A Discussion on Excerpts from the Scriptures of the Pure Land School
淨土宗精要法語討論
07. The 17th Vow in the Infinite Life Sutra
“If, when I achieve Buddhahood, innumerable Buddhas in the ten directions should not unanimously extol my name, may I not attain perfect enlightenment. “
Question: When one Buddha is born, thousands of Buddhas protect and support him/her. When Dharmakara Bodhisattva became a Buddha, it was natural for all Buddhas to praise him. Why was it necessary for Dharmakara Bodhisattva to make the Vow of Being Extolled by All Buddhas?
Answer: Dharmakara Bodhisattva made his vows proactively to deliver sentient beings through his Name. So, he made his 17th Vow to demonstrate the value all Buddhas placed on his Name, as opposed to extolling his virtues.(wisdom, light, etc.) His aim is to convince sentient beings to attain rebirth through the recitation of his Name, upon hearing about the merit and virtues within his Name, with recourse to his vow-power. Thus, following his 17th Vow - the Vow that Extols his Name, Dharmakara Bodhisattva made his 18th Vow - the Vow on Rebirth through Name-Recitation.
07. 《無量壽經》 第十七願
設我得佛,十方世界無量諸佛不悉咨嗟稱我名者,不取正覺。
07.1 問:一佛出世,千佛護持,法藏比丘成佛,諸佛自然讚歎,為何還要單獨發「諸佛稱揚願」?
答:法藏比丘發願以名號度眾生,而且是主動救度,所以發此願,令十方諸佛各於其國稱讚他成佛時的名號,而不是發願稱讚他的佛德、智慧、光明等,目的在於令十方眾生聞信名號功德,稱念名號,乘願往生,所以緊接著第十七「諸佛稱揚願」,就發第十八「念佛往生願」。
Namo Amituofo!
