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: Reciting sutras, mantras, and the names of all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas all generate merit, don’t they? Then how can it be said that they cause harm?
Answer:
Indeed, all of these practices can generate merit and ensure that a dying person does not fall into the Three Wretched Realms. However, they do not guarantee rebirth in the Pure Land.
The original purpose of assisted recitation near end-of-life is to help the dying attain rebirth in the Pure Land and ultimately achieve Buddhahood. If one instead recites other sutras, mantras, or the names of various other Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, the result may only be virtuous rewards in the human or heavenly realms.
In the next life, there is no certainty that one will encounter the Dharma again, and one may even fall into the Three Wretched Realms. Wouldn’t this disrupt the great matter of attaining Buddhahood?!
37問：念經、念咒、念所有佛菩薩，不是都有功德嗎？怎麼能說是破壞呢？
答：
確實都有功德，能保證臨終人不墮於三惡道，但不能保證必然往生。本來臨終助念是要達成往生淨土成佛的，結果念別的經咒、佛菩薩等，只得人天善果，再下一輩子說不定難遇佛法而墮入三惡道，豈不是破壞了成佛的大事！
Namo Amituofo!
