設我得佛 十方衆生 至心信樂 欲生我國 乃至十念 若不生者 不取正覺 唯除五逆 誹謗正法 設我得佛 十方衆生 發菩提心 修諸功德 至心發願 欲生我國 臨壽終時 假令不與大衆圍繞現其人前者 不取正覺 設我得佛 十方衆生 聞我名號 繫念我國 植諸德本 至心迴向 欲生我國 不果遂者 不取正覺
Shè wǒ dé fó shí fāng zhòng shēng zhì xīn xìn lè yù shēng wǒ guó nǎi zhì shí niàn ruò bù shēng zhě bù qǔ zhèng jué wéi chú wǔ nì fěi bàng zhèng fǎ shè wǒ dé fó shí fāng zhòng shēng fā pú tí xīn xiū zhū gōng dé zhì xīn fā yuàn yù shēng wǒ guó lín shòu zhōng shí jiǎ lìng bù yǔ dà zhòng wéi rào xiàn qí rén qián zhě bù qǔ zhèng jué shè wǒ dé fó shí fāng zhòng shēng wén wǒ míng hào jì niàn wǒ guó zhí zhū dé běn zhì xīn huí xiàng yù shēng wǒ guó bù guǒ suì zhě bù qǔ zhèng jué
Key Message
The Eighteenth Vow — that even ten sincere recitations of the Buddha's name suffice for birth in the Pure Land — declares that Amitābha's compassion excludes no sentient being. It is an unconditional salvation.
▸Among the forty-eight great vows (四十八願) that Bhikkhu Dharmākara made before Lokeśvararāja, the most central is the Eighteenth Vow — the Vow of Birth through Recollection of the Buddha (念佛往生願): 'If, when I attain Buddhahood, sentient beings of the ten directions who sincerely and joyfully entrust themselves and aspire to be born in my land — even with only ten recitations — should fail to be born, may I not attain perfect enlightenment.
Among the forty-eight great vows (四十八願) that Bhikkhu Dharmākara made before Lokeśvararāja, the most central is the Eighteenth Vow — the Vow of Birth through Recollection of the Buddha (念佛往生願): 'If, when I attain Buddhahood, sentient beings of the ten directions who sincerely and joyfully entrust themselves and aspire to be born in my land — even with only ten recitations — should fail to be born, may I not attain perfect enlightenment. Excepted are those who commit the five grave offences and those who slander the True Dharma.' This vow is the very heart of the entire Pure Land tradition. Its promise that even ten recitations of the Buddha's name suffice for rebirth opens the door of liberation to those about to die, those burdened by heavy karma, those with no leisure for extensive practice — to everyone, without exception. This vow affirms that, beyond the limits of self-powered practice, there is the other-power (他力) of Amitābha's vow-power.