Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about the Patriarchal Lineage of the Pure Land School – the 18th Vow
淨宗傳承之第十八願
“Even” is a word of flexibility that includes different kinds of people with different aptitudes. It is similar to “in one day .... in 7 days” as said in the Amitabha Sutra.
“Even ten times” gives us the greatest flexibility, so that anyone can do it. Amitabha Buddha says, “All can be reborn through reciting my Name even ten times.
”No other buddha is more wise or compassionate than Amitabha. After deep meditation for 5 eons, Amitabha formulated his 48 Vows of Infinite Compassion. He then took countless eons to practice and accumulate the immeasurable merit and virtues that he shares with us through recitation of his Name.
「乃至」是一種含攝萬機的彈性用詞,跟《阿彌陀經》「若一日......若七日」的「若」是一樣的。「乃至十念」給了我們最大的方便,使每個人都能做得到,所以叫「乃至」。
阿彌陀佛告訴我們:「乃至十念,皆得往生」。就慈悲而言,宇宙間沒有比這個更加慈悲了,而慈悲的背後,乃是阿彌陀佛為我們五劫思惟發下四十八大願之後,又經過「兆載永劫,積植菩薩,無量德行」,所有智慧、悲願、功德大力等等都在這裏。
Namo Amituofo!
