“The Buddha Speaks of Amitabha Sutra” is Shakyamuni Buddha explaining the “Amitabha Sutra“. It is not Amitabha Buddha speaking about Shakyamuni Buddha. It is Amitabha Buddha no matter how much we talk about it, it is still Amitabha Buddha if we don’t talk about it, it is still Amitabha Buddha when we talk about it now, and it will still be Amitabha Buddha when we finish talking about it later.
Why talk about Amitabha?
Because as long as you uphold Amitabha’s name, you will have merit and benefit. Masters often recite “Amitabha Buddha” [or in Chinese, “Amitofo”]. As soon as you bow to the master, the master will recite “Namo Amitabha” [Chinese: “Namo Amitofo”]. This is recited for you to hear so that you can imprint it in your heart and have the seeds of Buddha in your heart, which will sprout and grow in the future.
We often recite Amitabha for others. This is “Buddha’s cause” and “Buddha’s fruit”.
Actually in this world, before Shakyamuni Buddha spoke about Amitabha Buddha, there was already Amitabha Buddha. Amitabha Buddha is a Buddha that always exists.
Today, you all may not know whether Amitabha Buddha arrives tonight? Actually he didn’t arrive, but he also did arrive. It is because he neither comes nor goes, he is not here and is also here, that is why he is called “Tathagata”.
Why can you become a Buddha just by reciting the name of the Buddha?
It is because you yourself are a Buddha, and when you recite the Buddha’s name your mouth becomes pure; when your ear hears the Buddha’s name your ears becomes pure; when your ears hear the Buddha’s name the Buddha is imprinted in your heart, your heart becomes pure. Due to these factors, one will evolve into the form of Buddha.
The Pure Land School’s reciting the name of the Buddha actually has the same principle as Tantric Buddhism’s cultivation. Someone also asked me today:
“You practice Tantric Buddhism, why are you teaching the Amitabha Sutra?”
Actually Pure Land School’s “Ambitabha Sutra” is Tantric Buddhism’s expedient method. When we recite the Buddha’s name, our mouths will not scold others senselessly; when we recite “Amitabha Buddha”, our ears only hear “Amitabha Buddha”; we think of the solemnity of the Buddha deep into our minds, this is Tantric Buddhism’s visualization. Isn’t this the accomplishment of the three mysteries?
Today, in Taiwan there are many many schools/ sects, and many of their worship rituals and cultivation methods are using thoughts.
Even though we ourselves practice Tantric Buddhism, we also teach everyone to recite the Buddha’s name, so we want to teach this “Amitabha Sutra”.
The following sentences [in Reverend Leguo’s commentary] are:
“Today to explain this sutra, solemnly examining using Tai school, five profound meanings are explained.”
This means that if we want to explain the “Amitabha Sutra” today, we still need to interpret this classic scripture according to the Tiantai School’s method.
When the Tiantai Sect explains and translates all classics, it must talk about the “Five Layers of Profound Meaning.”
“Five layers” means one, two, three, four, five sections and five sequences.
What does “Xuanyi” mean?
It means to explain the meaning of the sutra in a very profound way.
The “Five layers“:
First, “Explaining the name” is to explain the name of the sutra.
Second, “Distinguishing the substance” is to explain the body of the sutra itself.
The third is “Understanding the purpose“, understanding the cardinal meaning of this sutra. What was the aim of the Buddha when he first taught this sutra?
The fourth is “Discussing the function“, that is, discussing how this sutra is? Is there any dharma method that can be used?
The fifth is “Classification of teachings“. This so-called “classification of teachings” is to use the Buddha’s words as teachings to deliver sentient beings, but his teachings have their depth and shallowness, which means to classify the level.
Therefore, interpreting this sutra will use these five methods. Questions and answers will be used to explain this sutra.
That’s it for today’s explanation of “The Buddha Speaks of Amitabha Sutra”.
Om mani bei mi hum.