九旬老人半信半疑却往生极乐 A Nonagenarian, Half-Believing Yet Attains Rebirth in the Land of Ultimate Bliss | 净本法师开示
《阿弥陀经》中有一段经文说：「若有人已发愿，今发愿，当发愿，欲生阿弥陀佛国者，是诸人等，皆得不退转于阿耨多罗三藐三菩提，于彼国土若已生，若今生，若当生」，这一段阐明了“过去愿意念佛的，过去已得生净土；现在愿意念佛的，现在就能得生净土；未来愿意念佛的，未来也必能得生净土”。这段经文也常被称为“三愿三生”。其意义在于告诉我们：只要念佛，就一定能够往生极乐世界。
善导大师曾言：「言“南无”者，即是归命，亦是发愿回向之义；言“阿弥陀佛”者，即是其行；以斯义故，必得往生」，意即“南无阿弥陀佛”六个字本身就代表了信、愿、行。其中“南无”包含了「信」与「愿」，“阿弥陀佛”则表征了「行」。既然六字名号本身已圆具信愿行，那么无论何时念佛，都一定能够得生净土。正如古德所说：“十即十生，百即百生，万修万人去”，皆是依照此段经文而来。
有些人误以为一万人念佛，只有一两个人能成就，这与《阿弥陀经》所示的“三愿三生”明显相违。佛在此处明确指出，念佛往生是“百分之百的决定成就”，绝无仅有数个成就的道理。譬如古代有一幅著名的图案形象，画中阿弥陀佛在前方用力牵引众生，观世音菩萨则在后方推着，势至菩萨在一旁为我们加油助力。如此三尊大士齐心协力，唯恐我们掉队，可见阿弥陀佛的慈悲接引之大、愿力之深，实在不可思议。
更令我们感动的是，即使有众生信心不稳、半信半疑，只要肯念佛，阿弥陀佛也誓不放弃，依然会继续关怀、接引。许多往生实例都能印证这点。
在台湾曾有一则新闻报道：一位92岁的老人家，临终前已病入膏肓，生前并未接触过佛法。眼看老人家大限将至，他的孙子就向他介绍阿弥陀佛，教他念佛。起初老人家对极乐世界的概念并不清楚，也只是半信半疑地随顺念佛。
然而，没过多久，他忽然神情安定，双手合十。家人见状关切地询问，老人家说：“阿弥陀佛来了，而且是第二次来了。我已经答应要跟他走。”他还临终交代：“极乐世界真是存在的，为什么以前没人告诉我？”就这样，这位90多年未学佛的老人，在最后人生阶段才开始念佛，也顺利地往生净土。
值得注意的是，阿弥陀佛第一次来接他时，他尚未应允，但阿弥陀佛并未因此放弃，而是第二次再现身接引。足见阿弥陀佛对众生之悲悯不舍，非凡人所能测度。
正如《阿弥陀经》中再三强调：「若有人已发愿，今发愿，当发愿，欲生阿弥陀佛国者，是诸人等，皆得不退转于阿耨多罗三藐三菩提，于彼国土，若已生，若今生，若当生。」再配合善导大师所云：「言“南无”者，即是归命，亦是发愿回向之义；言“阿弥陀佛”者，即是其行：以斯义故，必得往生。」只要愿意念佛，就能得到阿弥陀佛慈悲加持。即使在病重卧床、连极乐世界都不甚了解的情况下，只要肯称念“南无阿弥陀佛”，阿弥陀佛也会不断牵引、再三接引，绝不轻易放弃任何一个众生。
因此，无论过去、现在、未来，念佛都能往生净土。总结来说，一切愿意念佛的人都可以得度，没有一个念佛人会被遗漏在外。阿弥陀佛的无限慈悲与愿力，如同坚定而温暖的巨手，时时刻刻将我们拖住。所以只能说这句“南无阿弥陀佛”不可思议，只能说阿弥陀佛太慈悲了。
English Translation:
A Nonagenarian, Half-Believing Yet Attains Rebirth in the Land of Ultimate Bliss
In the Amitabha Sutra, there is a particularly important passage: “If there are people who have already made the vow, who are making the vow now, or who will make the vow in the future, desiring to be born in Amitabha Buddha’s land, all such people will attain non-retrogression from Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi. Whether they have already been born, are being born now, or will be born in that land, so shall they be.”
This section clarifies that those who previously wished to recite the Buddha’s name have already been reborn in the Pure Land; those who wish to recite now can be reborn now; and those who resolve to recite in the future will surely be reborn in the future. This teaching is often referred to as the “Three Vows, Three Births.” Its significance is to tell us that as long as we recite the Buddha’s name, we are certain to be reborn in the Land of Ultimate Bliss.
Master Shandao once said: “ ‘Namo’ signifies taking refuge, and also carries the meaning of aspiration and dedication; ‘Amitabha Buddha’ represents the practice. Because of this principle, we are certain to attain rebirth.”
In other words, the name “Namo Amitabha Buddha” already encompasses faith, aspiration, and practice. “Namo” contains both faith and the vow (aspiration), while “Amitabha Buddha” signifies the practice. Since the name itself perfectly embodies faith, vow, and practice, one is guaranteed rebirth in the Pure Land whenever one recites. As the ancient masters proclaimed, “If ten recite, ten will be reborn; if a hundred recite, a hundred will be reborn; if ten thousand recite, all ten thousand will be reborn.” Such statements are based on the Sutra’s teaching of “Three Vows, Three Births.”
Some people mistakenly believe that out of ten thousand people who recite the Buddha’s name, only one or two may succeed. However, this clearly contradicts the “Three Vows, Three Births” taught in the Amitabha Sutra. The Buddha explicitly points out that rebirth through reciting the Buddha’s name is “100% certain,” leaving no room for the idea that only a few can succeed. An ancient image vividly portrays Amitabha Buddha pulling sentient beings from the front, Guanyin Bodhisattva pushing them from behind, and Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva cheering from the side—all three working together, lest anyone fall behind. This demonstrates the immense compassion and profound vow-power of Amitabha Buddha, truly beyond ordinary comprehension.
Even more moving is the fact that, for sentient beings whose faith is unstable—who remain half-believing, half-doubting—Amitabha Buddha still does not abandon them, as long as they are willing to recite. He continues to care for and guide them. Many true stories of rebirth attest to this.
A news report in Taiwan once told such a story: A 92-year-old man was terminally ill and had never encountered Buddhism before. Sensing his grandfather’s time was near, the grandson introduced him to Amitabha Buddha and taught him to recite the Buddha’s name. Initially, the old man had only a vague understanding of the Pure Land and recited somewhat half-heartedly.
Not long after, however, the old man suddenly appeared calm and placed his palms together. Seeing this, the family inquired, and he said, “Amitabha Buddha has come, and this is the second time He has come. I’ve already agreed to go with Him.” Before passing away, he added, “The Land of Ultimate Bliss truly exists—why did no one tell me before?” Thus, although this man had not practiced Buddhism in his 90-plus years, when he finally began to recite the Buddha’s name in his final moments, he was still able to attain rebirth in the Pure Land.
What is especially noteworthy is that Amitabha Buddha appeared to receive him once before, but the old man did not agree. Even so, Amitabha Buddha did not give up and came a second time to guide him. This shows Amitabha Buddha’s boundless compassion and tireless resolve to save beings, far beyond any ordinary measure.
As the Amitabha Sutra emphasizes repeatedly: “If there are people who have already made the vow, who are making it now, or will make it in the future, desiring to be born in Amitabha Buddha’s land, all such people will attain non-retrogression from Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi. Whether they have already been born, are being born now, or will be born in that land, so shall they be.”
And in conjunction with Master Shandao’s words: “ ‘Namo’ signifies taking refuge and also aspiration and dedication; ‘Amitabha Buddha’ represents the practice. Because of this principle, we are certain to attain rebirth.”
As long as one is willing to recite the Buddha’s name, one receives Amitabha Buddha’s compassionate aid. Even if one is bedridden or ill and barely knows anything about the Pure Land, as long as one sincerely recites “Namo Amitabha Buddha,” Amitabha will keep guiding and appearing repeatedly, never giving up on any sentient being.
Therefore, whether in the past, present, or future, reciting the Buddha’s name enables one to be reborn in the Pure Land. In summary, anyone who is willing to recite will be saved; no reciter of the Buddha’s name is left behind. Amitabha Buddha’s infinite compassion and vow-power are like a firm yet gentle hand that constantly holds us up. Thus, one can only marvel at how inconceivable this name—“Namo Amitabha Buddha”—truly is, and how boundless and profound Amitabha Buddha’s mercy is.
⧉ 净土宗 Pure Land Buddhism ⧉
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