念佛鏡 2.23

2.23

答：「念阿彌陀佛功德，多於念彌勒百千萬倍。何以得知？准經中說，阿彌陀佛現是覺圓果滿，超諸地位，所稱念者功德最多；彌勒現是菩薩位中，未超諸地果未圓，故稱念之者功德狹少。」

Answer: "The merit of reciting Amitābha is hundreds of thousands of ten thousand times greater than reciting Maitreya. How is this known? According to what the sūtras explain, Amitābha is currently one whose awakening is complete and whose fruit is fulfilled, transcending all stages and grounds; the merit of reciting his name is greatest. Maitreya is currently in the bodhisattva stage, having not yet transcended all grounds and his fruit not yet being complete; therefore the merit of reciting his name is limited and small."