40) 孤身持名

　　Reciting the Buddha”s Name in Isolation

　　When cultivating, a Bhiksu/Bhiksuni does not require the presence of fe low- cultivators. The more isolated his place of practice the better! He may recite in either a loud or a low voice, as he pleases, slowly and deliberately, or with utterances fo lowing one another in rapid succession. The only important condition is to achieve singlemindedness. He should tell himself “my body is alone but my m ind is not, because the Mind of Amitabha Buddha and of all the Buddhas has never left me, even momentarily. The Buddhas know immediately what is going through my mind. If I give rise to even a single thought, the Buddhas know it. How can I be isolated

　　”

　　If you have questions about the Pure Land method, you should consult Pure Land sutras and treatises for clarification. There are many such sutras and commentaries, such as the Shorter Amitabha Sutra, the Longer Amitabha Sutra, the Meditation Sutra. Patriarch Chih-i”s Treatise on Ten Doubts about the Pure Land. Master T”ien Ju”s Doubts and Questions about Pure Land, etc.(24) I am merely covering a few easily understood Pure Land teachings in this book. There are many more interesting teachings to be found throughout the above-mentioned books. Furthermore, you should also try to study at the feet of masters who understand the Pure Land method in depth.

　　比丘修道，不求伴侶，念佛之境，孤寂最佳，高低有宜，緩急隨分，打成一片，正在 此時，當知身孤而心不孤也，諸佛及彌陀之心，未嘗暫舍乎我，舉意佛知，開口佛 聞，何憂孤寂乎？若淨土法門，未能了了，須多購淨土書讀之，如彌陀經、觀經、智 者大師十疑論、天如則禅師淨土或問、大佑禅師淨土指歸、龍舒淨土文、淨土晨鍾、 西方公據、西方確指、雲棲法彙、彌陀疏鈔等書，宜勤披閱，此姑舉明白易曉者言 之，此外尚有舉不勝舉也。(請參閱廣慈法師編印之淨土宗法寶大藏全書五十巨冊) 或訪通曉淨土者叩問之。

　　Commentary

　　Cultivators need to practice in a quiet, out-of-the-way area, in order to keep the m ind focused. This is particularly the case in Pure Land Buddhism, because without one-pointedness of mind, it is impossible to achieve rebirth in the Pure Land. To achieve this one-pointedness of mind, we should, first of all, look for a quiet place to

　　settle our m ind and thoughts. (When the surface of the lake is calm, the myriad stars

　　will be reflected in it. There is no better way to keep the waters calm than to stop the wind.) When we have penetrated the still nature of the Self-Mind, we have become one with the Dharma Body of the Buddhas. At that time, not only does our own wisdom-light emerge, it is also merged with the countless wisdom-lights of the Buddhas of the Ten Directions. How can our light be ca led isolated

　　The only thing to worry about is our delusions, lack of understanding and endless competing in the arena of the mundane and the vulgar. When the time comes to leave our bodies, we will, like a shadow, enter the Avici hells alone, isolated and orphaned!