Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teaching about Faith in Pure Land Buddhism
淨土信仰
Regarding reciting sutras, the previous and current texts are different. If we don’t notice this, we may not know what we are reciting about, or understand the sutras. Even if we pay attention and listen; it may not be clear, not to mention if we listen with distracted minds. So, we basically won’t understand.
Amitabha-recitation is not the same. The previous sentence is Namo Amituofo, and the sentence after is also Namo Amituofo. Every single sentence is Namo Amituofo. No matter how your mind is wandering, you can still hear it. Even if you do not recite, but just hear it, this name will still enter your Alaya consciousness and be stored there. It can then become a “seed” for merits and virtues.
有關誦經,經文的前後文各不相同,如果不注意聽的話就不知道對方在念什麼,不能句句聽得明白;即使留心聽,也不一定能很清楚,更何況無心聽,根本聽不明白。
但念佛就不一樣了,念佛是前面一句「南無阿彌陀佛」,後面也是一句「南無阿彌陀佛」,聲聲念念都是「南無阿彌陀佛」,再怎麼樣無心的人都會聽到。即使沒有念,只有聽,這一句佛號也會進入阿賴耶識的倉庫中,成為我們的種子,成為功德。
Namo Amituofo!
