Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teaching about Faith in Pure Land Buddhism
淨土信仰
The main sutras of our school are the Infinite Life Sutra, the Contemplation Sutra, and the Amitabha Sutra. If we want to recite sutras, it is fine for us to recite only the Amitabha Sutra. You need not recite the Heart Sutra, the Chapter of Universal Doors, the Earth Store Sutra, or the Sutra of Medicine Buddha. You need not recite them, because you do more than enough by simply reciting Amitabha’s Name. How can you have spare time to recite other sutras?
With respect to merit and virtues, Amitabha’s Name consists of a myriad of virtues; so, the merit and virtues gained through Amitabha-recitation are much greater than from sutra recitation. Moreover, Amitabha-recitation can be practiced by anybody, at any time, in any place, and with whatever you are doing. What about sutra-recitation? If you are illiterate, you can’t recite. If there isn’t an appropriate place or not enough time, you also cannot recite. Moreover, sutra-recitation is certainly not more splendid than Amitabha-recitation. Isn’t that so?
(to be continued tomorrow)
我們這個法門主要的經就是《無量壽經》、《觀無量壽經》與《阿彌陀經》。如果想要誦經,只要誦《阿彌陀經》就好了。至於《心經》、《普門品》、《地藏經》、《藥師經》這些可以都不用誦,因為你連念佛都沒有時間了,怎麼還有時間誦其他經呢?
若論功德來說,佛號就是萬德洪名,念佛功德比誦經的功德還高。而且念佛是任何人都可以念,任何時間都可以念,任何地方都可以念,做任何工作都可以念。而誦經呢?若不識字就無法誦,沒有適當地方就不適合誦,沒有足夠時間也不能誦,何況,誦經又沒有比念佛功德還殊勝,對不對?
Namo Amituofo!
