A Discussion on Excerpts from the Scriptures of the Pure Land School
淨土宗精要法語討論
18. Passing through a Raging Fire to Hear the Dharma
Even if a raging fire were to fill a universe of a thousand million worlds, you should pass through it to hear this sutra; to arouse joyful faith, uphold and chant it, and practice in accordance with its teachings. Why is this? It is because there are many bodhisattvas who wish to hear this teaching but are still unable to do so. Sentient beings who have heard it will attain the Stage of Non-retrogression for realizing the highest level of Enlightenment.
Question 18.1: The Infinite Life Sutra states, “Even if a world is filled with a raging fire, one must certainly pass through it to hear the Dharma.” Master Shandao interprets this as “Directly passing through to hear the Buddha’s Name.” What is the deeper meaning of this?
Answer:
Master Tanluan, in his “Verse on Praising Amitabha Buddha”, states: “Even if the great thousandfold world is filled with a raging fire, one should still directly pass through it to hear the Buddha’s Name.”
Similarly, Master Shandao, in his “In Praise of Rebirth” says: “Even if a great thousandfold world is filled with a raging fire, one should directly pass through it to hear Amitabha Buddha’s Name.”
Interpreting “Dharma” as “Amitabha Buddha’s Name” reveals that “Namo Amitābha Buddha” is the precise teaching of deliverance spoken of in the Infinite Life Sutra. Shakyamuni Buddha specifically entrusted this Sutra to the world, which means he specially entrusted the Six-Character Name as the universal method for deliverance of all beings.
This meaning is also evident in the circulation passage of the Contemplation Sutra, which states "Those who abide by these words entrust in Amitabha Buddha and exclusively recite his Name.”
18. 《無量壽經》過火聞法
設有大火，充滿三千大千世界，要當過此，聞是經法，歡喜信樂，受持讀誦，如說修行。所以者何？多有菩薩，欲聞此經而不能得。若有眾生，聞此經者，於無上道終不退轉。
18.1 問：《無量壽經》「設滿世界火，必過要聞法」，善導大師解釋為「直過聞佛名」，有何深義？
答：曇鸞大師《讚阿彌陀佛偈》說「設滿大千世界火，亦應直過聞佛名」，善導大師《往生禮讚》說「設滿大千火，直過聞佛名」，以「佛名」解釋「法」，顯明南無阿彌陀佛名號即《無量壽經》所言救度眾生之法。釋迦牟尼佛特留此經，即是特留六字名號這一普救眾生之法。《觀經》流通文「持是語者，即是持無量壽佛名」亦有此意。
Namo Amituofo!
