往生禮讚偈 1.19

1.19

（問曰：何故號阿彌陀？答曰：《彌陀經》及《觀經》云：彼佛光明無量，照十方國無所障礙，唯觀念佛眾生，攝取不捨，故名阿彌陀。彼佛壽命及其人民無量無邊阿僧祇劫，故名阿彌陀。又釋迦佛及十方佛，讚歎彌陀光明有十二種名，普勸眾生。稱名禮拜相續不斷者，現世得無量功德，命終之後定得往生。如《無量壽經》說云：其有眾生遇斯光者，三垢消滅，身意柔軟，歡喜踊躍，善心生焉。若在三塗勤苦之處，見此光明，無復苦惱，壽終之後皆蒙解脫。無量壽佛光明顯赫照耀十方，諸佛國土莫不聞焉。不但我今稱其光明，一切諸佛聲聞緣覺諸菩薩眾咸共歎譽，亦復如是。若有眾生聞其光明威神功德，日夜稱說至心不斷者，隨其所願得生其國，常為諸菩薩聲聞之眾所共歎譽稱其功德。佛言：我說無量壽佛光明威神巍巍殊妙，晝夜一劫尚不能盡。白諸行者，當知彌陀身相光明，釋迦如來一劫說不能盡者，如《觀經》云：一一光明遍照十方世界，念佛眾生攝取不捨。今既《觀經》有如此不思議增上勝緣攝護行者，何不相續稱觀禮念願往生？應知）。

(Question: Why is he called Amitābha? Answer: The Amitābha Sūtra and the Contemplation Sūtra state: That Buddha's light is immeasurable, shining without hindrance upon the lands of the ten directions; it only looks upon and gathers in sentient beings who practice mindfulness of the Buddha, never abandoning them, and therefore he is named Amitābha. The life span of that Buddha and of his people lasts for immeasurable, boundless asaṃkhyeya kalpas, and therefore he is named Amitābha. Furthermore, Śākyamuni Buddha and the buddhas of the ten directions praise the light of Amitābha with twelve names, universally encouraging sentient beings. For those who recite his name and worship him in unbroken succession, in their present life they attain immeasurable merit, and after their lives end they will surely attain rebirth. As the Larger Sūtra of Immeasurable Life states: If there are sentient beings who encounter this light, their three defilements are eliminated, their bodies and minds become supple and soft, they leap for joy, and a virtuous mind arises within them. If they are in the places of intense suffering in the three wretched realms, upon seeing this light, they are no longer afflicted by suffering; after their lives end, they will all receive liberation. The light of the Buddha of Immeasurable Life shines brilliantly throughout the ten directions, and of the lands of all buddhas, there are none where it is not heard of. Not only do I now praise his light, but all buddhas, śrāvakas, pratyekabuddhas, and assemblies of bodhisattvas all join in praising it in the same way. If there are sentient beings who hear of the awesome power and virtue of his light, and recite and speak of it day and night with a sincere mind without interruption, in accordance with their aspiration they will attain rebirth in that land, and will constantly be praised together by the assemblies of bodhisattvas and śrāvakas, who will extol their virtues. The Buddha said: Were I to speak of the towering, exquisite, awesome power of the light of the Buddha of Immeasurable Life, even in a kalpa of days and nights I could not exhaust it. I tell all practitioners: you should know that regarding the bodily marks and light of Amitābha, which the Tathāgata Śākyamuni could not exhaustively explain in a kalpa, the Contemplation Sūtra states: Each ray of light shines everywhere throughout the worlds of the ten directions, gathering in sentient beings who practice mindfulness of the Buddha, never abandoning them. Now, since the Contemplation Sūtra presents such an inconceivable, superior, and preeminent condition to gather in and protect practitioners, why do you not continuously recite, contemplate, worship, and remember him, aspiring to be reborn? You should know this.)