Common Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
119 Namo Amituofo
The Contemplation Sutra says, 'This wise teacher advises him to join his palms and call, 'Homage to Amitayus Buddha' [Na-mo-a-mi-tuo-fo].' Calling the name of the Buddha extinguishes the evil karma that the dying person has committed during fifty kotis of kalpas of Samsara.” It also says, “In this way, he sincerely and continuously says 'Homage to Amitayus Buddha' [Na-mo-a-mi-tuo-fo] ten times.” This is the origin of reciting “Namo Amituofo”.
In Pure Land Buddhism, “Amituofo” is the Chinese transliteration of the name of the Buddha whose real existence resides in the Pure Land of Bliss in the West. When we recite the six syllables of “Namo Amituofo” it means we “take refuge in Amituofo. His followers exclusively recite “Namo Amituofo”, and write it down in order for us to worship him as our Principal Buddha.
Meaning
“Namo Amituofo” is the Chinese translation of three Sanskrit words (Namo Amitabha Buddha) into three parts - “Namo”, “Amituo” and “Fo”.“Namas” is translated as “Namo.”When it is put together with “Amitabha” it has three meanings: taking refuge, prostrating and asking to be rescued.
“Namo” in “Namo Amituofo” means “I take refuge in”, as said in the Commentary on the Contemplation Sutra. “To take refuge” means to accept the offer of the Buddha. In other words, sentient beings should accept the Buddha’s offer without any doubts.
119 南無阿彌陀佛
《觀無量壽經》言「智者復教合掌叉手,稱南無阿彌陀佛;稱佛名故,除五十億劫生死之罪」,又言「如是至心,令聲不絕,具足十念,稱南無阿彌陀佛」 ,「南無阿彌陀佛」便是出自於此。
在淨土宗的教義體系中,南無阿彌陀佛是現在於西方極樂淨土實際存在的佛的名號。南無阿彌陀佛也被稱為佛名、名號、名字、或六字名號。信眾口中常稱念這句南無阿彌陀佛名號,也有將此名號書寫下來作為本尊的。
意義
南無阿彌陀佛為梵語,是由「南無」「阿彌陀」「佛」這三個詞連接而成的。南無是梵語namo的音譯。梵語之南無本作namas,但當其與Amita(阿彌陀)連在一起時則發音為namo。
南無有歸命、敬禮、救我三意,但當南無與阿彌陀佛連在一起時,這裡的南無特指歸命,如《觀經玄義分》之六字釋說:「言南無者,即是歸命。」而所謂歸命,歸是歸順,命是命令,即歸順佛之命令,換言之,即眾生於佛之教命深信不疑,(詳見南無、歸命)
Namo Amituofo!
