Common Knowledge in Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
The Six-Character Name is Like a Mani Pearl (continued)
Moreover, when we wrap this Mani Pearl in a silk cloth of various colors and place it in water, the water will turn black if the cloth is black and yellow if the cloth is yellow, etc. Thus, regardless of the color or the material of the cloth, the color of the water will change accordingly. This is an analogy. The substance of Amitabha’s infinite merit and virtues is within the Pearl of the Name. The Pearl of the Name is placed in the water of the minds of sentient beings.
The silk cloths accomplished by Amitabha Buddha’s infinite merit and virtues have both the color and functional capacity of “non-birth”. Hence, when they are placed in the minds of sentient beings, all attachments and deviant views will be changed by Amitabha’s merit and virtues, and become the wisdom of “non-birth”.
The change can be obvious or subtle. The change may be like that of Vaidehi,whose realization of the perseverance of non-birth was obvious. However, there are many other people who don’t notice the changes in their minds because they are more subtle. It is similar to the Mani Pearl that is wrapped in cloth of different colors and placed in water. The water will naturally take on the various colors of the cloths accordingly.
The Name is wrapped in a cloth that contains infinite merit and virtues. So, a person who recites Amitabha’s Name with his eyes closed or while working, will have his defilements changed even if he doesn’t see it or notice it. This is known as “ the subtle passage to receiving Buddha’s wisdom and the wonder of the Way.”
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六字名號如摩尼寶珠
又，這個摩尼珠，用各種顏色的絲織品把它裹起來，投到水裡。用黑色的布包上，放到水裡，水就顯示黑色。用黃色的布一裹，放到水裡，水就是 黃色的……。不管用什麼布、什麼織錦包裹，水都隨其顏色而變。這是個比喻。阿彌陀佛的無量莊嚴功德是以名號寶珠為體，用無量莊嚴功德成就的各種顏色的絲織品作為外包裝，投之於眾生的心水當中。
因為阿彌陀佛無量莊嚴功德成就的絲織品是「無生」的顏色，具有無生的功能，所以一放在往生者心水裡，眾生執著有相的邪見當下為彌陀功德所轉，成為無生之智。
這個轉，有明轉，有暗轉。像韋提希夫人，現生證無生忍，這就是明轉。還有更多的人，他心裡不知道，但是無論知道不知道，心都被轉了，這就是暗轉。就像摩尼珠以黑色或黃色絲織品裹住投入水中，即使他不知道怎麼回事，水的顏色也變成黑、黃色了。
名號用無量莊嚴功德成就的布帛裹上，正念著佛的人，或者眼睛一閉打瞌睡了，或者到一邊做事去了，他自己都沒看見，但是罪濁也被轉了，這叫 「潛通佛智，暗合道妙」。
Namo Amituofo!
