五会念佛录音带之功用
林钰堂居士指导
陈纯真女居士记述
一、“五会念佛”的缘起
净土宗四祖法照大师，于定中进入西方极乐世界，于彼佛国土，闻佛菩萨众、水鸟、树林皆唱五会念佛。佛告之曰：“众生遇此法宝，便能念佛，即此一生，定超苦海，登不退转”。故嘱其广传此法。
法照大师所记之五会念佛乐谱，年代湮远，已经失传。幸蒙近代观本法师留心此事，于日本出版之大藏中寻获该谱之简述，据以重谱新曲，并从此大力提倡，以此清净梵音普度众生。
此谱近年再蒙法振法师调整，并指导圆光佛学院同学合唱，配以钢琴伴奏，录制适合早晚课使用之五会念佛音带，以弘扬流通。
二、本带特点
林居士为便利平日念佛不断及临终助念，而设计此带，虽据法振法师制作之带，但略去前首“赞佛偈”及末尾“回向偈”，只取中间念佛部份反覆录制。录音带的长度，则特别选用九十分钟者，一则因为六十分钟带子转面较繁，二则因一百二十分钟带子太薄易断。
三、如何利用本带
随时随地可听，或伴唱，使心中佛号不断。唱佛易使情感融入，而自然达到一心念佛。
家中常放此乐，可使家庭气氛转为安详和谐，而佛号亦于不知不觉中，深植全家心田。此举对儿童特别有益，因为要劝他们念佛较难，但是听惯了，他们自然也就会唱。有时还可用做催眠曲。
家人或佛友共修时，可以放来伴唱。唱累或念累时可以静听。
病时常听此乐，可保心中宁静，业障潜消，有助早愈。
临终之时，若不易得佛友助念，可不断播放此带助念。
诚愿大家复制、流通此带及此文，广结善缘，使更多有情由乐入佛，共臻净土。
Functions of the Tape of
Five-variation Chanting of Amitabha
Under the guidance of Dr. Yutang Lin
Written by Chun-Jane Chen
Edited by Ann Klein
I. The Origination of the "Five-Variation Chanting of Amitabha"
The Reverend Fa-Zhao, the fourth Patriarch of the Chinese Pureland School, entered the Pureland through his meditation; he heard Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, water, birds and trees, all singing the Five-variation Chanting of Amitabha. Amitabha Buddha told him that any sentient beings who encounter this Dharma treasure will want to chant the Buddha’s name. By doing so, they will surely cross the ocean of suffering and reach the shore of no regression in just one lifetime. Then Buddha entrusted him to propagate this method extensively.
However, the music score as dictated by the Reverend Fa-Zhao had been lost for ages. Fortunately, in the 1930’s, the Reverend Guan-Ben researched this matter and found two brief descriptions of that music score in the Japanese Tripitakas. Based on such descriptions, the Reverend Guan-Ben composed his own version, and disseminated that melodious chanting in order to bring about the ultimate salvation of all sentient beings.
In recent years, the Reverend Fa-Zhen rearranged this score, and with the accompaniment of the piano, the chorus of the Yuan-Guang Buddhist Institute taped it for circulation. However, it is designed for the morning and evening services, therefore, it contains praises at the beginning and dedication of merits at the end of the tape.
II. Special Characteristics of this Tape
Dr. Lin designed this tape for the daily practice of continuously chanting "Amitabha," and to assist dying persons to maintain the chanting during their final hours. He adopted the Reverend Fa-Zhen’s tape, but omitted the praises and the dedication of merits. He recorded only the chanting of Amitabha, repeatedly, on a 90-minute cassette. Dr. Lin felt that the 60-minute cassette needed to be reversed too frequently, and the 120-minute cassette was too thin and could break easily.
III. How to Utilize this Tape
Listen to it anytime, anywhere, and sing with it to keep a constant flow of "Amitabha" in your mind. Through singing the Buddha’s name, it is easier to release one’s feelings into it; and it will also help one achieve single-mindedness naturally.
By playing this tape at home frequently, the atmosphere will become harmonious and peaceful, and the Buddha’s name will be implanted deeply into the hearts of the family. It is especially helpful in teaching children to chant, because when they are used to hearing it, they will sing it spontaneously. This tape could also be played as a lullaby.
For the group-practice of chanting "Amitabha," this tape can be played as an accompaniment. When people get tired from chanting, they could just listen to it attentively.
During an illness, one can listen to this tape to feel calm and peaceful; the karmic obstacles will gradually be removed, and one’s health will be restored sooner.
During a dying person’s final hours, it is not easy for friends to gather to help with chanting, therefore, this tape can be played continuously to help maintain one’s peace.
I sincerely wish that people would duplicate and circulate this tape and article freely, so that more sentient beings will be able to share the benefits and eventually gain rebirth in Amitabha’s Pureland.
December 1, 1990
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