A Verse about Compassionate Advice and Cautions quoted from “In Praise of Dharma Practice” by Master Shandao
善導大師《法事讚》慈悲勸誡偈
I feel insignificant compared to the great compassionate Shakyamuni, and all Buddhas in the ten directions, as many as the sands of the Ganges.
They never forsake me; but, compassionately guide me through many skillful means, towards the gate of Amitabha’s Great Vow.
All of the many gates within the forty-eight vows support the great vow of name-recitation, which is the most intimate.
When we recite Amitabha’s name, he embraces us with his mind; if we think of Amitabha, he knows it.
Those who exclusively remember the Buddha are also remembered and known by the Buddha.
If they sincerely dedicate all of their merits towards rebirth in the Land of Peace and Joy, they can see Amitabha’s fully adorned golden body, which is also adorned with merits and virtues.
All sacred beings are equally adorned in the Pure Land. They always appear before practitioners in a mist.
Any practitioner who has seen these sacred beings becomes incredibly joyful. They follow the Buddha and sit upon a golden lotus when their life ends.
Riding upon the lotus, they arrive at a Buddhist Assembly in a flash, realize the state of non-retrogression, and immediately become benevolent bodhisattvas.
慚愧釋迦大悲主,十方恒沙諸世尊;
不捨慈悲巧方便,共讚彌陀弘誓門。
弘誓多門四十八,偏標念佛最為親;
人能念佛佛還念,專心想佛佛知人。
一切迴心向安樂,即見真金功德身;
淨土莊嚴諸聖眾,籠籠常在行人前。
行者見已心歡喜,終時從佛坐金蓮;
一念乘華到佛會,即證不退入三賢。
Namo Amituofo!
