無量壽經優婆提舍願生偈註 2.19

2.19

Question: A name points to a phenomenon, like a finger pointing to the moon. If by invoking the Buddha's name one could immediately fulfill aspirations, the finger pointing to the moon ought to be able to shatter darkness. If the finger pointing to the moon cannot shatter darkness, how could invoking the Buddha's name fulfill aspirations? Answer: The ten thousand phenomena are manifold and cannot be generalized: there are names that are identical to the phenomenon, and there are names that are different from the phenomenon. Names that are identical to the phenomenon are such as the names of the Buddhas and bodhisattvas, the prajñāpāramitā, phrases of dhāraṇī, and the incantations and spells. As in the incantation against swellings, which says: 'The sun rises in the east, suddenly red, suddenly yellow,' and so forth; even if the incantation is performed at the hours of you or hai, without involving sunrise, the swelling is healed. Likewise, when an army faces battle, merely chanting between clenched teeth: 'Let all soldiers and fighters line up before me.' When reciting these nine characters as one marches, none of the five weapons will strike; Baopuzi calls this an essential way. Furthermore, for someone suffering from muscle cramps, applying a quince heated over fire will cure them. There are also people who simply call the name of the quince and are likewise cured; I myself have experienced its efficacy. Such ordinary matters are known to the world; how much more so for the inconceivable realm! The analogy of the drum smeared with poison-eradicating medicine is another instance; since this analogy was already shown earlier, it is not cited again. Names that are different from the phenomenon are names such as the finger pointing to the moon.