Basic Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
145 The Relationship between Amitabha’s Name and his Body (continued)
12. Master Linchi said, “ By reciting Amitabha Buddha’s Name one receives all of the circumstantial and direct rewards of the Land of Bliss, and the ocean of treasures of the Buddha.”
Amitabha’s Name has a myriad of virtues. No one single vow encompasses all of it, and the practice of reciting his Name is consistently thorough. For Amitabha’s Name has a myriad of virtues, and we attain all of those perfect and complete virtues by exclusively reciting his Name. Though not expecting particular blessings, all of these blessings are readily available.
One thought of Amitabha Buddha’s Name exceeds self-powered practices throughout countless eons. One single recitation of the Name is equivalent to all sacred beings.
13. Master Ouyi said, “Amitabha’s Name has a myriad of virtues. We can receive those virtues by reciting his Name.
Those who recite the Name have the same virtuous roots and blessings as Amitabha. So, every single recitation of the Name is abundant in virtuous roots and meritorious blessings. Those who recite the Name have the same light and life as Amitabha.
One recitation of Namo Amitabha Buddha contains the Anuttara-Samyak-Sambodhi attained by Shakyamuni Buddha in the wretched world of Fivefold Turbidity. Amitabha shares his Name. It is his reward to all sentient beings in this wretched world.
The Six-Character Name is the true Dharma Realm, so one will naturally laterally-transcend, without any other expedient means necessary.
(to be continued tomorrow)
145 彌陀名體之關係 (續)
十二、蓮池大師《彌陀疏鈔》言:極樂依正,言佛便周;佛功德海,言佛便周;一切功德,言佛便周。
彌陀萬德之名:無一願不包羅,無一行不體備,無一佛不貫徹。彌陀乃萬德名號,一名才舉,萬德齊圓,不期於福,福已備故。越三祇於一念,齊諸聖於片言。
十三、藕益大師《彌陀要解》言:阿彌陀佛是萬德洪名,以名召德,罄無不盡。
持佛名者,善根福德,同佛無異,則一一聲,悉具多善根福德也。持名善根福德同佛。持名者,光明壽命同佛無異。
一聲阿彌陀佛,即釋迦本師於五濁惡世所得之阿耨多羅三藐三菩提法。
今以此果覺,全體授與濁惡眾生。六字洪名真法界,不須方便自橫超。
Namo Amituofo!
