General Confusion and Misunderstandings by Amitabha-Reciters in regard to Rebirth - By Master Jingzong
淨宗法師談念佛人的糊塗認識
#7 - “Since I am unable to be reborn by mindfulness of the Buddha, how can I be reborn by reciting this single name? Do I have to increase my recitations to 30,000 or even 50,000 times a day for another 30 to 50 years?! Then, when I am near the end-of-life at last, will I be able to be reborn at that moment?” Am I understanding correctly?
Comment:
For those who hold this view, it can be said to be “the effect in a future period of time”. It means: When you recite the Buddha’s name now, but you cannot attain rebirth at the moment of recitation. You have to accumulate a certain level in order to be reborn. “Other” means “not at this moment”, “not right now”. So, thinking that one cannot be reborn through Amitabha-recitation in the present moment is incorrect.
According to Master Shandao’s explanation, every single Amitabha-recitation, with faith and aspiration, is complete. Within the substance of every single recitation, the merit and virtues required for us to attain rebirth in the Land of Bliss are immediately fulfilled. Thus, the above view is not correct.
淨宗法師 - 念佛人的糊塗認識
其七:“我現在念佛還不能往生,現在念這一句佛號哪能往生?一定要積累到每天三萬五萬,然後再積累三十年五十年,到最後要臨終了,那個時候才能往生。” 對嗎?
答:
如果抱這種觀點的人,也可以講叫“別時意”。就是:現在念佛,當念不能往生,要累積到某種程度,才可以往生。這個“別”,就是不在當下、不在“即時”,認為當下、即時念佛不能往生,這是錯誤的。
按照善導大師的解釋:我們念佛,念念之間,具足願行。念念、聲聲,每一聲名號的當下本體,就具足讓我們往生極樂世界這樣的功德。所以上面那種認識是錯誤的。
Namo Amituofo!
