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什麼叫無量 - 第260集
What is called ‘infinite’?
功德的根是自性本具的，但是要加上修德，如果我們不修，性德不能夠現前。念佛是修功德第一法門。真的，《華嚴經》上講的，「一即一切，一切即一」，一就是一句名號，具足一切功德、性德，也具足一切修德。
The root of merits is innate to the true nature, but we must cultivate merits too. If we do not cultivate, the innate merits cannot appear. Chanting Amitabha Buddha’s name is the foremost method for cultivating merits. As the Avatamsaka Sutra states, “One is all; all is one” --- ‘one’ is this single phrase of Amitabha Buddha’s name, which is replete with all merits (i.e., innate merits and acquired merits).
海賢給我們表這個法，我們要會看、要會聽，牢牢的抓住。世出世間所有的現象，全是一場空，人家要的給他，歡歡喜喜，我們不要這些東西。什麼都是緣分，一切是因緣所生法，沒有一樣是真的，所以要能放下，要歡喜放下。經上講無量，「無量者，其多其大無法稱量」，稱是說，說不出來，量是衡量，它沒有邊際，它沒有數量，所以叫無量。具足無量行願。
Great Master Hai Xian had set the example of cultivating merits for us, so we must know how to see and listen to his demonstration and grasp it firmly. All phenomena in the world and beyond are mere emptiness. We do not want these things and are happy to give to those who want them. Everything arises from causes and conditions, so nothing is real. That’s why we must be able to let go happily. The word ‘infinite’ mentioned in the sutra is defined as ‘beyond verbal description and measurement in terms of number and size.’ It neither has boundary nor quantity, so it is termed ‘infinite.’ Bodhisattvas are replete with infinite practices and vows.
《攝大乘論釋》裡頭解釋說，「不可以譬類得知」，譬是譬喻，沒有方法能比喻，比喻達不到，無法能夠完全明瞭，這叫無量。什麼時候能知道？明心見性就知道了。沒有明心見性，佛來給我們講，菩薩來給我們講，我們都很難有一個概念。這叫無量。
The Commentary on the Compendium of the Great Vehicle defines ‘infinite’ as cannot be known by analogy. That’s why ‘cannot be fully understood’ is called ‘infinite.’ When can we know it? We will know it once we have seen into our mind and true nature (i.e., having attained Supreme Enlightenment). Prior to this achievement, it is very hard to have an idea what ‘infinite’ means even if buddhas and bodhisattvas were to come and explain it to us. This is called ‘infinite.’