The calling of Amitabha Buddha
A long, long time ago, Amitabha Buddha made his 48 Vows on our behalf. He spent countless eons cultivating the ascetic practices of the Bodhisattva path, accumulating them for our sake. This was not at our behest. When Amitabha made his vows, we didn’t know where we would reincarnate – in the domain of hell, hungry ghosts or animals. As he was accumulating merit for us, we weren’t aware where we were committing bad karma. Amitabha Buddha has accomplished and fulfilled his vows, and built for us a comfortable home in the Land of Bliss, as well as a “ship of great vows” to take us there from the Saha world. Therefore his ship is ours, as well as his Land of Bliss.
Amitabha Buddha has been calling out to us for more than ten kalpas (when he gained Buddhahood). He began doing that countless eons ago, when undertook his vows and began to practice. It is important for us to know that he has attained Buddhahood and completed his Land of Bliss as well as the method to get there. We must also be psychologically prepared to return to the home that he has prepared for us.
Actually, when the Pure Land was completed ten eons ago, we should have been reborn there. We would have been freed and become a Buddha. Most unfortunately, we were not reborn in the Land of Bliss during those ten kalpas. We should have been reborn there, as Amitabha became a Buddha for our sake and accomplished the Pure Land for us. He gained Buddhahood in order to deliver us. But out of ignorance or doubt, we did not accept him. For ten eons we have been reincarnating continually and suffering needlessly.
So, what is Pure Land Buddhism? It is the Dharma path of acceptance and accommodation. It is to:
Accept the deliverance of Amitabha Buddha
Accommodate the deliverance of Amitabha Buddha
Agree to the deliverance of Amitabha Buddha
For ten kalpas, Amitabha Buddha has been imploring us, waiting for us to nod our heads, agree in our hearts and say yes with our mouths. He has been waiting and waiting until today. Namo Amituofo.(Master Huijing)
【阿彌陀佛的呼喚】
文：慧淨法師
阿彌陀佛在很久很久以前，就替我們發了四十八大願，以兆載永劫的時間替我們累積菩薩種種的苦行，點點滴滴都用在我們的身上，完全沒經過我們的拜託、祈求，因為阿彌陀佛發願的時候，我們不曉得是輪迴在地獄道、或餓鬼道、或畜生道；他為我們發願累積功德的時候，我們不曉得在哪裡造罪造業。現在他的願行都已經成就了、圓滿了，也就是替我們建設好了極樂世界的安樂家園，為我們完成了從娑婆世界到極樂世界的這條大願船。所以，阿彌陀佛的大願船是我們的，極樂世界也是我們的。
阿彌陀佛不只十劫以前就已經在呼喚我們，曠劫以來，他替我們發願修行的時候就開始對我們呼喚，呼喚我們接受他的好意，他現在已經為我們完成了極樂世界及往生的方法，這件事很重要，我們不僅要知道，更要在心情上即時準備好回到他為我們準備的地方。
其實十劫以前極樂世界建設好的時候，我們就應該要往生到那裡了，應該在那時候就可以解脫輪迴、成佛的；可是很可惜、很冤枉，十劫以來，我們竟然沒有往生到極樂世界。
十劫以前，法藏菩薩成佛的時候我們就應該要往生的，因為阿彌陀佛是為我們成佛的，極樂世界是為我們建設的，阿彌陀佛的成佛就是要救度我們的。可是我們不曉得，或者知道，但是半信半疑，沒有接受。因此，十劫以來，才會一直的輪迴再輪迴，冤枉地、白白地受各種苦楚。
所以，淨土法門是什麼樣的法門呢？是接受的法門，是答應的法門。
是接受阿彌陀佛的救度！
是答應阿彌陀佛的救度！
是願意給阿彌陀佛救度！
十劫以來，阿彌陀佛一直在拜託我們，在等待我們點頭，等我們心中願意，等我們口中答應，這樣一直等……等到現在。南無阿彌陀佛
