Clarifying Doubts About the Pure Land (I)
淨土釋疑(一)
Question 30 : Please Master, give some guidance regarding the practice of releasing living beings.
Answer to Q30 about releasing living beings (1 /4 )
The motivation behind releasing living beings is very good, because it arises from a compassionate heart. One cannot bear to see the strong preying on the weak, nor can one bear to let a living being be slaughtered. However, compassion must
be guided by wisdom. How to truly achieve the purpose of releasing life is the more important issue; therefore, the method must be carefully considered.
Before releasing living beings, it is best that we first make a vow to adopt a vegetarian diet. Every day that we do not eat vegetarian food, someone kills living beings on our behalf. Only by truly eating vegetarian can one truly practice the release of life. There are two kinds of killing: direct killing and indirect killing.
Even if one cannot be fully vegetarian, one should at least consume the “three kinds of pure meat,” since we are all disciples learning the Buddha’s way.
(to be continued tomorrow)
30問：請師父開示一下有關放生的問題。
答：放生的行為，動機是非常好的，因為他發慈悲心，不忍弱肉強食，不忍 讓一隻活生生的生命就這樣被宰割。但是運用這個慈悲要有智慧。要怎麼樣 才能達到真正的放生，這個是比較重要的，所以，在方法上就必須考慮。
放生之前，我們最好先發吃素的願，我們一天不吃素，一天就有人為我們 而殺生，所以，唯有真正吃素，才是真正放生。殺生有兩種殺生，有直接殺、 有間接殺。
即使不能吃素，也應該吃三淨肉，因為我們都是學佛弟子。
Namo Amituofo!
