樂邦文類 4.160

4.160

A single grain of the returned elixir turns iron into gold; a single word of true principle transforms an ordinary being into a sage. Amitābha's teaching and contemplation is truly the wondrous medicine that turns iron into gold. That Buddha practiced across kalpas as numerous as dust motes, perfecting his body and his land and making the forty-eight vows, which ultimately brought fruition; his majesty, virtue, and light are inconceivable. The Contemplation Sūtra states that hearing the Buddha's name once eliminates the sins of birth and death for eighty billion kalpas. Even for those guilty of the five heinous deeds and ten evil actions, when approaching the end of life, if they meet a good spiritual friend who teaches them to recite ten times, they immediately attain rebirth. Thus we know that requesting the assembly to recite the Buddha's name should indeed have such manifest resonance. How regrettable that worldly people do not know that reciting the Buddha's name is the medicine that turns iron into gold for seeking rebirth! Even those who know it cannot give rise to great, deep faith; following routine and becoming negligent, they are content with the five turbidities, transmigrating through birth and death and vainly suffering all hardships. Truly they are pitiable! When a person is healthy and at ease, being able to request the assembly to recite the Buddha's name, repent sins, and untie enmities is the definitive method for rebirth. How much more so when illness becomes critical and one is terrified of birth and death—if one can bravely bring forth the aspiration, requesting those who have long practiced pure karma to perform a great Buddhist service to assist in going to the West, this is truly an essential gate. Observing the matter of the karmadāna Ji reciting the Buddha's name at the end of life, it is truly a mirror for the people of the world.