Q and A about Practicing Amitabha-Recitation
Part One - Benefits in the Present Life
第一部分 有關現世利益
Answer to Q3 (continued):
2. By reciting Namo Amitabha Buddha, Bodhisattva Guanyin will also come without needing to be invited. Grateful to his teacher, Guanyin deeply respects Amitabha. We note that there is a Buddha standing on the head of Bodhisattva Guanyin, which is Amitabha Buddha. Guanyin always follows Amitabha, so wherever Amitabha Buddha goes, Bodhisattvas Guanyin and
Shizhi always accompanies him.
So, Amitabha always protects those who recite his Name with his infinite light. Thus, Bodhisattvas Guanyin, Shizhi, and other bodhisattvas are always present. They are like Amitabha’s shadows, protecting and helping Amitabha-reciters and making friends with them.
So, for an exclusive Amitabha-reciter, though he doesn’t call out to Bodhisattva Guanyin, Guanyin will naturally come. Similarly, other bodhisattvas will do the same. It is, of course, not necessary to recite the names of any other Buddhas or bodhisattvas.
3. Those who exclusively recite Amitabha Buddha’s Name are always protected by the Buddha’s light. Of course they may not notice that some possible jeopardies have disappeared, and that they did not encounter any danger in critical moments. Though an exclusive Amitabha-reciter may experience some minor disasters or hindrances, he will naturally continue
to recite Amitabha Buddha without thinking of changing to any other Buddhas or Bodhisattvas. If his mind wavers, he should simply return to the recitation of Amitabha’s Name. So once again, we see that the effect of calling out to any other Buddha or Bodhisattva is not better than exclusively reciting Amitabha Buddha.
3問:觀世音菩薩尋聲救苦,雖修念佛,危急之時欲求免難,必須念觀世音菩薩,對嗎?(續)
二、念阿彌陀佛,觀世音菩薩不請自來。觀世音菩薩非常敬重、感恩祂的老師阿彌陀佛,時時把阿彌陀佛頂戴在頭上,我們看到的觀世音菩薩頭上有一尊站立的化佛,那就是阿彌陀佛。而且觀世音菩薩也隨時跟隨阿彌陀佛,凡是阿彌陀佛到哪裏,觀世音和大勢至這兩位大菩薩必定相隨左右,寸步
不離。
所以平常念阿彌陀佛的人,阿彌陀佛既然放光現身前來保護,觀世音、大勢至還有很多大菩薩也就一同前來保護。如《觀經》中說,專念阿彌陀佛的人,觀世音、大勢至二大菩薩,如影隨形常隨其後,保護這個念佛的人,並且主動做他的好朋友,慈悲相助於一切。
所以一個專念阿彌陀佛的人,即使沒有專門再念觀世音菩薩,觀世音菩薩也會自然前來保護。其他佛菩薩也是一樣。當然就沒有改念其他佛菩薩的必要了。
三、平常念阿彌陀佛的人,因為常在佛光保護當中,一些可能的災難自然潛消於無形,也就不存在臨時危急要求菩薩的情況了。即使宿業難免,小有災障,對一個真正信仰深入、念佛有素的人來說,也會自然念阿彌陀佛,不會想著改念這尊菩薩那尊佛。心思搖擺不定,說明心不專一。所以,不論是念哪尊佛菩薩,效果都比不上專念阿彌陀佛。
Namo Amituofo!
