過去尚未認識佛法時，
不知何謂「阿彌陀佛」
如今聽聞這四字
令我恭敬、虔誠、戒慎、感動。
阿彌陀佛是一切諸佛本名。
念阿彌陀佛就是念所有佛的名。
( 諸佛各有的名號是祂們的別號 )
阿, 即是無.
彌陀, 即是量.
佛, 即是智, 覺.
每一佛都是無量智，無量覺。
因此阿彌陀佛為「佛」的本名。
阿彌陀佛也是我們自己自性的本名。
眾生的佛性、法性為性德的本名。
一切眾生本為自性彌陀，
本來為佛，
因為迷、愚癡,、不覺悟
而為凡夫。
覺悟的境界是佛的境界，
是極樂世界，
是華藏世界（ 莊嚴清淨佛國淨土）。
迷了自性，
將極樂、華藏世界
變為我們現在五濁惡世：
劫濁 (Kalpa Turbidity)：
時代的混亂與災難。
社會、自然環境惡化，
飢荒、疾病、戰爭等天災人禍。
見濁 (View Turbidity)：
思想見解的混濁。
正確的觀念（正法）衰退，
邪知邪見、顛倒的思想橫行，
人們不信因果。
煩惱濁 (Affliction Turbidity)：
內心世界的混濁。
眾生心中充滿貪、瞋、痴、慢、疑等
各種煩惱，導致內心不得安寧。
眾生濁 (Living Beings Turbidity)：
眾生缺乏善根、資質變差，
不孝順父母、不敬尊長，
行為惡劣且苦多福少。
命濁 (Life Turbidity)：
因為惡業增加、環境惡劣，
導致眾生的壽命變得短促。
釋迦牟尼佛教我們念「阿彌陀佛」
同時真心修善，
以此法將自性恢復，覺悟。
我們要深信因果、佛法，有願力學佛成佛，
以清淨心念阿彌陀佛，
修行才有可能成就。
附註：西方淨土的阿彌陀佛
阿彌陀佛，是一切諸佛如來的通號，
只要是佛都可以稱作阿彌陀佛。
在西方淨土
（由阿彌陀佛的願力所化現的清淨莊嚴世界）
的這尊「阿彌陀佛」
是名號為「法藏」比丘修成的。
他於成佛前的住世期間，
過去無量數劫以前，
於「世自在王佛」住世時，
曾為妙喜國的國王。
很喜歡修學佛法，也能很快領悟。
後來放棄王位， 出家為僧，
法號法藏比丘。
有感於世人內心為貪念惡念所困，
為外在世界災難所苦，
請教老師世自在王佛，
表達其願力，
期願極樂淨土得以實現。
世自在王佛鼓勵法藏比丘至心求道，
並開示修行方法，
以念佛一法方便十方眾生修行。
作為普度眾生的法門。
而後修成正果，
證入無所執的清淨境界。
並發四十八大願，
要成就一個清淨平等集十方諸剎土
美好於一的佛國極樂世界。
經過數劫努力，廣大願力的因，
與歷經無量劫修得功德的果，
成就了西方極樂世界。
成為諸佛讚譽的
阿彌陀佛。
Before I knew Buddhism
I did not know what the meaning
of these word “ Amitabha “
Hearing these words now
fills me with reverence, devotion, mindfulness, and deep emotion.
Amitabha is the fundamental name of
all Buddhas.
Chanting Amitabha means chanting the names of all Buddhas (each Buddha's individual name is an epithet )
A means "Infinite" or "Without"
Mituo means "Quantity" or "Measure"
Fo means "Wisdom" and "Enlightenment, Awakening"
Every Buddha embodies infinite wisdom
and supreme awakening.
"Amitabha" is the true, fundamental name of all Buddhas
Amitabha is also the true name of our own inherent self-nature.
The Buddha-nature and Dharma-nature of all sentient beings are the true names of intrinsic virtue.
All sentient beings are inherently the Amitabha of their own nature and originally Buddhas; it is only because of delusion, foolishness, and non-awakening that they become ordinary beings.
The state of awakening
is the state of a Buddha,
which is the Land of Ultimate Bliss (Sukhavati) and Western Pure Land.
Being deluded about one's true nature turns the Land of Ultimate Bliss and Western Pure Land into our present Saha world of the five defilements
(the five turbidities) ：
Kalpa Turbidity ：
The chaos and disasters of an era.
It refers to the deterioration of society and the natural environment, bringing about natural and man-made disasters such as famines, diseases,
and wars.
View Turbidity ：
The turbidity of thoughts and views.
Right understandings
(the True Dharma) decline, while wrong views, heresies, and inverted thinking run rampant. People lose faith in the law of cause and effect (karma).
Affliction Turbidity ：
The turbidity of the inner world.
The minds of sentient beings are filled with various afflictions such as greed, anger, ignorance, arrogance, and doubt,
leading to a complete lack of inner peace.
Living Beings Turbidity ：
The turbidity of sentient beings. Living beings lack wholesome roots (spiritual merits) and their capacities deteriorate. They disrespect their parents and elders, engage in misbehavior, and experience abundant suffering with little blessing.
Life Turbidity ：
The turbidity of lifespan.
Due to the accumulation of bad karma and the deterioration of the environment,
the lifespans of sentient beings become short and truncated.
Shakyamuni Buddha taught us to recite 'Amitabha Buddha' while sincerely cultivating goodness.
Through this practice, we can restore our self-nature and achieve enlightenment.
We must deeply believe in cause and effect and the Dharma,
awaken the power of vows to learn from the Buddha and achieve Buddhahood,
recite “ Amitabha Buddha “
with a pure mind can our cultivation lead to ultimate success.
Postscript ：Amitabha Buddha
of Western Pure Land
Amitabha" is a universal title representing the infinite light and wisdom of all Buddhas.
Amitabha Buddha in the Western Pure Land (a pure and solemn realm manifested by the vows of Amitabha) was attained through the cultivation of the monk named Dharmakara.
During the period of his life before attaining Buddhahood, countless eons ago,
when the Buddha Lokesvararaja
(Lord King of the World) dwelt in the world, he was once the king of the Kingdom of Miaoxi (Exquisite Joy). He deeply loved studying and practicing the Buddha-dharma and could comprehend it very quickly.
Later, he abdicated the throne, renounced his worldly life to become a monk,
and was given the dharma name Dharmakara Bhikshu (the Monk Dharmakara).
Deeply moved by how people in the world are trapped by their own greed and evil thoughts, and how they suffer from the disasters of the external world, Bhikkhu Dharmakara sought guidance from his teacher, Lokesvararaja Buddha,
to express his vows and his profound aspiration to bring the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss into reality.
Lokesvararaja Buddha encouraged Bhikkhu Dharmakara to pursue the supreme path with an undivided mind and expounded the methods of cultivation. He revealed the practice of Buddha-recitation
as a convenient and accessible path for sentient beings across the ten directions to cultivate, serving as a universal gateway
for the salvation of all living beings. Ultimately, Bhikkhu Dharmakara attained perfect enlightenment, achieving Buddhahood and entering the pure realm
of complete non-attachment.
And he made forty-eight great vows, aspiring to achieve a pure and equal Buddha-land of ultimate bliss that unifies
the beauty of all realms in the ten directions into one.
Through the efforts of several kalpas,
the cause of his vast vow-power combined with the fruit of merits cultivated over countless kalpas, achieving the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.
He became Amitabha Buddha,
praised by all Buddhas.
