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二、修行要點
持名念佛，以信願行三法為宗，亦
為必須具足之三資糧。
（一）信要真信
（1）真信佛說，西方有極樂世界，
其土有阿彌陀佛，今現在說法，其國
眾生，無有眾苦，但受諸樂。阿彌陀
佛及其人民，壽光無量，功德無邊。
國土黃金為地，行樹池樓，七寶嚴飾
。正依二報，清淨莊嚴等，俱是實相
，絕無誑言。
（2）深信阿彌陀佛四十八大願都
已實現，絕無虛願。
（3）堅信十方諳佛出廣長舌，稱
讚保證，絕無二言。
（二）願要切實
（1）切願由真信所啟，切願厭離
娑婆穢土，欣慕往生西方淨土。
（2）了知娑婆世界，苦、空、無
常、無我之穢，必須捨離；羨喜西方
淨土，常樂真實，永恆不壞之淨，決
心求取。
（3）蕅益大師云：「厭穢須捨至
究竟，方無可捨；欣淨須取至究竟，
方無可取。」即是放下萬緣，切願求
生也。
（三）行貴淨念
（1）有信願，必能提起持名妙行。
（2）具足真信切願，憶佛念佛，都
攝六根，淨念相續，持念阿彌陀佛萬德
洪名。以名召德，罄無不盡，故持名妙
行，久之自得心開清淨。所謂「以果地
覺，為因地心」；故得因該果海，果澈
因源也。末法凡夫應該遵循。
（3）經云：發菩提心，一向專念。
又云：善男善女，執持名號，一心不亂
，一至七日，甚至臨終十念一念，即得
往生。此明示：已發願求生淨土，而見
彌陀者，淨心念佛，必速成就也。
（4）淨宗祖師又云：「得生與否，
全由信願之有無；品位高低，則在念佛
工夫之深淺。」此點非常重要，不可忽
略也。
（5）行者若能依以上所述，由是而
行，再能以「四大宏願」，常不離心，
則心與佛合，心與道合，現生即入聖流
，臨終直登上品。
（6）世尊讚歎阿彌陀佛是佛中之王
、光中至尊。其萬德洪名，包括三藏十
二部、禪教律密各宗，一切事理功德，
均在其中。
→待續
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Reminder from last issue:
The Pure Land Buddha-recitation Dharma-door: Its Supreme Features.
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II. Important Points of Cultivation
The Buddha-recitation method of "Holding the Name" has the three dharmas of faith, vows, and practice as its principle; these are also the three required provisions in this Dharma-door.
A. Faith Must Be True
1.Truly believe in the Buddha's words, that there is a Land of Ultimate Bliss in the West. Amitabha Buddha is now speaking the Dharma in that land. People of that land do not have any suffering but enjoy all kinds of pleasure. The life spans of Amitabha Buddha and his people, and the light emitted by them, are immeasurable; their merit and virtue are boundless; the ground in that land is paved with gold; the rows of trees, pools, and pavilions are all adorned with the seven precious things; the proper and dependent retributions are pure, clean, splendidly adorned, and so on. These are all true facts and are definitely not lies.
2.Deeply believe that the forty-eight great vows of Amitabha Buddha have all been realized, and they are definitely not empty vows.
3.Firmly believe that all Buddhas of the ten directions bring forth the appearance of a vast and long tongue to praise and guarantee the Pure Land Dharma-door, and that their words are definitely not false.
B. Vows Must Be Sincere and Genuine
1.A sincere vow is inspired by true faith. A sincere vow is one of detesting this filthy Saha world and wanting to leave it, while yearning to be reborn in the western Pure Land.
2.Thoroughly understand the filth of suffering, emptiness, impermanence, and egolessness of the Saha world, which must be renounced and left behind. Meanwhile, admire and long for the constantly blissful, true, permanent, and indestructible purity of the western Pure Land and resolve to attain rebirth there.
3.Great Master Ou Yi said, "When one loathes and wants to renounce the filth, he must do so thoroughly until there is nothing left to be renounced. When one admires purity and wants to attain it, then he must do so thoroughly until there is nothing more to be attained." That means putting down all affinities and seeking rebirth with a sincere vow.
C. In Practice, Pure Mindfulness Is Valued
1.With faith and vows, the wonderful practice of Holding the Name Buddha-recitation can be performed.
2.Replete with true faith and sincere vows, be mindful of the Buddha; with the six sense organs gathered in and pure mindfulness continuing, constantly recite the vast and virtuous name of Amitabha Buddha. Using the name to summon virtue is extremely effective. Thus, it is called the wonderful method of Buddha-recitation by "Holding the Name." Eventually, one's mind will become open, pure and clean. It is said, "The enlightenment at the stage of fruition is the result of the resolve made in the causal stage." Causes include the sea of results, and results penetrate through to the causal source. The ordinary people of the Dharma-ending Age should follow this Dharma door. .
3.The Sutra says, "Bring forth the Bodhi mind and always be mindful." It also says, "Good men and good women who hold the name with one mind unconfused for one day, up to seven days or even ten, or one thought before death, will obtain rebirth in the Pure Land." This indicates very clearly that people who have made the vow to be reborn in the Pure Land and to see Amitabha Buddha will quickly accomplish their vow if they can be mindful of the Buddha with a pure mind. .
4.A patriarch of the Pure Land School also said, "Whether or not one obtains rebirth all depends on whether one has faith and vows; whether the grade of rebirth is high or low depends on the depth of one's skill in recitation." This point is very important. We should not neglect it. .
5.If cultivators can practice according to the above and always be mindful of the Four Great Vows, then their minds will tally with the Buddha's. When the mind tallies with the Way, one will be able to enter the flow of sagehood in this very life and ascend straight to the highest grade of lotus at death. .
6.Shakyamuni Buddha praised Amitabha Buddha as the king of Buddhas, the most revered among all brightness. His vast and virtuous name contains the Three Treasuries and Twelve Divisions of the Canon; 'the Chan, Doctrinal, Vinaya, and Esoteric Schools; and the merit and virtue of all noumena and phenomena.
→To be continued
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