August 18, 2026

Aug.18, 2026 

Clarifying Doubts About the Pure Land (I) 

淨土釋疑(一) 

Question 44: 

Master, you once told the story of a Brahmin and his wife who recited Namo Amitabha Buddha together. Why did the Brahmin still fall into hell despite his practice? Please explain? 

Answer to Q44 : (1 /3) 

Perhaps, although he recited Namo Amitabha Buddha, he did so reluctantly or merely as a formality. 

Even though he fell into hell, he had nevertheless recited Namo Amitabha Buddha. Therefore, under the appropriate conditions, the Name would inevitably manifest its power. Just the fact that he recited Namo Amitabha Buddha revealed the influence of Amitabha’s power upon him and his wife. Although he was not immediately reborn in Amitabha's Land of Bliss, the compassionate function of the Name nevertheless revealed itself. 

It is also possible that this was Amitabha Buddha's compassionate arrangement —that he first went to hell so that, through the power of the recitation of Namo Amitabha Buddha he could bring deliverance to even more beings there. Afterwards, he was allowed to return to the human world to recount this story; so that all who heard it would be deeply moved to begin reciting Namo Amitabha Buddha themselves, and pass the story on to others. 

The account of his experience is recorded only in this brief form. It does not explain all the causes and conditions before and after the event. Therefore, we can only make such inferences. 

We know that the recitation of Namo Amitabha Buddha enables those who recite it to be reborn in Amitabha's Land of Bliss. If this Brahmin was not reborn there immediately, there must have been various reasons. 

The reason such a person exclusively recites Namo Amitabha Buddha is that he has a clear motivation and purpose. That motivation is nothing other than to renounce the suffering of the Saha World and aspire to rebirth in the Land of Bliss. 

(to be continued tomorrow) 

44問：師父講的公案，就是一個婆羅門和他的妻子一起念佛，為什麼他念佛還 會墮到地獄？請師父開示。 

答(1 /3)：這或許他雖然稱念，但卻是一種勉強的念、應付式的念。 

雖然他墮落地獄了，但畢竟他念過佛，這句名號就會在某種機緣下顯 示它的功能，所以它的功能也顯現出來了，雖然沒有即刻往生極樂世界，但 是功能顯現出來了。 

或許這也是彌陀的安排，使他到地獄去，借這句名號度更多的眾生，同 時又讓他還陽來，告訴世人這一則典故，使凡是聽到的人都感動，都去稱名， 然後又傳佈出去。 

他的事蹟就是很簡要地這樣述說而已，至於其他的前因後果，並沒有 交代，所以，我們只能這樣推論。 

我們知道，這句名號能夠使稱念的人往生極樂世界。這個婆羅門不能往 生，那有種種原因。 

能夠往生的，當然都是一生專稱佛名的人，一生專稱佛名就必定往生極 樂世界。他之所以專稱佛名，當然有他的動機、目的，他的動機、目的無非是 厭離娑婆、願生極樂，然後才會去稱念這句名號。

Namo Amituofo! 

August 17, 2026

Aug.17, 2026 

Q and A about Practicing Amitabha-Recitation 

Part Three - - Amitabha-Recitation Near the End-of-Life 

念佛實用問答(3) - 臨終助念 

Question 77: How should we understand and balance the relationship between daily Amitabha-recitation and assisted recitation near the end of life?

Answer to Q77: 

We should think in this way: I am a person who recites Namo Amitabha Buddha. When the time of death arrives, even if there is not a single person present, Amitabha Buddha will certainly come; leading the ocean-like assembly of pure bodhisattvas to welcome me. 

However, when the time comes to repay and bid farewell to this Saha World, if fellow practitioners come to recite Namo Amitabha Buddha and help me on my journey, it is indeed a most excellent and noble occasion. It helps reduce worldly distractions and brings mutual encouragement, comfort, and joy among lotus friends. 

Furthermore, if it is for oneself, one should diligently engage in the exclusive recitation of Namo Amitabha Buddha, rely on the power of Amitabha's Fundamental Vow, and be assured of rebirth in the Land of Bliss. One should not place one's hope for rebirth upon receiving assisted recitation at the time of death. 

If it is for others, however, then when someone is approaching the end of life, one should make every effort to go and provide assisted recitation and compassionate comfort.

77問：平日念佛與臨終助念之間，應如何用心取捨？ 

答：應當想到：我是念佛人，臨終之時，即使沒有一個人在場，阿彌陀佛也決 定會率領清淨大海眾菩薩來迎！ 

但報謝娑婆之時，如果有蓮友念佛相送，既少俗緣，又相慶慰，也是很殊勝的事。 

又，如果為了自己，則應當致力於「專修念佛，乘佛願力，決定往 生」，不可將 往生押在臨終助念之上。如果為了別人，則臨終時儘量前去助念安慰。

Namo Amituofo! 

August 16, 2026

Aug.16, 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 

In Amitabha’s compassionate vow to save all suffering beings, he calls out to all those: In the Three Wretched Realms, the Hell Realm, Hungry Ghost Realm and the Animal Realm; please come to be reborn in my land, and let me transform you? Then you will quickly become a Buddha .” (from the Adornment Sutra) 

三惡道中，地獄餓鬼畜生，皆生我剎，受我法化，不久悉成佛。《莊嚴經》 

Namo Amituofo!

August 15, 2026

Aug. 15, 2026 

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

慧淨法師之「人生之實相」 

Whenever a man looks at a woman raising a thought of lust, he has already committed adultery with her in his mind.

凡見婦女就動淫念的，這人心裏已經與她犯姦淫了。

Namo Amituofo!

August 14, 2026

Aug. 14, 2026 

Wonderful Metaphors in the Pure Land School 

淨土宗妙喻 

Metaphor 68: Recovery from Illness 

In the Collected Works of Master Yinguang, there is this saying: “If a person slanders the Dharma; but, later realizes his serious offence and repents [by reciting Amitabha’s Name], he can still attain rebirth in the Pure Land. This is like recovering from an illness and becoming a healthy person.”

Here, Master Yinguang emphasizes that even those who have slandered the Dharma, which is a grave transgression, can still be reborn in the Pure Land. This is provided that they repent and rectify their evildoing [by exclusively reciting Namo Amitabha Buddha]. This is akin to a patient who has recovered from an illness and is now fit and well again. 

68. 病癒喻 

《印光大師文鈔》言： 若先曾謗法，後知改悔，則得往生。譬如病癒，即是好 人。 

印光大師這段法語是說，如果以前曾經謗法，之後曉得悔改，這樣也能夠往 生。就像病好了，就是健康的人。 

Namo Amituofo! 

August 13, 2026

Aug. 13, 2026 

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

淨土短文 (一) 

22. The Samadhi of Amitabha-recitation does not involve stages of spiritual attainment, nor does it proceed step by step through graded levels. In a single leap, we directly enter the Tathagata's Dharma-gate of Ultimate Reality (True Suchness). 

As it is said: "It eradicates the deluded thoughts accumulated over countless kalpas, without passing through Asaṃkhyeya eons to attain the Dharma-body." 

The Great Treatise states: "Samadhi is simply a Dharma in which the mind is in accord. Dharani is also a Dharma associated with the mind; yet, it also has an aspect not dependent on the mind. This mind-independent aspect means that, when a person has heard and upheld the Dharani, even if anger arises in the mind, it is not lost. It constantly accompanies the person, just as a shadow follows the body." 

The Samadhi of Amitabha-recitation is: neither sudden nor gradual, neither provisional nor ultimate, neither meditative concentration nor distraction. Truly, it is a wondrous and inconceivably Great Way. 

The Samadhi of Amitabha-recitation is, for all sentient beings: 

● A medicine for those burdened by evil karma, 

● Protection for those who have broken the precepts, 

● A guide for those who have strayed from the path,

● Eyes for those wandering in blindness and darkness, 

● Wisdom for the foolish and ignorant, 

● And a lamp for those dwelling in darkness. 

22.念佛三昧，不涉地位，不落階梯，一超直入如來實相法門。所謂「銷我億劫顛倒想，不歷僧祇獲法身」。 

《大論》說：「三昧但是心相應法。陀羅尼亦是心相應，亦是心不相應。是心不相應者，如人得聞持陀羅尼，雖心瞋恚亦不失。常隨人行，如影隨形。」 念佛三昧，非頓非漸，非權非實，非定非散，誠是微妙難思之大道。 念佛三昧，是一切眾生：犯罪者藥，破戒者護，失道者導，盲冥者眼，愚癡者慧 ，黑闇者燈。 

Namo Amituofo! 

August 12, 2026

Aug. 12, 2026 

Clarifying Doubts About the Pure Land (I) 

淨土釋疑(一) 

Question 43: 

Master, for a person whose faith remains unwavering, who has already been embraced and never forsaken by Amitabha Buddha’s unceasing light, and whose rebirth is decisively settled here and now, does such a person still need assisted recitation at the end of life? Is it still necessary to leave instructions for family members concerning end-of-life arrangements?

Answer to Q43: 

Certainly, for one who entrusts with faith, aspires to rebirth, and exclusively recites Namo Amitabha Buddha, rebirth is already assured. There is no need to wait for assisted recitation, or rely upon assisted recitation in order to attain rebirth. 

Those of us who exclusively recite Namo Amitabha Buddha, regularly associate with Dharma teachers, and fellow lotus friends; when the time of death arrives, it should be a lively and warm occasion, not one in which a person faces death alone. At that time, lotus friends may gather together for a final farewell. The dying person will also deeply feel that having received Amitabha Buddha’s deliverance is an immeasurably great blessing. Thus, for every remaining moment that the physical body is still alive, one naturally wishes to recite Namo Amitabha Buddha a few more times in gratitude for the Buddha’s boundless compassion and grace. 

When lotus friends join together in reciting Namo Amitabha Buddha at the bedside, it is itself a truly noble occasion. Moreover, it is not uncommon for extraordinary and inconceivably auspicious signs to appear at the time of death. If many lotus friends are present, rejoicing in the person's rebirth, such auspicious signs can inspire faith in those who have not yet believed. 

Often, a single auspicious sign can be more effective than years of Dharma lectures. People may listen to teachings for many years and still not believe; but, when an auspicious sign manifests before their eyes, they may find it impossible not to believe. 

43問：請問師父，信心不變的人，已得彌陀不斷光明的攝取不捨而當下決定了 往生的身份，不必等到臨終，也不必看臨終的善相、惡相、如何死去，這樣的 人臨終還須助念嗎？還須囑咐家人臨終事項嗎？

答：當然，信願念佛的人往生已經決定了，不必等待助念，不必依靠助念。 

我們念佛的人，經常親近師父、蓮友，在臨終的那個時候，應該是熱熱鬧 鬧的，不可能是獨單一個人。那個時候，蓮友相約，來作最後的告別，而臨終 的人這個時候一定也感到：蒙受彌陀的救度，這個恩德非常的重大，所以，肉 身存在的一分一秒，要多念幾句佛號報答佛恩。 

臨終之時，蓮友如果齊聲念佛，也是一件很殊勝的事情。而且往往人在臨 終的時候會有不可思議的瑞相產生，那個時候，如果很多蓮友聚集在那裏， 慶祝他的往生，在瑞相當中，容易使一些沒有相信的人產生信心。一個瑞相 往往比講經好幾年還有效果，講經好幾年人家不一定信，當下顯現一個瑞相 就不得不信了。 

Namo Amituofo!