第172集 — 無量壽經最重要的意思是什麼

「曇鸞師云：以佛名號為經體」。他說得太好了！淨宗之妙就妙在這一句阿彌陀佛，真信、真願沒有一個不往生。這一句名號能消罪業，能化解災難，能幫助你平平穩穩的往生極樂世界。法門簡單、重要，但是很難相信，我也是學了六十多年才相信。

“Great Master Tan Luan said, ‘Amitabha Buddha’s name is the essence of this sutra’” -- the Great Master put it so aptly! The marvellousness of Pure Land Buddhism lies in this Amitabha Buddha’s name because by chanting Amitabha Buddha’s name with true belief and true vow, no one would fail to be reborn in the Pure Land. This Amitabha Buddha’s name can eliminate your karmic misdeeds and resolve disasters. It can also help you attain rebirth in the Pure Land smoothly and steadily. This method is easy and important, but it is very difficult for one to believe in it. I had also learned this method for over sixty years before I believed in it.

死心塌地念這一句佛號，一天到晚不要間斷，口裡不念，心裡頭要念。不礙工作，無論幹什麼事情，心裡有這一句名號。要用思考，就得要放下名號，工作做完了，佛號就提起來。念純熟之後，睡覺作夢都是念佛。

You must chant this Amitabha Buddha’s name unceasingly all day long. Even if you do not recite it orally, you must also recite it mentally. Chanting Amitabha Buddha’s name does not hinder your work because you can be mindful of this name no matter what you are doing. If your work requires thinking, you must temporarily let go of Amitabha Buddha’s name, but once your work is done, you should resume your chanting. After your recitation is well-accomplished, you would find yourself chanting Amitabha Buddha’s name in your sleep and dreams.

到這個境界的時候你就有把握往生，功夫純熟了，睡眠時候也不會忘記。下面善導大師說，「念佛三昧為宗，一心回願往生淨土為體」，體就是宗趣的趣。日本觀徹法師的《合贊》，這裡頭說，「此經念佛為宗，往生為體」，體就是趣。

When you have reached this state, you will have confidence in attaining rebirth in the Pure Land. In the following phrase, Great Master Shan Dao said, “The principle of this sutra is Buddha Mindfulness Samadhi, while its direction is single-mindedly vowing to be reborn in the Pure Land.” It is stated in the Combined Praises of the Infinite Life Sutra by the Japanese Great Master Guan Ce, “Chanting Amitabha Buddha’s name is the principle of this sutra, while rebirth in the Pure Land is its direction.”

下面是黃念老給我們做的總結，這部經之所尊「專在念佛」，全經最重要的意思，勸我們念佛求生極樂世界，「故以念佛為之宗」，念佛是這個法門裡頭最主要的、最重要的、最尊崇的修行方法。「宗之所趣唯在往生」，沒有別的，就是求生極樂世界，「故以往生為經體」，這個體是趣，就是歸趣，最後我們歸趣是西方極樂世界。

The following phrase is the conclusion made by Upasaka Huang for us, “This sutra is respected because of its specialization in Buddha-name chanting.” The most important meaning of the entire sutra is urging us to chant Amitabha Buddha’s name and seek rebirth in the Land of Ultimate Bliss. “Hence, chanting Amitabha Buddha’s name is the principle of this sutra” -- Buddha-name chanting is the main, most important and most respected cultivation method in Pure Land Buddhism. “Rebirth in the Pure Land is the only goal and direction of this sutra.” Our ultimate destination is none other than the Land of Ultimate Bliss.