April 30

Apr 30, 2017
慧淨上人法語
凡夫入報

The Land of Bliss is a realm of nirvana – no physical birth and death (body), as well as no mental production and extinction (mind), so rebirth [in the Land of Bliss] implies achieving Buddhahood. It means we attain the great enjoyment of the Buddha’s nirvana. Buddha’s joy is the great joy of nirvana. The great joy of nirvana is available only to the buddhas. Any being can attain the great joy of nirvana upon rebirth in the Land of Bliss. Great enjoyment in nirvana means achieving Buddhahood.

極樂世界既是涅槃境界，既無分段生死，也無變易生死，是故往生，即是成佛，即受佛之涅槃大樂。佛樂即是涅槃大樂，涅槃大樂，唯佛所受。不論何人，一旦往生極樂，皆受涅槃大樂，既受涅槃大樂，即是成佛。

Namo Amitabha!

April 29

Apr 29, 2017
慧淨上人法語
專稱彌陀佛名

“A wonderful substance with a myriad of virtues is the six-character great name; merits and virtues as much as the Ganges sand is available in the single practice of name-recitation” (Quotation of Master Honen).

“A myriad of virtues” is referred to the virtues attained in a myriad of practices of the Six Paramitas, in the 84,000 teachings, and in all scriptures in the Three Canons and the Twelve Divisions. Where is the substance of the myriad of virtues? That is the six-character name.

This six-character name is equated with the sufficient merits and virtues as much as the Ganges sand. The practitioner is merely required to recite “Namo Amituofo” single-mindedly with his mouth; he will then attain the merits and virtues as much as the Ganges sand.

「萬善妙體即名號六字，恒沙功德備口稱一行」（法然上人語）。

「萬善」就是六度萬行，以及八萬四千法門、三藏十二部經的功德。萬善的體在哪裡？就是這六字名號。

這六字名號，等同具備了恒沙的功德，行者只要用口去專一稱念這句「南無阿彌陀佛」，就擁有了恒沙的功德。

Namo Amitabha!

April 28

Apr 28, 2017
慧淨上人法語
信受彌陀救度

If a person cultivates various miscellaneous practices and dedicates for rebirth [in the Land of Bliss], he is regarded to NOT entirely believe and accept Amitabha’s deliverance, NOT fully receiving Amitabha’s merits. That is to say, as he doubts in Amitabha’s deliverance, he practices various miscellaneous virtues in addition to Amitabha-recitation, and subsequently wraps up all these together and dedicates for rebirth. He may think it is more ‘reliable’ to attain rebirth. He may also think Amitabha’s power of deliverance is not sufficient, and these additional merits and virtues is ‘helpful’ [for his rebirth].

If it is what he thinks, he does not understand the principle of Amitabha’s deliverance of sentient beings, so he is regarded to be NOT entirely believe and accept Amitabha’s deliverance.

如果是修諸雜行迴向往生，那就不是完全信受彌陀的救度，沒有完全領受彌陀的功德；也可以說，是對阿彌陀佛的救度有所懷疑，所以才在念佛之外，還要加上這個功課，加上那個修行，加上那個功德，然後再綁在一起做迴向，認為這樣往生才可靠，這樣阿彌陀佛要救度我力量才夠，否則恐怕彌陀的力量不夠救度我。

如果這樣的話，就是不了解彌陀救度眾生的這個道理，沒有完全信受彌陀的救度。

Namo Amitabha!

April 27

Apr 27, 2017
慧淨上人法語
淨土宗宗旨

In studying Buddhism, we have to understand the concept of ‘emptiness’, but it is more important to practice Amitabha’s teaching of name-recitation. Though it is said to ‘practice’, it is not a matter of ‘practice’ [with effort], but just reciting his name. Everyone can recite Amitabha’s name in his own individual occupation, status and aptitude. Amitabha’s deliverance is equal. Moreover, he calls upon sentient beings of the ten directions proactively, and rescues them to be reborn in the Land of Bliss. If we have a little tendency in aspiration [to be reborn] in our mind, Amitabha Buddha will be very happy and excited.

There must have a yield as a result of Amitabha-recitation.  Our practice is certainly rewarded. We merely aspire to be reborn and exclusively recite Amitabha’s name, then we are considered to be aligned with Amitabha’s intention of deliverance, and we are assured of rebirth in Amitabha’s Pure Land.

我們學佛當然可以理解空義，但更要修阿彌陀佛的念佛法門，雖然說修，可是也無所謂修不修，只要念佛就好了，每個人就依自己在士農工商中的身份與根機去念佛。阿彌陀佛的救度是平等的，而且是主動的呼喚十方眾生讓祂救到極樂世界，更何況我們有起一點點願生之心，阿彌陀佛就高興得不得了。

所以念佛無枉費之功，是功不唐捐的。只要願生彌陀淨土，專稱彌陀佛名，就已經隨順彌陀的救度，就必定往生彌陀淨土。

Namo Amitabha!

April 25

Apr 25, 2017
慧淨上人法語
念佛度亡
(continued)

At that time, if he is willing to be reborn, he will immediately notice that he is seated on the lotus flower, ready to be reborn; if he is attached to two kinds of attachment—love or hatred, he will not be reborn.

If he wants to stay with his grandchild, thinking that the kid is too young and should not be left aside..., saying, “Amitabha Buddha, I am sorry, I don’t want to be reborn now”. So, he will not be reborn. This is attachment to love. There are many cases of attachment to love, such as loving their family, wealth…etc.

What about those attached to hatred? “My husband, my wife…I hate him/her. I won’t let him/her go. It is not that easy and simple. I will chase after him/her for repaying debts life after life. Amitabha Buddha, please forgive me. I cannot go with you for now.” In this cases, rebirth will not happen. In brief, love and hatred are the two kinds of attachment.

屆時就看對方，他如果肯往生，當下就發覺自己已經坐在蓮花上，就往生去了；若是他有執著，執著分兩種，執著「愛」跟執著「恨」。
若想跟孫子在一起，孫子還小，依戀不捨……，阿彌陀佛！不好意思，我還不想往生，這樣就沒有往生，這個就是執著愛。「愛」的執著情形很多，執著家庭、財產……。

執著恨的呢？我的先生、我的太太……我怨恨，我不放過他，哪有這麼簡單，我生生世世要跟他討債，阿彌陀佛！請你原諒我，我還不能跟您去，這樣也沒有往生。簡要講起來執著就 是愛跟恨兩種。

Namo Amitabha!

April 24

Apr 24, 2017
慧淨上人法語
念佛度亡

Secondly, we don’t know whether he has determined to be reborn in his present life, or whether he exclusively recites Amitabha’s name. However, if someone comes to tell him about this teaching, and assists him to recite at the time near the end of his life; if someone among these people sees Amitabha comes to receive him with the lotus altar; and if someone in his dream sees him being reborn in the Land of Bliss, then we can positively affirm that he has been reborn.

If someone smells a special scent or sees the light of Buddha, it is quite likely that he has attained rebirth because these signs indicate the arrival of the Buddha and sages of the Land of Bliss.
(continued tomorrow)

第二就是，他平生是否有決定往生，我們也不知道；是否有專念，我們也不知道。但是臨終的時候，有人來為他開示、為他助念，在那當中有人看到阿彌陀佛托著蓮花來接引他；或者有人夢到他往生極樂世界，這樣就能肯定他已往生。

若是聞到香味，看到佛光，這往往也證明說往生極樂世界的可能性很高，因為佛光、香味，就是佛或是極樂聖眾現前的現象。

Namo Amitabha!

April 23

Apr 23, 2017
慧淨上人法語
念佛度亡

After death, if a person is reborn in the Land of Bliss, his body will be generally soft; if he ascends to heaven, his body may also be soft; and if he becomes a deity in the “yin” realm (or underworld), his body may be soft too. If he performs virtuous conducts for his whole life, and reincarnates to become human again to enjoy the human fortunes, his body may also be soft. Hence, softness is not necessarily the only benchmark for verification of rebirth [in the Land of Bliss].

There are two benchmarks for rebirth. Firstly, in his present life he has determined to be reborn in the Land of Bliss, and exclusively recites “Namo Amituofo”. If he can do that, he is certainly reborn no matter his body is soft or not after a number of hours of his death.

(continued tomorrow)

人死之後，如果往生西方極樂世界，他的身體往往會柔軟；或者往生天庭，身體也可能會柔軟；或者到陰間做神，身體也可能會柔軟；或者他一生積德行善，投胎轉世做人，去享受人間的福報，身體也可能會柔軟。所以，柔軟不是往生的唯一認證標準。

往生的標準可以依兩種來看：第一就是，他平生有決定要往生極樂世界，專念這一句「南無阿彌陀佛」，能這樣就不用去管他的肉體死了幾個鐘頭，身體有柔軟、沒有柔軟，已經不管這些了，他都決定往生。

Namo Amitabha!

April 22

Apr 22, 2017

慧淨上人法語
念佛利益

If a person always recites Amitabha’s name, he will experience various kinds of inconceivable accounts, such as turning a misfortune into a blessing, keeping safe and smooth. Some may in advance know when they die so that they have the last breath peacefully, and attain rebirth smoothly. They may even show various auspicious phenomena.

一個人如果常常念佛，自然會感覺到有種種不可思議的現象，也就是凡事會逢凶化吉、平安順利，到了臨終，往往能預知時至，而安詳斷氣，順利往生，甚至會顯現種種瑞相。

Namo Amitabha!

April 21

Apr 21, 2017
慧淨上人法語
念佛方法

We don’t need to recite Amitabha’s name in a special way. We always have thoughts in our mind, and we just switch them to Amitabha-recitation. After a while, we will be fond of reciting because we will be delighted, have little miscellaneous thoughts or affliction when we are well versed in it. Moreover, we no longer care too much about the trivial matters around us, and our work will be smoother too. So, there is no need to set a specific time to recite Amitabha’s name.

We recite as we want. We can recite while we are doing any work at any time and in any place. This is the meaning of “even recite ten times”.

我們念佛也不用特別念啊！我們本來就是有念頭的嘛！只是把它轉來念佛而已。而且念佛一久，就會更喜歡念，因為念佛純熟時就會輕安，比較沒妄想煩惱，對外在的是是非非較不會掛懷，而且做事也較順遂，所以念佛並不需要特別的時間來念。

有心就可以念佛，任何時間、任何地點、任何工作，都可以念佛，這叫做「乃至十念」。

Namo Amitabha!

April 20

Apr 20, 2017
慧淨上人法語
凡夫入報

The titles of sagely and ordinary beings in the Land of Bliss, such as sravakas, bodhisattvas, celestial beings are given merely to match our line of thnking. In fact, there are no differentiation between sravakas, bodhisattvas, and celestial beings. All living beings there are same as Amitabha Buddha. So, the sutras says, “Their appearance is superb, unmatched by any being, heavenly or human. They are all endowed with bodies of Naturalness, Emptiness, and Infinity.”

極樂世界眾生聖者的名稱，是聲聞也好、菩薩也好、天人也好，都只不過是順我們所說的名稱而已，其實極樂世界沒有甚麼聲聞、菩薩、天人之分別，到那邊都和阿彌陀佛一樣。因此經文說到那邊的人：「容色微妙，非天非人，皆受自然，虛無之身，無極之體。」

Namo Amitabha!

April 19

Apr 19, 2017
慧淨上人法語
專稱彌陀佛名

If we ordinary beings do not exclusively recite Amitabha’s name, but pursue the proficiency in “invoking and recollecting” the Buddha, the merits and virtues that we can attain will be as little as a drop of water in the ocean.

It is because the Buddha’s realm is out of our imagination, not to mention invocation and recollection. Amitabha Buddha takes five eons to meditate the 48 vows, and countless eons to cultivate and accumulate immeasurable merits and virtues, and what method can we use to recollect him?

Amitabha’s compassion is unfathomable, and what method can we use to recollect him? So, we should always recite Amitabha’s name in order to cover all Amitabha’s immeasurable and infinite inconceivable merits and virtues.

如果我們凡夫不專稱彌陀佛名，而去做憶念佛的功夫，所憶念的功德，頂多是大海中的一滴而已。

因為佛的境界我們怎麼有辦法去想像，甚至憶佛念佛呢？阿彌陀佛五劫思惟的四十八願、兆載永劫的修行、積植無量德本，我們怎麼有辦法去憶呢？

阿彌陀佛不可思議的深廣慈悲，我們怎麼有辦法憶得來呢？所以我們以一向稱名來涵蓋阿彌陀佛不可思議無量無邊的功德。

Namo Amitabha!

April 18

Apr 18, 2017
慧淨上人法語
信受彌陀救度

With respect to the Pure Land teaching, the cause of birth-and-death and nirvana is determined by doubt or faith, not delusion or enlightenment. Those who have faith will be reborn, and those who have doubt will not.

Just like a patient, if he entrusts himself to the doctor’s advice (faith), and takes the prescribed medication (Amitabha-recitation), he will be cured as expected. However, if he doesn’t believe the doctor’s words and doesn’t take the medication, he will eventually lose his life.

Although serious illness is the cause, not taking medication eventually ends his life. Our serious illness in afflictions cannot be healed on its own. We must take the Agada medicine—the six-character great name that accomplished by Amitabha Buddha in his Fundamental Vow. It cures not only our diseases, but also makes our life infinite, our body and mind healthy and stable, free and relaxed with the six paranormal powers.

以淨土門而言，生死、涅槃之因決定在疑或信， 不在迷或悟；信者得生，疑者不生。
猶如病人，信醫生之言（信心），飲服其藥（念佛），則病自癒；然而不信其言，不服其藥，以致死亡。
雖死因在於病重，但因不服藥而終致死亡。吾等煩惱病重，不能自癒，唯有服彌陀本願所成之阿伽陀藥的六字洪名，不但萬病皆癒，且得無量壽命，身心安穩，六通自在。

Namo Amitabha!

April 17

Apr 17, 2017
慧淨上人法語
淨土宗宗旨

Though [Shakyamuni's] Buddhist teaching is close to extinction, the Buddha will, through his paranormal power, keep the Pure Land scriptures in the world without being extinct. Why? It is because it is the sole teaching that can deliver sentient beings of the ten directions. It is the hope and the light for all sentient beings. If this teaching is lost, there will be no light in the universe, no hope for sentient beings. So, the buddhas of great kindness and compassion in the ten directions will keep this teaching in the world even though all other teachings are lost in transmission.

即使法滅來臨，佛也要以其神通力，維持淨土法門的經典，不使在此世間消失。為什麼？因為唯有這個法門，才可以救度十方眾生，是一切眾生的光明、希望；這個法門失傳，宇宙就沒有光明，眾生就沒有希望。因此，十方諸佛出現世間，大慈大悲，即使所有經教失傳，此法也要留存在世間。

Namo Amitabha!

April 15

Apr 15, 2017
慧淨上人法語
念佛度亡

If a person does not have aspiration to be reborn in the Land of Bliss in the present lifetime, but still recites Amitabha’s name all the time, Amitabha embraces him too without forsaking. Amitabha will appear before him at the time close to his death. He will see the huge body of Amitabha Buddha with splendid light, thus relieve from sufferings, worries, and fear, and the mind of aspiration will suddenly arise upon seeing the Buddha and the Land of Bliss. At that time, he can be reborn in the Land of Bliss too.

如果說平生沒有願生之心，可是常常念佛，阿彌陀佛光明攝取不捨，臨終顯現來迎接他的時候，往往他一看到阿彌陀佛巍巍的佛相跟佛光，心中苦惱恐懼消除，對彌陀極樂的依正二報頓時產生嚮往之心，那個時候也能夠往生極樂世界。

Namo Amitabha!

April 14

Apr 14, 2017
慧淨上人法語
念佛利益
(continued)

Why? It is because when you speak to him, his enemies and debtors are also there listening to your words. They also prefer to be reborn because they want to attain happiness and depart from suffering. Subsequently, by the time they recite “Namo Amitabha”, Amitabha’s light instantly illuminates. Amitabha Buddha holds a lotus flower in hand, and appears before them. All of them including the dying person, lonely ghosts nearby, debtors, and enemies will go to the Land of Bliss together, just like boarding onto a ship.

Think about it: the merits and virtues of Amitabha-recitation are so great and so splendid. Hence, if you want to pay up your karmic debts, or turn your enemies become friends, you can merely recite Namo Amitabha. It is not just the easiest, but also the most splendid way.

為什麼？因為在你為他開示的當時，怨家債主在旁邊聽到了，他也想往生啊，因為他也想離苦得樂，接下來，「南無阿彌陀佛」一念出來，伴著佛號，立刻當場放光，阿彌陀佛同時拿著蓮華，出現在他的面前，臨終的人還有附近的孤魂野鬼、怨家債主，就通通好像坐船一樣，一船的人馬上就到極樂世界了。

想看看，這樣念佛的功德有多麼大！多麼的殊勝！所以要化解怨結，償還業債，只有稱念南無阿彌陀佛，不但最簡易，也最殊勝。

Namo Amitabha!

April 13

Apr 13, 2017
慧淨上人法語
念佛利益

For countless eons, each of us has committed immeasurable karmic offenses. Many enemies and debtors have been waiting for us. They always have us in their mind, deeper than we do with our children. If a person is now close to death, which teaching can save him, as well as his enemies and debtors at the same time, so that all of them will be relieved from sufferings in hell?

The best way is to perform assisted-recitation for him, talk to him, and guide him to recite Amitabha’s name together at the time near to the end of his life.

(continued tomorrow)

我們每個人生生世世以來都造了無量罪業，怨家債主都在等待機緣討債，他們想念我們，比我們想念兒女還要深切，現在如果有一個人快命終了，有什麼法能夠救他，順便也把他在旁邊的怨家債主通通救離地獄之苦呢？

最好的方式就是臨終的時候為他助念、為他開示，引導他也一起念佛。

Namo Amitabha!

April 12

Apr 12, 2017
慧淨上人法語
念佛方法

Amitabha-recitation is not to contemplate the brilliant appearance of the Buddha in the form of light, not to perceive the highest realm of the Buddha, but just exclusively recite Amitabha’s name. Name-recitation can be carried out under what circumstance, regardless of who they are, at what time and what they do. It is simple with no taboo at all. Even if you are not physically perfect, it counts when you recite only 4 vowels, one vowel, or even just have intention to recite. So, none cannot do it.

However, if Amitabha-recitation has to work with sutra-recitation or sitting meditation, repentance and meditation practices, interpretation of profound Buddhist doctrines, complete and perfect fulfillment in the Three Studies, vast cultivation in the Six Paramitas, it is regarded to be not simple and ordinary.

念佛，不是觀想佛的相好光明，也不是思惟佛的高深境界，是只要專稱佛的名號就可以了。稱名，不管任何人、任何時、任何緣、任何事，都能夠稱名，非常簡單，也沒有任何忌諱，即使身心不健全，只念四個 字、一個字，乃至心中想著佛號，也同樣都是念佛，可以說無人不能。可是如果需要誦經打坐、參禪拜懺，要深入經藏，要圓滿三學，要廣修六度，那就不平常了。

Namo Amitabha!

April 8

Apr 8, 2017
慧淨上人法語
專稱彌陀佛名

Nowadays, people promotes / advocates remembering Buddha, invoking Buddha, but these are not the same as name-recitation. They think Buddha has no shape, no sound, no language, no words and no symbol. However [in pristine Pure Land Buddhism], name-recitation is genuine Buddha-invocation; the genuine Buddha-invocation is the substance, and merits and virtues of Amitabha in this single Name.

However, we do not interpret like that [of remembering or invoking Buddha], because this single Name already contains all merits and virtues that Amitabha Buddha practices and achieves in his causal ground. Amitabha’s great vow power is already contained in this single Name. As long as we always exclusively recite Amitabha’s name, all merits and virtues of remembering Buddha is already there within the Name.

現在有人提倡憶佛、念佛，他們所講的憶佛念佛，不是稱念名號，他們認為佛沒有形象、聲音、語言、文字、符號，所以真正的念佛不是稱名念佛，真正的念佛是念佛的本身、念佛的功德。

可是我們不作這樣的解釋，因為這一句名號已涵蓋阿彌陀佛所有因地的修行以及果地的功德，阿彌陀佛的大願業力統統在這一句名號當中，我們只要一向專稱彌陀名號，所有憶念的功德統統在裡面了。

Namo Amitabha!

April 7

Apr 7, 2017
慧淨上人法語
信受彌陀救度

In Pure Land Buddhism, faith is referred to the faith in “attaining assured rebirth by reciting [the name of Amitabha Buddha] as many as we can—up to the end of one’s life, or as few as just one time or one thought”. Thereafter our faith is determined, we will naturally exclusively recite Amitabha’s name all the time in our life. Master Shandao says, “to recite Amitabha’s name without intermittence / interruption”,  “to recite without forsaking”, and “always repent when we recite Amitabha’s name without forsaking.” So, we should always recite Amitabha’s name.

The Fundamental Vow says, “even ten times”; the Accomplishment Text says “even one thought”. So, how can a person not be reborn if he recite ten times or one thought at a time near to the end of his life? So, people who recite Amitabha’s name for their whole life will certainly be assured of rebirth. Some ignorant people attach their faith to 'single recitation [for rebirth]', and abandon the practice of name-recitation for their whole life. Subsequently, their faith is not the faith, and their practice is not the practice [by the above definition]. That is not Pure Land teaching at all.

淨土法門之信乃信「上盡一形，下至一聲一念亦必往生」，既信之後，自必一生一向專稱彌陀佛名。善導大師言「彌陀名號相續念」，又言「念念不捨」，又言「念念稱名常懺悔」，是故應常稱佛名。

本願文言「乃至十念」，成就文言「乃至一念」；臨終十念一念亦得往生，則何人不得往生？是故一生念佛，更必往生。無知之人，執一念之信心，捨一生之稱名，則信既非信，行亦無行，全非淨土法門。

Namo Amitabha!

April 6

Apr 6, 2017
慧淨上人法語
淨土宗宗旨

All buddhas in the ten directions speak of teachings of deliverance of sentient beings; however, at the very end, they conclude with the Pure Land teaching that has enabled numerous beings—not one or two—to attain buddhahood. Our teaching is really a dharma gate that has directed numerous beings to achieve buddhahood, as many as trees in the forest.  Unless you don’t exclusively recite Amitabha’s name, and don’t aspire to be reborn in Amitabha’s Pure Land, otherwise, none of those who aspire and exclusively recite the name will fail to attain rebirth.

十方諸佛所說的度眾生之法，歸根究底就是要說這一個成佛如林的淨土法門。因為祂要廣度眾生，如果只是度一個兩個，那就太枉費祂來成佛說法。我們這個法門真的是成佛如林的法門。不專稱彌陀佛名則已，不願生彌陀淨土則已，只要他願生，只要他專稱，就沒有一個不能往生的。

Namo Amitabha!

April 5

Apr 5, 2017
Master Huijing’s Dharma Words about the Purpose of Life
人生目的

The purpose of studying and practice Buddhism is to liberate ourselves from reincarnation of birth and death, not to study because of studying, not to go deep in Buddhist sutras because wishing to go deep in Buddhist sutras, not to practice because of practicing. The purpose of studying Buddhism to end the cycle of birth and death, i.e. reincarnation.

我們學佛修行是為了了脫生死輪迴，不是為了學佛而學佛，不是為了深入經藏而深入經藏，不是為了修行而修行，也不是為了出家而出家，學佛的目的就是了脫生死輪迴。

Namo Amitabha!

April 4

Apr 4, 2017
慧淨上人法語
念佛度亡

It seems to be ordinary, nothing special that we recite Amitabha’s name while we are alive. We cannot see our body emitting any light, nor Amitabha Buddha standing in the sky. Given that we cultivate through our own power for the whole life, the merits and virtues accumulated through various wholesome practices are not comparable to recitation of the single name. It is because this single name possesses ten-thousand virtues that have been accomplished and contained within it.

We can dedicate these merits and virtues to our ancestors. Even though in their previous lives they did not have any karmic connection with Amitabha Buddha, did not take refuge to the Three Jewels, were not vegetarians, or did not recite Amitabha’s name for aspiration to rebirth, Amiatbha Buddha will also emit light to protect and fortify them when we dedicate the merits to them. Once the karmic conditions are ripened, they can also be reborn in the Land of Bliss.

我們在陽間念佛，好像很平常，沒有什麼奇特的，看不到我們身上放光，也看不到阿彌陀佛顯現在空中。假若我們一生中要以自己修行，累積種種的善事功德，再怎麼修都不及這一句名號的功德。因為這一句名號是萬德，是所有功德都已經成就，容納在這一句名號裏面了。

我們把這一句名號，迴向給我們的祖先，即使祖先在生之時沒有佛緣，沒有皈依三寶，也沒有吃素學佛修行，也沒有念佛求往生；可是我們念佛迴向給他，阿彌陀佛也會放光加持他們，等他機緣一到，就能夠往生極樂世界。

Namo Amitabha!

April 3

Apr 3, 2017
慧淨上人法語
念佛利益

The light of Amitabha Buddha has a splendid function that searches, follows, protects, and delivers those who recite Amitabha’s name. As long as we recite “Namo Amitabha”, our body will emit the light of Amitabha. It is all natural. It doesn’t matter whether you know it or not, you seek for it or not, but it comes naturally.

For an [exclusive] Amitabha-reciter, the light of Amitabha Buddha forever embraces and protects him whenever and wherever he is.

阿彌陀佛的光明有一個很殊勝的作用，那就是追尋、跟蹤、保護、救度念佛的人。只要念「南無阿彌陀佛」，我們身上就會放出阿彌陀佛之光，這個是自自然然的，不管你知不知、求不求，都自然會有的。
所以，念佛的眾生，阿彌陀佛的光明永遠攝取著他、護念著他，不論何時，不論何地。

Namo Amitabha!

April 2

Apr 2, 2017
慧淨上人法語
念佛方法

What is meant by “the right conduct of Amitabha-recitation is without right conduct”? It is spoken in terms of the root cause and in principle. It means that when we recite this six-character name, just plainly recite it—there is no restriction, no rule, and no requirement. It doesn’t matter whether our mind is pure or not, what we are doing, where we are, and at what time, in what way, and with what status-quo.

It is just as what Master Shandao says, “To single-mindedly and exclusively recite Amitabha’s name, without forsaking, while walking, standing, sitting, and lying, regardless their time [of the practice] is long or short.” We can recite under any circumstance while walking, standing, sitting, and lying. It doesn’t matter we recite with concentrated or distracted mind, or whether recite aloud or murmuringly, by moving lips or by heart.

什麼是「念佛以無義為義」？這是從根本上、原則上來講的。意思是我們稱念這六字名號，只要儘管稱念就好，沒有什麼限定、規矩、要求，不管心清不清淨，不管做什麼事情、在什麼地方、什麼時候、什麼方式、什麼身份都不管。

就如善導大師所講的：「一心專念彌陀名號，行住坐臥，不問時節久近，念念不捨。」行住坐臥、時處諸緣都可以念佛，不是專心念就是散心念，不是大聲念就是小聲念、金剛念、默念。

Namo Amitabha!

April 1

Apr 1, 2017
慧淨上人法語
凡夫入報

The Land of Bliss is an unconditioned realm of nirvana. Can we become a Buddha in the Land of Bliss? Yes, we can! Nirvana means no-birth and no-death, no past, present, and future in time, no various deliberate actions and functions. So, upon rebirth in the Land of Bliss, we naturally become buddhas without elapsing any time span, or practicing to proceed from one stage to the other, so it is not necessary to attain Buddhahood gradually. If that is the way, it is not the authentic Land of Bliss.

極樂世界是涅槃的境界，我們到極樂世界會成佛嗎？會！所謂涅槃就是不生不滅，沒有過去現在未來，不假種種功能作用的，往生極樂世界自然就成佛，不需要再經過多少時間，再修什麼樣的行門才能從這個階位到另一個階位，之後才慢慢成佛。如果是這樣的話，就不是真正的極樂世界。

Namo Amitabha!