蓮宗十三祖印光大師之念佛治病觀

The Thirteenth Patriarch of the Lotus Sect Yinguang’s Idea of Treatment by Chanting the Name of Amitābha Buddha

本文主要從「念佛利益」、「信願誠敬」、「轉業治病」三個面向，討論印光的念佛治病觀點。研究結果顯示，印光曾闢佛，且自幼患有眼疾，因而深自慚愧業障深重，並藉由念佛而消除業障，肯認現生中可以獲得念佛利益。再者，印光強調念佛雖有不可思議之功德，但是行者必須興發深信、切願，誠敬地執持名號，才能藉由彌陀願力加被而得以療病。最後，印光從「心病」跟「身病」兩方面說明「病因」，進而宣說念佛轉業治病的道理，此道理在於須具備「懺悔業障」、「發菩提心」及「至誠懇切」等精神。印光一生弘化淨土法門，倡導念佛治病的觀念，與普羅大眾的願求正好相符，可以撫慰生命所帶來的苦惱，解決生命問題，追求終極關懷。

This text mainly discusses from three topics about Yinguang's idea of treatment by chanting the name of Amitābha Buddha; they are "benefits of chanting Buddha's name", "faith, willing, and sincerity", and "changing karma to treat a disease." It is known that Yinguang refuted Buddhism once; and he suffered from eye diseases in his childhood and felt deeply ashamed about his karma. He found that by chanting Buddha's name he can eliminate karma and get benefits from the chanting in his life.
Also, Yinguang emphasized that chanting Buddha's name has inconceivable virtue only when practitioners have deep faith and make earnest vows. Only by sincerely and deferentially chanting the name of Buddha can he receive the support and power of treatment through the means of Amitabha's vows.
Last, Yinguang explained the causes of diseases from the aspects of mental illness and physical illness, and further advocated the reason of transforming and changing karma from chanting Buddha's name. This would only work when one is equipped with spirits of "Repenting the Obstruction of Karma", "Arousing Bodhi-Mind", and "Holding sincerity."Yinguang propagated the Dharma of Pure Land his whole life and recommended the idea of treatment from chanting Buddha's name. It matched with the needs of layman to soothe their anguish brought to life, to solve life problems, and to pursue ultimate concerns.