Sept.14, 2026
Clarifying Doubts About the Pure Land (II)
淨土釋疑(二)
Question 47:
I would like to ask the Master about something. Ever since I was little, my family has kept pets, and now I have many cats at home. Whenever I see animals outside that are hungry or suffering in the cold, or small animals that have been injured in traffic accidents, I do my best to take them to a hospital. These things often take up quite a lot of my time. Sometimes I don't want to spend so much time on them; but, at the same time, I cannot bear to leave them. Because of this I sometimes feel troubled. I wonder if there is something wrong with my way of thinking?
Answer to Q47: (1 /3)
This motivation comes from a Bodhisattva-like heart and is worthy of praise. It is very good!
If you see a dead dog or cat outside, you can bury it, give it the Three Refuges, offer it teachings, and recite Amitabha’s name for it, hoping that through this connection it may be reborn in Amitabha’s Land of Bliss.
If an animal is injured, you can recite Amitabha’s name for it, enabling it to be released from its karmic obstacles and offenses, and you also can take it to a hospital for treatment. However, as much as possible, try not to keep the animals yourself. Instead, you can send them to a place that specializes in caring for and sheltering animals.
If you simply cannot bear to part with them and must keep them, then play recordings of Amitabha’s name at home, teach them the Three Refuges, and explain the Buddha Dharma to them. If the opportunity arises, you can also invite them to recite Amitabha’s name together with you. This is because, if they
encounter other people, they may not have the opportunity for liberation; but, because they have encountered you, they have a connection with liberation. If they encounter you yet fail to attain liberation, it would be a great pity—almost as though they had never encountered you at all.
(to be continued tomorrow)
第47問：我想請示上人，從小家裏就有養寵物，現在家也養了很多貓咪，出門 看到受餓、捱凍的一些動物，或是看到出車禍的小動物，我都是盡自己的能 力把牠們送到醫院。這些事情常常佔據我不少時間，有時我不想在這些事上 花這麼多時間，但內心又捨不得，所以有時候會苦。不知是否自己的觀念上 有錯誤？
答：這種存心是菩薩心腸，值得讚歎，很好！
如果在外面看到死狗死貓，就把牠埋掉，幫牠皈依，為牠開示、念佛，希望牠 有這個緣往生極樂世界，這也是牠們的福報。受傷，也是為牠念佛，讓牠懺悔 業障、消除牠的罪業，帶牠去醫院治療，但是盡量不要自己養，可以送到專門 收養的場所。如果捨不得，非養不可，就在家播放佛號，為牠講三皈依、講佛法。有機緣的話，也可以請牠們和你一起念佛，因為牠如果遇到別人就沒有 解脫的緣，遇到你就有解脫的緣。遇到你，牠們沒解脫，等於不遇，就很可惜了。
Namo Amituofo!
