第四疑
Fourth Doubt
問：「等是念求生一佛淨土，何不十方佛土中，隨念一佛淨土隨得往生，何須偏念西方彌陀佛耶？」
Question: "Since we can seek rebirth in any Buddha's pure land through mindfulness, why not just choose any of the ten directions' pure lands and be reborn accordingly? Why must we focus exclusively on Amitabha Buddha's Western Pure Land?"
答：「凡夫無智，不敢自專，專用佛語，故能偏念阿彌陀佛。云何用佛語？釋迦大師一代說法，處處聖教，唯勸眾生，專心偏念阿彌陀佛，求生西方極樂世界。如《無量壽經》、《觀經》、《往生論》等，數十餘部經論文等，殷勤指授，勸生西方，故偏念也。又彌陀佛別有大悲四十八願，接引眾生。又《觀經》云：『阿彌陀佛有八萬四千相，一一相有八萬四千好，一一好放八萬四千光明遍照法界，念佛眾生，攝取不捨。』若有念者，機、感相應，決定得生。又《阿彌陀經》、《大無量壽經》、《鼓音王陀羅尼經》等云：『釋迦佛說經時，皆有十方恒沙諸佛，舒其舌相，遍覆三千大千世界，證成一切眾生念阿彌陀佛，乘佛大悲本願力故，決定得生極樂世界。』當知阿彌陀佛與此世界，偏有因緣。何以得知？《無量壽經》云：『末世法滅之時，特駐此經，百年在世。接引眾生，往生彼國。』故知阿彌陀佛與此世界極惡眾生，偏有因緣。其餘諸佛，一切淨土，雖一經、兩經，略勸往生；不如彌陀佛國，處處經論，殷勤叮嚀，勸往生也。」
Answer: "Ordinary people, lacking wisdom, dare not rely on their own judgment. They exclusively rely on the Buddha's words, and therefore can focus solely on reciting the name of Amitabha Buddha. But what does it mean to rely on the Buddha's words? Throughout Shakyamuni's lifetime of teachings, in all his sacred instructions, he consistently urged sentient beings to single-mindedly recite the name of Amitabha Buddha and seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. As taught in scriptures like the *Longer Sukhavati-vyuha Sutra*, the *Contemplation Sutra*, and the *Treatise on Rebirth*, along with dozens of other sutras and commentaries, he repeatedly and earnestly pointed the way, urging rebirth in the Western Land. That is why we focus on Amitabha. Moreover, Amitabha Buddha specifically made the Great Vow of Forty-eight Vows, his great compassion to receive and guide sentient beings. Also, the *Contemplation Sutra* says: 'Amitabha Buddha has eighty-four thousand marks, each mark has eighty-four thousand minor characteristics, and each minor characteristic emits eighty-four thousand rays of light, which illuminate the entire universe. He embraces and never abandons those sentient beings who recite his name.' If someone recites his name, their potential and his response will be in harmony, and they will definitely attain rebirth. Furthermore, the *Amitabha Sutra*, the *Larger Sukhavati-vyuha Sutra*, and the *Drumbeat King Dharani Sutra*, among others, state: 'When Shakyamuni Buddha taught these sutras, countless buddhas from all directions, as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, extended their tongues, covering the entire three-thousand-fold great universe, to bear witness that all sentient beings who recite Amitabha's name, relying on the power of his great compassion and original vows, will definitely be reborn in the Land of Ultimate Bliss.' Therefore, you should know that Amitabha Buddha has a special connection with this world. How can we know this? The *Larger Sukhavati-vyuha Sutra* says: 'When the Dharma is about to become extinct in the final age, this sutra will remain in the world for a hundred years, to guide sentient beings to rebirth in that land.' Thus we know that Amitabha Buddha has a special connection with sentient beings in this most evil world. All other buddhas and their pure lands are only briefly encouraged in one or two sutras, but nowhere are they urged as earnestly and repeatedly as the Land of Amitabha Buddha, which is praised in sutras and commentaries everywhere."