Q and A about Practicing Amitabha-Recitation
Part Two - Rebirth through Amitabha-Recitation
第二部分 有關念佛往生
Question 18. Without setting forth the Bodhi Mind, can we attain rebirth through Amitabha-recitation?
Answer 18: Truly setting forth the Bodhi Mind, say “Boundless sentient beings I vow to deliver”, is very difficult. If setting forth the Bodhi Mind is required for rebirth, very few persons in this world could be reborn. However, Amitabha Buddha aims to deliver all sentient beings; so, he cannot require aspirants to set forth the Bodhi Mind for rebirth.
In the Contemplation Sutra, though people at the three levels in the high tier set forth the Bodhi Mind, all people in the other six levels in the middle and low tiers do not.
In the Collection of Accounts, most people do not have the Bodhi Mind, and some of them don’t even know what the Bodhi Mind is. Even though they don’t know, they still recite the Buddha’s Name, aspire to be reborn, and all of them will be reborn. Once reborn, they will naturally become Buddhas and deliver sentient beings. This is a wonderful characteristic of the Pure Land teaching.
It is important to aspire to be reborn in the Pure Land teaching, because aspiration to rebirth is the Bodhi Mind in the Pure Land teaching. Thus, all people can set forth the mind of aspiration.
18問:沒發菩提心,念佛能往生嗎?
答:真正發菩提心——「眾生無邊誓願度」是很難的,如果要求發菩提心才能往生,敢說當今世界上沒有幾個人能往生。阿彌陀佛要救度一切眾生,所以並不要求一定發得起菩提心才能往生。
《觀經》上三品往生雖有發菩提心,中下六品往生就都沒有發菩提心。《念佛感應錄》第三集所記往生事例,大部分連菩提心的名字都沒聽過,更不要說發菩提心了。
雖然不知菩提心,但只要念佛、願生,通通往生。一旦往生,自然成佛度眾生,這正是淨土念佛法門的妙處。
淨土法門貴在發願生心,願生心就是淨土法門的菩提心,這是人人都能發得起的。
Namo Amituofo!
