General Confusions and Misunderstandings about Rebirth by Amitabha-Reciters - By Master Jingzong
淨宗法師談念佛人的糊塗認識
#3. “Without performing good deeds and accumulating virtues, how can you be reborn by mere Amitabha-recitation?” Is this true?
Comment: (continued)
This Name includes the infinite functions of Amitabha’s merit and virtues. The flawed virtues and blessings attained through self-power practices, such as good deeds, are limited and negligible. The recitation of Amitabha Buddha’s Name bestows abundant roots of virtues and meritorious blessings.
The belief that “By comprehensively performing good deeds and accumulating virtues in the mundane world, we can increase the merit and virtues of our Amitabha-recitation, and have a greater chance of attaining rebirth” is wrong. It does not comply with the ideology of the Pure Land teaching of Master Shandao.
Here’s the verse:
The inability to perfectly practice the Five Precepts and Ten Wholesome Deeds causes people to remain in the Three Wretched Realms.
Sravakas and Pratyekabuddhas are not Mahayana practitioners.
Bodhisattvas have not perfected a myriad of virtuous practices.
For these reasons, they are regarded as “having few virtues” as compared to those gained by reciting the Six-Syllable Name.
淨宗法師 - 念佛人的糊塗認識
其三: “不行善積德,光念佛怎麼能往生?” 真的嗎?
答:(續上)
這個名號裏包括了無窮無盡的功德妙用,自力行善積德的有漏福德總是微乎其微的,念阿彌陀佛的名號才是“多善根福德因緣”。
那種認為“多多在世間行善積德,能增加念佛的功德,從而往生更有把握。”的認識是錯誤的,是不符合善導大師的淨土思想的。
五戒十善滯三途,聲聞緣覺非大乘,
菩薩萬行未圓滿,較之六字皆少德。
Namo Amituofo!
