《阿弥陀经》何故名为《一切诸佛所护念经》？
[57] Why Is Amitābha Sūtra Named As The Sūtra That All Buddhas Protect Mindfully?
丁二、征释经题
D2: Inquiry [And] Explanation [Of] Sūtra’s Title
【经】: 舍利弗，于汝意云何？何故名为《一切诸佛所护念经》？舍利弗，若有善男子、善女人，闻是经受持者，及闻诸佛名者，是诸善男子、善女人，皆为一切诸佛之所护念，皆得不退转于阿耨多罗三藐三菩提。是故舍利弗，汝等皆当信受我语，及诸佛所说。
[Sūtra]: Śāriputra, what [do] you think of [this? For] what reason [is this] named as [the] Sūtra That All Buddhas Protect Mindfully? Śāriputra, if [there] are good men [and] good women, who hear this sūtra, accept [and] uphold [it], and hear all those Buddhas’ names, all these good men [and] good women, [will] all by all Buddhas, be those protected mindfully, [and] all attain non-retrogression for Anuttarā Samyak Saṃbodhi. Therefore, Śāriputra, you all should faithfully accept my words, and those [that] all Buddhas speak.
[Note 1: Although the Buddha asked Śāriputra the question for reflection and attention, of course the Buddha already knew the answer. He also knew that Śāriputra, though the foremost in wisdom among the Arhats, is not yet a Buddha, thus not able to answer. Therefore, the Buddha immediately replied to share the answer with all in the assembly, including us.]
[Note 2: The Amitā(bha) Sūtra’s full name, as earlier mentioned six times by all directions’ Buddhas in this sūtra, is the Sūtra (With) Praises (Of) Inconceivable Meritorious Virtues That All Buddhas Protect Mindfully《称赞不可思议功德一切诸佛所护念经》. As some of these inconceivable meritorious virtues were already explained and praised, even earlier in this sūtra (in four main parts) by the Buddha, thus is the Buddha now teaching the meaning of the second half of the sūtra’s name.]
[Note 3: To truly hear this sūtra (闻是经), is to give rise to Faith (信). To truly accept (受) it is to give rise to Aspiration (愿: Vow to reach Āmítuófó’s Pure Land). To truly uphold his name (持名) is to have Practice (行) of mindfulness of Buddha (念佛). Thus should these Three Provisions (三资粮) be given rise to, to be truly good men (善男子) and good women (善女人).]
[Note 4: All those Buddhas’ names (诸佛名者) refer to the 38 names of the six-directional Buddhas in the six preceding sections of this sūtra. However, the main method of upholding this sūtra is to uphold the name of Āmítuófó, which represents all Buddhas names, as his name in its most basic form of Amitā Buddha (阿弥陀佛) means Immeasurable Buddhas (无量佛). Thus, to hear all those Buddhas’ names (闻诸佛名者) means to hear Āmítuófó’s name (闻阿弥陀佛名) too, which actually suffices, even if many other Buddhas’ names are not heard. This also works as Āmítuófó is the Dharma Realm’s Treasury Body (法界藏身), that is the Dharmakāya (法身: Dharma Body) that universally encompasses all Buddhas as one, pervading all space and time.]
[Note 5: In a later section, the Buddha says, ‘Like I now, praise all Buddhas’ inconceivable meritorious virtues, all those other Buddhas, likewise praise my inconceivable virtues.’ (如我今者，称赞诸佛不可思议功德，彼诸佛等，亦称赞我不可思议功德) All Buddhas (诸佛) first refers to Āmítuófó, before it refers to all other Buddhas, as in this sūtra, his inconceivable meritorious virtues are those repeatedly praised, as it focuses upon him. Even the other Buddhas mentioned were praising him. The reciprocation of praise of Śākyamuni Buddha by all those other Buddhas for speaking this Dharma emphasises that they represent Āmítuófó too.]
[Note 6: Thus, to be mindful of Āmítuófó’s name is to be mindful of all Buddhas in a focused way, without loss of any benefits. This is how mindfulness of him connects to, and receives the mindful protection of all Buddhas. As long as such mindfulness does not retrogress, progress for reaching Pure Land for Buddhahood does not retrogress too. Since this is assured by all Buddhas, who are the best reference for truth, it should be believed and upheld.]
[解]: 此经独诠无上心要，诸佛名字，并诠无上圆满究竟万德，故闻者皆为诸佛护念。
[Explanation]: This sūtra alone explains [the] unsurpassable mind’s essence, [with] all Buddhas’ names, together explaining [its] unsurpassable perfect, complete [and] ultimate ten thousand virtues. Therefore, those [who] hear [them], are all [by] all Buddhas protected mindfully.
又闻经受持，即执持名号，阿弥名号，诸佛所护念故。
Also, hearing [this] sūtra, accepting [and] upholding [it, is] thus [to] firmly uphold [the] name, Āmí[tuófó’s (阿弥陀佛)] name, [by] all Buddhas protected mindfully thus.
问：但闻诸佛名，而未持经，亦得护念不退耶？
Question: [If] only hearing all Buddhas’ names, and yet [to] uphold [this] sūtra, [does this] also attain protection mindfully [for] non-retrogression?
答：此义有局有通。
Answer: These meanings have [that] limited [and] have [that] complete.
《占察》谓，「杂乱垢心，虽诵我名而不为闻。
[The Sūtra On] Divination [And] Observation [Of Good And Evil Karmic Results]《占察善恶业报经》says, ‘[With a] mixed, scattered [and] defiled mind, although reciting my name, then is not hearing [it].
以不能生决定信解，但获世间善报，不得广大深妙利益。」
With not [being] able [to] give rise [to] determined Faith [and] understanding, only obtaining worldly good rewards, not attaining vast [and] great, profound [and] wonderful benefits.’
若到一行三昧，则成广大微妙行心，名得相似无生法忍，乃为得闻十方佛名。此亦应尔。
If reaching [the] One Practice’s Samādhi [with mindfulness of Buddha], then accomplishes [the] vast [and] great, subtle [and] wonderful practice’s mind, named [as] attainment [of] Resemblance’s [Position’s] Non-Arising Dharmas’ Forbearance, thus is attaining hearing [of the] ten directions’ Buddhas’ names. [With] this [sūtra, it] also should [be] thus.
故须闻已执持至一心不乱，方为闻诸佛名，蒙诸佛护念。此局义也。
Therefore, needing hearing already, [to] firmly uphold [Āmítuófó’s name] until wholeheartedly without [being] scattered, then is hearing all Buddhas’ names, [to] receive all Buddhas’ protection mindfully. This [is the] limited meaning.
通义者，诸佛慈悲，不可思议，名号功德，亦不可思议。
[On the] complete meaning, [as] all Buddhas [have] loving-kindness [and] compassion, [that are] inconceivable, [their] names’ meritorious virtues, [are] also inconceivable.
故一闻佛名，不论有心无心，若信若否，皆成缘种。
Therefore, once hearing [a] Buddha’s name, regardless [of] with intention [or] without intention, if [with] Faith or not, all [will] become [karmic] conditions’ seeds.
况佛度众生，不简怨亲，恒无疲倦，苟闻佛名，佛必护念，又何疑焉？
Moreover, [as the] Buddhas deliver sentient beings, without choosing enemies [or] relatives, constantly [and] without exhaustion, if [there are those who] hear [the] Buddhas’ names, [the] Buddhas [will] definitely protect [them] mindfully. Again, what doubt [is there]?
然据《金刚》三论，根熟菩萨为佛护念，位在别地圆住。
However, according to [the] Vajra [Sūtra’s] Three Treatises, Bodhisattvas [with] roots mature by Buddhas protected mindfully, [are] positioned at [the] Separate [Teachings’ First] Ground (别教初地), [or the] Complete [Teachings’ First] Abode (圆教初住).
盖约自力，必入同生性乃可护念。
About [those] restricted [by] Self-power, [they] must enter [the] Same Beings’ Nature [of Buddhas]. Thus can [they be] protected mindfully.
[Note 7: The opposite, which is Different Beings’ Nature (异生性), is the nature of ordinary sentient beings.]
今仗他力，故相似位即蒙护念。
Now relying on [Āmítuófó’s] Other-power, therefore [with] Resemblance’s Position, then receives protection mindfully.
乃至相似位以还，亦皆有通护念之义。
And even [those at] Resemblance’s Position with [those] below, [will] also all have [the] meaning of complete protection mindfully.
下至一闻佛名，于同体法性有资发力，亦得远因终不退也。
Down to once hearing [a] Buddha’s name, [being] of [the] same body [of] Dharma-nature, [that] has provision [for] giving rise [to] power, [will] also attain [the] distant cause [for] ultimate non-retrogression.
[Note 8: As ordinary sentient beings (i.e. us) and fully enlightened beings (i.e. Buddhas) have the same Buddha-nature, with that of the first yet to be realised, and the latter’s fully realised, a Buddha’s name heard can serve as the seed of the path (道种) to Buddhahood, that when given more supportive conditions (助缘) for growth later, in the present life or a future life, is able to bear fruit eventually.]
「阿耨多罗」，此云「无上」。
[On] ‘Anuttarā’, this [is] to say ‘Unsurpassable’.
「三藐三菩提」，此云「正等正觉」。
[On] ‘Samyak Saṃbodhi‘, this [is] to say ‘Right [And] Equal Right Awakening’.
即大乘果觉也。
[This is] thus [the] Great Vehicle’s fruit [of] awakening.
圆三不退，乃一生成佛异名。
Complete [with the] Three Non-Retrogressions [of (1) Position’s Non- Retrogression (位不退), (2) Practice’s Non-Retrogression (行不退), and (3) Mindfulness’ Non-Retrogression (念不退)], thus is [in] one lifetime accomplishing Buddhahood’s different name.
[Note 9: It is possible to ideally depart for Pure Land without first dying, thus reaching Pure Land to realise the Three Non-Retrogressions, to directly progress towards and attain Buddhahood in this very same lifetime. It is however also possible to depart for Pure Land after death, in the intermediate (or bardo) state between death and rebirth, although more risky, as the wind of karma (业风) is then likelier to sweep one to be reborn back in the Sahā World.]
故劝身子等皆当信受。
Therefore, encouraging Body’s Son [and] all others, [who] should faithfully accept [this].
闻名功德如此，释迦及十方诸佛同所宣说，可不信乎！
Hearing [the] name’s meritorious virtues like this, that Śākya[muni Buddha] and [the] ten directions’ all Buddhas together proclaimed, [how] can [this] not [be] believed?
初劝信流通竟。
[The] first Transmission [On] Exhortation [Of] Faith [is] complete.
– 净土宗九祖蕅益大师
《佛说阿弥陀经要解》
– Pure Land Tradition’s 9th Patriarch Great Master Ǒuyì
(Essential Explanation [Of The] Sūtra [In Which The] Buddha Speaks [Of] Amitā[bha] Buddha)
Namo Amituofo : Translation and notes by Shen Shi’an
相关教理
Related Teachings:
下文: 今发愿今往生的原理
Next Section: The Principle Of ‘Vow Now For Birth Now’
https://purelanders.com/2018/10/26/vow-now-for-birth-now
《佛说阿弥陀经要解》全英译
Complete English Translation Of The Essential Explanation Of The Sūtra In Which The Buddha Speaks Of Amitābha Buddha
https://purelanders.com/yaojie
何故号阿弥陀佛？
Why Is Amituofo’s Name Thus?
https://purelanders.com/2017/12/01/why-the-name-of-amituofo-amita-buddha
