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極樂世界跟我們關係密切 - 第222集
The Land of Ultimate Bliss is closely related to us.
《觀無量壽佛經》緣起也很殊勝，韋提希夫人是這部經的當機者，她遇到她家庭政變，兒子聽了提婆達多的話，奪取王位，把他的父親殺了，母親囚禁。夫人遇到這樁事情，求釋迦牟尼佛，佛就現前安慰她，給她說法。她說這個世界不好，有沒有更好的世界讓我去往生，不願意再住在這個世界上。佛就為她展現一切諸佛剎土，像現在看電視一樣，讓她統統看到，給她自由選擇。
The causal condition for the arising of the Contemplation Sutra is also very exceptional. Queen Vaidehi, who was the main recipient of this sutra, faced a coup in her family when her son (Ajatasattu) killed his father and imprisoned her to seize the throne after listening to Devadatta’s instigation. The Queen sought Sakyamuni Buddha’s help, and the Buddha appeared to console her and preach the Dharma to her. She told the Buddha that this world is not a pleasant place to live and asked if there is a better world for her to be reborn into as she did not want to live in this world anymore. Just like watching television now, the Buddha showed her all the Buddha Lands for her to freely choose from.
她看了之後選中極樂世界，這個世界好，這個世界沒有看到有不善的人、有不善的事，這世界沒有，看到的是純善純淨。向世尊請教怎樣能往生，佛就教給她十六種觀法，這十六種方法，無論用哪一種都能往生極樂世界。所以這部經裡頭佛說兩樁事情，第一樁，往生的方法十六種；第二樁，淨土所依憑的理論依據。淨土的原理，淨土的方法，在這部經裡頭。
After seeing all the Buddha Lands, she chose the Land of Ultimate Bliss because she did not see any evil person or unwholesome thing in that Land. Everything that she saw was purely wholesome. She then asked the Buddha how she could be reborn in that Land. The Buddha taught her the sixteen methods of contemplation and whichever method used can enable her to be reborn in that Land. That’s why the Buddha mentioned two things in this sutra: first is the sixteen methods for rebirth in the Pure Land, and the second thing is the theoretical basis which Pure Land Buddhism relies on. The principles and methods of Pure Land Buddhism are taught in this sutra.
持名念佛是第十六觀，最後的一觀。淨宗的理論是「是心是佛，是心作佛」，告訴我們，極樂世界跟我們關係密切，不是不相關，是我們自性變現出來的。自性變現出來的境界，哪有不能往生的道理？決定可以往生！所以祖師大德告訴我們，「唯心淨土，自性彌陀」，極樂世界是心現的，阿彌陀佛也是自性變現的。
Oral and mental recitation of Amitabha Buddha’s name is the sixteenth and last method of contemplation. The theory of Pure Land Buddhism is: this mind is a buddha’s mind; this mind thus becomes a buddha. It tells us that the Land of Ultimate Bliss is closely related to us because it is manifested by our own true nature. Since it is a realm manifested by our true nature, there is no reason we cannot be reborn in that Land. We can certainly be reborn there! That’s why the patriarchs and great masters told us, “The Pure Land is the true mind; Amitabha Buddha is the true nature” --- the Land of Ultimate Bliss is manifested by the true nature (i.e., the true mind), so is Amitabha Buddha.