阿弥陀佛鱼的故事
In the Brief records of response on Triple Gems there is a story on Amitabha Fish.
In ancient Sri Lanka, there was an island. The islanders are mostly fishermen. One type of fish can produce the sound ‘Amitabha, Amitabha….’ If the fishermen wanted to catch this type of fish, they must recite ‘Amitabha’, following the sound of the fish’s recitation. The fish would follow the recitation and come. The more you recite ‘Amitabha’, the more fish you will catch. Moreover, they are so tasty. So, from morning till night, they would say ‘Amitabha, Amitabha…’ while they were catching the fish. No one knows what the matter is as it is a lone island. No one goes there to teach the Buddha Dharma.
《三寶感應要略錄》中記載了一則「阿彌陀魚」的故事。
古代斯里蘭卡有一座島，島上居民都以捕魚為生。有一種魚會發出「阿彌陀佛，阿彌陀佛」的聲音。
漁民要捕這種魚，只要隨著牠們的聲音念「阿彌陀佛」，牠們就過來了。
念的「阿彌陀佛」越多，捕的魚就越多，而且味道特別好。
於是，他們就一天到晚「阿彌陀佛，阿彌陀佛……」邊念佛邊捕魚，誰也不知道是怎麼回事，因為那是座孤島，沒有人去講解佛法。
After some time, an elderly fisherman passed away.
He managed to attain a rebirth in the Pure Land of Amitabha Buddha.
After arriving at the Pure Land, he returned and said the islanders,
‘Please do not commit the karma of killing anymore. These fish are the transformation bodies of Amitabha Buddha.
He reveals himself as the fish for the sake of saving us, the people who are born at the border, who do not have a chance to listen to the Buddha Dharma.
I have already attained a rebirth in the Pure Land. I travel back here on my lotus.’
The people did not believe in him. He said, ‘If you do not believe, go and take a look at the fish bones which are covered with the designs of lotuses.’
From then onwards, the islanders stop committing evils and practise good deeds. They recite Amitabha to attain a rebirth.
這樣過了一段時間，漁民中年紀比較大的一位去世了，結果他就往生到阿彌陀佛的淨土去了。他到淨土之後回來示現說：
「你們再也不要作殺業了，這些魚都是阿彌陀佛化現的，為了救度我們這些不聞佛法的邊地眾生。我已往生淨土，坐著蓮花回來。」人們還是不相信。他說：「不相信你們就去看，魚的骨頭上都有蓮花紋樣。」
人們一看，果然，魚的骨頭上都有蓮花紋樣。從此這座島上的居民就斷惡行善，念佛往生。
For the sake of catching the fish, they often recite Amitabha.
This has already become a habit. ‘Amitabha, Amitabha, Amitabha…’
Anyway, they do not know what an attainment of rebirth is.
They do not have the concepts of causes and effects, rewards and retributions.
Neither do they know about births and deaths. They lead a life of confusion.
But as they have recited Amitabha and it becomes a habit.
They are rescued by Amitabha Buddha. By reciting this Buddha’s Name, the function of the Name will naturally bring them to be born in the World of Ultimate Bliss. See, is not this supremely wonderful?
他們為了捕魚，時常念佛，形成習慣，「阿彌陀佛，阿彌陀佛，阿彌陀佛……」他們甚至還不知道什麼叫往生，也沒有因果報應的觀念，也不知道生前死後，都是糊里糊塗過日子。但是，念佛形成了習慣，有阿彌陀佛的救度，隨順這句名號的功能，自然往生西方極樂世界。你看，殊勝不殊勝？
The attainment of a rebirth is very simple! Do not worry and say, ‘I recite Namo Amitabha Buddha but my mind is impure. I have not put in much effort…’As long as you recite with your mouth, as long as you desire to be born in the Pure Land, everyone can attain a rebirth. Do not doubt this. We believe that Amitabha Buddha’s Vows are not fake. As long as we recite His Name, we will surely attain a rebirth. By doing so, the immeasurable lights of Amitabha Buddha will shine into our mind. We will be so happy, like a blooming flower. This is the meaning of ‘Sincerely and joyfully, we have faith in the Buddha.’ When there is faith, there is the bliss. Without faith, there is no bliss. We become afflicted.
往生很簡單！我們不必擔心「我念佛，心不夠清淨，功夫不夠深……」
只要口稱名號，只要願生淨土，通通可以往生，不必懷疑。
我們相信阿彌陀佛的誓願不虛假，稱念名號必然往生，
這樣，阿彌陀佛的無量光就照到我們心裡來了，
心裡就樂開了花：這叫「至心信樂」。
有信，就有樂；沒有信，就沒有樂，就苦惱。
What is the fundamental principle for the certainty to attain a rebirth? Great Master Shandao told us, ‘We should know his Original Vows are not fake as he has already realized them.’ This is because Amitabha Buddha does not cheat on us. He will not bring forth fake vows, he will not speak falsely. So, by reciting His Name, will surely attain a rebirth.
必得往生的根本原理在哪裡？善導大師告訴我們「當知本誓，重願不虛」，因為阿彌陀佛不欺騙我們，不會發虛願，不會說話不算數，所以我們稱念必得往生。
Great Master Shandao ‘s Pure Land Ideology –
By Dharma Master Shi Jing Zong at Wu Zhen Monastery at Zhong Nan Shan
善導大師的淨土思想–釋淨宗 – 於終南山悟真寺
A comment by oridharma: For the sake of rescuing us, Amitabha Buddha has sacrificed his precious life innumerable times life after life to benefit us. Most grateful to Namo Amitabha Buddha
为了救度我们，阿弥陀佛生生世世，以他宝贵的生命来利益我们。感恩南无阿弥陀佛
I'm ORI the Light 