第7集 — 如何證明西方極樂世界真有

《無量壽經》已經有了善本，這部經是一乘了義，萬善同歸，三根普被，凡聖齊收，是淨土群經的首要。

There is already a comprehensive and concise version for the Infinite Life Sutra. “This sutra is a Single-vehicle explicit teaching which leads all beings to the Land of Ultimate Bliss to attain Buddhahood. It embraces practitioners of superior, modest and inferior capacities, including ordinary beings and saints.” It is the foremost sutra of the Pure Land canonical scriptures.

非常難得南陽來佛寺賢老和尚為我們作證，為我們表法，為我們作證。他二十歲出家，出生在一九００年，住世一百一十二年，用九十二年的時間為我們表法，他就是一句佛號。一生，他不認識字，沒有念過經，也沒有聽人講過經，一句佛號念了九十二年。

It is very rare to have Great Master Hai Xian from the small temple of Nanyang Lai Fo Si to testify this for us by setting an example for everyone. He was ordained as a monk at the age of twenty. He was born in 1900 and lived to a ripe old age of 112. He spent 92 years to lead us by example by chanting Amitabha Buddha’s name single-mindedly. As he was illiterate, he never read any sutras in his life. He also never listened to anyone’s Dharma lectures. He only chanted one single phrase of Amitabha Buddha’s name for 92 years.

他念佛幾乎沒有休息，除了睡覺睡著了，醒過來時他就念佛。他念佛默念，心中佛號不斷，身體勞動不斷。他每天工作是種田，開荒，山野裡面的荒地他把它開出來變作良田，種糧食、種蔬菜、種水果。除了自己吃的之外，多餘的供養大眾，也惠及當地的群眾，是淨宗學人求生淨土的最好榜樣。

He chanted Amitabha Buddha’s name almost without taking a rest because he would continue chanting as soon as he woke up. He chanted Amitabha Buddha’s name silently in his heart without interruption, yet he never stopped labouring. His daily works included farming and reclaiming wastelands. He turned the wastelands in the mountains into fertile lands to grow food crops, vegetables and fruit trees. Other than for his own consumption, he offered the surplus of his farm produce to the public and local folks, free of charge. He was the best role model for Pure Land practitioners who are seeking rebirth in the Pure Land.

他每天種田，心裡佛號不中斷，念佛不妨礙工作，工作不妨礙念佛，做出最好的榜樣給我們看。告訴我們一個事實，西方極樂世界真有。他見過阿彌陀佛，要求佛帶他到極樂世界，佛不帶他去，告訴他，他應該在這個世間表法。表法就是做出最好的榜樣給大家看，讓大家看到這個樣子生起信心，發願求生，這就是他普度眾生。

He never stopped chanting Amitabha Buddha’s name in his mind when he farmed every day. He demonstrated the best example for us to see as Amitabha recitation did not hamper his work, and labour did not stop him from chanting. He told us one important fact, i.e., the Land of Ultimate Bliss truly exists. He had seen Amitabha Buddha and requested Amitabha Buddha to take him to the Pure Land. Amitabha Buddha refused and told him that he should stay in this world to set the best example for everyone to see, so that they will grow in confidence and would vow to be reborn in the Pure Land. This was how he helped sentient beings universally.