Q and A about Practicing Amitabha-Recitation
Part One - Benefits in the Present Life
第一部分 有關現世利益
8. Question: If we have karmic obstructions near the end-of-life, such as enemies and creditors coming to hound us, we should recite the Ksitigarbha Sutra first, as his name can clear karmic obstructions. Then we should further recite Amitabha Buddha’s Name to seek rebirth. Is this correct?
Answer: No, that is incorrect! The end-of-life is a critical moment for people to either ascend or descend in terms of rebirth. No other Buddhas’ or Bodhisattvas’ names are as effective as that of Amitabha Buddha in terms of rescuing a dying person. It is most effective in rescuing them from suffering, clearing their karmic offenses, and receiving them to be reborn at the same time.
The Contemplation Sutra says: By hearing the Tripitaka and the Twelve Divisions of Shakyamuni’s teachings, karmic offenses accumulated in the past thousand years are cleared; but, that is not nearly enough to attain rebirth. However, by reciting Namo Amitabha Buddha one time,the karmic offenses accumulated in the past five billion years are cleared, and one directly attains rebirth in the Pure Land.
So, reciting Namo Amitabha Buddha just one time is much better than reciting such Mahayana Sutras as the Ksitigarbha Sutra or the Diamond Sutra several thousand times.
8 問:人之臨終往往業障現前,怨家債主競來牽逼。必須先念《地藏經》、地藏菩薩名號消除業障,再念阿彌陀佛求往生,對嗎?
答:不對!臨終是人升沉最關鍵的時刻,這時念任何別的佛菩薩及經咒都緩不濟急,只有急念阿彌陀佛,最具有拔濟的功效,消業、往生同時達成。
《觀經》說:聞大乘十二部經,只滅罪一千劫,遠遠不足以達成往生;稱阿彌陀佛一口,即滅罪五十億劫,直接超生淨土。
算起來,念一聲阿彌陀佛,超過念數千萬部《地藏經》、《金剛經》等大乘經典。
Namo Amituofo!
