Common Knowledge in Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
115 南無(continued)
In the Pure Land School, “Namo” is generally interpreted as “ I take refuge”, sometimes interpreted as “I prostrate”, but it has not been interpreted as “please save me”.
In the Commentary on the Contemplation Sutra, it says, “Namo means to take refuge”, and in the parable of the “Two Rivers and the White Path”, it says, “They are urged by Shakyamuni to proceed to the west and, at the same time, they are summoned by Amitabha Buddha from his Pure Land in the west.They faithfully follow the wishes of the two great sages.”
In these two texts, “namo” is interpreted as “taking refuge”. In the Praise of Rebirth, it says, “Namo Shakyamuni Buddha and all the Three Jewels”.
Here, “Namo” is interpreted as “prostration”.
Regarding “save me”, the concept of asking the Buddha to “save you” does not exist in the dogmas of the Pure Land School.
115 南無
淨土宗是將南無解釋為歸命，偶爾也會解釋為敬禮，但卻從沒有使用過救我這種解釋的。
如《觀經疏．玄義分》言「言南無者，即是歸命」，《觀經疏．散善義》「二河白道喻」言「仰蒙釋迦發遣，指向西方，又藉彌陀悲心招喚，今信順二尊之意。」故歸命即是順釋迦、彌陀二尊之敕命。
這兩段引文都是以歸命來解釋南無。又如《往生禮讚》言「南無釋迦牟尼佛等一切三寶」，此處是以敬禮來解釋南無。
而關於救我，如前所述，是請求佛來救度我，但是在淨土宗的教義中並不存在請求救度這種思想，所以才不以救我來解釋南無。
Namo Amituofo!
