Basic Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
Three Kinds of Naturalness (continued)
Those who believe in and accept Amitabha’s deliverance will be naturally transported by Amitabha’s vow power, and assured of rebirth in his Pure Land. Thus, those who believe in “other-power” do not rely on “self-power”, as they feel they have no power. They have no choice but to rely on Amitabha’s vow power.
The power generated by exclusive recitation of Amitabha’s Name naturally enables the reciter to be reborn and to become a Buddha. This is called “ the naturalness of becoming a Buddha through Buddha-recitation.” As long as we comply with Amitabha’s vow, we will naturally receive his vow power and be reborn in the Land of Bliss.
Nagarjuna Bodhisattva says, “Amitabha’s Fundamental Vow is this way - if anyone invokes me, recites my Name, and takes refuge in me, he will instantly enter the state of assurance [non-retrogression], and subsequently attain the highest perfect enlightenment. Thus, one should always be mindful of him.”
If sentient beings in the ten directions can believe in and accept Amitabha's deliverance, aspire to be reborn in the Land of Bliss, and exclusively recite Amitabha’s Name, they will enter the state of non-retrogression in this lifetime, through the naturalness of Amitabha’s vow power.
The naturalness of Amitabha’s vow power guarantees the assured rebirth of sentient beings in this lifetime. Exclusive recitation of Amitabha’s Name is the method to be used by sentient beings to rely on the naturalness of the vow power.
(to be continued tomorrow)
133 三種自然 (續)
信受彌陀救度的人,自自然然被阿彌陀佛願力所牽引,決定往生淨土。所以信受他力的念佛人,不憑藉自身之力(體悟自力無力,無有自力),而是靠倒阿彌陀佛的願力。
彌陀佛名產生的力用,自然使念佛人往生成佛,所謂「念佛成佛是自然」。只要符合阿彌陀佛的願,自自然然隨願力的運轉而往生極樂世界。
龍樹菩薩《易行品》說:阿彌陀佛本願如是:若人念我,稱名自歸,即入必定,得阿耨多羅三藐三菩提;是故常應憶念。
十方眾生若能信受阿彌陀佛救度,願生極樂國土,專稱阿彌陀佛佛名,必能因願力自然,當生進入成佛不退轉之地。
願力自然,是眾生今生必定成就的原理;稱念佛名,則是眾生依靠願力自然的方法。
Namo Amituofo!
