文档介绍：佛说阿弥陀经要解
Commentary on the Amitabha Sutra
 
姚秦三藏法师鸠摩罗什译
清西有沙门蕅益智旭解
 
Originally Translated by Dr. J. C. Cleary ---- Mind-Seal of Buddhas
Humbly Revised by Dr. Hsingmean (Edwin) Sha 沙行勉 based on my understanding of the scriptures.
Version: 2007-1-10. This file has the first section of Main part. The Essence and Introduction are in another file.
[Main portion ONE of AMITABHA sutra]
 
(甲)二正宗分三:初广陈彼土依正妙果以启信、二特劝众生应求往生以发愿、三正示行者执持名号以立行。
The main body of the sutra is divided into three parts. The first part presents a full-scale description of the wonders of the Pure Land and of Amitabha in order to arouse our faith. The second part makes a special point of urging sentient beings to seek rebirth in the Pure Land, in order to get them to vow to do so. The third part teaches Pure Land practitioners to recite the Buddha-name in order to establish their practice.
 
信愿持名,一经要旨。信愿为慧行,持名为行行。得生与否,全由信愿之有无。品位高下,全由持名之深浅。故慧行为前导,行行为正修,如目足并运也。
 
The essential message of the sutra as a whole is to develop faith and vows and recite the Buddha-name. Vows and faith are acts of wisdom, and reciting the Buddha-name is an act of practice. Whether we achieve rebirth in the Pure Land depends entirely on whether or not we have faith and vows. How high we rank in the Pure Land depends entirely on how deeply we recite the Buddha-name. Thus, the act of wisdom is the guide, and the act of practice is true cultivation: they go together like eyes and feet.
 
[Description of the Pure Land]
(乙)初文为二:初依报妙、二正报妙。(丙)初又二:初征释、二广释。(丁)初又二:初征、二释。(戊)今初。
 
The first part of the main body of the sutra has two sections: the first describes the wonders of the Pure Land, and the second describes the wonders of Amitabha.
Now let us look at the first part.  [Buddha says to Sariputra:]
舍利弗,彼土何故名为极乐?
 
Buddha says to Sariputra: "Why is this land called Ultimate Bliss"?
(戊)二释又二:初约能受用释、二约所受用释。(己)今初。
es the explanation, in two parts: an explanation of the beneficiaries of the Pure Land, and an e