November 26 2020

Nov 26, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about the Amitabha Sutra

《佛說阿彌陀經》

Ever since, regardless whether they are monastics or householders, all practitioners worship the Amitabha Sutra is the most important Sutra that should be recited daily.

Moreover, many remarkable Dharma masters made commentaries on the Amitabha Sutra.

Master Shandao in Tang dynasty, our de facto founder, was one of early commentators, who wrote the Praise of Dharma Practice to explain the Amitabha Sutra. He was also the eminent great master in Tang-Sui dynasty who inherited the lifeline transmitted from Nagarjuna, Vasubandhu, Tanluan, Daochao, so his interpretations and connotations on the scriptures of the Pure Land School is the most pristine one.

自古以來，淨土法門的修學者，不論是出家、在家，都奉《阿彌陀經》為最重要而且作為每日課誦的經典，同時由古至今也有很多的高僧大德註解《阿彌陀經》。

唐朝善導大師也就是我們的宗主，他的《法事讚》可以說是最早期註解《阿彌陀經》的其中之一，同時也由於善導大師傳承於龍樹、天親、曇鸞、道綽，是隋唐時代的一位高僧，他所傳承的這一個法脈，所註解的有關淨土宗的經典，解釋與內涵，可以說是最純正的淨土法門的解釋。

其他的大德所解釋的，可說大部份都是站在他們自己宗門的立場來作解釋，所以就純正上來講就有不夠，因此，如果要瞭解《阿彌陀經》的正確意義，就必須看善導大師的著作。

Namo Amituofo!

November 19 2020

Nov 19, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about the Amitabha Sutra

《佛說阿彌陀經》

When Shakyamuni Buddha expounded the Amitabha Sutra, all buddhas of the ten directions came to extol it pro-actively, and unanimously certify what Shakyamuni Buddha said is true. What he says is the same as what all buddhas of the ten directions say, which is also verified through the accomplishment of Amitabha’s 17th Vow in the Infinite Life Sutra.

In the Amitabha Sutra, it also says all buddhas of the ten directions will come together to protect Amitabha-reciters. In this case, when we recite Amitabha’s Name, we are embraced and protected by all buddhas. Isn’t that amazing?! It should also make us fully confident in our deliverance, no matter how inferior our aptitudes are.

當釋迦牟尼佛宣說《阿彌陀經》的時候,十方諸佛都同時歡喜主動地讚歎,異口同聲來證明釋迦牟尼佛所說的是真實不虛,祂所說的等同十方諸佛所要說的,這也就是《無量壽經》第十七願的成就的顯示。

而《阿彌陀經》裏更說我們念阿彌陀佛的人,十方諸佛都一齊來護念。這樣的話,我們念阿彌陀佛一佛豈不是被一切諸佛共同保護,這樣,我們再怎樣下劣,也能生起得救的信心。

Namo Amituofo!

November 12 2020

Nov 12, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about the Amitabha Sutra

《佛說阿彌陀經》

The Amitabha Sutra explains Amitabha’s Name as infinite light and infinite life. It says, “Why do you think that Buddha is called Amitabha? It is because that Buddha's light shines boundlessly and without hindrance over all the worlds of the ten quarters.”

It also says, “The lives of the Buddha and the people of his land last for immeasurable, unlimited, and incalculable eons. It is for this reason that the Buddha is called Amitayus. “

In the Commentary on the Treatise on Rebirth, why did Master Tanluan mention the Buddha’s infinite light, but not his infinite life? It is because his life is Amitabha’s body and the light is Amitabha’s function. Combining the two to express Amitabha’s body and function, he teaches about the functions of light, which naturally cover the life of the body.

《阿彌陀經》對阿彌陀佛這句佛名的解釋是以阿彌陀佛「光明無量、壽命無量」來解釋,所謂:「彼佛何故號阿彌陀?彼佛光明無量,照十方國,無所障礙,是故號為阿彌陀。」

又說:「彼佛壽命,及其人民,無量無邊阿僧祇劫,故名阿彌陀。」

但是曇鸞大師在《往生論註》裏只有舉出光明,沒有舉出壽命,為什麼?是因為壽體光用──壽命是彌陀之體,光明是彌陀之用,這是就壽跟體來論體用,所以壽體光用,只要舉出光明之用就自然涵蓋壽命之體。

Namo Amituofo!

November 6 2020

Nov 6, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about the Amitabha Sutra

《佛說阿彌陀經》

The Amitabha Sutra was spoken by the Buddha without it being requested. This means the Sutra was spoken at the Buddha’s own discretion. In this Sutra, Shakyamuni Buddha downgrades the merit and virtues of the meditative and non-meditative practices as “few in roots of virtues and meritorious blessings”, and do not enable rebirth. Only Amitabha-recitation is the most virtuous among all kinds of virtues, and the most blessed out of all kinds of blessings. This means, Amitabha-recitation is abundant in roots of virtues and great in meritorious blessings, the most splendid and inconceivable roots of virtues, so that rebirth is assured.

In the Amitabha Sutra, it does not mention rebirth for those in three tiers, nor at the nine levels, because it says those reborn are all bodhisattvas in the state of non-retrogression, Buddhas - to - be in one more lifetime. All of them are superior virtuous beings. They are all of the same status and dwell in the same realm.

《阿彌陀經》是佛「無問自說」,也就是「隨自意」而說的經典,經中將一切定善散善功德貶為「少善根福德」,不能往生,獨獨以念佛為善中之善、福中之福,以念佛為多善根、大善根、最勝善根、不可思議善根,必定往生。

在《阿彌陀經》中,往生也不談三輩,也不說九品,因為只要念佛都是「不退轉」,都是「一生補處」,都是「諸上善人俱會一處」,都在同一個地位,處於同一個境界。

Namo Amituofo!

October 30 2020

Oct 30, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about the Amitabha Sutra

《佛說阿彌陀經》

When we hear about Amitabha Buddha, if we do not believe and accept Amitabha’s Fundamental Vow and uphold his Name, it is equivalent to not hearing at all. If we are able to know and accept that rebirth in the Land of Bliss through the exclusive practice of Amitabha-recitation is real, faith is already within us.

聞說阿彌陀佛,如果沒有信受彌陀本願,執持名號,聞等於不聞,如果能夠知道專念彌陀佛名則必生極樂世界,這樣「信」就在裏面。

Namo Amituofo!

October 24 2020

Oct 24, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about the Amitabha Sutra

《佛說阿彌陀經》

Amitabha Buddha is infinite life, and those who are reborn there, or will be reborn there are also infinite life. The Amitabha Sutra says, “The lifespans of that Buddha and the citizens of his Pure Land are boundless and immeasurable.” This only seems to refer to those living in the Land of Bliss; however, it also includes those who will be reborn there.

This is because those reborn there will not receive a physical body for another life in the Six Realms. As they are assured of rebirth in the Land of Bliss at present, they have already attained the status of infinite life.

阿彌陀佛本身是無量壽,而往生去的人,以及將要往生去的人,也都是無量壽。所以,雖然《阿彌陀經》裏說「彼佛壽命,及其人民,無量無邊阿僧祇劫」,似乎是極樂世界的人民,但詳細推想起來,是含蓋著將往生的人民。

因為將往生的人,一旦此世報盡的話,就不在六道裏面受分段生死的果報。因為他是一個必定往生極樂世界的人,所以從現在算起,他已經得到了無量壽的身份了。

Namo Amituofo!

October 18 2020

Oct 18, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about the Amitabha Sutra

《佛說阿彌陀經》

What is meant by “hearing Amitabha Buddha”? “Hearing Amitabha Buddha”, of course, means hearing of Amitabha’s great kindness and compassion. He cannot bear for sentient beings to suffer. Amitabha Buddha only needs our consent to deliver us to his Pure Land. When he made his 48 great vows in the distant past, he promised to deliver us pro-actively with his great kindness and compassion. Included in his vows and practices are all the virtues necessary to form his Land of Bliss. He has also completed his vows and practices to form the Land of Bliss, and all merit and virtues necessary for our rebirth from the Land of Saha to the Land of Bliss.

Because we hear Amitabha Buddha’s story of achieving Buddhahood from the beginning to the end, faith arises in us and we accept Amitabha’s deliverance, Without this, how could we believe in and accept Amitabha Buddha’s deliverance?

「聞說阿彌陀佛」是什麼意思呢?當然是聞說阿彌陀佛的大慈大悲,不忍眾生苦,阿彌陀佛還沒經過我們的祈求拜託(其實我們也不曉得要祈求拜託),就大慈大悲的、預先的、主動的在萬古永劫之前為我們發下四十八大願,為我們完成願行來成就極樂世界,以及成就我們從娑婆往生到極樂世界的功德資糧。

我們就是聽聞阿彌陀佛成佛的生起本末、來龍去脈,然後才會生起信心,信受彌陀救度,不然我們怎麼可能會信受彌陀的救度呢?

Namo Amituofo!

October 10 2020

Oct 10, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about the Amitabha Sutra

《佛說阿彌陀經》

The so-called “good man and good woman” includes monastics and householders, kind and evil people, and all sentient beings born in the Four Modes within the Six Realms. As long as they hear Amitabha Buddha’s Name and exclusively recite it, they are known as “a good man and good woman”.

所謂的「善男子、善女人」,包括出家、在家,包括善人、惡人,甚至六道四生的所有眾生,只要他聽聞到阿彌陀佛這個名號,此後一向專稱彌陀佛名,都可以稱為「善男子、善女人」。

Namo Amituofo!

October 3 2020

Oct 3, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about the Amitabha Sutra

《佛說阿彌陀經》

The Amitabha Sutra explains in great detail about the function of rebirth through holding the Name. It explains this through the following:

1. Accumulating abundant virtuous roots and meritorious blessings – holding fast to the Name provides abundant virtuous roots and meritorious blessings.

2. Main cause of rebirth - holding fast to the Name

3. Appearance of the Buddha near the end-of-life – By holding fast to the Name, one is welcomed by the Buddha

4. Sincerely witnessed by all buddhas – By holding fast to the Name, all buddhas in the six directions will sincerely witness, confirm and approve.

5. Realized by Shakyamuni Buddha – This Name is Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi realized by Shakyamuni Buddha in the Saha World.

6. Original intent of Shakyamuni Buddha - holding fast to the Name is the original intent of Shakyamuni Buddha.

《阿彌陀經》進一步將持名的往生功能加以詳細的說明,怎麼說明呢?

一、多善福:執持名號是多善根福德。

二、往生正因:執持名號是往生正因。

三、臨終佛現:執持名號臨終佛就自然的現前來迎接。

四、諸佛證誠:執持名號是六方諸佛所證誠的,是六方諸佛所證實、證明的。

五、釋尊所證:這一句名號是釋迦牟尼佛在這個娑婆世界所證悟的阿耨多羅三藐三菩提。

六、釋尊本懷:執持名號是釋尊本懷。

Namo Amituofo!

September 24 2020

Sep 24, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about the Amitabha Sutra

《佛說阿彌陀經》

Regarding the phrase “mind is not upside down or inverted”, many people greatly misunderstand it. They believe that a person must maintain right mindfulness or his mind will be upside down near his end-of-life, and Amitabha Buddha will not come to welcome and receive them to be reborn in the Land of Bliss. This understanding is wrong, and the cause and effect are reversed.

They don’t know that “because of the appearance of the Buddha, that person can maintain right mindfulness, NOT because of keeping right mindfulness, the Buddha appears”. The sutra says, it is Amitabha Buddha’s compassion that strengthens and protects that person so that his mind is not confused. Amitabha Buddha Must appear before the person, because he exclusively recites Amitabha’s Name in the present life. Because of the appearance of the Buddha, his mind naturally dwells in right mindfulness without being inverted,

有關「心不顛倒」,一般人的誤解也很大,誤以為命終的時候必須要自己保持正念,心不顛倒,才能夠蒙佛現前接引,往生極樂世界,這就是錯解,顛倒因果了。

殊不知,「因佛現前而住正念,非住正念而佛現前」,所謂「慈悲加祐,令心不亂」也。蓋「平生專持佛名故,臨終佛必現前;因佛現前故,自然心住正念而不顛倒。」

Namo Amituofo!

September 18 2020

Sep 18, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about the Amitabha Sutra

《佛說阿彌陀經》

 (continued)

Within the 1858 words (in Chinese) in the Amitabha Sutra, Shakyamuni Buddha earnestly advises us three times to definitely be reborn in the Land of Bliss.

The first time he advises rebirth - those sentient beings who hear of that land should aspire to be born there.

The second time he advises rebirth - All sentient beings who hear this teaching should aspire to birth in that land.

The third time he advises rebirth - good men and women of faith should aspire to birth there.

We should notice how serious Shakyamuni Buddha is in advising, urging, and persuading us to aspire to be reborn in the Land of Bliss.

在這短短的一千八百五十八個字的《阿彌陀經》裏面,釋迦牟尼佛就三次很殷勤懇切的勸導我們,一定要往生極樂世界。

第一段勸往生的是:「眾生聞者,應當發願,願生彼國。」

第二段是:「聞是說者,應當發願,生彼國土。」

第三段是:「若有信者,應當發願,生彼國土。」

可說釋迦牟尼佛婆心深切,一而再、再而三的強調、勸導,希望我們務必要往生極樂世界。

Namo Amituofo!

September 17 2020

Sep 17, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about the Amitabha Sutra

《佛說阿彌陀經》

The aim of the Amitabha Sutra is to convince us to aspire to be reborn in the Land of Bliss. With his arms open, Amitabha Buddha, the Savior of the Land of Bliss, has been calling out to us for ten eons and asking us to allow him to deliver us to his Land of Bliss. In addition, Shakyamuni Buddha guides us and advises us to aspire to be reborn in the Land of Bliss in several other sutras.

《阿彌陀經》的宗旨,是要我們往生極樂世界。不只是極樂世界的救主──阿彌陀佛,祂成佛以來十劫之間,伸著佛手一直在呼喚我們,祈求我們讓祂救度到極樂世界;釋迦牟尼佛也在好幾部經典中,勸導我們一定要發願,願生極樂世界。

Namo Amituofo!

September 11 2020

Sep 11, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about the Amitabha Sutra

《佛說阿彌陀經》

(continued)

The relationship of cause and effect is the appearance of the Buddha first, and that our mind is not confused follows. It is NOT that our mind is not confused first, and then the appearance of the Buddha follows.

Many people misunderstand and believe that we should not have false thoughts during Amitabha-recitation. Because of this they feel they must make tremendous efforts to prevent their minds from being confused near the end-of-life. They believe if they can’t, the Buddha will not appear. This is WRONG! If they rely on their own efforts to keep their minds unconfused near the end-of-life, in order for the Buddha to appear to receive them to be reborn, there would be no need for Amitabha Buddha to appear.  

這個因果關係是佛先現前,然後才有我們的心不顛倒;而不是我們先要心不顛倒,佛才現前。

很多人因為誤解,認為念佛時不能打妄想,就在拼「功夫」,拼臨終時沒有問題、不顛倒,佛才會現前,這是錯誤的!如果需要靠我們自己臨終心不顛倒,佛才現前,才能往生,那就不用阿彌陀佛了。

Namo Amituofo!

September 10 2020

Sep 10, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about the Amitabha Sutra

《佛說阿彌陀經》

The Amitabha Sutra says, “When that person approaches the point of death, Amitabha Buddha and the sacred assembly will appear before him.”

There is another reason why Amitabha Buddha appears, which is the exclusive recitation of Namo Amituofo in his present life. Because of this cause, there is the effect of the appearance of Amitabha Buddha near the end-of-life. It is the first tier of cause and effect.

The Sutra also says, “When death comes, his mind will not be severely confused. He will at once gain rebirth in Amitabha Buddha’s Land of Bliss.” That is to say, because Amitabha Buddha appears near the end-of-life, that person’s mind will not be severely confused, and he will attain the right mental state to be reborn in the Land of Bliss. With this cause, there comes this effect. This is the second tier of cause and effect.

(to be continued tomorrow)

《阿彌陀經》說:「其人臨命終時,阿彌陀佛,與諸聖眾,現在其前」。而臨命終時有佛現前也要有一個因,那個因就是平生專念這句「南無阿彌陀佛」;有這個因,才會有臨命終時阿彌陀佛現前這個果。這是第一重因果。

經文又說:「是人終時,心不顛倒,即得往生,阿彌陀佛,極樂國土。」就是說,臨命終時阿彌陀佛現前,這樣自然命終時就能心不顛倒,而得正念往生極樂世界,有這個因就有這個果,這是第二重因果。

Namo Amituofo!

September 4 2020

Sep 4, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about the Amitabha Sutra

《佛說阿彌陀經》

“Single-mindedly and without deviation” as stated in the Amitabha Sutra is very simple. Single means not two; not two means exclusive. Without deviation means straight with no confusion, which is also exclusive. So, “single-mindedly and without deviation” is to hold fast to the Name with twofold exclusivity.

《阿彌陀經》中所說的「一心不亂」很簡單,「一」者不二,不二就是專;「不亂」就是不雜亂,不雜也是專。所以「一心不亂」就是「執持名號要專一不雜」。

Namo Amituofo!

August 29 2020

Aug 29, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about the Amitabha Sutra

《佛說阿彌陀經》

When Shakyamuni Buddha realized Perfect Enlightenment, it was the Name (Namo Amituofo) that he realized. So, one recitation of Amitabha Buddha is the Bodhi that Shakyamuni Buddha attained, when he achieved Perfect Enlightenment in this world of five kinds of turbidity.

As long as we ordinary beings exclusively recite this Name – Namo Amituofo, despite being ordinary beings, we are regarded as being “abundant in roots of virtues and abundant in meritorious blessings”. This is known as practicing “single-mindedly and without deviation.”

釋迦牟尼佛所得的、所證悟的三藐三菩提法的正等正覺,可說就是這句「南無阿彌陀佛」。所以說「一聲阿彌陀佛,即釋迦本師於五濁惡世所得之阿耨多羅三藐三菩提法」。

只要以我們這種凡夫位的凡夫心,去專念這句「南無阿彌陀佛」,這樣就是「多善根多福德」,就是「執持名號,一心不亂」。

Namo Amituofo!

August 21 2020

Aug 21, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about the Amitabha Sutra

《佛說阿彌陀經》

(continued)

We receive and accept this Name in our hearts by holding fast to the Name. This mental state will be with us for our entire lives. When the near-end of life arrives, we can peacefully await Amitabha’s arrival.

So, “for one day, for two days, for three days, for four days, for five days, for six days, for seven days” ( as said in the Amitabha Sutra) also implies “for one year...for seven years, or seventy years, or even an entire life. This mind is undisturbed and unchanging ; so, it is called “single-minded and without deviation.”

我們領納名號於心中,而執持名號,這一種心理狀態是一輩子都不會消失的, 貫徹到臨終的。

因此《阿彌陀經》就說:若一日、若二日、若三、四、五、六、七日,其本意是若一年、若七年、若七十年,盡一輩子,這一種心不會再動亂、再改變了,所以叫「一心不亂」。

Namo Amituofo!

August 20 2020

Aug 20, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about the Amitabha Sutra

《佛說阿彌陀經》

(continued)

The first level of “hearing” is superficial - reading the Sutra and hearing the lecture, the six sense organs against the six “dusts” giving rise to the six kinds of consciousness.

The second level of “hearing” penetrates deeply into the 8th (Alaya) Consciousness, which becomes an eternal seed that eliminates all of the doubtful feelings and discriminative views (collectively the same in meaning, though the names are different, as “self-power”) stored in the Alaya Consciousness. This kind of “hearing” establishes True Faith.

(to be continued)

第一種聞是膚淺的,眼根看書,耳根聽講座,六根對六塵而生六識。第二種聞也可以說深入內心第八阿賴耶識,成為我們永恆不變的種子,打破阿賴耶識裏面存在的疑情、疑心、二心。(所謂「疑情」、「疑心」、「二心」、「自力」,名詞雖有不同,意義都是一樣的。)這種聞就是信。

Namo Amituofo!

August 19 2020

Aug 19, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about the Amitabha Sutra

《佛說阿彌陀經》

Shakyamuni Buddha says, “If a good man or woman hears of Amitabha Buddha and holds fast to his name for one day, two days, three days, four days, five days, six days, or seven days, single-mindedly and without deviation.” This is the method to attain rebirth.

Simultaneously, people may have different feelings upon “hearing”. Some understand it as a concept; but, don’t really receive and accept it mentally. This is the first level. The second level of feelings is called “listening,” in which Amitabha’s compassion deeply penetrates their hearts and eliminates all of the doubts they’ve carried for numerous lifetimes. This kind of listening is truly hearing.

(to be continued)

釋迦牟尼佛說:「若有善男子、善女人,聞說阿彌陀佛,執持名號,若一日、若二日、若三日、若四日、若五日、若六日、若七日......,一心不亂。」這就是往生的方法。

同時,「聽聞」的感受往往因人而異,有的人只是觀念上的理解,而沒有真正納入內心,這是第一個層次;第二個層次的「聞」是:阿彌陀佛的慈悲,進入了他的內心,打破我們長久以來的疑心,這種聞才是真聞。

Namo Amituofo!

August 12 2020

Aug 12, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about the Amitabha Sutra

《佛說阿彌陀經》

So long as we exclusively recite Amitabha’s Name and do not mix other practices, it is called singleness of mind without confusion. It is not the concentrated mind without distractions that is referred to in the meditative realm, whose objective is subduing and eliminating the two delusions of views and afflictions. If it were the latter, none of us could be reborn.

If it were the latter, the only sentient beings in the ten directions that could be delivered by Amitabha Buddha, would be sacred beings. This is because, the proficiency needed to attain an undistracted concentrated mind, can only be achieved by sacred beings who have already cut off those delusions and eliminated their ignorance.

只要專念彌陀名號,不雜修雜行,就是一心不亂,而不是降伏或斷除見思二惑那種功夫上的一心不亂,如果真是這樣的話,我們都不能往生。

阿彌陀佛要救度的就不是十方眾生,而只是救度聖者了。因為功夫上的「一心不亂」不是「理一心」就是「事一心」,那都已經是破無明或斷惑的聖人了。

Namo Amituofo!