Common Knowledge in Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
Passing through Fire in order to Hear Amitabha’s Name
The Infinite Life Sutra says, “Even if a huge fire were to fill the universe of a thousand million worlds, you should pass through it in order to hear this sutra, arouse joyful faith, uphold and chant it, and practice in accordance with its teachings.”
Even if a great fire were to fill the universe of a thousand million worlds, we should rush through that fire, in order to hear about Amitabha’s deliverance. Why? Because, by doing so, we can be fully emancipated from the burning house of this Saha world.
Otherwise we will continue to be reborn in the universe of a thousand million worlds and burn unceasingly. So, shouldn’t we prefer to suffer a bit now, in exchange for putting an end to continuously being burned by the fire in the Three Domains?
過火聞佛名
《無量壽經》說:設有大火,充滿三千大千世界,要當過此,聞是經法, 歡喜信樂,受持讀誦,如說修行。
假使三千大千世界充滿了大火,我們也要衝過大火去聽聞彌陀的救度,為什麼?現在超越大火,聽聞彌陀的救度,就能夠解脫,否則依然是無窮無盡地受三千大千世界之大火所燃燒。
所以,寧可現在辛苦、痛苦,也不將來繼續受永恆無盡的三界之火的燃燒。
Namo Amituofo!
