第26集 — 念佛法門超越時空 超越一切

淨宗成佛是分兩個階段，第一個階段到極樂世界，第二個階段在極樂世界成佛。為什麼？方便、容易，可以保證我們這一生成就。阿彌陀佛四十八願清楚明確的告訴我們，縱然自己造了五逆十惡，只要真正懺悔肯回頭，後不再造，念佛統統都能往生。

In Pure Land Buddhism, attaining Buddhahood is divided into two phases: the first phase is reborning in the Land of Ultimate Bliss, while the second phase is attaining Buddhahood in that Land. Why is that so? Because this method is convenient and easy to practise, and can guarantee us successful attainment of Buddhahood in this life. The Forty-eight Vows of Amitabha Buddha clearly told us that even if we had committed the Five Grave Offences ^[1] and the Ten Evil Acts ^[2], we can all be reborn in the Pure Land by chanting Amitabha Buddha’s name as long as we truly repent and are willing to reform (i.e., not repeating the same mistakes again).

這是八萬四千法門裡頭所沒有的。所以前面給我們說，本經殊勝在契理而又契機，這一段講了契機，機是指一切眾生。這個法門普度一切眾生，一個都不漏，只要你真正相信，真正發願，懺除業障，後不再造，發菩提心，一向專念，你就有分，你就成就了。

None of the 84,000 Dharma methods offers this benefit. As aforementioned, this sutra is special because it corresponds with the truth and is adapted to suit all sentient beings’ capacities. This method universally helps sentient beings attain liberation without leaving anyone out. As long as you truly believe and vow to be reborn in the Pure Land, and eradicate your karmic obstacles, do not repeat the same mistakes again, bring forth the bodhi mind (i.e., bodhi resolve) and single-mindedly concentrate on chanting Amitabha Buddha’s name, you will succeed in your practice.

這裡告訴我們契機，不但它契一切眾生的根機，而且也契合時機。時機是什麼？時節、時代。三千年前的社會這個法門管用，三千年後的今天也管用，三千年以後的時代還是管用，無論在什麼時候，一切時、一切處全都管用，這個是八萬四千法門任何一個法門都做不到的。淨宗念佛往生不退成佛，超越時空，超越一切，沒有障難。

Not only does this method embrace sentient beings of all capacities, but it is also adapted to suit people in all eras to practise. That’s why this method worked in the society three thousand years ago and also works three thousand years later today. It will still work three thousand years later in the future. It works at all times and in all places. None of the 84,000 methods can do that. The Buddha-name chanting method for reborning in the Pure Land and attaining Buddhahood without retrogression transcends time, space and everything without hindrance.

經上說得很清楚，阿彌陀佛無盡的慈悲，感一切諸佛如來今現在說法，沒有不說這部經的，而且諸佛法運終結的時候，一切諸佛都有正法、像法、末法，到法滅的時候，諸經滅盡，最後的一百年《無量壽經》還在，《無量壽經》最後滅。這個就是表法，表這部經能契當前及未來社會，管用。

It is very clearly stated in the sutra that Amitabha Buddha’s unbounded compassion has moved all buddhas who are currently teaching the Dharma, to expound this sutra. Moreover, when all the sutras and treatises have disappeared from the world at the end of the Dharma Ending Age (there are Dharma Perfect Age, Dharma Semblance Age and Dharma Ending Age for the fate of all buddhas’ teachings), this sutra will be the last to extinct as it will remain in this world for a further hundred years. It implies that this sutra is adapted to suit the present and future society.