‹ Essence of the Annotation of the Infinite Life Sutra

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Episode 278 of 284

Focusing on all merits.

安住一切功德法中

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Lecture 82 · 1 h 56 min

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安住一切功德法中 - 第278集

Focusing on all merits.

『安住一切功德法中』。「一切功德法指佛果之無盡功德。《仁王經疏》云:施物名功,歸己曰德。《淨影疏》曰:功謂功能,諸行皆有利益之功,故名為功。此功是善行家德(指自有之德),故名功德。德體名法」。

It is stated in the sutra, “They focus on all merits.” The annotation states, “All merits (功德 gōng dé) refer to the boundless merits of all buddhas. It is stated in the Commentary of the Sutra for Humane Kings, ‘Giving is called ‘merit (功 gōng)’ while returning to oneself is called ‘virtue (德 dé).’’ It is also stated in the Jingying’s Commentary (on the Awakening of Faith) (by Great Master Hui Yuan of the Sui dynasty), ‘Merit (功 gōng) is defined as function and all beneficial and meritorious deeds. This merit is a wholesome deed and is one’s own virtue, so it is termed ‘merit (功德 gōng dé).’ The substance of virtue (德 dé) is called ‘dharma.’”

我們先看這一段,經文這一句非常重要。「具足無量行願」,前面我們學過,接著是「安住一切功德法中」。安住兩個字重要,心裡面真正有,真正有什麼?有一切功德法,或者說我們要把心安住在一切功德法之中。一切功德法是什麼?如來果地無量功德,是自性本具的。自性就是真心,真心本具無量功德。在這部經,在這個法門,佛果無盡功德就是指這句阿彌陀佛的德號,名號就是佛果無盡功德。

Let’s look at this paragraph first. This phrase is extremely important, “The bodhisattvas are replete with infinite practices and vows.” We have learned this before. The next phrase is “They focus on all merits.” The word ‘focus’ is important. What does their mind really have? Their mind has all merits. In other words, we must let our mind focus on all merits. What are all merits? They are the infinite merits of the Tathagatas and are innate to the true nature. The true nature is the true mind, which is replete with infinite merits. In this sutra and Dharma method, the boundless merits of all buddhas refer to this meritorious Amitabha Buddha’s name and vice versa.

所以念佛的人,有沒有得到佛果無盡功德?未必。那什麼原因?因為我們沒有安住。安住這兩個字是關鍵,我們念佛心裡還有雜念、還有妄想,這個安住就沒有了。怎樣才算安住?放下妄想分別執著,心裡面只有這一句南無阿彌陀佛,這叫安住。阿彌陀佛名號具足無量無邊功德。

Did Pure Land practitioners obtain the boundless merits of all buddhas? Not necessarily. What is the reason? Because we did not focus on all merits; the word ‘focus’ is the key. If we still have distracting and wandering thoughts while chanting Amitabha Buddha’s name, then we are not focusing on chanting. How can we be regarded as focusing? When we have let go of wandering thoughts, discrimination and attachments, and our mind only has this ‘Namo Amituofo’, this is called ‘focusing.’ Amitabha Buddha’s name is replete with infinite and boundless merits.