淨土論 3.57

3.57

Answer: As the Guan Fo sanmei jing states: 'If my disciples leave behind noisy disturbance, throughout the six periods of day and night, if during one period they divide it into a brief moment, and within that brief moment can for an instant be mindful of the Buddha's white ūrṇā mark, causing the mind to be distinctly clear without mistaken or confused characteristics, steadfastly focusing their attention, whether they see the marks and signs or do not see them, this person eradicates the sins of birth and death of ninety-six hundred million nayutas of kalpas as numerous as the dust motes of the sands of the Ganges.' Furthermore, as the Mahākaruṇā Sūtra states: 'Ānanda! Suppose the trichiliocosm were filled with srotāpannas, sakṛdāgāmins, anāgāmins, and arhats. If a good man or good woman, for one kalpa or slightly less than one kalpa, with all delightful and pleasing requisites, respectfully, reverently, and humbly makes offerings to them: what do you think? Would this good man or good woman obtain much merit?' Ānanda said: 'Extremely much, World-Honoured One!' The Buddha told Ānanda: 'If another person, before the buddhas, only joins their palms once or recites the name once, such merit compared to the former merit does not equal one part in a hundred, one part in a thousand, one part in a hundred thousand koṭis, nor even one kalā part. Why is this? Because among all fields of merit, the buddha-tathāgatas are the most supreme.' Moreover, as the Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva Sūtra states: 'If a person wishes to be born in a present pure land of another realm, they should, following the name of the buddha of that world, single-mindedly chant and be mindful without distraction; they will definitely attain birth in that buddha's pure land, their wholesome roots will increase, and they will swiftly accomplish non-retrogression.'