Clarifying Doubts About the Pure Land (I)
淨土釋疑(一)
Question 5: Master, what is the difference between Amitabha-recitation with determinant faith, and Amitabha-recitation with the belief that "as long as I trust in the Name, I will attain rebirth in the Pure Land"?
Answer:
Amitabha-recitation with determinant faith and trusting in the Name are essentially the same. This is because the essence of determinant faith lies in the Name, and this Name embodies the power of Amitabha Buddha’s Vow.
Amitabha’s compassionate Vow is fully manifested in this sacred Name.
Faith has two aspects: faith in aptitude and faith in the teaching. While these are explained separately, they are ultimately one and the same.
1. Faith in aptitude – "Ji" (機) refers to us, the practitioners. What kind of beings are we? We must deeply reflect on our own nature. Master Shandao teaches that we must have profound and unwavering faith in this truth:
"We are iniquitous ordinary beings subject to endless rebirth. Since time immemorial, we have died and been reincarnated, without any causal conditions to leave the cycle of rebirth.”
2. Realizing this means recognizing that, as deluded beings, we are powerless to liberate ourselves from the Three Realms and the Six Paths of existence.
It is like a person lost in a vast ocean—without the ability to swim, without the strength to stay afloat, perpetually sinking, and forever incapable of reaching the shore by their own effort.
(to be continued tomorrow)
5問:請問師父,信心決定的念佛,與有的人認為「我信名號,我就能往生」,這兩種念佛有什麼區別?
答:信心決定的念佛,以及信名號的念佛,這兩種是一種。因為信心決定的內容,就是這句名號。這句名號就是阿彌陀佛的願力,阿彌陀佛的願力完全顯現在這句名號中。
信心有兩個方面:一方面就是信機,一方面就是信法。這兩方面實際上是一個內容,只是分開來解釋而已。
信機:「機」就是我們自己,我們自己到底是怎麼樣的人呢?自己對自己要有體悟,善導大師說要深信,而且要決定深信:自身現是罪惡生死凡夫,曠劫以來,常沒常流轉,無有出離之緣。
體悟到自己是一個罪惡深重的凡夫,生生世世、盡未來際都不可能有力量出離三界六道。
好比一個人在茫茫的大海中,沒有力量游泳,也不會游泳,一直沉溺其中,永遠不可能以自己的力量游到岸上來。
Namo Amituofo!
