July 20 2021

Jul 20, 2021

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about Faith in Pure Land Buddhism

淨土信仰

In the very beginning of the Great Learning, it says, “The way of ultimate wisdom is the comprehension of absolute integrity, genial development of the common people, and endless pursuit of the perfection of humanity.” The Great Learning is, of course, a book that explains how to become a sage and sacred person, and the ways to administer the country / nation in peace.

From the Buddhist point of view, the comprehension of absolute integrity originates in the innate Buddha-Nature that all sentient beings possess, and the wisdom to understand the absolute integrity that resides in the Buddha-Nature that is no-birth and no-death, and in the state of purity and Nirvana. We should not strive to only enlighten ourselves; but, also to enlighten others – “genial development of the common people”. That means, through awakening the innate Buddha-Nature in all sentient beings, we will be able to live with new life.

When a person can perfectly enlighten himself through enlightening other people, that is the meaning of “endless pursuit of the perfection of humanity. “ “Endless pursuit of the perfection of humanity” in our School is shared through “Amitabha-recitation with Proper Faith.”

《大學》開宗明義就說:「大學之道,在明明德,在親民,在止於至善。」當然《大學》這一部書是在說明成賢成聖,治國平天下的大道理。

以佛法的觀點來解釋,「明德」就是每一個眾生本具的佛性,「明明德」無非是在覺悟這不生不滅、清淨涅槃的佛性,而且不只是自覺,還要覺他──「親民」,也就是使一切眾生的心靈也都能夠覺悟本有的佛性,過著新的生命。

到了自覺與覺他圓滿,也就是「止於至善」,我們這個法門的「止於至善」就是「正信的念佛」。

Namo Amituofo!

July 19 2021

Jul 19, 2021

An excerpt from ‘In Praise of the Rite of Rebirth’ by Master Shandao

善導大師《往生禮讚》摘句

Question: Why are we not asked to practice contemplation; but, instructed to exclusively recite the Name? What is the meaning of this?

Answer: It is because sentient beings bear heavy karmic obstructions and their minds are too coarse to see the fine scenes and phenomena in the Pure Land. Because our mental focus is wavering and unsteady, it is too difficult to achieve any results in contemplation. With great compassion the great sage (Shakyamuni Buddha) directly advises us to exclusively recite Amitabha’s Name. He does this because of the easiness of Name-recitation. Those who exclusively recite Namo Amitabha Buddha are assured of rebirth in this lifetime.

問曰:何故不令作觀,直遣專稱名字者,有何意也?

答曰:乃由眾生障重,境細心粗,識揚神飛,觀難成就也。是以大聖悲憐,直勸專

稱名字,正由稱名易故,相續即生。

Namo Amituofo!

July 18 2021

Jul 18, 2021

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about Education for Living

生活教育

Children’s eyes are bright and clear. Their eyes capture all of the behaviors of their parents in the threefold karma of their minds, like a camera. So, they see and remember what their parents do as they mature.

Confucius says, “If a person is proper in conduct, people will follow him without being ordered. However, if improper, people will not follow even when ordered. “

Confucius also says, “When a teacher sets himself as a role model, how dare the students not follow.” If we conduct ourselves properly, we will naturally influence others. This means that teaching others through our deeds is worth more than what we only talk about. So, it is more important for us to teach our children by being good role models.

孩子的眼睛都是雪亮的,從小時候到現在,他們的眼睛就像攝影機,把父母的三業行為都攝入他的腦海中,所以他們是看著父母的行為長大的。

孔子說:「其身正,不令而行,其身不正,雖令不從」,又說:「子率以正, 孰敢不正。」我們如做得端正的話,自自然然會影響他人,這就是「身教重於言教」,所以在教養子女方面,以身作則是比較重要的。

Namo Amituofo!

July 17 2021

Jul 17, 2021

Master Yinguang’s Short Teaching about “entirely dependent on the Buddha’s power” (analogy of sailing on board)

印光大師「全是佛力」之文(坐船過海之喻) 

Among Buddhist teachings, there are an immeasurable number of paths, such as the Great Vehicle and Small Vehicle, and the Expedient and Real Teachings. In all of the teachings, a practitioner is required to cut off greed, hatred and delusion through the precepts, meditation and wisdom. In so doing they are completely purified, in order to be liberated from the cycle of birth-and-death.

For most of us, this is as difficult as ascending to heaven, and is beyond the capacity of mundane people like us to fulfil. However, if we truly believe and earnestly aspire to rebirth in Amitabha’s Pure Land, and recite Amitabha’s Name, we can be reborn with recourse to Amitabha’s compassionate power, despite our lack of capacity and meritorious virtues.

In the analogy of sailing on a ship to cross the sea of suffering, in order to reach the other shore of the Pure Land, we must want to board the ship and realize we are powerless to reach the shore without it. This is because it is the power of the ship, not ours, that makes it all possible. It is the same for rebirth in the Land of Bliss through Amitabha-recitation with faith and aspiration. All of it is entirely dependent on the Buddha’s power.

佛法法門無量,無論大小權實,一切法門,均須以戒定慧,斷貪瞋癡,令其淨盡無餘,方可了生脫死。此則難如登天,非吾輩具縛凡夫所能希冀。

若以真信切願、念佛求生西方,則無論功夫深淺、功德大小,皆可仗佛慈力, 往生西方。

此如坐火輪船過海,但肯上船,即可到於彼岸;乃屬船力,非自己本事。

信願念佛、求生西方亦然,完全是「佛力」,不是自己「道力」。

Namo Amituofo!

July 16 2021

Jul 16, 2021

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings - Expressing the Perception of the Pure Land

淨土述懷

There is an ancient pier in the vast sea of the Six Realms,

Where Amitabha’s compassionate ship docks on the shore of the sea of suffering.

When we make the decision to board that ship and set sail to reach the other shore.

We will end our entrapment in the cycle of birth-and-death on the Jambudvipa world (the Earth).

The Great Vow is Amitabha’s Fundamental Vow,

That delivers sentient beings upon the ship of his vow.

By exclusively reciting Amitabha’s Name, we will achieve the state of non-retrogression,

We will transcend and traverse the Ten Grounds and the Three Benevolences.

六道茫茫古渡頭,彌陀苦海泛慈舟;上船決定登彼岸,永絕閻浮生死流。

弘願即是彌陀願,廣度眾生上願船;專念彌陀心不退,橫超十地越三賢。

Namo Amituofo!

July 15 2021

Jul 15, 2021

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about the Patriarchal Lineage of the Pure Land School – Nagarjuna Bodhisattva

《淨宗傳承之龍樹菩薩》

It is our great source of joy that Amitabha: set forth vows for us, cultivated for us, built the Land of Bliss for us, and accomplished all of the merit and virtues necessary for our rebirth. He then dedicated all of those gifts to all sentient beings in the ten directions. Those who understand this point should reverently and gratefully hold fast to reciting Amitabha Buddha’s Name.

今天承蒙彌陀為我們發願、為我們修行、為我們建設極樂世界,為我們成就往生極樂世界的功德資糧,迴向給我們十方世界的眾生,能夠理解到這一點的人就能夠以恭敬心來執持阿彌陀佛的名號。

Namo Amituofo!

July 14 2021

Jul 14, 2021

Common Knowledge in Pure Land Teaching

淨土小常識

The Treatise on Rebirth – It was written by Vasubandhu Bodhisattva. It is also known as the Gatha of Rebirth, the Upadesa of the Infinite Life Sutra, the Commentary on the Pure Land, and the Commentary on the Infinite Life Sutra.

The book is composed of two parts, one is the Gathas and the other is the narratives. The Gathas are mainly based on the Infinite Life Sutra and also cover the principal meanings of the Three Pure Land Sutras.

The objective of the Treatise is to unfold the practices of Amitabha-invocation, prostration, praise, perception, aspiration, and dedication, and to advise and urge all sentient beings to be reborn in Amitabha’s Buddha-land together.

《往生論》- 天親菩薩所造,全稱《無量壽經優婆提舍願生偈》,又稱《淨土論》,或 《無量壽經論》。

全論由「偈頌」及解釋偈頌的「長行」兩部分組成,以《無量壽經》為主,總攝淨土三經要義,為三經通申之論。

本論的主旨,在以身示範五念門行(禮拜門、讚歎門、觀察門、作願門、迴向門),勸導一切眾生共同往生彌陀佛國。

Namo Amituofo!

July 13 2021

Jul 13, 2021

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about Faith in Pure Land Buddhism

淨土信仰

Master Shoku was one of the leading disciples of Master Honen, who developed the dogma of “aptitude and teaching are one entity (body)”. Aptitude refers to sentient beings who recite Amitabha’s Name, and teaching refers to Amitabha Buddha. We are Amitabha-reciters who become one with Amitabha Buddha.

“one-body not apart” and “one-body in non-duality” are a bit different. For example, the whole sandwich is one body; however, it is a body formed by slices of food one on top of the other, so it is known as “one-body not apart”. However, with respect to “one-body in non-duality”, it is just like the way water and milk are miscible and can form one body when mixed together.

However, water and oil are immiscible, and do not form one body. This is because water remains at the bottom and oil at the top in two layers. The three karmas, though separate, are not apart. Thus, sentient beings’ karma and Amitabha Buddha’s karma are intimate- not apart.

法然上人之後有證空上人的門派,就發展為「機法一體」的教義。「機」指眾生、念佛者,「法」指阿彌陀佛,我們念佛眾生跟阿彌陀佛是一體的。

「一體不離」跟「一體不二」的意義有一點點不同。比如說,三明治整個是一體的,可是卻是一片一片疊在一起的一體,這是「一體不離」;而「一體不二」,是融合在一起成為一體,比如水和乳,水乳交融,就成為一體。

而水跟油在一起就不是一體,因為水在底下,油在上面。「彼此三業一體不離」就是說眾生的三業,跟阿彌陀佛的三業,彼此的三業是一體不離,一體不離就是親。

Namo Amituofo!

July 12 2021

Jul 12, 2021

An excerpt from ‘In Praise of the Rite of Rebirth’ by Master Shandao

善導大師《往生禮讚》摘句

Deep Mind is genuine faith. We know we are ordinary beings full of afflictions, with no fertile roots of virtues. This causes us to reincarnate within the Three Domains and makes us unable to leave this burning house. However, we now believe in and accept Amitabha’s Great Fundamental Vow, which teaches us that, by reciting his Name ten times or even once, our rebirth is assured. For these reasons it is called the Deep Mind.

「深心」:即是真實信心:信知自身是具足煩惱凡夫,善根薄少, 流轉三界,不出火宅;今信知彌陀本弘誓願,及稱名號,下至十聲、 一聲等,定得往生;乃至一念無有疑心,故名深心。

Namo Amituofo!

July 11 2021

Jul 11, 2021

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about Education of Living

生活教育

Husbands and wives love each other and become entangled. This is unavoidable and normal. However, no matter how we remember and worry about the other person, it does not help. They inevitably obstruct each other. If they can open their minds to learning Buddhism and reciting the Buddha’s Name, they will both be benefitted.

夫妻的恩愛,甚至牽纏總是難免的,人生本來就是這個樣子。但是再怎麼樣的憂愁、懷念都於事無補,只是彼此障礙而已,而放開心胸來學佛、念佛,對他好,對自己也好。

Namo Amituofo!

July 10 2021

Jul 10, 2021

Master Yinguang’s Short Teaching offering Advice on Practicing the Particular Teaching and Discarding Self-Power

「自謂弘法」之文(法門相混之錯)

(continued)

We should know that Buddha-power is inconceivable. It cannot be compared with the power of cultivation of ordinary beings, who are entangled with afflictions. Buddha-power enables the clearing of all delusions and doubts in the minds of ordinary beings.

In the era of the Buddha’s teaching the Pure Land teaching is unique, as its practice in cultivation and realization in terms of cause and fruition is different. The “apple” of the Pure Land teaching cannot be compared with the “apple” of the teachings of the General Path.

使知佛力不可思議,不能以具縛凡夫修持之力相為並論,則凡一切疑惑不信之心,化為烏有。

於一代時教中,獨為特別法門,其修證因果,不得以通途教義相繩。

Namo Amituofo!

July 9 2021

Jul 9, 2021

Master Yinguang’s Short Teaching offering the Advice of Practicing the Particular Teaching and Discarding Self-Power

「自謂弘法」之文(法門相混之錯)

Many masters, who have been following the General Teachings, base their comments on the Pure Land teaching on those General Teachings. Through these mistakes they deprived themselves and misled other people. Many of them also say that they propagate this Dharma to benefit people.

They have made an initial mistake by not becoming aware of the differences in greatness and smallness, and the level of difficulty and easiness between Buddha-power and self-power paths. They forcefully twist the Pure Land teachings, by equating the teachings of reliance on self-power with the teaching of reliance on Buddha-power, in order to balance and harmonize them. This is a profound mistake.

(to be continued tomorrow)

古今多有依普通法門論淨土法門,由茲自誤誤人,而又自謂宏法利生者,不勝其多。其最初錯點,在不察佛力與自力之大小難易,以仗佛力之法門,硬引仗自力之法門,而欲平論,致有此失。

Namo Amituofo!

July 8 2021

Jul 8, 2021

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings - Expressing the Perception of the Pure Land

淨土述懷

Rebirth of Ordinary Beings in the Pure Land’s Realm of Rewards,

Name-Recitation in accord with the Fundamental Vow,

Complying with the teaching and accommodating the aptitudes [of sentient beings],

Comprehensively delivering a multitude of unenlightened beings.

The de facto patriarch‘s merit,

Illuminating the past and the present with resplendent light,

Extends until the Dharma-Ending Age.

In this way, more people can awaken and rely on the light.

凡夫入報,本願稱名,契法應機,廣度群萌。

宗祖功勳,灼古耀今,愈至末代,彌增仰憑。 

Namo Amituofo!

July 7 2021

Jul 7, 2021

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about the Patriarchal Lineage of the Pure Land School – Nagarjuna Bodhisattva

《淨宗傳承之龍樹菩薩》

In the Chapter on the Easy Path, Nagarjuna Bodhisattva praises Amitabha Buddha in 32 verses. Among these verses, there is one that states “assured of non-retrogression”, it reads as follows:

“If a person can remember this Buddha, he will attain immeasurable merit, virtues, and power, and instantly enter the state of assurance (non-retrogression). That is why I always recite Amitabha’s Name.”

It is also the same as “If a person thinks of me, he will return to me through reciting my Name, and instantly enter the state of assurance.” So long as we exclusively recite Amitabha’s Name, which contains immeasurable, boundless, inconceivable, and awesome merit and virtues. These are the reasons why Nagarjuna Bodhisattva always remembers and recites Amitabha Buddha’s Name, and advises us to do the same.

《易行品》裡面以三十二首偈來讚歎阿彌陀佛,其中即入必定的偈文就說:「人能念是佛,無量力功德,即時入必定,是故我常念。」

這個就是「若人念我,稱名自歸,即入必定」的意思,我們只要專稱彌陀佛名,阿彌陀佛無量無邊、不可思議的威神功德就通通在裡面,因為這一句名號本來就具備阿彌陀佛無量無邊、不可思議、甚深微妙、殊勝無上的功德,所以龍樹菩薩也時常憶念的稱念阿彌陀佛。

Namo Amituofo!

July 6 2021

Jul 6, 2021

Common Knowledge in Pure Land Teaching

淨土小常識

The Amitabha Sutra spoken by the Buddha - It is one of the three principal Sutras of the Pure Land School. Its shortened names are the Amitabha Sutra and the Smaller Sutra.

This Sutra was spoken by Shakyamuni Buddha without being requested by anyone. The Buddha pro-actively taught this Sutra with Sariputra being the principal audience. So, it is also known as the Sutra Spoken at His Own Discretion, Without Being Asked”. This Sutra is the most concise and precise among the three Pure Land Sutras.

The main theme of this Sutra is: Shakyamuni Buddha praises and extols various adornments of the Land of Bliss, instructs us and urges all ordinary beings to exclusively recite Amitabha’s Name with singleness of mind, for one to 7 days. In this way they are assured of rebirth. This fact is also unanimously praised, urged, and endorsed by all Buddhas of the ten directions.

《佛說阿彌陀經》- 淨土宗三部正依經典之一。簡稱《阿彌陀經》《小經》。本經是世尊在無人請問的情形下,以舍利弗尊者為對告眾,主動宣說,故稱「無問自說」之經。在淨土三部經中最為簡明扼要。本經主題是:釋迦讚歎極樂種種莊嚴,指勸一切凡夫,一日七日,一心專念彌陀名號,定得往生。十方諸佛悉皆同讚、同勸、同證。

Namo Amituofo!

July 5 2021

Jul 5, 2021

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about Faith in Pure Land Buddhism

淨土信仰

An Amitabha-reciter and the Buddha are always together, even when walking in and out, because they are one inseparable entity, part of the same body.

Master Shandao says, “The threefold karma of each being is not separate. The Contemplation Sutra says, the Buddha enters my heart and I enter the Buddha’s heart (metaphorically speaking). For this reason, an Amitabha-reciter views Amitabha-recitation as his life, his human life and his eternal life.

念佛人與佛同在同行同出入,念佛人與佛機法一體不離。

善導大師言:彼此三業,不相捨離。《觀經》言:佛入我心,我入佛心。(取意)是故念佛人,念佛是其生命,是其人生,是其生活。

Namo Amituofo!

July 4 2021

Jul 4, 2021

An excerpt from ‘In Praise of Dharma Practice’ by Master Shandao

善導大師《法事讚》:

(continued)

Humans, celestial beings, wholesome, and unwholesome beings, all shall be reborn. In the Pure Land nothing separates them. They all walk the irreversible path to Buddhahood.

Why is this so? It is because Amitabha Buddha, while he was still in the causal ground, gave up becoming a king, and left home to practice the Dharma. With his wisdom and compassion, he made 48 vows before Lokeshvararaja Tathagata.

With recourse to Amitabha’s vow power, even those who commit the Five Gravest Transgressions and the Ten Unwholesome Deeds, can still be reborn with all of their offenses eradicated. Those who slander the Dharma and those who have no roots of virtues can also be reborn, as long as they aspire to rebirth.

人天善惡,皆得往生;到彼無殊,齊同不退。

何意然者?乃由彌陀因地,世饒王佛所,捨位出家,即起悲智之心, 廣弘四十八願。

以佛願力,五逆之與十惡,罪滅得生;謗法闡提,迴心皆往。

Namo Amituofo!

July 3 2021

Jul 3, 2021

An excerpt from ‘In Praise of Dharma Practice’ by Master Shandao

善導大師《法事讚》摘句

Only a Buddha knows the realm of all Buddhas. The essence of a Buddhaland cannot be conceived by ordinary beings. Buddhas manifest their threefold bodies and their own pure lands for the purpose of delivering sentient beings. There is no difference with respect to the substance of their teachings and no difference between their pure lands, as all are made available to those who wish to come for enlightenment.

However, ordinary beings have confused thoughts, and they have no grounds for entrusting or settlement. In this respect, Shakyamuni Buddha and other buddhas do not cease being compassionate. They all point to the Land of Bliss, about ten thousand billion Buddha-lands to the West of us.

The name of the Buddha of that land is Amitabha. He teaches the Dharma there every day. That land is pure and adorned with four kinds of virtues. There is absolutely no unkind speech, no discrimination, no suffering, and no afflictions, as all inhabitants are equal.

(to be continued tomorrow)

諸佛境界,唯佛能知;國土精華,非凡所測。三身化用,皆立淨土,以導群生;法體無殊,有識歸之得悟。

但為凡夫亂想,寄託無由;故使釋迦諸佛,不捨慈悲,直指西方,十萬億剎,國名極樂,佛號彌陀,現在說法。其國清淨,具四德莊嚴;永絕譏嫌,等無憂惱。

Namo Amituofo!

July 2 2021

Jul 2, 2021

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about Education for Living

生活教育

Usually, we need to diligently perform good deeds. If karmic rewards come, a person can gratefully enjoy them. However, sometimes the karmic reward may be obstructed by bad karma from the past and the karmic reward cannot be realized.

So, if your child will be taking an examination at school, you should recite Amitabha’s Name in advance, and try to accumulate more virtues through practices in daily life, in order to eliminate enemies and debtors who may be seeking compensation.

世間往往好事多磨,一個人福報來了,如果真有福報就能很順利的享受,但如果福報來時,過去的業障也現前,就會障礙這個福報。

所以家中如果有小孩應考的話,我們預先就要多念佛,平常多行善積德,來排除一些在旁邊等待討債的冤鬼。

Namo Amituofo!

July 1 2021

Jul 1, 2021

Master Yinguang’s Short Teaching about the Fruition of Enlightenment and the cause of Mental - Aspiration (without mixing other Buddhist teachings)

印光大師、「果覺因心」之文(法門不能相混) 

The Pure Land teaching’s greatness has no limit. All phenomena are the noumenon (Amitabha’s Body) itself. All cultivation practices (Amitabha-recitation) are the revelation of self-nature.

The practice is extremely common and simple; but, the benefits are infinitely splendid and wonderful. This is because the practitioner takes the Buddha’s Enlightenment to be one with his Bodhi Mind in the causal ground. In this way, he attains the cause that envelops all merit and virtues like an ocean, and also attains the reward of fruition that can thoroughly penetrate the source of all of the causes of his karmic offenses.

淨土法門,其大無外,全事即理,全修即性。

行極平常,益極殊勝。

良由「以果地覺,為因地心」,故得「因該果海,果徹因源」。

Namo Amituofo!

June 30 2021

Jun 30, 2021

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings Expressing the Perception of the Pure Land

淨土述懷

The awesome power of Amitabha’s Fundamental Vow

Comprehensively delivers various sentient beings of the ten directions.

Whoever wishes to be reborn through the practice of Amitabha-recitation, 

Will naturally be received by Amitabha and a multitude of sacred beings at the near end-of-life.

彌陀本願威神力,廣度十方諸有情;

但有念佛願往生,臨終聖眾自來迎。

Namo Amituofo!

June 29 2021

Jun 29, 2021

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about the Patriarchal Lineage of the Pure Land School – Nagarjuna Bodhisattva

《淨宗傳承之龍樹菩薩》

Nagarjuna Bodhisattva interprets “even ten times” as “name-recitation”, as he says “think of me by reciting my Name”. He even discards “entrust in me sincerely and joyfully”, and uses “name-recitation” to cover the meaning of both “entrust in me sincerely and joyfully” and “even ten times”. This means we are “to interpret faith as practice” as said in the 18th Vow. Why? It is because faith, as mentioned in the 18th Vow, is to believe in attaining assured rebirth through Amitabha-recitation “even ten times”.

龍樹菩薩以「念我稱名」這個稱名來解釋「乃至十念」,甚至捨掉了「至心信樂」,等於是以「稱名」這個行來涵蓋「至心信樂」與「乃至十念」,這個就是「以行釋信」,以行來解釋第十八願所講的信。為什麼?因為第十八願所講信的內容,是信「乃至十念,就必生極樂」。

Namo Amituofo!

June 28 2021

Jun 28, 2021

Common Knowledge in Pure Land Teaching

淨土小常識

The Sutra of Contemplation of Infinite Life Spoken by the Buddha – 

It is one of the three sutras that serve as the main canon of the Pure Land School. It is also known as “The Contemplation of Infinite Life”, or “The Contemplation Sutra”. Master Shandao made a commentary on this sutra and called it “The Infinite Life Contemplation Sutra”.

This Sutra consists of one fascicle, but it is spoken twice - first in the palace, and repeated at Vulture Peak. In the palace in Rajagriha, Shakyamuni Buddha expounds the teaching of 13 contemplations as meditative virtues, in order for Ananda and Vaidehi to perceive the splendid scenes of the Land of Bliss. He also expounds the teaching on the non-meditative virtues of the Three Meritorious Deeds and Nine Levels of Rebirth for them. They are required to dedicate these merits and virtues and aspire to be reborn in the Land of Bliss. This was the first Dharma assembly in the palace.

When Ananda returned to Vulture Peak from the palace, he repeated, in the presence of the Buddha, the teachings expounded in the palace to the assembly, which included a multitude of heavenly and sacred beings headed by Manjusri. 

The core teaching of this Sutra is: To speak of the meditative and non-meditative virtues in order to comprehensively embrace all people of different aptitudes, and convince them to return to Amitabha-recitation in order to achieve rebirth in the Land of Bliss.

《佛說觀無量壽佛經》 - 

淨土宗三部正依經典之一。簡稱《觀無量壽經》《觀經》,善導大師所釋本名為《無量壽觀經》。

本經一卷,含王宮與耆闍兩次說法。世尊在王舍城王宮之內,為韋提希及阿難等宣說定心觀想極樂勝境的十三定觀(定善),以及散心修諸善的三福九品(散善),迴向願生極樂世界,為「王宮會」。阿難從王宮返耆闍崛山, 世尊在座,對文殊等一切人天凡聖,復述王宮所說之法門,稱「耆闍會」。

本經的核心是:說定散二善,廣攝眾機,歸入念佛。

Namo Amituofo!

June 27 2021

Jun 27, 2021

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about Faith in Pure Land Buddhism

淨土信仰

Through being an Amitabha-reciter, Amitabha Buddha is always in his mind, and he is always in Amitabha’s mind. Whenever, wherever, and whatever he does, Amitabha Buddha is always there with him.

Though we are not capable of practicing non-meditative virtues, and we have scorching afflictions, heavy deep karmic obstructions, and plentiful false and miscellaneous thoughts, we are always in one body with Amitabha Buddha as long as we exclusively recite Amitabha’s Name.

一個念佛人是佛在他的心中,他也在佛的心中。不管什麼時候,什麼地方,做什麼事情,都跟阿彌陀佛一體不相分離的。像我們三福無份,像我們煩惱熾盛、業障深重,像我們妄想雜念很多,可是只要念佛,就可以跟阿彌陀佛一體不分離。

Namo Amituofo!

June 26 2021

Jun 26, 2021

An excerpt from the ‘Dharma School of Contemplation and Recitation’ by Master Shandao

善導大師《觀念法門》摘句

All past buddhas who uphold the Samadhi of Amitabha-Recitation, supplemented with the Four Matters, rejoice in achieving Buddhahood. The present buddhas in the ten directions also contemplate the Samadhi of Amitabha-recitation as their upholding practice, supplemented with the Four Matters, and rejoice in cultivating Buddhahood. The future buddhas also uphold the Samadhi of Amitabha-Recitation, supplemented with the Four Matters, and rejoice in cultivating Buddhahood.

過去諸佛,持是念阿彌陀佛三昧,四事助歡喜,皆得成佛。 現在十方諸佛,亦持是念佛三昧,四事助歡喜,皆得作佛。 未來諸佛,亦持是念佛三昧,四事助歡喜,皆得作佛。

Namo Amituofo!

June 25 2021

Jun 25, 2021

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about Education for Living

生活教育

Generally speaking, filial love can be divided into three grades from the Buddhist point of view:

The first grade is the basic one. It is our responsibility to love parents and ancestors, so that they don’t need to worry about being able to live their daily lives. Also, we should listen to them, and satisfy their wishes. We should respect and love our parents. It is the most basic way to be dutiful sons and daughters.

The second grade of filial love is to glorify our ancestors through our conduct, virtue, and merit in the community. This kind of filial love is very important in the human world, and through it parents will not be ashamed of how they brought up their children.

However, as far as the Buddhist teachings are concerned, all of human life is viewed from the perspective of cause and effect in the three periods of time, reward/retribution for good and bad karma, and reincarnation within the Six Realms. So, whether a person has filial love or not, the first two grades are not regarded as true filial love from the Buddhist point of view.

We must allow our parents and ancestors to thoroughly leave the cycle of birth-and-death within the Six Realms. This is truly a kind of “great filial love”. The former two kinds of filial love are known as “small filial love” and “medium filial love”, as they are imperfect and incomplete.

一般講「孝道」,從佛教的觀點來看可分為三等:

第一種是最基本的,就是對父母、祖先盡孝養之道,使父母在日常生活當中沒有衣食的憂慮,同時滿父母的心意,不違逆他們,表現對父母的既愛又敬,這是為人子女最基本應盡的孝道。

第二種,是中等的孝道,就是本身能夠立言、立德、立功,來顯揚祖先,榮宗耀祖。這二種孝道,在世間人的觀念,已經非常孝順了,使得父母不平白生下這個兒女。

然而,佛法是從三世因果、善惡報應、六道輪迴來看整個人生,也以這樣的人生觀來談什麼是孝、什麼是不孝。如果從佛法來談,前面那二種孝還不是真正的孝,而是必須使自己的父母祖先,徹底的離開六道生死輪迴,才是真正的「大孝」,前面兩種就是「小孝」跟「中孝」,這兩種孝是不圓滿的。

Namo Amituofo!

June 24 2021

Jun 24, 2021

Master Yinguang’s Short Teaching Advising us to Practice the Particular Teaching and Discard Self-Power

「揀去自力」之文(勸修特別法門)

The path of Self-power is called the General or Common Path.

The path of Buddha-power is called the Particular or Special Path.

Thus, discard self-power and emphasize Buddha-power, in the hope that sentient beings in the Saha World, with all kinds of delusive karma, are assured of going to the Lotus Pond together in the present lifetime.

仗「自力」者,名「通途法門」;

仗「佛力」者,名「特別法門」。

由茲,揀去自力,注重佛加,冀娑婆具足惑業之含識,現生同赴蓮池。

Namo Amituofo!