Q and A about Practicing Amitabha-Recitation
Part One - Benefits in the Present Life
第一部分 有關現世利益
Question: Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva is the Master in the netherworld and exclusively delivers the sentient beings there. Though I practice Amitabha-recitation, should I also recite the name of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva for the sake of delivering spirits and hell beings.
Answer: No, it is unnecessary. Please refer to the Section on Avoiding Disasters in the Third Collection of the Accounts of Amitabha-Recitation. There are many accounts about transcendental deliverance in the Three Wretched Realms. They serve as evidence that Amitabha Buddha can universally benefit sentient beings even in the netherworld. Let’s compare Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva and Amitabha Buddha in seven aspects.
1. Merit and virtues - Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva made a vow - Should I not be able to fully empty all of the hell realms, may I not become a Buddha. That means he is still a Bodhisattva, his vow is not yet accomplished, and his merit and virtues are not perfect and complete. However, Amitabha Buddha made his vows while in his causal ground - I will always share my compassion to free sentient beings from suffering, and I am capable of delivering all sentient beings, even in the Avicii Hell. His merit and virtues in all practices are perfect and complete, and he accomplished his vows to become a Buddha. So, the two cannot be compared.
2. Status - Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva is the Master in the netherworld, and Amitabha Buddha is the King of all Buddhas. How can they be compared?
3. Master and subordinate - A Buddha is a Dharma King, and all bodhisattvas are Dharma followers and officers. When one recites Amitabha Buddha, bodhisattvas like Ksitgarbha will be empowered to deliver sentient beings in hell. There is an account about this point too.
4. Reputation - Amitabha Buddha is praised, respected and extolled by all Buddhas in the ten directions. None of the others are comparable to Amitabha Buddha.
5. Light - Amitabha’s light is incomparable.
6. Eradication of karmic offenses - None is comparable to Amitabha Buddha.
7. Benefits of deliverance - By reciting Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, one can ascend from the Three Wretched Realms to the Wholesome Realms of Human and Heaven, however, by reciting Amitabha Buddha, one can ascend from the Three Wretched Realms to the Pure Land and become a Buddha. Again, this is evidenced by many accounts of Amitabha-recitation.
7問:地藏菩薩是幽冥教主,專救幽冥界眾生。雖修念佛,為超度亡靈、救拔地獄眾生,必須念地藏菩薩,對嗎?
答:不對!《念佛感應錄》第三集〈念佛免難〉、〈三塗超生〉中有很多例證,如第391頁「清明念佛 普度冤親」等,皆可證明念阿彌陀佛能普利幽冥界眾生。今以地藏菩薩較之阿彌陀佛,略舉有七不可比。
一、功德缺滿,不可相比。地藏菩薩發願「地獄未空,誓不成佛」,修行功德尚未圓滿,其願還未實現;阿彌陀佛因地發願「常運慈心拔有情,度盡阿鼻苦眾生」,修行功德已經圓滿,其願已經實現而成佛,所以兩者不能相比。
二、地位高低,不可相比。地藏菩薩是幽冥教主,阿彌陀佛為諸佛之王,不可相比。
三、為主為從,不可相比。如《群疑論》說:「佛是法王,菩薩是法臣,如王出時,臣必隨從。大能攝小,故積念者,功德最多。」只要念阿彌陀佛,地藏菩薩自然隨從阿彌陀佛來救度地獄眾生,如《念佛感應錄》第三集第73頁「母親念佛 兒免地獄」即是實證。
四、名聲遠近,不可相比。阿彌陀佛名號為十方諸佛所景仰讚歎,所以不可比。
五、光明大小,不可相比。
六、滅罪多少,不可相比。
七、救度利益,不可相比。念地藏菩薩,多從三惡道救至人天善道;念阿彌陀佛,可從三惡道直超淨土成佛。《念佛感應錄》第三集第403頁「蟒蛇亦願念佛成佛」、第386頁「出地獄河 生極樂土」即是實證。
Namo Amituofo!
