Practical Q and A about Amitabha-Recitation - the Benefits of Amitabha-Recitation in the Present Life
念佛實用問答- 現世利益
Q1: To seek rebirth, we recite Namo Amitabha Buddha. For safety, avoiding calamities, eradicating hindrances and extending longevity, we have to recite the names of various Buddhas and bodhisattvas, or recite various Sutras or Dharani. Is this correct?
Answer to Q1:
No, this is incorrect. Unfortunately, some Buddhist beginners do think like that. As they learn more they will understand that, as Pure Land aspirants, no matter whether they are seeking rebirth or worldly benefits, they need only exclusively recite Namo Amitabha Buddha.
There are two reasons:
1. Amitabha Buddha is the king of all Buddhas. His Name contains all of the merits and virtues of all Buddhas, bodhisattvas, sutras and Dharani. So, by exclusively reciting Namo Amitabha Buddha, it is equivalent to reciting the names of all Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and the texts of all sutras and Dharani.Conversely, the benefits attained through the recitation of Namo Amitabha Buddha, will not be attained by reciting other Buddhas, bodhisattvas, sutras and Dharani. It is similar to the government officials who serve the community for the King. The King can do everything, but the
officers cannot do what the King does.
2. By exclusively reciting Namo Amitabha Buddha, a person is assured of rebirth, and gains all worldly benefits. He is dually benefitted. By mixing the recitations of Buddhas, bodhisattvas, sutras and Dharani, a person’s rebirth is not assured, and the worldly benefits gained are also not abundant.
(1)問:求往生,念阿彌陀佛;求平安免難、消災延壽等現世利益,分別念有關佛、菩薩、經、咒。這種觀念正確嗎?
答:不正確。一般初機學佛的人,信仰還比較淺,往往會抱有這種觀念,但隨著信仰的深入,他就會明白:一個願生淨土的人,不論是為往生,還是求世間利益,都應當專念阿彌陀佛,而不必改念其他。
理由有兩點:
一、經中說:阿彌陀佛是一切諸佛中的王,阿彌陀佛名號包含一切佛、菩薩、經、咒功德,專念阿彌陀佛一佛,等於總念一切佛菩薩經咒。凡是念諸佛菩薩經咒能夠得到的利益,念阿彌陀佛都能得到;反過來,念阿彌陀佛能夠得到的利益,念其他佛菩薩、誦其他經咒則未必都能得到。好像百官大臣能為老百姓辦的事,國王當然都能辦到;而國王能做到的事,百官大臣未必能做到。
二、專念阿彌陀佛,既能決定往生,也能得到種種世間利益,可說雙豐收。雜念諸佛菩薩經咒等,往生不定,世間利益也輕微。
Namo Amituofo!
