24) 恳切持名

Recite the Buddha’s Name in Earnest

In daily life, if you see anyone stuck in a situation that deserves compassion, but you do not respond, it is contrary to human morality. However, if you only develop intellectual compassion but fail to act, how can you merge with the compassionate nature of the Buddhas? Once compassion has developed, you must find a way to save others from suffering – a way to help all sentient beings escape suffering once and for all. You should realize that the reason why Buddha Amitabha is honored with the title “Great Compassionate Being” is that He always rescues sentient beings. Since it is based on this compassion that you seek the Buddha’s assistance to escape suffering, how can you fail to recite with the highest level of resolve?

处一切无可如何之境，而不悲者，非人情矣！然处一切无可如何之境，而徒悲者，又 岂明佛性乎！既悲矣！则当思出苦，当思与一切众生毕竟出苦，当思佛之所以称大悲 者，为其能拔众生出苦也，我以悲心念佛，求佛之悲，拔我之苦，其念宜何如恳切 耶？

Commentary

The purpose of Buddha Recitation is to transcend Birth and Death. However, Birth and Death is a heavy chain, extremely difficult to wrench free of, as our bad karma and afflictions are too deep-rooted. Moreover, transgressions and evil karma are accumulating continuously, day in and day out. If our power of recitation is weak and our thoughts are not utterly sincere and determined, we cannot escape Birth

and Death ourselves, let alone help others. Therefore, we must be extremely earnest and sincere in reciting the Buddha’s name, so as to be in unison with His Com- passionate M ind – like a lost child who longs to be re-united with his mother.