March 31

Mar 31, 2018
慧淨上人法語
淨土信仰

The Pure Land schools can be divided into two streams, the Pure Land teaching in Sui and Tang Dynasties [581-907], and the Pure Land teaching in Song and Ming Dynasties [960-1644].

The Pure Land teaching in Sui and Tang Dynasties refers to the Shandao lineage in Pure Land Buddhism, tracing up to the Pure Land teachings of Nagarjuna, Vasubandhu, Tanluan, Daochuo, and then Shandao. It is very pristine without mixing other miscellaneous teachings. Because the teaching is pristine, it is correct. Being not mixed with other miscellaneous teachings, it is not ambiguous.

If we practice according to this lineage, one hundred out of one hundred and ten thousand out of ten thousand [practitioners] will be reborn [in the Land of bliss]. That is to say, anyone who practice in accordance with this teaching can be reborn in the Land of Bliss, and become one of the sagely assembly there in that lifetime. This is the Pure Land teaching of Sui and Tang Dynasties, also referred as the Pure Land teaching of the Shandao lineage.

(continued tomorrow)

淨土法門可以分為兩種：一種是隋唐淨土，一種是宋明淨土。
隋唐淨土就是指淨土宗善導流，也就是上傳龍樹、天親、曇鸞、道綽一直到善導這一法脈的淨土教理思想。它是非常純粹的淨土，不摻雜、不龐雜。因為純粹，所以正確；因為不摻雜、不龐雜，所以沒有模稜兩可。

依照這個法脈修行，就是所謂的一百個一百個往生，一萬個一萬個往生。也就是說，只要依照這個法門去修，任何人都能夠往生到極樂世界，當生就是極樂聖眾之一。這就是隋唐淨土，也就是指善導流這一淨土法門。

Namo Amitabha!

March 30

Mar 30, 2018
慧淨上人法語
淨土宗宗風俗諦

Being sincere and scrupulous in our relationships, Amitabha-reciters should guide our relatives to recite Amitabha’s name, and attain rebirth in the Land of Bliss together. If it is so, we are always with the Buddha forever, and all family members unite together. As we become a Buddha, people can get close to us, and we can deliver all sentient beings.

So, as a householder, we should be an upstanding citizen by showing civic-mindedness, respect the law and fulfill our duties and responsibilities, recite Amitabha’s name with singles of mind, so that it becomes a Buddhist family of Amitabha-recitation, and becomes a role model of a householder family leading all members to aspire to be reborn in the Land of Bliss.

念佛人應該在敦倫盡分當中引導親人念佛，跟我們同生極樂世界，這樣的話，不但是跟佛永遠在一起，家人團結在一起，而且本身也能夠成佛，讓人家來親近，也能夠廣度所有眾生。

所以，如果是在家眾，就安份守己，奉公守法，為世良民，專一念佛，全家成為念佛的佛化家庭，全家求生極樂世界，作為在家學佛的典範，引導一方。

Namo Amitabha!

March 29

Mar 29, 2018
慧淨上人法語
念佛利益
(continued)

“When that person approaches the point of death, Amitabha Buddha and the sacred assembly will appear before him. When death comes, his mind will not be severely confused. He will at once gain rebirth in Amitabha Buddha’s Land of Bliss.”

When that person is about to die, Amitabha Buddha and the sacred assembly come before him and welcome him. Therefore, he can be reborn in the Land of Bliss right after the end of his life. So, we have to contribute merits and virtues to our parents and dependents by reciting Namo Amituofo. Such merits and virtues are the greatest, the most abundant, and the most splendid.

「其人臨命終時，阿彌陀佛，與諸聖眾，現在其前。是人終時，心不顛倒，即得往生，阿彌陀佛，極樂國土」。

這個人臨終時，佛聖現前迎接；因此，命終當下，就往生極樂世界。所以我們要為父母眷屬做功德，念南無阿彌陀佛，這樣功德最大、最多、最殊勝。

Namo Amitabha!

March 28

Mar 28, 2018
慧淨上人法語
念佛利益

The Amitabha Sutra says, “One cannot attain birth in that land with few virtuous roots and meritorious blessings as causal conditions.” It implies that abundant virtuous roots and meritorious blessings are required for rebirth in that land. What, then, are the meanings of “abundant virtuous roots and meritorious blessings”?

The Amitabha Sutra continues by saying, “If a good man or woman hears of Amitabha Buddha and holds fast to his name...” According to these words of Shakyamuni Buddha, if a person holds fast this Name of Amitabha Buddha, he/she is a person with abundant virtuous roots and meritorious blessings.
(to be continued)

《阿彌陀經》說：「不可以少善根福德因緣得生彼國」，意思就是說要多善根、多福德才能得生彼國，什麼叫多善根、多福德呢？
《阿彌陀經》接下來就說：「若有善男子、善女人，聞說阿彌陀佛，執持名號」， 釋迦牟尼佛說，如果有人執持這句阿彌陀佛的名號，這樣就是多善根、多福德。

Namo Amitabha!

March 27

Mar 27, 2018
慧淨上人法語
專稱彌陀佛名

When Amitabha-reciters get together, they talk nothing other than Namo Amituofo, Namo Amituofo…, because they know everything in this world is unreal and conditioned, all our actions are karma and offenses, and all are dramatic plays. They will vanish eventually. Only this Name–Namo Amituofo—is truth, real, not a play, and having an absolute value.

念佛人在一起，沒有其他的語言，都是南無阿彌陀佛、南無阿彌陀佛……，因為知道這個世界一切都是虛假，一切都是造罪、造業，一切都是戲論，所以一切都將成空。唯有這句「南無阿彌陀佛」是真理，是真實，不是戲論，有絕對的價值。

Namo Amitabha!

March 26

Mar 26, 2018
The text about the ‘mere explanation of exclusive invocation’ in the Commentary on the Contemplation Sutra:
《觀經疏》「唯明專念」之文

The 48 Vows in the Infinite Life Sutra explain only that exclusive recitation of Amitabha Buddha’s name leads to rebirth in the Land of Bliss.

《無量壽經》四十八願中，唯明專念彌陀名號得生。

Namo Amitabha!

March 25

Mar 25, 2018
慧淨上人法語
出離與輪迴

Are the so-called the karmic obstruction of affliction and reincarnation within the Six Realms true or false? Both are false, just like dreaming. Is happiness and suffering in a dream true or false? It’s false too.

However, to a person who has not wakened, the dream continues on and on. Once awakened, he can see that those people in the dream are clearly inverted, false, and unwarranted. It is described in the saying, “Clearly there exists the Six Realms in the dream, but nothing is there after awakened except emptiness”.

We sentient beings are ill. Sicknesses such as affliction, jealousy, reckoning, differentiating, and grasping (being unable to let go), in the eyes of people with a relatively calm mind, are unwarranted.

所謂煩惱業障、六道輪迴，是真的還是假的？是假的。就像作夢，夢中的苦樂是真的還是假的？是假的。

可是對一個沒有醒過來的人而言，就一直在作夢，所謂大夢未醒；那如果醒過來的話，他看夢中的人，就清楚那是顛倒的、虛假的、是莫須有的，所謂「夢中明明有六趣，覺後空空無大千」。

我們眾生都有病，種種的煩惱、忌妒、籌量、分別、執著，這對一個心性比較平靜的人來看，那些都是莫須有的。

Namo Amitabha!

March 24

Mar 24, 2018
慧淨上人法語
機法深信

The Pure Land School is a teaching of deliverance. The one who delivers is Amitabha, and the one to be delivered is sentient being. Amitabha is the Dharma (or teaching), and sentient being is vineya (the person being taught or with certain “aptitude”). The one who teaches delivers the one being taught, and the one of the respective aptitude believes the teaching.

Deeply believe that sentient beings with such “aptitude” have no karmic condition to depart, and deeply believe that the teaching can deliver sentient beings with such “aptitude”. So, the teaching is inseparable from the aptitude of the one being taught, and the aptitude is inseparable from the teaching. The aptitude and the teaching are in one entity; sentient beings and the Buddha are inseparable.

If there has no deep faith in the aptitude of the one being taught, there will have no deep faith in the teaching. If there has no deep faith in both the aptitude and the teaching, the faith is not genuine, and the practitioner is not a genuine Buddhist disciple.

淨土宗是救度的法門，能救者彌陀，所救者眾生；彌陀是法，眾生是機；法者救機，機者信法。

深信機無出離之緣，深信法救如此之機；法不離機，機不離法；機法一體，生佛不離。

若無機深信，則無法深信；若無機法深信，則非真實信心，也非真佛弟子。

Namo Amitabha!

March 23

Mar 23, 2018
慧淨上人法語
佛法知見

Among the 84,000 Buddhist teachings, such as Agama, Prajna, Dhyana, Tantra, and Pure Land, only the Pure Land teaching can benefit practitioners of the three virtuous roots [i.e. superior, medium, and inferior], and it is also a direct, perfect and complete teaching.

佛法八萬四千法門，阿含、般若、禪、密、淨當中，唯有淨土是三根普被，而且是直接圓頓的一個法門。

Namo Amitabha!

March 22

Mar 22, 2018
慧淨上人法語
淨土信仰
(continued)

Among all the Buddhist teachings, we can only believe and accept Amitabha’s deliverance, recite Amitabha’s name and attain rebirth in Amitabha’s Pure Land. On one side, this teaching is easy; on the other side, it is very splendid as we can be liberated from birth-and-death in this lifetime, attain rebirth and achieve Buddhahood in the Land of Bliss, thus reach our goal of liberation from the Three Domains and the Six Realms.

在佛法當中，我們唯有信受彌陀的救度，稱念彌陀的名號，往生彌陀淨土。這個法門一方面很容易，一方面又很殊勝，可以當生脫離生死，往生極樂成佛，達到脫離三界六道的目的。

Namo Amitabha!

March 21

Mar 21, 2018
慧淨上人法語
淨土信仰

If you practice the teachings of other schools, or the Three Studies of precept, meditation and wisdom, or a myriad of practices in the Six Paramitas, it is very difficult to leave reincarnations of birth-and-death. Why?

What the Buddha teaches are truths that can lead us to liberation. However, if these teachings do not match with our aptitude and capacity, they are nothing to do with us no matter how splendid they are.

(to be continued)

如修其他宗派法門，或者戒定慧三學、六度萬行，都很難達到脫離生死輪迴。為什麼呢？

佛所說的都是真理，可以使我們解脫，但如果無法契應我們的根機，這個法即使如何的殊勝，也和我們沒有關係。

Namo Amitabha!

March 20

Mar 20, 2018
慧淨上人法語
淨土宗宗風俗諦

As a householder, we must be sincere and scrupulous in our relationships with others, avoid evil and cherish good, be a vegetarian and an Amitabha-reciter, be rectified in the threefold karma [i.e. deeds, words, and thoughts], and be proficient in the teachings, before becoming a leader of an area.

在家人先宜敦倫盡份，閒邪存誠，吃素念佛，三業端正，而又教理通達，則可為一方之導。

Namo Amitabha!

March 19

Mar 19, 2018
慧淨上人法語
念佛利益

People who have no faith, or do not understand Buddhist teachings deeply, may think that Amitabha-recitation is only applicable to deliverance of the dead. They may also think that Amitabha-recitation is inauspicious if it is not performed in occasions such as assisted-recitation or service for delivering the dead. Such a notion is totally a mistake.

一般沒有信仰或是學習佛法不深的，有人會以為念佛是度亡才用的，如果不是助念或超薦的場合就不能念佛，以為念了就不吉祥了，這是非常錯誤的觀念！

Namo Amitabha!

March 18

Mar 18, 2018
慧淨上人法語
專稱彌陀佛名

Quite often, patriarchs of various sects and groups eventually turn towards the Pure Land. Master Zhizhe of the Tientai Sect was a typical example. Many awakened patriarchs in the Chan Sect finally turn towards the Pure Land.

It is just like driving a car to a freeway. At the beginning, everyone starts a journey from his own spot and firstly takes the village’s roads, and then the county’s roads, the provincial highway, and eventually reach the freeway via an interchange. Once he is driving down the freeway, he will keep the route without diverging into some others. The situation is similar to many ordinary practitioners who eventually turn towards the Pure Land.

However, if he goes straight to the practice of exclusive recitation of Amitabha’s name, he can avoid wasting time and effort in going by the round-about route, similar to driving straight into a freeway by using overpasses.

各宗各派的祖師，到最後往往都是歸向淨土的，天臺宗智者大師是最典型的例子。禪宗很多開悟的祖師，最後也都歸向淨土。
就好像開車要上高速公路，一開始每個人都從自己的地方先上鄉村的道路、縣市的道路、省道，然後才通過交流道上高速公路。一旦上了高速公路，就專了，就不會雜了。一般修行人，最終歸向淨土大多這樣。
可是，他若能直接專稱彌陀佛名，等同跨越其他道路而直接上高速公路一樣，不用費時費力，繞很多圈子。

Namo Amitabha!

March 17

Mar 17, 2018
善導大師語錄

A paragraph about interpretation of the six characters in the Commentary on the Contemplation Sutra
《觀經疏》「六字釋」之文:

“Namo” means to entrust our lives, as well as to dedicate merit towards rebirth [in the Pure Land]. [Reciting] “Amitabha Buddha” is the practice. That is why rebirth is certain.

言「南無」者，即是歸命；亦是發願迴向之義。 言「阿彌陀佛」者，即是其行。以斯義故，必得往生。

Namo Amitabha!

March 16

Mar 16, 2018
慧淨上人法語
出離與輪迴

Because of having past lives, here we have the present life. If there is no past life, we don’t have the present life now. If we were not liberated, we will continue to have future life, and it will never end.

However, if we allow Amitabha Buddha to deliver us, we will have no more past, present and future.  It is because life is eternal once we are reborn in the Land of Bliss. There is no aging, no illness, no death, no reincarnation within the Six Realms forever; but paranormal power and freedom. We can come back to the Six Realms, at our wish, to deliver our parents, siblings, wives, daughters, and sons, as well as relatives and dependents in our past lives.

因為有過去世，才有今生今世，如果沒有過去世，就沒有今生今世。如果沒有解脫的話，就還會還有未來世，那就無窮無盡。

但是，如果給阿彌陀佛救度的話，就無所謂過去、現在、未來，因為往生極樂世界之後，生命都是永恆的，不老、不病、不死，永遠沒有六道輪迴，反而有神通自在，可以乘願還來六道中，救度生生世世以來自己的父母、兄弟、妻子、兒女、六親眷屬。

Namo Amitabha!

March 15 2018

Mar 15, 2018
慧淨上人法語
機法深信

(continued)

This passage distinguishes two kinds of deep faith: “aptitude” and “teaching” – aptitude refers to ordinary beings, and teaching refers to Amitabha Buddha.

Ordinary beings deeply believe that our threefold karma [i.e. deeds, words and thoughts] is evil, so we sink forever in [the sea of] reincarnation, and we are unable to leave the Three Domains [i.e. the Realm of Sensuous Desire, the Realm of Form, and the Realm Without Form]. However, we ordinary beings are those whom Amitabha Buddha takes pity on and makes vows to deliver. When sentient beings are frightened and worried, they realize the truth of deliverance and protection that the power of Amitabha’s Fundamental Vow provides, and they believe and accept the deliverance of Amitabha’s Fundamental Vow. They are, hence, immediately assured rebirth (at the moment when they decide to be reborn). This is the meaning of the discourse “without doubt or anxiety, we are assured of rebirth [in the Pure Land] by recourse to the power of his vows”.

此文顯明「機法二種深信」，機指凡夫，法指彌陀。

凡夫深信自己三業都是罪惡，永沉輪迴，無出三界之力；然此凡夫是彌陀深生悲愍，為其發願立誓所要救度的對象，此凡夫恐懼不安的心中，體悟彌陀本願力的攝護救度之真實，而毫無疑慮地信受彌陀本願之救度，當下即時獲得往生決定，此即「無疑無慮，乘彼願力，定得往生」之意。

Namo Amitabha!

March 14

Mar 14, 2018
慧淨上人法語
機法深信

The first kind of determinant deep faith: We are iniquitous ordinary beings subject to endless rebirth. Since time immemorial, we have died and been reincarnated, without any causal conditions to leave the cycle of rebirth.

The second kind of determinant deep faith: Amitabha Buddha embraces and receives all sentient beings with his 48 vows. Without doubt or anxiety, we are assured of rebirth [in the Pure Land] by recourse to the power of his vows.

This passage is known as “two kinds of deep faith”, shown in the fourth chapter of the Commentary on the Contemplation Sutra in the exegesis of the Deep Mind. Deep Mind means the Mind of Deep Faith.

This passage distinguishes two kinds of deep faith: “aptitude” and “teaching” – aptitude refers to ordinary beings, and teaching refers to Amitabha Buddha.

(continued tomorrow)

一者決定深信：自身現是罪惡生死凡夫，曠劫以來，常沒常流轉，無有出離之緣。
二者決定深信：彼阿彌陀佛四十八願，攝受眾生，無疑無慮，乘彼願力，定得往生。
此文名為「二種深信」之文，列在《觀經四帖疏》第四卷〈散善義〉之「深心釋」，「深心」即是「深信之心」。

此文顯明「機法二種深信」，機指凡夫，法指彌陀。

Namo Amitabha!

March 13

Mar 13, 2018
慧淨上人法語
佛法知見

The Buddhist Dharma is a school of praxis. In short terms, it enables us—and others as well—to get away from the various realms of rebirths. In long terms, it enables us to achieve the Buddhist Way, which is the goal of Buddhism. If we don’t know this goal in studying Buddhism, and don’t make progress in this direction, we should not be regarded as Buddhist believer in a strict sense.

佛法是實踐之學：以近程來講，是令自己和他人了脫生死輪迴；以遠程來講，是成就佛道，這是佛教的目的。如果學佛不懂這個目的，不向這個方向前進的話，嚴格來講就談不上是佛教的信徒。

Namo Amitabha!

March 12

Mar 12, 2018
慧淨上人法語
淨土信仰

Among the eighty-four thousand teachings of Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism, or the exoteric and esoteric teachings of the eight major sects of [Mahayana] Buddhism, which teaching or which sect can offer the universal deliverance of sentient beings with perfect and complete great kindness and compassion, eradicate all suffering and render all happiness to sentient beings so that they can achieve happiness and depart from all sufferings?

Only the Pure Land sect can. The teaching not only facilitates all sentient beings to depart from sufferings of the staged birth-and-death taking place within the Six Realms and realize sufferings of the varied birth-and-death [of transient thoughts] as parts of the Dharma-nature, it also enables sentient beings in achieving the real happiness of nirvana. It is a genuine achievement of happiness and departure from all sufferings.

大乘、小乘八萬四千法門，顯教、密教八大宗派中，有哪一個法門、哪一個宗派能夠圓滿大慈大悲地普度眾生、給予眾生拔苦與樂、令其離苦得樂呢？

只有淨土宗。不但能讓眾生離開六道輪迴的分段生死之苦、分證法性的變異生死之苦，而且能令眾生得證涅槃的真實之樂，這才是真正的離苦得樂。

Namo Amitabha!

March 11

Mar 11, 2018
慧淨上人法語
淨土宗宗風俗諦

Paying great attention to benevolence and justice, keeping morality in human relationship, stressing on filial piety, and respecting etiquette are rooted in the Buddhist law of cause and effect. Buddhism is always conservative. Only by staying conservative the original visage of Buddhism can be kept.

In this turbid and unwholesome world, people live just like in darkness, and only the Buddhist teachings serve as our eyes, or as a bright light illuminating the world. In the Age of Dharma Decline, technologies for improving our desired living develop with giant strides, while the way to cultivate our moral character and to mould our temperament degenerates day by day.

講仁義、敦倫常、重孝道、尚禮節，也是佛教因果的紮根。佛門始終是保守的，唯有保守才能維持佛法的面貌。

在此濁惡之世，猶如人處暗中，佛法是唯一眼目、曜世明燈。末法之世，厚生利用之術一日千里，而修身養性之道如江河日下。

Namo Amitabha!

March 10

Mar 10, 2018
慧淨上人法語
念佛利益

For those who recite Amitabha’s name, all karmic misfortunes and disasters will always be eliminated or avoided without being noticed. If it does happen, it will be mitigated and easily dissolved. A heavy retribution will become lighter. Even when death comes inevitably, they will be reborn in the Land of Bliss.

So, we Amitabha-reciters must entrust ourselves to Amitabha. In despite of happiness and suffering, favorable or unfavorable encounter, win or lose, gain or loss, we must feel and recognize that Amitabha Buddha works for us in behind, and protect us. So, we should not be too calculative, or have doubt on Amitabha Buddha under any circumstance.

念佛的人，無形中往往都會消災免難，就算事故現前，也都容易化解。如果他的業是重報輕受，不能避免而過世了，也會往生極樂世界。所以我們念佛的人，要對佛有信心，不論苦樂禍福、成敗得失，都要感覺、都要認識背後有阿彌陀佛的安排，或者有阿彌陀佛的護持。所以凡事不要太計較，更不可對阿彌陀佛起疑心。

Namo Amitabha!

March 9

Mar 9, 2018
慧淨上人法語
專稱彌陀佛名

This [Amitabha’s] Name enables us to be reborn. So, by reciting this Name, we can be reborn. If we know about this point while reciting, faith is already attached to our practice of name-recitation. Although we may not know thoroughly about this principle and just keep reciting till the end, we are assured of rebirth because Amitabha Buddha is working on it.

這句名號本身能使我們往生，所以，我們稱念這句名號就能往生。我們知道這一點去稱念，信就在裏面了，儘管對這個道理瞭解得不是很充分，可是能夠一直稱念下去，也必定往生，因為有阿彌陀佛在運作。

Namo Amitabha!

March 8

Mar 8, 2018
Quotation of Master Shandao
善導大師語錄
Interpretation of the Fundamental Vow (the 18th Vow) in the “In Praise of Rites of Rebirth” 第十八願《往生禮讚》本願釋 :

If, when I achieve Buddhahood, sentient beings of the ten directions who wish to be reborn in my land and recite my name, even ten times, should fail to be born there relying on the power of my Vow, may I not attain Perfect Enlightenment.

Today Amitabha is before us, having achieved Buddhahood. We should know that his Fundamental Vow has been unequivocally fulfilled. If sentient beings recite his name, they will certainly be reborn in the Land of Bliss.

若我成佛，十方眾生，稱我名號，下至十聲， 若不生者，不取正覺；

彼佛今現，在世成佛，當知本誓，重願不虛， 眾生稱念，必得往生。

Versus the original text of the 18th Vow in the Infinite Life Sutra:

If, when I achieve Buddhahood, sentient beings of the ten directions who sincerely and joyfully entrust themselves to me, wish to be reborn in my land and recite my name, even ten times, should fail to be born there, may I not attain perfect enlightenment. Excepted are those who commit the five gravest transgressions or slander the correct Dharma.

對文增減《無量壽經》「第十八願」：

設我得佛，十方眾生，至心信樂，欲生我國，乃至十念； 若不生者，不取正覺。唯除五逆，誹謗正法。

Namo Amitabha!

March 7

Mar 7, 2018
慧淨上人法語
出離與輪迴

Buddha-nature exists originally, and does not need to be sought for. It exists universally: you and I have it; celestial beings, human beings, hell beings, ghosts, and animals also have it. It is eternal because it will not change, or disappear. Owing to obstructions caused by our greed, hatred, and delusion, the Buddha-nature is unable to be revealed. Furthermore, it is dragged by the karmic forces into the endless cycle of reincarnation within the Six Realms, like a turning wheel with no beginning and no end-point: sometimes in heaven, sometimes in the womb of a donkey or the belly of a horse, and sometimes in hell or in the ghostly realm.

For sentient beings trapped in this wheel of reincarnations, they will keep wandering in the cycle, and keep suffering endlessly, unless they have revitalized their Buddha-nature.

佛性是本來就有的，不需要企求；而且是普遍都有的，你我他都有，天、人、地獄、餓鬼、畜生都有；而且是永恒的，因為它不會改變，也不會消失，只是因為我們都有貪瞋痴的障礙而無法顯現，進而因為業力的牽引，使得佛性不但無法顯現，反而一直無窮無盡地輪迴六道，或者人天、或者驢胎馬腹，或者地獄餓鬼，像運行的車輪一樣，沒有起頭，也沒有終點，一直在輪轉。

這個輪轉的眾生，如果沒有恢復佛性的話，那就會一直輪轉下去、一直痛苦下去。

Namo Amitabha!

March 6

Mar 6, 2018
慧淨上人法語
佛法知見

Buddhism is a religion of compassion. The connotation of compassion must be free of the arbitrary notion of self (or no-self).  So, it has to be no-self in order to truly become the great kindness and the great compassion. Otherwise, if the self exists, there must also be “you” and “they”, and hence, antagonism. Kindness and compassion is then limited. By kindness and compassion with no-self, we can deliver all sentient beings in the manner of great unconditioned kindness and universal compassion.

佛教是慈悲的宗教，慈悲當中一定具有無我的內涵，必須無我才能真正地大慈大悲。否則，有我，就有你、有他，就一定有對立，慈悲就會有限度。無我的慈悲，才能夠無緣大慈、同體大悲地普度眾生。

Namo Amitabha!

March 5

Mar 5, 2018
慧淨上人法語
淨土信仰

The purpose of revealing their eight forms (bodies) of perfect enlightenment by the Buddhas of the ten directions to sentient beings is to teach them the Dharma and, hence, deliver them. Without such a purpose, they will not reveal the various forms carelessly. The only teaching that can thoroughly deliver sentient beings of the ten directions is Amitabha Buddha’s teaching of deliverance– “If sentient beings of the ten directions should fail to be reborn there, may I not attain perfect enlightenment”. If the Buddhas of the ten directions abandoned this teaching, they could not deliver sentient beings universally; if the Buddhas of the ten directions disseminated this teaching, all sentient beings could be delivered universally.

十方諸佛示現八相成道，目的也是在於說法度生，若非說法度生，則不漫然示現。而能徹底廣度十方眾生之法，即是阿彌陀佛「十方眾生，若不生者，不取正覺」的救度法門。十方諸佛捨此法，則不能普救眾生；十方諸佛弘此法，則能普救眾生。

Namo Amitabha!

March 4

Mar 4, 2018
慧淨上人法語
淨土宗宗風俗諦

Everyone who learns Buddhism and recites Amitabha’s name should spur themselves on fulfilling their duties and obligations that associate with their position – “Be sincere and scrupulous in your relationships. Avoid evil and cherish good. Be an upstanding citizen by showing civic-mindedness and respecting the law”, and recite Namo Amituofo in this manner.

學佛的人、念佛的人，每個人都應該自勉，堅定地站在自己的崗位上，善盡責任義務，「敦倫盡分，閑邪存誠，奉公守法，為世良民」，而來念南無阿彌陀佛。

Namo Amitabha!

March 3

Mar 3, 2018
慧淨上人法語
淨土宗宗風真諦

(continued)

In fact, this series of books that we have published is good enough, rich enough for us. If we comprehensively study and digest it, we will naturally hear the mercy and benevolent call of Amitabha Buddha, feel touching by Amitabha’s name, love to recite his name, have faith in Master Shandao’s words “If sentient beings recite his name, they will certainly be reborn in the Land of Bliss”, and will be joyful for receiving the dharma.

其實，我們這一套書本身就很足夠、很豐富了，融會貫通我們這一套書，自然就會聽到阿彌陀佛慈悲親切的呼喚，就會對這一句彌陀名號很感動，會很喜歡念佛，就會對善導大師所講的：「眾生稱念，必得往生」，很有信心，很有法喜。

Namo Amitabha!

March 2

Mar 2, 2018
慧淨上人法語
淨土宗宗風真諦

A common faith is critically important to an organization. Our group exists for the dharma, not any other benefits. Dharma is the content of our faith.

How to make this dharma pristine and solid? The answer is to exclusively read the series of books we have published and exclusively watch the compact discs we have released. It is better not to read the books of other teachings for the time being. As we are ordinary beings and still in a phase of learning during which we do not fully understand the principles of our school and our faith is not deep-seated yet, our learning could often be interfered by our curiosity about other materials on various theories.  So, try not to read those materials.

(continued tomorrow)

一個團體最重要的就是信仰要一致，我們這個團體是為「法」而存在的，不是為其他任何利益，「法」就是我們信的內容。
這一個法，要如何讓它純淨、鞏固呢？就是專看我們出版的這一套書，專聽我們出版的這些光碟，對於其他不同法門的書，最好不要看，因為我們是凡夫，對於本宗道理還沒有貫通，信心還沒有堅固之前，又很好奇看了其他各種不同說法的資料，往往會被干擾，所以盡量不要看。

Namo Amitabha!

March 1

Mar 1, 2018
慧淨上人法語
念佛利益

Amitabha-recitation is the principal karma of assurance for rebirth [in the Land of Bliss]. It suffices for having both present and future benefits. So, we can ask for anything we want through Amitabha-recitation. In addition to Amitabha-recitation, if you pray for your kin’s speedy recovery from an illness by “releasing living beings”, you may do so; but the act should not be considered as a supporting means for rebirth [in the Land of Bliss].

念佛是往生「正定業」，念佛具足「現當二益」，故凡事皆可以念佛求之。若念佛之餘，欲放生求親屬早日病癒，但不作為往生資助，亦無不可。

Namo Amitabha!