April 21, 2026

Apr. 21, 2026 

Master Huijing’s Short Teaching about Pure Land Buddhism (I) 

淨土短文 (一) (1 /5)

13. Pure Land Buddhism takes “aspiring to be born in my land” as its foundation. If one departs from this, then whatever learning one pursues cannot be considered correct learning of the Pure Land school. 

Birth in the Pure Land assures that we will no longer regress but are one lifetime away from Buddhahood. Its basis lies in the phrase “unsurpassed merit.” Since it is a land of “unsurpassed merit,” our progression to Buddhahood is much more quickly accomplished. 

The fruit of “unsurpassed merit” refers to the fruit of Buddhahood, which is already contained there. Therefore, upon rebirth, one can immediately access it and receive its benefits. 

Since one does not retrogress on the path to Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi (unsurpassed perfect enlightenment), one must inevitably become a Buddha. 

“The environment transforms the mind”: upon rebirth in the Land of Ultimate Bliss, everything one sees and hears becomes a condition for awakening. 

(to be continued tomorrow) 

13. 淨土宗以「欲生我國」為基礎，離開此，做任何學問皆非淨土宗之學問。 往生即成佛，其根據應在「無上功德」之文，既是「無上功德」，則往生還要再 修甚麼？

因「無上」是佛果，在此已預得「佛果」，故往生即受此用。 

不退轉於阿耨多羅三藐三菩提，故非成佛不可。 

以境奪心：往生極樂，其見聞之境皆能開悟。 

Namo Amituofo! 

April 20, 2026

Apr. 20, 2026 

Clarifying Doubts About the Pure Land (I) 

淨土釋疑(一) 

Question 34: What the Dharma Master just explained is that the World-Honored One instructed Venerable Ānanda to diligently recite “Namo Amitabha Buddha.” Is my understanding correct that , once we receive the majestic power, merits, and benefits of reciting Namo Amitabha Buddha “up to ten times”, the lotus has already opened and the lotus rebirth is accomplished? In other words, just as I am now, have I already been saved? 

Answer to Q34: 

Yes. Aspire for rebirth and recite Namo Amitabha Buddha—the moment you do this, you are saved. This is true at any time and in any place. 

34問：剛才法師所講的，就是世尊囑咐阿難尊者，好好稱念「南無阿彌陀佛」這 句名號。我理解法師所講的：領受這句南無阿彌陀佛的威神功德利益，是不是 就像您所說的，我現在就是「乃至十念」的稱念，就已經華落蓮成？這樣，就 我這個樣子，現在就已經被救了，是這個樣子嗎？ 

答： 是，願生稱名，當下領受，當下被救，何時都是被救之時，何地都是被救之地。 

Namo Amituofo!

April 19, 2026

Apr. 19, 2026

Q and A about Practicing Amitabha-Recitation 

Part Three - Assisted-Recitation near the End-of-Life 

第三部分 有關臨終助念 

Question 67: Does this mean that no matter who the person is, as long as others assist by reciting Namo Amitabha Buddha, they can be reborn in the Pure Land? 

Answer : If someone assists by reciting Namo Amitabha Buddha, the possibility of rebirth in the Pure Land is very great; but, it cannot be guaranteed that everyone will attain rebirth. Assisted recitation works best when the dying person also recites Namo Amitabha Buddha; only in this way can rebirth be achieved. 

Even if others recite to assist, if the receiver has shallow good roots and deep karmic obstructions; is unwilling to be reborn, and does not recite Namo Amitabha Buddha, then rebirth cannot be attained. 

However, even if rebirth is not achieved, at the moment of death if the person hears even a single recitation of Namo Amitabha Buddha, this at least ensures that the person will not fall into one of the three evil realms. Therefore, the merits and benefits are still inconceivable. 

67問：這麼說來，不論何人，只要助念，都能往生淨土，是嗎？ 

答：有人助念的話，往生的可能性非常大，但也不能保證個個都能往生。所 謂助念，是助他本人念佛，這樣才能往生。雖有他人助念，如其本人善根 淺、業障深，不願往生、不念佛，也不能往生。不過，即使沒能往生，但臨 命終時，一句佛號一歷耳根，至少保證不至墮落三惡道。所以其功德利益 也是難思的。

Namo Amituofo!

April 18, 2026

Apr. 18, 2026 

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teaching about the Grace of Deliverance 

慧淨法師之救恩法語(二)之愛的心語 

The childhood sweethearts who once grew up together in innocent companionship have long since lost contact.

The youthful playmates who chase dreams with wild passion, have scattered to different places. 

The close friends of our young adulthood, who once talked freely about everything under the sun, have gone their separate ways. 

The first love with whom we once pledged eternal devotion has moved on—he has married, she has wed. 

Even those friends bound by deep loyalty, willing to share life and death together, often leave this world before us. 

Good friends, best friends, forever the best of friends! Who are they ? Where are they ? 

Your best friend is Amitabha. Amitabha vows to be your best friend forever. 

兩小無猜的青梅竹馬，已音訊渺茫； 

狂飆逐夢的少年玩伴，已人各一方； 

高談闊論的青年死黨，已各分東西； 

海誓山盟的初戀情人，已男婚女嫁； 

而肝膽相照的生死之交，更常已先走一步。 

好朋友，最好的朋友，永遠最好的朋友！ 

他是誰？他在何處？最好的朋友是彌陀， 

彌陀願作你永遠最好的朋友。 

Namo Amituofo!

April 17, 2026

Apr. 17, 2026 

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teaching asking “What does life look like?” 

慧淨法師之「人生之實相」 

For sinful ordinary beings, wishing to escape Saṃsara in this life by relying on self-power, is like trying to wash off oil with oil—it is simply impossible. 

罪惡凡夫，今生欲靠自力出離，如油洗油，無有是理。 

Namo Amituofo!

April 16, 2026

Apr. 16, 2026 

Wonderful Metaphors in the Pure Land School 

淨土宗妙喻 

Metaphor 58: Amitabha’s Name is Like a Credit Card 

Recite Amitabha’s Name with Faith

The institution in Taiwan that owns the most money is the Central Bank. If Amitabha’s merits and virtues, as contained in “Namo Amituofo,” are the equivalent of the reserve in the Central Bank, we Amitabha-reciters, who take refuge in Amitabha Buddha, are analogous to creditors entitled to the money in the Bank. 

Metaphorically, exclusively reciting Namo Amitabha Buddha acts like a credit card issued by the central bank, allowing those who recite unrestricted withdrawals of the merits. Such merits not only eliminate our karmic obstructions, but they also help us connect with others through dedication of the merits. 

Master Shandao says, “Amitabha Buddha made a profound and weighty vow — to embrace sentient beings in all directions with both his light and his name, in order to induce them to recite with faith.” 

In short, Amitabha’s name has been given to sentient beings for our benefit , whether in the present life or beyond. All we need to do is accept the gift, believe in it, and exclusively recite it. 

58. 銀行卡喻 

信心求念 

在我們臺灣，錢最多的政府單位是哪裡？中央銀行嗎？假如中央銀行所 有的錢，就如同阿彌陀佛的功德，也就是「南無阿彌陀佛」這六字洪名，那我 們歸命的人，就等同擁有了中央銀行的所有錢財，對不對？（眾答：對！） 

所以，這句名號能讓我們支取出來，消我們的業障，也能讓我們迴向，來 跟其他的人結緣，這六字洪名等同中央銀行的一張金融卡，讓我們自由支 配。 

善導大師說：「彌陀世尊本發深重誓願，以光明名號攝化十方，但使信心 求念。」 

所以，這句名號是讓我們眾生信受、稱念的，不管眾生稱念這句名號是為了 現世利益也好、是為了當來利益也好，都可以信心求念。

Namo Amituofo! 

April 15, 2026

Apr. 15, 2026

Important Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching 

淨土小常識 

179. What Kind of Pure Land Is the Land of Bliss? (3/3) 

Regarding the patriarchs of past generations: 

● Vasubandhu Bodhisattva, in his Treatise on Rebirth, explained the twenty-nine kinds of adornments of the Pure Land—concerning both the land and the beings within it—and stated that it is not a realm where the Two Vehicles or beings within the three realms can dwell. 

● Master Daochuo, in his Collection on Peace and Bliss, cited the Same Nature Mahayana Sutra to determine that the Western Land of Bliss is a Reward Land. 

● Master Shandao, in his Commentary on the Contemplation Sutra in Four Fascicles, concluded that the Dharma-gate of Amitabha allows ordinary beings to enter the Reward Land. 

Therefore, practitioners who exclusively recite Namo Amitabha Buddha should understand that, according to the doctrinal interpretations of these Pure Land patriarchs, the Land of Bliss is the Reward Land of the Reward Buddha. 

Although this differs somewhat from the Tiantai classification of the Three Bodies and Four Lands, each approach has its own skillful means. The situation described as “womb birth in a transformation land” simply refers to those reborn who harbor doubts about the Buddha’s wisdom and temporarily remain inside the lotus bud. 

When we compare the related sutra passages, we can infer that the “borderland city of doubt” refers precisely to this womb birth, which is likened to a

transformation land. The lotus palace itself is still within the Reward Land. Remaining within the lotus bud is only temporary. As soon as the doubt is exhausted, the lotus flower opens, and one immediately emerges — equally experiencing transformation birth in the Reward Land. 

179 極樂世界是什麼樣的淨土？(3/3) 

就歷代祖師大德而言，天親菩薩於《往生論》中，闡明極樂依正二十九種 莊嚴，非二乘三界能居。道綽大師於《安樂集》中，則引《大乘同性經》而判定 西方極樂世界為報土；善導大師則於《觀經四帖疏》中，判彌陀法門為凡夫入 報。 

念佛人應知，淨土宗祖師依經典教判，極樂世界乃是報佛報土。雖然這與 天臺的三身四土教判不盡相同，但各有善巧方便。而化土胎生之景象，也不 過就是「往生者疑惑佛智，暫時處於蓮苞內」的狀況。比對相關經文，就可以 推知，「邊地疑城」即是所比喻的「化土胎生」，而蓮宮也是生在報土之中，住 胎不過是一時的，只要疑惑一盡，隨即蓮花開敷，同樣化生於報土。 

Namo Amituofo!