总解
General Explanation
问：在《佛说阿弥陀经》中，释迦牟尼佛说，‘不可以少善根福德因缘得生彼国。’ [即是阿弥陀佛的极乐净土] 如何才能有足够的善根福德？
Question: In ‘[The] Sūtra [In Which The] Buddha Speaks [Of] Amitā[bha Buddha]’《佛说阿弥陀经》, Śākyamuni Buddha (释迦牟尼佛) taught that ‘[One] cannot [with] few good roots [and] blessed virtues [as] causes [and] conditions, attain birth [in] that [Pure] Land [of Āmítuófó]. (不可以少善根福德因缘，得生彼国。) How can these good roots and blessed virtues be adequate?
答： 在《佛说阿弥陀经疏钞》中，净土宗八祖莲池大师解释，‘今[以至心信愿]持名，乃善中之善，福中之福。’ 以下是疏钞中的详细解释。
Answer: In ‘Collected Writings [On] Commentary [On The] Sūtra [In Which The] Buddha Speaks [Of] Amitā[bha Buddha]’《佛说阿弥陀经疏钞》, the Pure Land Tradition’s 8th Patriarch Great Master Liánchí (净土宗八祖莲池大师) explained that, ‘Now upholding [the] name [of Āmítuófó with Faith and Aspiration sincerely] is [to cultivate the] good within [all] good, [and the] blessed [virtues] within [all] blessed [virtues].’ (今[以至心信愿]持名乃善中之善，福中之福). The below from the commentary further explains this.
详解
Detailed Explanation
【疏】：问：即持名为多善根福德，此经之外，别有证据否？
[Commentary]: Question: [On] upholding [the name of Āmítuófó] as the same as [having] much good roots [and] blessed virtues, outside of this [Amitā(bha)] Sūtra, are there other [sūtras and treatises as] proof [that this is so]?
答：历历可证，如《大悲》、《大品》等说。
Answer: [This] can [be] very clearly proved, as ‘[The] Great Compassion [Sūtra]’ [i.e. Mahā Karuṇā-Puṇḍarīka Sūtra], ‘[The] Great Prajñā Pāramitā Sūtra [i.e. Pañcaviṃśati Sāhasrikā Prajñā Pāramitā Sūtra and] others say [so].
证善根
Proof [Of] Good Roots
【钞】：证善根者，《大悲经》云：「一称佛名，以是善根入涅槃界，不可穷尽。」
[Collected Writings]: [On] proof [of] good roots, [1] ‘[The] Great Compassion Sūtra’ says, ‘[With] one recitation [of a] Buddha’s name, already is [with] good roots entering Nirvāṇa’s realm, [that] cannot completely end.’
又云：「我灭度后，北天竺国有比丘名祈婆伽，修习无量最胜善根，已而命终，生于西方过百千亿世界无量寿佛国，以后成佛，号无垢光如来。」
Also saying, [2] ‘I, after Parinirvāṇa, [in a] Northern Indian country, [there will] be [a] bhikṣu named Qípójiā, [who] cultivates practice [of] immeasurable most supreme good roots, and then, [at the] end [of his] life, [will be] born in [the] West, past [a] hundred thousand koṭis [of] worlds, [in] Immeasurable Life Buddha’s [i.e. Āmítuófó] [Pure] Land, later accomplishing Buddhahood, named Stainless Light Tathāgata.’
又《大庄严经论》：「佛世一老人来求出家，舍利弗等诸大弟子俱不肯度，以观彼多劫无善根故。
[3] Also, ‘[The] Great [Vehicle’s] Adornment Sūtra’s Treatise’ [i.e. 大乘庄严经论: Mahāyāna Sūtrālamkāra Kārikā] [says], ‘[In the] Buddha’s lifetime [was] one old man, [who] came [to] beg [to] leave [the] householder’s [life]. Śariputra [and] all other great disciples together [were] not willing [to] ordain [him], with contemplation [of] his many [past] kalpas [being] without good roots thus.
佛自度之，即证道果，因告大众，『此人无量劫前为采薪人，猛虎逼极，大怖上树，称「南无佛」，以是善根，遇我得度。』」
[After the] Buddha personally ordained [him, he] immediately realised [the] path’s fruit, [the] cause [of which he] told [the] great assembly, ‘[That] this person, immeasurable kalpas ago, as [a] person gathering firewood, [was by a] fierce tiger forced [to the] extreme, [whom in] great fear climbed [a] tree, [once] reciting “Námó Buddha[ya]” [i.e. Homage to and refuge for life in the Buddha]. With these good roots, [he] met me [to] attain deliverance.’
《华严·第十回向》 云：「愿忆念无量无边世界，去来现在一切诸佛。」
[4] ‘[The] Avataṃsaka [Sūtra’s] tenth [chapter on] Dedication’ says, ‘[To] aspire [to] recollect [and be] mindful [of] immeasurable [and] boundless worlds, [and] all [their] past, future [and] present Buddhas.’
而次云：「以此念佛善根。」
And next saying, ‘[It is] with this mindfulness [of] Buddha [as] good roots.’
凡此，皆持名为多善根之明证也。
All these, [are] all clear proof of upholding [the] name [of Āmítuófó] as much good roots.
证福德
Proof [Of] Blessed Virtues
证福德者，《大品般若经》云：「若人散心念佛， 亦得离苦，其福不尽」，况定意念。
[On] the proof [of] blessed virtues, [i] ‘[The] Great Prajñā Sūtra’ says, ‘If [a] person [with a] scattered mind [is] mindful [of] Buddha, [this person] also [will] attain departure [from] suffering, [and] its blessings [are] inexhaustible’, moreover [if with a] concentrated mind [being] mindful.
《称扬诸佛功德经》云：「若有得闻无量寿如来名者，一心信乐，持讽诵念，此人当得无量之福，永离三途，命终之后， 往生彼刹。」
[ii] ‘[The Ratnajālīparipṛcchā] Sūtra [On] Praises [Of] All Buddhas’ Meritorious Virtues’ says, ‘If [there] are those [who] attain hearing [of] Immeasurable Life Tathāgata’s name [i.e. Āmítuófó], [with] wholehearted joyful faith, uphold recitation mindfully, these persons will attain immeasurable blessings, forever depart [from the] three paths [of hell-beings, hungry ghosts and animals, and] after [the] end [of] life, [be] reborn [in] that [Pure] Land [of his].’
《智论》云：「譬如有人，初生堕地，即能日行千里，满一千岁，七宝奉佛，不如有人于后恶世，一声称念阿弥陀佛，其福胜彼。」
[iii] ‘[The Great Perfection Of] Wisdom Treatise’ [i.e. 大智度论] says, ‘For example, [if there] is [a] person, [as a] newborn, set [on the] ground, [who is] immediately able [to] walk [a] thousand miles daily, fully [for] one thousand years, [with] seven treasures offering [to] Buddhas, [this is] not equal to [a] person in [the] later evil period [i.e. the present Dharma-Ending Age], once [with the] voice reciting Āmítuófó, [as] its blessings [will] surpass that.’
《增一阿含经》云：「四事供养阎浮提一切众生，若有称佛名号，如乳顷，功德过上，不可思议。」
[iv] ‘[The] Ekottara [i.e. “Increase (By) One”] Āgama Sūtra’ says, ‘[Compared with the] four offerings [of food and drink (饮食), clothing (衣服), bedding (卧具) and medicine (汤药) made to] all [of] Jambudvīpa’s sentient beings, if [there] is recitation [of a] Buddha’s name, like suckling momentarily [i.e. very briefly], [its] meritorious virtues [will] surpass [to be] greater, [as it is] inconceivable.’
凡此，皆持名为多福德之明证也。
All these, [are] all clear proof of upholding [the] name [of Āmítuófó] as much blessed virtues.
证善福
[Overall] Proof [Of] Good Roots [And] Blessed [Virtues]
又《宝积》十九，经云：「时一比丘，闻佛赞扬不动如来佛刹功德，心生贪著，而念生彼。佛言：『不以爱恋之心，遂得往生，惟有植诸善本，修诸梵行，得生彼刹。』」
Again, in ‘[The Great] Treasures’ Collection’s [i.e. 大宝积经: Mahā Ratnakūṭa Sūtra] 19th [chapter, the] sūtra says, ‘Then, a bhikṣu, [having] heard [the] Buddha’s praise [of] Immovable [i.e. Akṣobhya] Tathāgata’s Buddha land’s meritorious virtues, [with his] mind gave rise [to] greedy attachment, and mindfulness [to be] born there. [The] Buddha said, “[It is] not with [the] mind of deep attachment, [that] thereupon attains rebirth [there, as it is] only with planting [of] many virtuous [i.e. wholesome] roots, [and] cultivating many pure practices, [that] attains birth [in] that land.”‘
善本即善根，梵行即福德，此又双显持名为多善多福之明证也。诸经交赞，可弗信受？
[As] virtuous roots are the same as good roots, [and] pure practices are the same as blessed virtues, this also doubly reveals [as] clear proof of upholding [the] name [of Āmítuófó] as much good [roots and] much blessed [virtues. As] many sūtras simultaneously praise [it], how [can this] not [be] believed [and] received?
– 净土宗八祖莲池大师
Pure Land Tradition’s 8th Patriarch Great Master Liánchí
《佛说阿弥陀经疏钞》
(Collected Writings [On] Commentary [On The] Sūtra [In Which The] Buddha Speaks [Of] Amitā[bha Buddha])
以上教理
Previous Teaching:
阿弥陀佛即无上菩提故，善中之善，福中之福
Āmítuófó Is The Same As Unsurpassable Bodhi, The Good Of Good, The Blessing Of Blessings
https://purelanders.com/2021/10/what-is-the-good-of-good-and-the-blessing-of-blessings
以下教理
Following Teaching:
何谓单修圆顿，不愿往生净土者，为少善根者？
Why Say Those Only Cultivating For Complete And Sudden Awakening, Who Do Not Aspire For Rebirth In Pure Land, As Those Having Few Good Roots?
https://purelanders.com/2021/10/why-say-those-only-cultivating-for-complete-and-sudden-awakening-who-do-not-aspire-for-rebirth-in-pure-land-as-those-having-little-good-roots
相关教理
Related Articles:
如何够善根福德因缘得生极乐？
How To Have Enough Good Roots & Blessed Virtues As Cause & Condition For Birth In Pure Land?
https://purelanders.com/2019/06/26/how-to-have-enough-good-roots-blessed-virtues-as-cause-condition-for-birth-in-pure-land
多善根福德
Many Good Roots’ Blessed Virtues
https://purelanders.com/2018/12/28/many-good-roots-blessed-virtues
The Name Of Amituofo Is The Supreme Mantra
https://purelanders.com/2011/12/16/the-name-of-amituofo-is-the-supreme-mantra
How To Have Enough Merits To Reach Pure Land?
https://purelanders.com/2018/10/08/how-to-have-enough-merits-to-reach-pure-land
何为得生阿弥陀佛净土的善根与福德？:
What Are Good Roots And Blessed Virtues For Birth In Āmítuófó’s Pure Land? :
《佛说弥陀经要解》对善根福德的解释
Good Roots And Blessed Virtues As Explained In The Essential Explanation On The Amitābha Sūtra As Spoken By The Buddha
https://purelanders.com/2024/04/25/what-are-good-roots-and-blessed-virtues
《佛说阿弥陀经疏钞》(p.188)
http://www.donglin.org/wenku/3/3-10%E4%BD%9B%E8%AF%B4%E9%98%BF%E5%BC%A5%E9%99%80%E7%BB%8F%E7%96%8F%E9%92%9E%2020170305.pdf
Namo Amituofo : Translation by Shen Shi’an
Very well written article. Thanks for sharing dharma.
May all beings hear the noble dharma, hard to attain even in many kalpas and be born in presence of Buddha!!!!
Namo Sakyamuni Buddha – The great kind and compassionate teacher who taught the noble dharma with great difficulty in the evil age.
Namo Amitabha Buddha – The great kind and compassionate teacher who rescuses innumerable sentient beings and make them born in his superb world of peace and bliss by the power of his great vows.