Discussion on Excerpts from the Scriptures of the Pure Land School
淨土宗精要法語討論
The 18th Vow in the Infinite Life Sutra (continued)
4. Question: Some people say, “If we have false thoughts in our minds while reciting Amitabha Buddha’s Name, we cannot match Amitabha’s mind, even if we recite his Name for our entire lives.” Is this correct?
Answer: Referring to the state of mind of sentient beings mentioned in the 18th Vow - if they “sincerely and joyfully entrust themselves to me, desire to be born in my land, and call my Name even ten times”, they will “match” with Amitabha Buddha’s mind. If we recite his Name with faith and the aspiration to be reborn in his Pure Land, we will also “match.” “Matching” does not mean achieving a meditative state in which we perceive that we and Amitabha are one. Purifying the mind through Buddha-recitation is the aim and practice of the Sacred Path, which should not be confused with the Pure Land Path.
《無量壽經》第十八願 (續)
4. 問:有人說,「念佛時雜念紛飛,念一輩子也不能與阿彌陀佛相應」,是這樣嗎?
答:第十八願所誓眾生的心行是「至心信樂,欲生我國,乃至十念」,想要與佛相應,只要信願念佛,而非禪定一心。念佛淨心是聖道門的修法和目的,不宜照搬到淨土門。
Namo Amituofo!
