Hotspot

Can we attain a rebirth by transferring the merits of our various cultivations? After listening to this modern analogy, you will surely understand. By Dharma Master Shi Jing Zong

諸行迴向到底能否往生 聽完這個時髦的比喻你就明白了

淨宗法師

Many people are still unclear about the relations of Samadhi and mixed practices in Amitabha recitation even though I have talked about it many times. But many are still unclear about this. Doubtfully, they ask, ‘Can we attain a rebirth by transferring the merits of various cultivation of Samadhi and mixed practices to seek a rebirth? If we can attain a rebirth, why should we recite Namo Amitabha Buddha exclusively? If we cannot attain a rebirth, why in the Contemplation Sutra we are told we can attain a rebirth?

I suddenly remember a common practice in our daily life. It can explain the relation between Amitabha recitation and the various cultivations of Samadhi and mixed practices. For instance, when we are using the handphone, one of the handphone can use the internet with clear signals while another handphone cannot go up the internet.

The handphone which can use the internet said, ‘I will open the hotspot for you. You use my hotspot and you can also use the internet.’

The handphone which can roam the internet is the Name of Amitabha Buddha. By using the six syllables Name the handphone is connected to Amitabha Buddha in the World of Ultimate Bliss.

The handphone which needs to use the hotspot to go up the internet is the handphone of various cultivation of Samadhi and mixed practices. They cultivate the Samadhi wholesomeness, the mixed wholesomeness. But if they are not connected to the internet of Amitabha recitation, how to roam in the internet?

So, the various cultivations of Samadhi and mixed practices have to be connected to the hotspot of the handphone of Amitabha recitation before it can roam the internet. Why does not it use this handphone to go up the internet directly? Isn’t it more stable? So, it is very clear now.

‘Even though the benefits of the two Doors of Samadhi and Mixed Practices are mentioned’, we can reap the benefits of attaining a rebirth with the transference of the two wholesomeness of Samadhi and mixed practices.

The transference of merits means to be connected to the hotspot of the six syllables Buddha’s Name. The two wholesomeness of Samadhi and mixed practices should be connected to six syllables Name. It is like our handphone which is connected to the hotspot on another handphone to go up the internet.

After they are connected, the transference of merits will be relying on the power of Amitabha Buddha’s Vows, connecting to the Buddha’s Vows ‘with the three minds.’

The ‘three minds’ means the steps to connect to the hotspot. ‘1. The sincere mind 2. The profound mind 3. The mind of transference of merits and the bringing forth of Vows.’

By doing so, the line is connected. Though the line is connected, it is still better to recite Namo Amitabha Buddha directly.

This is a very good example to see the functions of Amitabha recitation. Let us recite Namo Amitabha Buddha!

諸行迴向到底能否往生 聽完這個時髦的比喻你就明白了

淨宗法師

關於定散和念佛的關係，雖然我們講過無數次，但很多人還是不太明白，總有疑問，「定散諸行迴向能不能往生呢？如果能往生，我何必還專修念佛呢？如果不能往生，但《觀經》不是說能往生嗎？」

我突然想起現在日常生活中的一個常識，可以說明念佛跟定散諸行的關係。就像我們用手機，有一部手機能上網，訊號很清晰，另一部手機不能上網，

能上網的手機就說「我開熱點給你，你用我的熱點，你也可以上網」。

直接上網的手機就是彌陀名號，

用六字名號的手機就能直接跟極樂世界阿彌陀佛溝通。

需要連線熱點才可以上網的，就是定散諸行的手機。

修行定善、散善，如果不連線念佛的網路，怎麼能上網呢？

所以，定散諸行是連線了念佛手機的熱點才能上網的，那還不如直接拿這個手機上網，不是更穩當嗎？所以，這樣就很清楚。

「雖說定散兩門之益」，通過定散二善迴向，可以得到往生的利益。

迴向就是連線六字名號的熱點，定散二善必須跟六字名號連線上。就像我們的手機，連線了另一部手機的熱點，才可以上網。

連線之後，迴向乘上阿彌陀佛的願力，以「三心」來連線，

「三心」就是告訴我們連線熱點的步驟，「一者至誠心，二者深心，三者回向發願心」，

這樣就連線上了。雖然連線上了，但是總不如直接念南無阿彌陀佛好。這樣一聽就明白了。

但念南無阿彌陀佛！

A comment by oridharma:

With a mind of Great Compassion, Amitabha Buddha desires to rescue all living beings to his Pure Land to attain Buddha. That is why his Vows can accommodate living beings of all potentials, all practices. Finally, they are guided to recite his Name exclusively whereby a rebirth in guaranteed. Most grateful to Namo Amitabha Buddha

阿弥陀佛以大悲心欲救度一切众生往生他的净土去成佛。所以他的大愿包含了所有众生，种种根基，种种修持。最后，他们都会专念南无阿弥陀佛，成就往生。感恩南无阿弥陀佛