一个美国念佛人的自白

　　我生活在美国西南部，这里鲜有人听闻净土宗以及阿弥陀佛的救度。很多土生土长的美国人也想皈依净土宗，但我跟他们聊天时发现，他们因担心遭到排斥、歧视和宗教迫害而选择闭口不谈自己新开始的佛教信仰。

　　他们说：「我信仰阿弥陀佛，但我不敢把这事告诉别人。我父母和我家祖祖辈辈都是虔诚的基督徒，我怕他们会因我违背家庭文化传统而讨厌我。另外，我的朋友和同事们也基本上都信仰基督，我也担心他们会跟我进行没完没了的宗教辩论，并试图让我转变信仰。

　　宗教、文化和传统是人类为隔离彼此而创造的。宗教并不代表真理，只是自我意识的产物。宗教和真理不是一回事。大多数人并不因为宗教是真理而信仰宗教，而仅仅是因为宗教与他们的传统和文化身分联系在一起。释迦牟尼佛的教导只是真理。因此，佛教并不是为隔离而设计的宗教。佛是为了让众生共同证入真理境界而宣说佛教。佛教本身就是真理。

　　阿弥陀佛并不在意人的文化身分，也不关心这人是基督徒、穆斯林、印度教徒还是其他教徒。佛知道这些标签和身分仅仅是缘起，终究都是空性的。阿弥陀佛意在救度所有众生，他对每一个人的爱都是平等无差别的。他尊重我们的自由意志，等待每个人以自己的时机因缘接受他的救度。许多宗教把佛教与世间宗教混为一谈，仅仅因为阿弥陀佛的救度不符合其文化宗教认同而加以排斥。正因如此，我们作为佛陀忠心的追随者，不应将佛教误认为一种世间宗教，而应将其作为真理信受。

　　如果您仍是顾虑重重，也不妨做个沉默无语的净土宗念佛人。阿弥陀佛会理解你的顾虑，他知道你出於社会义务而不得不继续遵从家族的文化传统。所以就自己默默念佛吧。念佛越多，您的信心将愈加增长，您的恐惧担忧也会很快消散。我本人也曾有过同样的担心，担心遭到排斥和宗教迫害。但我自从公开宣布自己是净土宗念佛人後，很快发现人们能感受到我的诚心与信念。

　　当一个人发至诚心，抱有强烈信念，并真心相信自己所信仰的是真理，那麽他周围的人都能感觉到这一点，不仅不会与他进行无休止的宗教辩论和争吵，也不会试图转变其信仰。如今，几乎我所有的朋友、家人和同事都知道我是一个净土宗念佛人，他们都能理解我。我对自己的信仰非常坦然，毫不介意与别人分享。自从公开宣布自己的信仰後，还没有任何人跟我进行过宗教辩论，也没有人试图转变我的信仰。他们尊重我的信仰，而我也尊重他们的文化传统。

　　与此同时，我坚信，我周围的人在心灵深处，都已经感觉到了阿弥陀佛和他的光明就在我周围，当他们听闻净土法门的法义，也都能体悟到其中的真理，体悟到它的真实不虚和无穷的利益。正因如此，他们接受了我的净土宗念佛人的身分，从不会排斥我。

　　南无阿弥陀佛

净谛居士（DylanHarmon）

净土宗英译组翻译

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