Common Knowledge in Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
115 Namo
“Namo” is a Sanskrit word, which can be transliterated in many ways. One of them is “namas.” However, when it is combined with the name of Amitabha Buddha, it is transliterated as “Namo Amitabha Buddha”.
Summarizing the interpretations in the commentaries on the Sutras, written by the ancient masters in China, there are three meanings of “Namo” - taking refuge, prostrating, and asking to be saved.
Taking refuge means accepting the Buddha’s compassion. Prostrating means bowing to the Buddha, which is a bodily karma. Asking to be saved means asking the Buddha to come and save you. This has a similar meaning to deliver me or carry me across.
(to be continued tomorrow)
115 南無
亦作南牟、南謨、南忙、那模、曩謨。是對梵語namo的音譯。梵語南無的發音為namas ，但當與其後的Amita（阿彌陀）連在一起時則發音為namo。
南無有歸命、敬禮與救我三義。
淨影寺慧遠於《涅槃經義記》卷二解釋《涅槃經》所言之「南無純陀」時言「是歸命詞，梵語南無，此言歸命」，善導於《觀經玄義分》言「南者是歸，無者是命。」慧苑於《華嚴經音義》卷上言「正云南忙，此曰敬禮」，慈恩於《法苑義林章》卷四言「古言南牟，即是敬禮。」吉藏於《法華經義疏》卷四言「南無者，歸命也，救我也」，智顗於《法華經文句》卷四言「南無，大有義，或言度我。」
如果將以上所引用的解釋綜合起來看，可以說南無有歸命、敬禮與救我三義。歸命即歸順於命令，具體指服從於佛的命令。敬禮是以身業禮敬佛等。救我即請求佛來救我，度我與此意同。
Namo Amituofo!
