Clarifying Doubts About the Pure Land (I)
淨土釋疑(一)
Question 2: May I ask the Master? Many people care very deeply about determinant faith. What defines determinant faith and assures rebirth?
Answer:
If a person has not accepted Amitabha’s compassionate deliverance, his faith is not considered determinant or single-minded. Thus, he may have many other thoughts popping up in his mind. He may think, “I should practice this teaching or that. Apart from reciting Amitabha’s Name, maybe I should recite the names of a few other Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, or other Dharani...”, etc.?
Thus, before a person can receive Amitabha’s compassionate deliverance, he should realize that he has to leave all other practices aside, and exclusively recite Amitabha’s Name as often as he can.
At the same time, we also have to realize what our aptitudes and capacities are, and what teaching is most appropriate for us. Ultimately, we must accept Amitabha Buddha’s great compassion deep in our hearts.
(to be continued tomorrow)
2問:請問師父,很多人都非常關心信心決定的問題,那麼,怎樣才算信心決定,或者怎樣才算往生決定呢?
答:
如果沒有體悟到阿彌陀佛的慈悲救度,那就是信心還沒有決定性,還沒有統一性,所以就會有二心、三心,種種心都出來了,就會想:「我應該修這個法,應該修那個法,除了念佛以外,還要念好幾個佛菩薩名號,還要念幾個咒語......」二心、三心等等心都會出來。
那麼,在還沒有體悟彌陀救度之前,應該先肯定:往生極樂世界就是要像善導大師所講的,要捨掉其他的行門,而專稱這句名號。今天有一分鐘,就以這一分鐘的時間稱念名號,有一個鐘頭、兩個鐘頭、十個鐘頭,就以這個時間去稱念這句名號。
同時,去體會什麼是機、什麼是法,因為在體會機、體會法當中,阿彌陀佛的悲心,會在某種情形之下納入我們的心中。
Namo Amituofo!
