Why must we prefer to recite Amitābha to seek rebirth in the Pure Land Sukhāvatī?
2025-03-13
Lecture by Master Zhiyi
Question: Since we are all chanting the name of a Buddha and seeking rebirth in Pure Land, why don't we follow our own will and choose a Buddha among the Buddha lands in the ten directions to be reborn in his pure land? Why must we recite Sukhāvatī Amitābha?
Answer: Ordinary people do not have any wisdom and do not dare to recite the Buddha's name according to their own wishes. Ordinary people only dare to do what the Buddha said, so they focus on reciting Amitābha. Why do we say that we should only listen to what the Buddha says?
Because the Dharma taught by Sakyamuni Buddha when he was alive and the scriptures passed down from him all encourage sentient beings to concentrate on reciting Amitābha Buddha and seek rebirth in Sukhāvatī.
For example, there are dozens of scriptures, treatises and articles, such as " The Amitāyus Sutra", "Amitāyus Contemplation Sūtra" and "Discourse on the Pure Land", which all diligently guide and teach sentient beings and encourage everyone to be reborn in Sukhāvatī. Therefore, many sentient beings recite Amitābha Buddha exclusively.
Moreover, Amitābha Buddha specially made forty-eight great compassion vows to attract and guide all living beings.
The "Amitāyus Contemplation Sūtra" says: 'Amitābha Buddha has eighty-four thousand forms, and each form has eighty-four thousand wonderful merits. Each kind of wonderful thing emits eighty-four thousand kinds of light, and this light illuminates all sentient beings in the Dharma Realm who recite the Buddha's name. Since the light shines continuously, those who sincerely chant Amitābha Buddha will receive a response and will eventually be reborn in Sukhāvatī.'
The "Amitābha Sūtra", " The Amitāyus Sutra" and "Amitāyus Drum Sound King Dharani Sutra " all say: "When Shakyamuni Buddha was preaching the Pure Land Buddhism, the Buddhas in the ten directions, as numerous as the grains of sand in the Ganges, would extend their tongues to cover the entire Three Thousand Great Thousand Worlds, to prove that all sentient beings, as long as they are willing to recite Amitābha Buddha, will be able to ride on the Buddha's great compassion and original vow power and will definitely be able to be reborn in the Pure Land Sukhāvatī. '
You should know that Amitābha Buddha has a special affinity with our world. How can it be seen?
Because the "The Amitāyus Sutra" says: "Before Buddhism is destroyed in the future, this sutra will be specially left in the world for one hundred years to guide sentient beings to rebirth in the Pure Land Sukhāvatī. After that, Buddhism will completely disappear.'
Therefore, we know that Amitābha Buddha has a special affinity with the extremely bad beings in the Sahā world. Other Buddhas and their Pure Lands are only mentioned in one or two sutras, and they only briefly encourage sentient beings to be reborn there.
Unlike Amitābha Buddha's Pure Land Sukhāvatī, where sutras and treatises everywhere earnestly exhort everyone to be reborn there.
"A treatise on Ten Doubts about the Pure Land Buddhism"
