星雲大師多年來推動「人間佛教」,期許建設「人間淨土」,發願生生世世到人間行大乘菩薩道,化度大眾修學佛法。事實上,根據星雲大師早期在各地弘法演講、佛七法會開示等文獻來看,屢有提及推崇阿彌陀佛西方極樂淨土之言論。星雲大師「建設人間淨土」的願心雖與傳統「求生極樂淨土」的思想有所區隔,實際上並未反對傳統的極樂淨土思想與持念阿彌陀佛聖號之法門。星雲大師坦言在念佛實修中受益良多,因此本文旨在探究星雲大師早期弘揚彌陀淨土的芳躅及其對念佛法門的詮釋。星雲大師宣揚念佛功德,不僅依據古德詮釋傳統,亦善用現代化概念來彰顯念佛法門之殊勝。為將佛法修持落實於生活,星雲大師認為現代人適合「持名念佛」,此法不受身份、時空之限制,大眾透過念佛得以淨化身、語、意三業,消除現世諸苦難,彰顯念佛法門的積極意義。對於念佛所應掌握之心境,星雲大師從實修中汲取出「歡歡喜喜」、「悲悲切切」、「空空虛虛」、「實實在在」之精要,勸勉大眾仰仗持念阿彌陀佛之「正念」來對治「妄念」,更須從持念彌陀之「有念」進入破除我執之「無念」,自能與阿彌陀佛感應道交。
In recent years, Master Hsing Yun has spared no effort to propagate "a humanistic Buddhism", and at the same time expresses his ultimate goal to construct "a piece of pure land on the earth", vowing to set his feet on the Path of Mahayana Bodhisattva life after life, attempting to awaken the sentient beings of the human world to learn and follow Buddhist doctrines for the purpose of enlightenment. On the other hand, Master Hsing Yun has repeatedly praised Amitabha Buddha's western pure land of ultimate bliss in his speeches delivered in many occasions across the world as well as his talks given in various 7-Day Amitabha Retreat Assemblies. Master Hsing Yun's "humanistic pure land" is rather different from the "rebirth in the western pure land of ultimate bliss" perceived by many Pure Land Sect disciples. Nevertheless, Master Hsing Yun is not against the "rebirth in the western pure land", and is not against the Dharma of Buddha-recitation, either. Actually, Master Hsing Yun admitted that he had benefited from his faithful practice of Buddha-recitation in the past years. Based on the discussions stated above, the author studied Master Hsing Yun's preachment of Amitabha Buddha's western pure land as well as his interpretation of Buddha-recitation in the early days. Master Hsing Yun has vigorously propagated the merits and virtues associated with the Dharma of Buddha-recitation. He has interpreted the Pure Land Sect disciples' belief using the traditional morals and virtues, and then described the extraordinariness and praiseworthiness of Buddha-recitation using plain language. To integrate Buddhism into daily lives, Master Hsing Yun has introduced the Dharma of Buddha-recitation to the busy people today, saying this Dharma is suitable for all walks of life, not subject to any restriction imposed by time and space. He encouraged the masses to purify the karmas created by their actions, speeches and thoughts, thus eliminating all sufferings and miseries in this life and in this world, and at the same time demonstrating the positive significance implied by the Dharma of Buddha-recitation. As to the mental state suitable for the Dharma of Buddha-recitation, Master Hsing Yun pointed out that he had learned "joyfulness", "grievousness", "emptiness" and "realness" from his practice, encouraging the masses to focus on the Dharma of Buddha-recitation and to get rid of the "unwanted thoughts" using "mindfulness", and at the same time rely on "Buddha-recitation" to attain "freedom without any distracting thought" and thereby obtain a response from Amitabha Buddha.