一個美國念佛人的自白

　　我生活在美國西南部，這裡鮮有人聽聞淨土宗以及阿彌陀佛的救度。很多土生土長的美國人也想皈依淨土宗，但我跟他們聊天時發現，他們因擔心遭到排斥、歧視和宗教迫害而選擇閉口不談自己新開始的佛教信仰。

　　他們說：「我信仰阿彌陀佛，但我不敢把這事告訴別人。我父母和我家祖祖輩輩都是虔誠的基督徒，我怕他們會因我違背家庭文化傳統而討厭我。另外，我的朋友和同事們也基本上都信仰基督，我也擔心他們會跟我進行沒完沒了的宗教辯論，並試圖讓我轉變信仰。

　　宗教、文化和傳統是人類為隔離彼此而創造的。宗教並不代表真理，只是自我意識的產物。宗教和真理不是一回事。大多數人並不因為宗教是真理而信仰宗教，而僅僅是因為宗教與他們的傳統和文化身分聯繫在一起。釋迦牟尼佛的教導只是真理。因此，佛教並不是為隔離而設計的宗教。佛是為了讓眾生共同證入真理境界而宣說佛教。佛教本身就是真理。

　　阿彌陀佛並不在意人的文化身分，也不關心這人是基督徒、穆斯林、印度教徒還是其他教徒。佛知道這些標籤和身分僅僅是緣起，終究都是空性的。阿彌陀佛意在救度所有眾生，他對每一個人的愛都是平等無差別的。他尊重我們的自由意志，等待每個人以自己的時機因緣接受他的救度。許多宗教把佛教與世間宗教混為一談，僅僅因為阿彌陀佛的救度不符合其文化宗教認同而加以排斥。正因如此，我們作為佛陀忠心的追隨者，不應將佛教誤認為一種世間宗教，而應將其作為真理信受。

　　如果您仍是顧慮重重，也不妨做個沉默無語的淨土宗念佛人。阿彌陀佛會理解你的顧慮，他知道你出於社會義務而不得不繼續遵從家族的文化傳統。所以就自己默默念佛吧。念佛越多，您的信心將愈加增長，您的恐懼擔憂也會很快消散。我本人也曾有過同樣的擔心，擔心遭到排斥和宗教迫害。但我自從公開宣布自己是淨土宗念佛人後，很快發現人們能感受到我的誠心與信念。

　　當一個人發至誠心，抱有強烈信念，並真心相信自己所信仰的是真理，那麼他周圍的人都能感覺到這一點，不僅不會與他進行無休止的宗教辯論和爭吵，也不會試圖轉變其信仰。如今，幾乎我所有的朋友、家人和同事都知道我是一個淨土宗念佛人，他們都能理解我。我對自己的信仰非常坦然，毫不介意與別人分享。自從公開宣布自己的信仰後，還沒有任何人跟我進行過宗教辯論，也沒有人試圖轉變我的信仰。他們尊重我的信仰，而我也尊重他們的文化傳統。

　　與此同時，我堅信，我周圍的人在心靈深處，都已經感覺到了阿彌陀佛和他的光明就在我周圍，當他們聽聞淨土法門的法義，也都能體悟到其中的真理，體悟到它的真實不虛和無窮的利益。正因如此，他們接受了我的淨土宗念佛人的身分，從不會排斥我。

　　南無阿彌陀佛

淨諦居士（DylanHarmon）

淨土宗英譯組翻譯

原文

Living in the south east of the United States, where most have never heard of Pureland Buddhism and Amitabha's Deliverance, I have talked with many American born citizen that want to become Pureland Buddhist, but out of fear of rejection, discrimination and religious persecution, choose to remain silent about their new Buddhist beliefs.

They say, "I believe in Amitabha Buddha but fear telling others. My parents and their parents before them are devout Christians and I fear that they will hate me for going against our family and cultural traditions. Also, almost all my friends and coworkers are Christians and I fear that they will try to get in endless religious debates and arguments with me and try to convert me.

Religion, culture and traditions are creations of humankind for the purpose to separate us from one another. Religion is not truth, but is a product of the ego. There is religion and there is truth. Most people do not believe in religion because it is true. Most believe in religion because it is associated with their traditional and cultural identity. Sakyamuni Buddha taught only the truth. Therefore, Buddhism is not a religion created for the purpose of separation, but Buddhism was taught by the Buddha to unite all living beings in the truth. Buddhism is truth itself. 

Amitabha Buddha does not care what cultural identity a person may have. He does not care if one is Christian, Muslim, Hindu, etc. The Buddha knows that such labels and identities are only the result of causal connections and are ultimately and truly empty. He wishes to save all living beings and loves everyone equally. He just respects our free will and waits for everyone to accept his deliverance in their own time. Many religions confuse Buddhism as another religion and reject Amitabha's deliverance simply because it is not part of their cultural and religious identity. This is why, as sincere believers of the Buddha, we should not mistake Buddhism as a religion, but only accept it as truth.

If your fears are still too great, it is perfectly fine to "stay in the closet" as a Pureland Buddhist. Amitabha Buddha knows what is in your heart. He knows that you feel socially obliged to still honor your families cultural traditions. Just recite Amitabha's name to yourself. As you recite, your faith will grow, and your fears will soon disappear. I used to have these same fears of rejection and religious persecution. But after I "came out of the closet" as a Pureland Buddhist, I quickly learned that people can sense your sincerity and conviction.

When a person's faith is sincere,his conviction is strong and they really believe that their beliefs are truth, others can sense this. Feeling this, they will not try to get in endless religious debates and arguments with you or try to convert you. Almost all of my friends, family and coworkers know that I am a Pureland Buddhist and are perfectly fine with it. I am very open about my beliefs and not ashamed to share them. Ever since I "came out of the closet" as a Pureland Buddhist, I have not gotten in one religious debate or argument and no one has tried to convert me. When others see my sincerity and strong conviction, they choose not to debate, argue or try to convert me. They respect my beliefs as I respect their cultural traditions.

Also, I believe that every person, on a deeper level, already knows the truth, and can feel the Light and presence of Amitabha Buddha around me and on a deeper level, already know that the teachings of Pureland Buddhism is real, true and good when they hear them. Therefore, they accept me as a Pureland Buddhist and do not reject me.

Namo Amitabha Buddha