念佛鏡 1.59

1.59

Answer: "Ten utterances of the Buddha's name can certainly eradicate the transgressions of many kalpas. How is this known? To explain with an analogy: it is like someone who accumulates firewood for a thousand days and sets a fire to burn it; without half a day passing, the firewood is completely burned up. Transgressive deeds and defilements are like the firewood, and the merits of buddhānusmṛti are like a fierce fire; transgressive obstacles from immeasurable kalpas are all extinguished by the merit of reciting Amitābha Buddha for ten utterances. Furthermore, transgressive obstacles are like a dark room, and buddhānusmṛti is like a bright lamp; as soon as a bright lamp shines in a dark room of a thousand years, the darkness is entirely removed. The merits of buddhānusmṛti are also like this: transgressive obstacles from immeasurable kalpas are all extinguished by the merit of reciting Amitābha Buddha. Thus one knows that buddhānusmṛti can certainly eradicate the transgressions of many kalpas. Therefore, the Guan jing says: 'Because you have called upon the Buddha's name, all your transgressions are extinguished, and I have come to welcome you.'"