Q and A about Practicing Amitabha-Recitation
Part Three - Assisted-Recitation near the End-of-Life
第三部分 有關臨終助念
Question 34. Why can a person be reborn, even if he fails to recite Amitabha Buddha’s Name near his end-of-life; but, only recites it in the present life?
Answer:
Rebirth is not necessarily determined only near the end-of-life. If we exclusively practice Amitabha-recitation and aspire to be reborn in the present life, we are assured of rebirth already. Even if we are unable to recite near the end-of-life, we will still be reborn. This is known as “Assured Rebirth in the present life” in the Pure Land School.
It is just like a big tree whose branches grow towards the west. When it is cut, it doesn't need any effort to make it fall down towards the west. It can also be compared to a person who boards a ship early, he will still arrive at his destination even if he sleeps without knowing the ship has sailed. Master Shandao said, “Amitabha-recitation is the assured karma for rebirth.”He didn’t say Amitabha recitation only before the moment of death is the karma of assurance.
34問:為什麼平時念佛、臨終沒念佛,也能往生?
答:
往生並不是必須要到臨終才能決定的,平時專修念佛、真願往生,則其往生平時就已經定了,臨終雖沒能念出佛,也必往生。這在淨土宗叫做「平生業成」。
好像一棵大樹,長的時候就向西傾斜,鋸斷的時候雖不再加力,也自然往西而倒。又好比早就安坐船上的人,即使船離碼頭的時候睡著而不知,也絲毫不影響安達彼岸。善導大師說念佛是往生正定之業,正是如此。
Namo Amituofo!
