Clarifying Doubts About the Pure Land Teaching
淨土釋疑(一)
Question 1: The Three Pure Land Sutras teach the importance of Name-recitation and faith. Would you please further explain the meaning of faith and exclusive Name-recitation? (continued)
Answer:
Therefore, consistently practicing the exclusive recitation of Amitabha’s Name is the "karma of assurance" for rebirth. It excludes the need for any other practices. Moreover, other practices are based upon our limited roots of virtue and blessings, while exclusively reciting Amitabha's Name is based upon his abundant roots of virtue and blessings.
Thus, those who truly understand this will dedicate their time and energy exclusively to reciting Amitabha’s Name, without mixing it with other methods. The Pure Land teaching emphasizes exclusivity—dedicated practice—and uniqueness—one and only one. Among all Buddhas, Amitabha is supreme and unrivaled. Amitabha's light is the most exalted, beyond comparison with any other Buddha’s light. This "supremacy" and "uniqueness" make Pure Land practice the unparalleled path.
For us, Amitabha Buddha is our ONLY Buddha, the one we worship, the one whose name we recite, and the one whose deliverance we trust. Everything centers on Amitabha Buddha as the foundation.
"Miscellaneous good deeds" (note: with respect to rebirth in the Pure Land) refers to a mixed variety of practices. "Miscellaneous" means various types of good deeds, including what are called "myriad virtuous acts." Briefly stated, it includes the Threefold Learning and the Six Paramitas. In an expanded sense, it encompasses the 84,000 Dharma doors.
1問:請問法師,在《大經》、《小經》和《觀經》中都談到稱名的問題,也談到信心的問題,那麼請您談一下信心和一向專稱名號的含義好嗎?
續答：
所以,始終以稱名念佛為正定業,不會再念別的什麼。何況其他都是少善根、少福德,不是大善根、大福德。所以,真正懂得的人,如果有時間、有精力,他就以那些時間、精力去稱念這句名號,不會在這句名號之外間雜其他的修行法門。
淨土法門講「專」 - 專修,講「唯一」 - 獨一無二。十方諸佛獨有阿彌陀佛是王,獨一無二。阿彌陀佛「光明最尊第一,諸佛光明所不能及」,「最」、「第一」,就是獨一。淨土法門是獨一的法門、無二的法門。
我們的本尊是阿彌陀佛,我們所拜的對象也是阿彌陀佛,我們所稱念的,也唯有「南無阿彌陀佛」這句名號,我們所信受的,也只有阿彌陀佛的救度,一切的一切都歸向阿彌陀佛,一切的一切也都以阿彌陀佛為根本。
「雜善」(註:就往生這一目的而言有專有雜)就是諸善,因為「雜」就是種種,種種諸善,也叫做「萬善萬行」,略講就是三學六度,廣說就是八萬四千法門。
Namo Amituofo!
