Question: What is the main teaching in the Contemplation Sūtra《观经》?
Answer: Although the name and contents of the sūtra seem to focus on contemplation in terms of visualisation, as we can see below in an excerpt from ‘[The] Sūtra [In Which The] Buddha Speaks [Of] Contemplation [On] Immeasurable Life Buddha’《佛说观无量寿佛经》, towards its end in red (and with notes), is the Buddha’s repeated emphasis upon mindfulness of Amitā[bha] Buddha’s name (i.e. Āmítuófó). This is so as it is the easiest and safest to practise for most, without any disadvantage, and with the greatest benefits. This should be contemplated upon.
尔时阿难，即从座起，白佛言：「世尊，当何名此经？此法之要，当云何受持？」
At that time, Ānanda, immediately from [his] seat arose, [and to Śākyamuni] Buddha said, ‘World-Honoured [One], what should [be the] name [of] this sūtra? Of this Dharma [teaching’s] essence, how should [it be] accepted [and] upheld?’
Note [1]: Thus, as can be seen below, the essential Dharma to be received and upheld is mindfulness of the name of Āmítuófó.
佛告阿难：「此经名观极乐国土、无量寿佛、观世音菩萨、大势至菩萨。亦名净除业障，生诸佛前。
[The] Buddha told Ānanda, ‘This sūtra [is] named “Contemplation [On The] Land [Of] Ultimate Bliss, Immeasurable Life Buddha, Contemplator [Of The] World’s Sounds Bodhisattva [And] Great Power Arrived Bodhisattva.” Likewise named “Pure Eradication [Of] Karmic Obstacles, [For] Birth Before All Buddhas”.
Note [2]: Thus, mindfulness of the name of Āmítuófó can purify and eradicate karmic obstacles, to see all Buddhas.
汝当受持，无令忘失。行此三昧者，现身得见无量寿佛，及二大士。若善男子，及善女人，但闻佛名、二菩萨名，除无量劫生死之罪，何况忆念。
You should accept [and] uphold [it], without enabling [it to be] forgotten [and] lost. Those [who] practise this samādhi, [will in their] present lives attain sight [of] Immeasurable Life Buddha, and [the] two Great Bodhisattvas. If good men and good women, only [with] hearing [of the] Buddha’s name, [and the] two Bodhisattvas’ names, [they will] eradicate immeasurable kalpas’ transgressions [of] births [and] deaths, furthermore [if] recollecting mindfully?
Note [3]: Thus, even only mindfulness of the name of Āmítuófó will lead to sight of him, and eradicate transgressions of immeasurable kalpas.
若念佛者，当知此人，则是人中，芬陀利花，观世音菩萨、大势至菩萨，为其胜友，当坐道场，生诸佛家。」
If [there are] those mindful [of the] Buddha, [you] should known [that] these persons, are then within humans, puṇḍarīka [i.e. white lotus] flowers. Contemplator [Of The] World’s Sounds Bodhisattva [and] Great Power Arrived Bodhisattva, [are] as their supreme friends. [They] will sit [in their] bodhimaṇḍa, [by being] born [in] all Buddhas’ home.’
Note [4]: Thus, those who practise mindfulness of the name of Āmítuófó are the rarest and most precious of humans, with the best of spiritual friends, who are bound for Buddhahood.
佛告阿难：「汝好持是语。持是语者，即是持无量寿佛名。」
[The] Buddha told Ānanda, ‘You [should] well uphold this spoken. Those upholding this spoken, are thus [those] upholding Immeasurable Life Buddha’s name.’
Note [5]: Thus, to uphold mindfulness of the name of Āmítuófó is to uphold the essence of the Buddha’s teachings in this sūtra.
Also as taught by the Pure Land Tradition’s 2nd Patriarch Great Master Shàndǎo (净宗二祖善导大师) in the ‘Commentary [On The] Contemplation Sūtra [In] Four Fascicles’《观经四帖疏》,
‘从「佛告阿难，『汝好持是语』」已下，正明付属弥陀名号，流通于遐代。上来虽说定、散两门之益，望佛本愿，意在众生一向专称弥陀佛名。’
‘From “[Śākyamuni] Buddha told Ānanda, ‘You [should] uphold well this spoken'” afterwards, [is the] main explanation [of] entrusting [Ā]mítuó[fó]’s name, [to be] transmitted for distant generations. [With the] above [teachings in this sūtra], although speaking [of the] benefits of [the] two doors [of] concentrated [goodness (定善) by practising the first 13 contemplations and] scattered [goodness (散善) by practising the last 3 contemplations’ final practice, it can be] seen [that the] Buddha’s fundamental wish, [is with the] desire [that] sentient beings [have] wholehearted focused recitation [of] Āmítuófó’s name [as their Focused Cultivation (专修) or Main Practice (正行)].’
Namo Amituofo : Translation and notes by Shen Shi’an
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