Wednesday, December 3, 2025

December 2, 2025

Dec. 2, 2025 
Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teaching asking “What does life look like?” 
慧淨法師之「人生之實相」 

(continued) 

Master Honen said: 
“As for this body of mine — regarding the precepts, I do not uphold even a single one. 

Regarding meditation, I have not attained even the smallest degree. Regarding wisdom, I do not possess the true wisdom that cuts off delusion and realizes fruition… 

I am a being without wisdom; 

I am a being who has broken the precepts.”

“Alas! Alas! How lamentable! Why is it so? Why is it so? 

Someone like me is no vessel for the Three Learnings: of precepts, meditation, and wisdom. 

Is there, outside of these Three Learnings, a Dharma-gate that corresponds to my mind? 

Is there a path of practice suitable for such a body as mine?” 

(to be continued tomorrow) 

法然上人說:然我此身,於戒行不持一戒,於禪定一不得之,於智慧不得斷惑 證果之正智…… 

我是無智之身也,我是破戒之身也。 

悲哉悲哉!為何為何?爰如予者,已非戒定慧三學之器,此三學外有相應我 心之 法門耶?有堪能此身之修行耶? 

Namo Amituofo! 

December 1, 2025

Dec. 1, 2025 
Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teaching asking “What does life look like?” 
慧淨法師之「人生之實相」 

(continued) 

Master Lianchi said: 
“A monk who, in this present life, upholds precepts and cultivates merit; but, whose mind-ground has not yet awakened, whose vow-power is weak, and who does not seek rebirth in the Pure Land. 

Such a person will, in the next life, most often receive the reward of wealth and honor. 

Yet he will also, in many cases, be confused and deluded by that very wealth and honor, and may even create negative karma and fall into lower realms.”

Master Zheliu said: 
“ A practitioner who lacks proper faith and does not seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land; but, instead cultivates various good deeds in a general and scattered way, will encounter the enemy of a third lifetime.” 

(i.e., such good deeds will bind one to future rebirth and suffering rather than liberation.) 

Master Yìnguang said: 
“Worldly good karma does not transcend saṁsāra. 

When compared with the Pure Land karma of rebirth grounded in complete faith and aspiration, 

those worldly good deeds are considered flawed (i.e., they continue to bind one to the cycle of rebirth).” 

“To be reborn as a human in the next life is harder than to attain rebirth in the Pure Land at the time of death. 

If one does not attain birth in the Western Pure Land, one will certainly fall into evil destinies in the future. 

The benefit of being born in the Pure Land surpasses even the benefit of attaining the Path in this world.” 

“The purpose of cultivation and diligent practice is originally for ending entrapment in the cycle of birth-and-death. 

If birth-and-death are not ended, the danger is extremely great. If one has not exited Samsara, one cannot avoid falling into it again. Therefore we must exert ourselves in this very life to end birth-and-death.” 

(to be continued tomorrow)

蓮池大師說:今生持戒修福之僧,若心地未明,願力輕微,又不求生淨土, 是人來生,多感富貴之報,亦多為富貴所迷,或至造業墮落者。 

截流大師說:修行之人,若無正信求生西方,泛修諸善,名為第三世怨。 

印光大師說:世間善業,不出輪迴;若對信願具足之往生淨業,則彼善業,仍 屬惡業。 

來生做人,比臨終往生還難;不生西方,將來必墮惡道;生西利益,比得道利 益更大。 

修行用功,原為了生死。生死不了,危險太大;輪迴未出,難免墮落。努力今生 ,以了生死。 

Namo Amituofo! 

November 30, 2025

Nov. 30, 2025 
Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teaching asking “What does life look like?” 慧淨法師之「人生之實相」

(continued) 

Master Daochuo said: 
From the standpoint of the Mahayana, the realization of true suchness, ultimate reality, and the emptiness of the highest truth, have never arisen in our minds. From the standpoint of the Hinayana, to cultivate and enter the stages of seeing the truth and cultivating the path, up to the attainments of a non-returner and arhat; require cutting off the five lower fetters and eliminating the five higher ones. Whether as a lay or monastic practitioner, none among us have any share in these attainments. 

Even if there are those who gain the rewards of heavenly or human rebirth, these are merely the results of observing the Five Precepts and practicing the Ten Good Deeds; yet those who truly uphold them are extremely rare. 

As for the arising of evil and the committing of offenses, they are like violent winds and sudden rains—swift and unrestrained. 

Master Shandao said: 
We are presently ordinary beings burdened by karmic evils, throughout birth and death. Since beginningless kalpas, we have constantly sunk and drifted in the cycle of rebirth, never finding a cause or condition for liberation. 

We are beings fully endowed with afflictions and defilements, our wholesome roots are shallow and weak. We forever revolve within the Three Realms, unable to escape the burning house of samsara. 

Before us lie two rivers, each bottomless and boundless from north to south. One is composed of fire, the other of water. They endlessly clash without rest. The pleasures of humans and gods are like flashes of lightning. In a single instant they vanish, and we return to the Three Evil Paths to suffer for long ages. 

For these very reasons, I urge all to seek birth in the Pure Land and aspire to unsurpassed Enlightenment. 

(to be continued tomorrow)

道綽大師說:若據大乘,真如實相、第一義空,曾未措心。 

若論小乘,修入見諦、修道,乃至那含、羅漢,斷五下,除五上,無問道俗,未 有其分。 

縱有人天果報,皆為五戒十善能招此報,然持得者甚稀。 

若論起惡造罪,何異暴風駃雨。 

善導大師說: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。 自身是具足煩惱凡夫,善根薄少,流轉三界,不出火宅。 

二河各深無底,南北無邊,水火相交,常無休息。 

人天之樂,猶如電光,須臾即捨,還入三惡,長時受苦。 

為此因緣,但勸即令求生淨土,向無上菩提。 

Namo Amituofo! 

November 29, 2025

Nov. 29, 2025 

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teaching asking “What does life look like?” 
慧淨法師之「人生之實相」 

(continued) 

Master Tanluan said: 
“All the ‘good’ and all the rewards of humans and heavenly beings — whether causes or results—are all inverted, all false.” 

“The Three Realms are marked by : inversion, falsity, defilement, destruction, and ceaseless turning, throughout infinity.” 

“The Three Realms are like a dark house in which ordinary beings are born, wander, revolve, and die.”

“The Three Realms arise from the leaking perverse paths. Beings slumber in a great, long dream, knowing nothing of how to hope for escape.” 

Master Daoan said: 
“Reflecting on myself, my offenses are deep—how could I possibly cross over to liberation?” 

Master Tanluan also said: 
“ Through beginningless time I have wandered through the Three Realms, swept along by the wheel of delusion. 

The karma produced by even a single thought or a single movement, is enough to bind me to the six paths and imprison me in the three evil destinies.” 

(to be continued tomorrow) 

曇鸞大師說:人天諸善,人天果報,若因若果,皆是顛倒,皆是虛偽。 三界是顛倒相、虛偽相、污染相、破壞相、輪轉相、無窮相。 三界是生死凡夫流轉之闇宅。 

三界是有漏邪道所生,長寢大夢,莫知悕出。 

道安大師說:自惟罪深,詎可度脫? 

曇鸞大師說:我從無始循三界,為虛妄輪所迴轉;一念一時所造業,足繫六道 滯三塗。 

Namo Amituofo! 

November 28, 2025

Nov. 28, 2025
Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teaching asking “What does life look like?” 慧淨法師之「人生之實相」 

The Lotus Sutra says: 

“The Three Realms are without peace; they are like a burning house, filled with all kinds of suffering and terror.” 


The Correct Mindfulness of the True Dharma Sutra says: 

“Throughout beginningless cycles of birth and death, the net of karma covers the world. 

From heaven one is born into hell; 
from hell one is born into heaven.” 


The Nirvaṇa Sutra says: 

“Even if one attains a Brahma-body, or is born in the Heaven of Neither Thought nor Non-Thought, at the end of that life one can still fall back into the three evil destinies.” 


The Ksitigarbha Sutra says: 
“When heavenly beings have exhausted their heavenly blessings, the five signs of decay appear, and some may even fall into evil paths.” 


The Ksitigarbha Sutra also says: 
“ For the beings of Jambudvipa—every movement and every thought creates karma. How much more so for those who indulge in killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, false speech, and commit countless offenses.” 

The Pure Deliverance Bodhisattva Sutra says: 
“In one day, a single person has eight hundred and forty million thoughts.

In every single thought karma is created, that can inevitably lead to the three evil realms.” 


The Sorrowful Flower Sutra says: 
“These beings were abandoned by the thousand Buddhas of this eon, because their afflictions were exceedingly heavy, and they devote themselves to evil deeds. 

Such beings are not accepted in the Buddha-lands. 

They have cut off their wholesome roots, are separated from good spiritual friends, and are constantly filled with anger. 

These beings completely fill the Saha world. 

Because of their grave karma, they are rejected by the Buddha-lands of the ten directions.” 

The Great Assembly Sun Treasury Sutra says: 

“Shakyamuni Buddha’s original vows declared: 

‘If there are beings who commit the five gravest offenses, 
slander the Vaipulya (Mahayana) sutras, revile the sages, or violate the parajika rules— they cannot be accepted in the pure Buddha-lands. 

All such beings can be born in my land, and I will teach and transform them.’ 

Because of this vow, even evil beings can gather in his land.” 

(to be continued tomorrow) 

《法華經》說:三界無安,猶如火宅,眾苦充滿,甚可怖畏。 

《正法念處經》言:無始生死中,業網覆世界。從天生地獄,從地獄生天。 《涅槃經》說:雖復得受梵天之身,乃至非想非非想天,命終還墮三惡道中。 《地藏經》說:天人受天福盡,有五衰相現,或有墮於惡道之者。

《地藏經》說:南閻浮提眾生,舉止動念,無不是業,無不是罪。 何況恣情殺害、竊盜、邪淫、妄語,百千罪狀。 

《淨度菩薩經》說:一人一日中,八億四千念,念念中所做,皆是三塗業。 《悲華經》說:是一千四佛所放捨者,所謂眾生厚重煩惱,專行惡業。 如是眾生,諸佛世界,所不容受。 

如是眾生,斷諸善根,離善知識,常懷瞋恚,皆悉充滿娑婆世界;悉是他方諸 佛世界之所擯棄,以重業故。 

《大集日藏經》說:釋迦牟尼佛,本所誓願:若有眾生,造作五逆、謗方等經、毀 呰聖人、犯波羅夷,如是之人,清淨佛剎,所不容者,皆生我國,我當教化。 以是因緣,諸惡眾生,悉集其國。 

Namo Amituofo! 

November 27, 2025

Nov. 27, 2025 
Wonderful Metaphors in the Pure Land School
淨土宗妙喻 

Metaphor 48: The Song of the Parting Son 

A mother’s love is sewn into a gown for her departing child. 

With each of the threads a mother’s hands weave, 

They impart the greatest love in this world. 

It is innate. From the first day of her pregnancy, she is destined for a lifetime of love and care for the child who means everything to her. She accepts him with rejoicing, and is prepared to do anything for him, without complaint or regret. 

The above verses are from a poem in a collection of 300 Tang Poems. Authored by Meng Jiao, the work depicts the poignant moment of a loving mother who was sewing a garment for her departing son. Stitch by stitch, she wove both her blessings and ceaseless love into the clothing. Every stitch encapsulated her heart-felt prayer. All she wished for was that her child, while traveling far from home, would never suffer from hunger or cold; but, instead live a safe, healthy and happy life. 

“Like roaming clouds you long to wander; 

In the sunset my affection for you lingers.” 

Among all the longings of a homesick traveler, the deepest is invariably the one for his mother. He knows that her concern for him is never ending and he will always be fondly remembered even when he is thousands of miles away from her. 

An article of clothing will evoke different sentiments in the traveler wearing it; depending on whether it was bought, a gift, or hand-made by his mother, stitch by stitch overnight. His feelings will also be determined by whether he can appreciate the tender loving kindness of his mother. 

Though the six characters that form Namo Amitabha Buddha appear the same to all people, the feeling evoked in those who recite it can be quite different. The difference lies in whether a reciter understands the meaning of Amitabha

Buddha’s vow, saying “If ... sentient beings fail to be reborn in my Land of Bliss, may I not attain perfect Enlightenment.”. 

48. 遊子吟喻 

≈ 遊子吟 ——「慈母為子編毛衣」的愛心 ≈ 

慈母手中線,遊子身上衣; 

臨行密密縫,意恐遲遲歸。(唐‧孟郊) 

世上最偉大的愛是「母愛」,母愛是天性,每個孩子都是媽媽的心肝寶貝, 從懷孕的第一天開始,就註定了一世的牽掛,一生的情緣。孩子的一切,是媽 媽的唯一,她歡喜接納、犧牲奉獻、無怨無悔。 

這二十個字,是唐朝詩人孟郊所寫的,編在《唐詩三百首》裏。這首詩,所 謂「慈母為子編毛衣」的愛心 — 由慈母手中一針一線所編織的毛衣,點點滴 滴都是母親的愛心。密密縫出的一絲半縷,都藏著慈母對離鄉背井的遊子日 夜不停的牽掛與思念,唯願孩子吃飽穿暖、平安健康、幸福美滿。 

「浮雲遊子意,落日故人情。」遠遊異鄉的人,對故鄉的眷念與思念裡,最深 刻最難忘的,恐怕就是家中殷殷切切日夜牽掛兒女的慈母了,因為「兒行千里 母擔憂」啊! 

一件毛線衣,如果是買來的,或是別人送的,跟母親在夜光下一針一線織 出來的,穿在遊子身上的感受必然不同;穿著這件毛衣遠行在外的遊子,能否 體會慈母的愛心、苦心,那心情也會不一樣。 

同樣是一句名號,理解「若不生者,不取正覺」的內涵,跟不理解它的內涵 的人,稱念起來內心的感受也是不一樣的。 

Namo Amituofo! 

November 26, 2025

Nov. 26, 2025 
Important Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching 
淨土小常識 

169. After Buddhahood — Samantabhadra 

In the Infinite Life Sutra Amitabha’s 22nd. Vow states: 

“If, when I achieve Buddhahood, Bodhisattvas from other Buddha Lands are reborn in my land, they shall definitely attain the utmost stage of being one lifetime removed from Buddhahood. In addition, there are those who originally vowed to manifest freely for the benefit of sentient beings. Fortified by the armor of their “Great Vow”, those Bodhisattvas continuously accumulate roots of virtue and deliver all beings. They shall: tour Buddha Lands, carry out Bodhisattva activities, make offerings to Buddhas and Tathagatas of the ten directions, guide countless sentient beings as numerous as grains of sands in the Ganges River, and establish them on the path to supreme, perfect enlightenment. They shall transcend the ordinary stages of Bodhisattva-practice and instantly manifest themselves by cultivating the virtues of Samantabhadra. Should this not happen, may I not attain perfect Enlightenment. ” 

The 22nd. Vow has two aspects: 

“ Being One-life-from-Buddhahood” (一生補處) and “Returning to share the

merit they dedicated for the sake of others” (還相迴向). Therefore, this vow has two names: the Vow of One-Life-from-Buddhahood and the Vow of Returning and sharing the Merit they dedicated. 

Among these, the phrase “presently cultivating the virtues of Samantabhadra” concludes the part of the vow that relates to returning and dedicating merit. It explains that the Bodhisattvas of the Pure Land never abandon their compassionate vows; but , universally travel to the ten directions to save sentient beings. These qualities describe the Bodhisattvas who reach the stage of being One-Life-from-Buddhahood. 

“Presently” means right now, at this very moment—contrasted with “in the future.” 

“Cultivate” means to practice, to carry out. 

“To Habitually cultivate” means to repeatedly do something until it becomes natural, to act in accord with the transmitted work and practice that never ceases. 

Thus “to habitually cultivate” means that Pure Land Bodhisattvas naturally, habitually, and spontaneously perform the Bodhisattva work of liberating beings, very different from beginners practicing for the first time. 

“The virtues of Samantabhadra” - as the Qingliang Commentary says, “‘Universal’ means exhausting all results; ‘Excellent’ means never abandoning the causal door—this refers to Samantabhadra after Buddhahood.” This indicates that Pure Land Bodhisattvas are fully endowed with the Buddha’s compassion, wisdom, vows, and supernatural powers. They universally travel to all of the worlds in the ten directions to liberate beings. 

This is a manifestation from the fruit to the root—not the appearance of cultivating from the root toward the fruit. 


169 佛後普賢

《無量壽經》第二十二願說: 

設我得佛,他方佛土諸菩薩眾來生我國,究竟必至一生補處; 除其本願自在所化,為眾生故被弘誓鎧,積累德本度脫一切, 遊諸佛國修菩薩行,供養十方諸佛如來,開化恆沙無量眾生, 使立無上正真之道。超出常倫諸地之行,現前修習普賢之德。 若不爾者,不取正覺。 

第二十二願中提到「一生補處」、「還相迴向」二願事,這一願的願名有二: 「一生補處願」與「還相迴向願」。 

其中,願文的「現前修習普賢之德」是結還相迴向之願事,說明淨土菩薩現前 便能不捨悲願,普至十方救度眾生。這是補處菩薩的相狀。 

「現前」,現下、目前,相對於當來之語。 

「修」,修為、實踐。 

「習」,慣習、數為,服行所傳之業,熟復不止也。 

「修習」,習慣地、慣性地、熟練地、自然地常常作菩薩本身所應作的度生之業 ,並非初學、練習之意。 

「普賢之德」,《清涼疏》:「果無不窮曰『普』,不捨因門曰『賢』,此約佛後普 賢。」指淨土菩薩具足佛的慈悲、智慧、願力、神通,到十方世界普度眾生。 

這是從果向因之示現相,非從因向果之修行相。 

Namo Amituofo!