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
“To recite Amitabha’s name single-mindedly and without variation, whether walking, standing, sitting, or lying down, whether for long or short periods, is the karma of assurance. It is so because it accords with Amitabha Buddha’s 18th vow.”
This passage is quoted from the explanation of the Deep Mind in the Fourth Chapter – The Meaning of Non-Meditative Virtues in the Commentary on the Contemplation Sutra, which is known as the teaching about Name - recitation being the karma of assurance.
This passage explains that, whether a person is a monastic or householder, wise or ignorant, pure or defiled, wholesome or unwholesome, meditator or non-meditator, right or wrong, doesn’t matter as far as rebirth is concerned. The existence of deluded thoughts does not interfere with birth in the Pure Land. By simply reciting Amitabha’s Name, one is immediately assured of rebirth. This is the meaning of “even ten times” in the 18th Vow.
「一心專念彌陀名號,行住坐臥,不問時節久近,念念不捨者,是名正定之業,順彼佛願故。」此「稱名正定業」之文也是在《觀經四帖疏》第四卷〈散善義〉之「深心釋」,此文顯示不論道俗,不論智愚,不論淨穢,不論罪福,不論定散,心之是非,一概不論;凡夫之心,餘念皆迷,非往生因;唯念彌陀,即得往生。此是第十八願「乃至十念」之意。
Namo Amituofo!
