」名號。
Namo Amituofo!
