第2集 — 什麼是彌陀念彌陀

有信、有願就是蕅益大師所說的，往生淨土的條件具足了。大師說，能不能往生完全決定在信願之有無，說得這麼清楚，說得這麼明白；往生的品位，那是念佛功夫的淺深，沒有說是多少。功夫淺深怎麼算？

As Great Master Ou Yi ^[1] said, “Whether or not one will achieve rebirth in the Pure Land depends entirely on the presence or absence of one’s belief and vow.” It is so clearly stated that having belief and vow means the condition for rebirth in the Pure Land is met. “The grade of rebirth depends on one’s effort of practising Buddha Mindfulness.” The number of ‘Amituofo’ recitations was not mentioned. How to determine the depth of your effort of practice?

是你信的成分，你願的成分。徹底相信，沒有絲毫懷疑，這個功夫就深；還有一點懷疑，或者對這個世間還有一點留戀，這個功夫就淺。這個世間徹底放下，一心專念，這個功夫就深。

It is the degree of your belief and vow. If you completely believe without the slightest doubt, then your effort of practice is deep. If you still have a little doubt or psychological attachment to this world, then your effort of practice is shallow. If you have completely let go of this world and single-mindedly concentrate on chanting Amitabha Buddha’s name, then your effort of practice is deep.

我們要求自己的功夫深，要求自己的願心大，這一年當中希望我們心同佛心（跟阿彌陀佛一個心），願同佛願，行同佛行。阿彌陀佛自己是天天念阿彌陀佛，我們念一尊阿彌陀佛，阿彌陀佛念遍法界虛空界一切眾生個個都是阿彌陀佛，這叫「彌陀念彌陀」。這是夏蓮居老居士告訴我們的，在《淨修捷要》裡頭。

If we demand our effort of practice to be deep and our vow to be great, let us aspire to share the same mind, vow and practice as Amitabha Buddha in this one year. Amitabha Buddha himself is mindful of Amitabha Buddha every day. That’s why when we chant Amitabha Buddha’s name, Amitabha Buddha is also mindful of all beings throughout the empty space of the Dharma realms are Amitabha Buddha. This is called “Amitabha Buddha is mindful of Amitabha Buddha.” Upasaka Xia told us this in the Essential Practice of the Pure Land School.