Basic Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
132. The Most Honored Name of Ultimate, Perfect, and Harmonious Virtue (continued)
The following are quotations from Shakyamuni Buddha and the Pure Land patriarchs as evidence:
“The two meanings of light and life include all kinds of infinite merits and virtues. Light can travel horizontally in the ten directions, while life can extend vertically in the three periods of time. It is thorough both horizontally and vertically, so it is the body of the Dharma Realm. The body is understood as Amitabha’s body and land, and is the same as Amitabha’s Name. Thus, one thought matches the Buddha’s, and every other thought also matches the Buddha’s.”
“By reciting the Name, a person receives the same virtuous roots and blessings as Amitabha Buddha.”
“One who recites the Name has the same light and life as the Buddha.”
“Amitabha’s Name is the great name of myriad virtues. Because the Name is formed by virtues, it can endlessly impart virtues.”
“By reciting the Name with faith and aspiration, all Amitabha’s merit and virtues will become our own.”
“One recitation of Amitabha Buddha’s Name is equivalent to Shakyamuni Buddha’s attainment of unsurpassed perfect Enlightenment in the evil world with five kinds of turbidity. Now, Amitabha Buddha bestows his achievement of Enlightenment, in the form of his Name, to all sentient beings in the turbid and defiled land.”
“The great six-character Name embodies the real Dharma Realm, it can transcend horizontally without the need for any expedient means.”
(to be continued tomorrow)
132 圓融至德嘉號 (續)
引證佛言祖語如下:
•光壽二義,收盡一切無量。
光則橫遍十方,壽則豎窮三際;橫豎交徹,即法界體。
舉此體作彌陀身土,亦即舉此體作彌陀名號。
故一念相應一念佛,念念相應念念佛也。
•持名,善根福德同佛。
•持名者,光明壽命,同佛無異。
•阿彌陀佛是萬德洪名,以名召德,罄無不盡。
•信願持名,全攝佛功德成自功德。
•一聲阿彌陀佛,即釋迦本師於五濁惡世所得之阿耨多羅三藐三菩提法。
今以此果覺,全體授與濁惡眾生。
•六字洪名真法界,不須方便自橫超。
──蕅益大師
Namo Amituofo!
