Common Knowledge in Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
103 Exclusive Recitation of Amitabha’s Name is the Samadhi of Amitabha-Recitation
In the Amitabha Sutra, “single-minded without confusion” refers to “reciting Amitabha’s Name with twofold exclusivity”. It doesn’t matter whether a person is single-minded in a meditative state or a non-meditative state. The exclusive recitation of Amitabha’s Name, with a meditative mind or with a non-meditative mind, is the karma for assured rebirth.
However, when compared with single-minded meditative recitation, it can be considered recitation with a non-meditative mind. In other words, even though we have false thoughts during Amitabha-recitation, we should just continue reciting Amitabha’s Name. This is known as recitation with a non-meditative mind. This kind of Amitabha-recitation, whether in a meditative or non-meditative state, can be called the “Samadhi of Amitabha-Recitation”. It is the karma through which rebirth is assured.
103 專稱彌陀佛名即是念佛三昧
《阿彌陀經》的「一心不亂」,是指「念佛專復專」,無所謂定的一心,也無所謂散的一心。因為既然已是專念彌陀佛名,不管定心也好,散心也好,都是往生的正定業。
但如果要強論功夫上的一心的話,則是屬於散的一心。也就是說,我們即使念佛,依然有妄想雜念,但是我們都專一地念這句彌陀名號,永不改變,這叫散的一心。這種一心的念佛,不管定散,都可稱為「念佛三昧」,因為是正定業,必定往生故。
Namo Amituofo!
