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我們對佛誠信，佛對我們也誠信 - 第263集
If we are honest with Amitabha Buddha, Amitabha Buddha is also honest with us.
凡夫跟佛沒有差別，只有覺、迷不一樣，迷了叫凡夫，覺悟了叫佛菩薩。持名就是始覺合本，如果你要知道這個事實真相，我們相信你這句佛號一分一秒都不會讓它空過。為什麼？始覺合本是什麼意思？始覺合本是大徹大悟、明心見性。
Ordinary beings are no different from buddhas. They only differ in terms of enlightenment and delusion. Being deluded is called ‘ordinary beings’ while being enlightened is called ‘buddhas and bodhisattvas.’ Being mindful of Amitabha Buddha’s name is a combination of initial enlightenment and intrinsic enlightenment. If you know this truth, I believe you will not let every minute and every second slip by without reciting Amitabha Buddha’s name. What is the reason? What does ‘combination of initial enlightenment and intrinsic enlightenment’ mean? It is Supreme Enlightenment (i.e., seeing into the mind and true nature).
我們想不想？想。怎麼樣才能夠始本合一？念念不間斷，念久了，不知不覺它就相應了。久就有功，叫功夫，斷斷續續的沒有功夫，你感覺不到。如果念念不住，就是不停止，一個念頭接著一個念頭，功夫就成就了。要往生西方極樂世界，需要多長時間？
Do we wish to have such an achievement? Yes, we do. How can initial enlightenment and intrinsic enlightenment be combined as one? By reciting Amitabha Buddha’s name unceasingly for a long time, our recitation will unconsciously correspond with this combination of enlightenment. Reciting Amitabha Buddha’s name for a long time is called ‘effort of practice.’ If you only recite Amitabha Buddha’s name occasionally (i.e., with interruptions), then your effort has no result. If you recite Amitabha Buddha’s name incessantly without interruptions, then your effort of practice will be accomplished. How long do you need to cultivate if you wish to be reborn in the Land of Ultimate Bliss?
我們在《往生傳》、在《淨土聖賢錄》裡頭得到一個結論，大概是三年，有人三年不到，有人三年多一點，他預知時至往生了。怎麼會預知時至的？他見到佛了，佛告訴他的，所以他曉得哪天走，哪一天佛來接引他。
From the Biographical Accounts of Rebirth in the Pure Land and Records of the Pure Land Saints and Sages, we came to the conclusion that about three years is enough. Some people were reborn in the Pure Land after practising Buddha Mindfulness for less than three years, while some people took a little over three years to succeed. All of them foreknew the day of their rebirth in the Pure Land. How could they foreknow the day of their rebirth? Because Amitabha Buddha told them when they saw Amitabha Buddha. That’s why they knew which day Amitabha Buddha would come to receive them to the Pure Land.
是佛的恩德，佛給我們開這個法門，每個念佛的人往生，阿彌陀佛一定來迎接他。如果佛不來，你不知道極樂世界在哪裡，你找不到。所以佛一定來接引，這是他的本願，他絕對不會食言。我們對佛誠信，佛對我們也誠信。
This is the kindness of Amitabha Buddha who had opened this Dharma method for us. Amitabha Buddha will surely come to receive every Pure Land practitioner who is bound for the Land of Ultimate Bliss. If Amitabha Buddha does not come, you will not be able to find the Land of Ultimate Bliss. That’s why Amitabha Buddha will definitely come to receive us. This is Amitabha Buddha’s original vow and he will never break his promise. If we are honest with Amitabha Buddha, Amitabha Buddha is also honest with us.