Q and A about Practicing Amitabha-Recitation
Part Two - Rebirth through Amitabha-Recitation
第二部分 有關念佛往生
20. Question: Does an Amitabha-reciter need to uphold the precepts?
Answer: Though precepts are not related to rebirth, an Amitabha-reciter should uphold the precepts; according to his aptitude and capacity, as many as possible.
Upholding precepts has its own respective benefits. It is similar to whether a person’s health makes a difference as far as rebirth is concerned. Of course, we would prefer to be healthy, and not suffer from illnesses. Though health is not related to rebirth, we would like to protect our health, rather than allowing our bodies to be injured or suffering from other illnesses.
It is the same with upholding precepts, which has its own kind of joy and peace. If we are unable to uphold them, we will suffer from the karmic retribution for failing to uphold precepts. Because we fail to uphold the precepts well, we feel ashamed while reciting Amitabha Buddha’s name single-mindedly. This doesn’t mean that an Amitabha-reciter needs not uphold precepts.
In the nine levels of rebirth, the good people on the first six levels, who uphold the precepts well, can be reborn through Amitabha-recitation; while those bad persons on the last three levels, who cannot uphold the precepts well, can also be reborn through Amitabha-recitation.
20問:那麼念佛人就不用持戒了?
答:戒律雖然與往生沒有關係,但念佛人還是應當各隨自己的根機、能力,能持多少戒就持多少戒。
持戒有持戒的功德利益。比如一個人的身體是殘疾還是健康,雖然與往生一點關係沒有,但我們還是希望健康,而不願受殘疾之苦,不因為與往生無關,就不注意保護自己,讓身體受殘受損。
同理,持戒有持戒的安樂,不能持戒就要受不能持戒的苦果。只是說要持好戒不容易,所以才心懷慚愧,一向念佛,並不是說念佛人就不要持戒。
《觀經》九品,上中六品都是持戒行善的人念佛往生,下三品是破戒造惡的人念佛往生。
Namo Amituofo!
