我们每天念的「南无阿弥陀佛」是什么意思？

“道冲，而用之或不盈，渊兮，似万物之宗。

挫其锐，解其纷。

和其光，同其尘。

湛兮，似若存，吾不知谁之子，象帝之先。”

---《道德经》第四章

“道冲，而用之或不盈”

道冲，这是对道的赞美。

冲，是冲和谦虚，道以虚冲的状态，

不盈不满，却生生不息，

到处显现着它实际的存在。

The Dao is empty, and this is a praise of the Dao.

Here, 'empty' refers to its modesty.

The Dao exists in a state of emptiness; though inexhaustible, it is never filled to the brim, yet it continuously grows, manifesting its true presence everywhere.

“渊兮，似万物之宗”

如深静的渊流，似乎不动，

仿佛无形，内在却鼓荡充盈，

遍布一切，万物都依它而有。

Like a deep and tranquil abyss flow, it seems motionless,

appearing formless, yet its pulsations are filled to the brim from within,

pervading all things, as all things come into existence because of it.

所以，一个体道的人，会自觉地消融刚强的棱角，化解万象森罗的纷纷扰扰，而与道合一。

Thus, a person who embodies the Dao will naturally dissolve their rigid edges,

resolving the endless distractions of the myriad phenomena, and unite with the Dao.

佛陀在《地藏经》里说道：“南阎浮提众生，其性刚强，难调难伏。”这刚强的习性需要佛的智慧和慈悲来化度。佛是真理的人格化，这里的道没有加入人格的意识，是讲真理的本体。在这本体之中化解令我们轮回和堕落的各种习性，而后和道之光。

与道同在的人，以道为光。就像我们念“南无阿弥陀佛”，“南无”就是和，是皈依的意思，“阿弥陀佛”就是无量光无量寿，这光即是无量之光，是道之光，是一切诸佛的本体之光。所以，“南无阿弥陀佛”就是和其光、同其尘。

A person who dwells with the Dao sees the Dao as their guiding light. This is similar to our recital of "Namo Amitabha." "Namo" means harmony and taking refuge. "Amitabha" signifies infinite light and infinite life. This light is the boundless light, the light of the Dao, the fundamental light of all Buddhas. Therefore, "Namo Amitabha" means to harmonize with this light and be one with it in both light and dust.

做到与一切万物的本体之光和，同时也与道所生出的一切尘象同一轨迹，所以，一切法无不从此法界流，无不还归此法界。作为一个修行人，我们皈依这个法界，但是对一切法界所生出来的森罗万象，也不相违背，即“一切治生产业，皆与实相不相违背”。

和其光，同其尘

“和其光，同其尘，湛兮”，

就是对道的赞美。寂静，安然，澄澈

冲和，若存若亡，同而不流，

我们没有办法对立地去认识它，

也没有办法清晰地去揣度它，

“吾不知谁之子”

不可思议，无形无名，

生养万有，量周太虚，

道就是天地万类的根本

                         ---三参法师