October 23 2020

Oct 23, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings - the Buddha’s Enlightening Mottos

醒世箴言

Without great wisdom, one will not choose Amitabha-recitation; without great blessings, how could we encounter the teaching of Amitabha-recitation? So, rebirth through Amitabha-recitation is not only born from great blessings, but also great wisdom.

沒有大智慧,不會選擇念佛;沒有大福報,怎麼能夠遇到念佛法門呢?所以,念佛往生不只是大福報,也是大智。

Namo Amituofo!

October 17 2020

Oct 17, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings - the Buddha’s Enlightening Mottos

醒世箴言

(continued)

Since we can study Buddhist teachings in this lifetime, we should choose the teaching that can liberate us in this lifetime. Let us first aim to be reborn in the Land of Bliss and leave all matters until later.. Actually, the Land of Bliss is a realm where we will naturally become buddhas and enjoy its rewards. It is not a place for further studies and practices. So, our teaching is easy in practice, and splendid in rewards.

Why is it splendid? It is splendid because rebirth can be achieved in this life, and rebirth enables us to become a Buddha.

所以,今生今世既然學佛,就必須把握今生今世可以解脫的法門,也就是先往生極樂世界再說。其實極樂世界是成佛的境界, 是享受果報的,不是到那裏又再學習、再修行,所以這個法門既容易、又殊勝,殊勝在哪裏呢?殊勝在能當生成就,而且往生能夠當生成佛。

Namo Amituofo!

October 16 2020

Oct 16, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings - the Buddha’s Enlightening Mottos

醒世箴言

It is not easy to be born as a human being, to be able to hear the Buddhist teachings, and practice accordingly. However, if he cannot find a teaching that enables him to reach enlightenment in this lifetime among all of the teachings, won’t it just mean that he only makes a karmic connection with the Buddhist teachings, and has to reincarnate again? Well, this is a very dangerous way of thinking.

Why? Because who can guarantee that a person will become a human being in his next life? Even he does become a human being, who can guarantee he will once again hear the Buddhist teachings? If he is lucky enough to hear the Buddhist teachings, who can guarantee which future life it will be in?

So, Master Yinguang says, “If the matter of birth-and-death is not resolved, it is very dangerous.” If a person cannot leave reincarnation, he will inevitably fall into the wretched realms. Thus, we see how important it is that we work hard to resolve the matter of birth-and-death.

(to be continued tomorrow)

好不容易生而為人,並得聞佛法、依法修行,卻不能在佛法當中尋找到今生今世可以當生成就的法門,豈不是在佛法當中只結一個緣,下一輩子又繼續輪迴,那是非常危險的。

因為,誰敢保證下一輩子還能當人?即使當人,誰又能保證能聞佛法?即使幸而還能聞佛法,但能保證下下輩子嗎?能夠保證生生世世、世世生生嗎?

所以印光大師說:「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!

October 9 2020

Oct 9, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings - the Buddha’s Enlightening Mottos

醒世箴言

Once born in the world, we are sentenced to death. The date of death is not fixed, as we don’t know when it will come. However, it can come at any time; so, we should prepare for our final moment and aspire to be reborn in the Land of Bliss. Then it doesn’t matter when death comes. Even if it comes all of a sudden, we can still be reborn in the Land of Bliss.

We need not wait until the day we die, and then ask people for assisted recitation for transcendental deliverance. We can prepare right now.

人一出生下來,就已經被判了死刑,而且,這個死刑是不定期的,它什麼時候來臨我們不知道,但是說到就到,我們要預先為自己送終;為自己送終是現在就發願願生極樂世界,不管死亡什麼時候來,一旦來的時候,就能往生極樂世界。

我們不必等死亡那一天,才讓別人為我們助念超度,現在就可以親自為自己準備。

Namo Amituofo!

October 2 2020

Oct 2, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings- the Buddha’s Enlightening Mottos

醒世箴言

(continued)

Faith is the light of our spirits illuminating the way of our lives. Those who have no faith are like people walking in darkness. They don’t know where to go, have no destination, and no direction. They don’t know where they come from, and where they will go after death.

They don’t know the purpose of life, and don’t know the location of their final settlement – a place of joy and peace for all eternity.

In this respect, though they live for an entire life, they have just wandered aimlessly and wasted their time. In the end, they will reincarnate according to their karma. As we have learned, faith is of the utmost importance in our lives!

信仰是一種心靈之光,照耀著我們人生之路;沒有信仰的人,就像在黑暗中行走,既不知目標在何處,也無法辨別方向;不曉得生從何來,死往何去?不曉得人生的目的、永恆究竟安樂的皈依處在哪裏?

這樣的話,雖然活了一輩子,都是渾渾噩噩,可說是虛生浪死,到最後又隨業流轉。因此,信仰對我們的人生是非常重要的。

Namo Amituofo!

October 1 2020

Oct 1, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings- the Buddha’s Enlightening Mottos

醒世箴言

Faith is to believe a theology that is most important in our lives. Its importance even transcends the value of our lives. We live for this faith. We will sacrifice for our faith if necessary, because it is worth far more than our daily mundane living. It is like the celestial bodies, such as the sun, moon, and stars shining upon us. We believe in them when we look up. This is known as faith.

(to be continued tomorrow)

所謂信仰,就是相信有一種思想是我們一生當中最重要的,其重要性甚至超過自己的生命。我們為這個信仰而活,必要的時候,也可以為這個信仰獻身。因為它超越自己的生命,高於自己日常的生活,就像日月星辰在我們頭頂上照耀著,使我們相信它而抬起頭來仰望,因此叫做信仰。

Namo Amituofo!

September 23 2020

Sep 23, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings - the Buddha’s Enlightening Mottos

醒世箴言

The existence of a family, a group, a society, or a country is temporary, conditioned, and not real. Parents, couples, and children must depart on the day of death, no matter how deeply they love each other.

So, when we gather together in this life it is just like birds who build a nest and live together. When disaster comes, birds in the forest will fly away. Afterword, it is very difficult for the birds to gather again. Thus it is said, “All changes in creation and extinction are conditioned, and cannot be mastered.” If something does not permanently exist, its existence is regarded as untrue, virtual, and conditioned.

家庭的存在,團體的存在,甚至社會、國家的存在,都是暫時性的,是虛假的,不是真實的,父母、夫妻、子女再怎麼樣的恩愛深重,但是,無可奈何,總有一天要面臨「生離死別」。

因此,人生的相聚就好像鳥兒,在樹林裡結巢而居,災難一來,樹林的鳥兒就各自逃難紛飛而去,要再相聚就很困難,所以說「生滅變異,虛偽無主」。不是永遠存在的,就不是真正的存在,就是虛假。

Namo Amituofo!

September 16 2020

Sep 16, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings - the Buddha’s Enlightening Mottos

醒世箴言

All worldly matters have a temporary existence, as they are produced in response to causal conditions which will eventually end. In the end they all disappear; so, our world is forever impermanent, full of suffering, and ultimately empty. There is nothing we can master except Amitabha-Recitation, leading to the Land of Bliss (where there is really no suffering and no emptiness). That Land is eternally filled with joy and peace.

世間的一切,都只是暫時的因緣和合,緣總是會盡的,盡了就彼此離開了,所以,這個世間永遠都是無常的,這個世間是痛苦的,到最後都成空的,沒有一個能讓我們主宰,唯有到極樂世界,才是真正不苦、不空,永恆存在,安樂自在。

Namo Amituofo!

September 9 2020

Sep 9, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings - the Buddha’s Enlightening Mottos

醒世箴言

When considering suffering, we should not view it only as suffering. Suffering is actually a karmic condition that can lead to our entry upon the Way. If there were no suffering, it would be difficult to have the incentive to seek emancipation. Because of suffering we seek emancipation; so, we should be thankful for experiencing the causal condition of suffering.

When dealing with unfavorable conditions in daily matters and in human relationships, we should change our perspective to see that suffering gives us warnings and provides us with a deeper understanding of the suffering in the Land of Saha, and admiring the happiness in the Land of Bliss. So, thank-you suffering! If we cannot understand this point, and keep complaining of our suffering, we will move from one kind of suffering to another.

對於苦境,我們不要純粹認為它是苦,苦是入道的緣,沒有苦,我們很難想要解脫;因為有苦,才使我們尋求解脫之道,所以我們反而要感謝這個苦的因緣。

遇到人事物的逆境時,應該換個角度來看,因為有苦才使我們得以警惕,對厭離娑婆世界的苦與欣慕淨土的樂的心更深,所以應感謝苦。如果無法了解這一點,而是一味的埋怨苦,將會從這個苦進入另一個苦。

Namo Amituofo!

September 3 2020

Sep 3, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings - the Buddha’s Enlightening Mottos

醒世箴言

The average human life span is 80 years nowadays. There are Desire Heavens, Form Heavens and Formless Heavens. The shortest lifespan of the Desire Heavens is 500 years. One day in Desire Heaven is equivalent to 50 years in the human world. The longest lifespan in the Non-Perception and No Non-Perception Heavens is 84,000 eons. From the point of view of a human, it seems to be a very long time; however, it is very short from a Buddha’s perspective. How short is it?

Master Shandao says that it is like a flash of lightning, less than the blink of an eye, and then it vanishes. It’s so short! If we are not reborn in the Land of Bliss, we will reincarnate and depart from our beloved ones forever. Sadly, we will not even know each other if we meet again in a future life.

人的壽命,以目前來講,平均八十歲;天有欲界天、色界天、無色界天,欲界天最短的是五百歲,它的一天是我們的五十年;最長的是非想非非想處天,壽命八萬四千劫,以人間來看,是很長了,但是以佛的眼光來看,還是很短,短到什麼地步?

善導大師說「猶如電光」,閃電一閃,我們還來不及眨眼,它就消失了,是那麼的短暫。如果沒有往生極樂世界,就永遠在輪迴,再恩愛的親人也會離開,即使見面也不相識。

Namo Amituofo!

August 28 2020

Aug 28, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings - the Buddha’s Enlightening Mottos

醒世箴言

When examining reincarnation within the Six Realms, we see that sentient beings spend more time in the Three Wretched Realms. Though you may have great courage and enormous power, you cannot avoid having King Yama (in the “yin” realm) check our karma accounts and determine where our next birth will be.

Only those who aspire to be reborn in the Land of Bliss, and exclusively practice Amitabha-recitation, need not meet King Yama. In fact, King Yama may even bow to them reverently. All Amitabha-reciters will never be hurt by ghosts and King Yama dares not invite them to see him in the “yin” realm.

所謂六道輪迴,往往是在三惡道比較多,任你有拔山蓋世的英勇、有掀天揭地的才能,但是誰能避免在陰間與閻羅王面對面對簿呢?

只有超然世外,念佛願生極樂世界的人,不只免於跟閻羅王見面,甚至能使閻羅王對他恭敬禮拜。凡是念佛的人,不但鬼神不能害他,閻羅王也不敢請他來。

Namo Amituofo!

August 18 2020

Aug 18, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings - the Buddha’s Enlightening Mottos

醒世箴言

Beginning in the far distant past many Buddhas have been born in the Saha world. Each Buddha had the capacity to teach and deliver immeasurable sentient beings whose roots of virtues have ripened. However, those with heavy and deep karmic offenses like us, miss the chance again and again. If there were no Dharmakara Bodhisattva who made vows for us, we would have no way to escape our endless suffering. We would keep on missing the deliverance of all Buddhas in the future countless eons, because of the inferiority of our roots of virtues.

過去久遠以來的每一尊佛出世,都會教化度脫無量眾生,善根成熟的眾生也都得道解脫,但像我們這樣罪業深重的眾生,卻一次又一次地漏於諸佛救度之外,如果沒有法藏菩薩站出來為我們發願,以我們這樣的劣根種性,未來無量大劫又將會像過去一樣漏於諸佛救度,永無出頭之日,這是我們要知警覺而慎重考慮的地方。

Namo Amituofo!

August 11 2020

Aug 11, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings - the Buddha’s Enlightening Mottos

醒世箴言

One day Shakyamuni Buddha saw a pigeon. He told Sariputra, “Because of its karma this bird will remain a pigeon for 80,000 kalpas.” After 80,000 kalpas, when can the pigeon attain a human body? After he attains the human body, how long will it take to come across the Buddhist teachings?

We have been born as human beings and are hearing the Buddhist teachings, particularly the Pure Land teaching. These are exceedingly rare gifts! We should not squander this opportunity; but, vow to attain rebirth in the Pure Land in this lifetime.

有一天,釋迦牟尼佛看到一隻鴿子,當下對舍利弗說:「這隻鴿子的罪業,即使八萬劫後,仍然是鴿子。」即使八萬大劫都還是鴿子,到底什麼時候才能獲得人身?得到人身後,又是什麼時候才能遇到佛法呢?

所以,我們既然生而為人、得聞佛法,尤其是聽聞到百千萬劫難遭遇的淨土法門,就必須當下掌握,誓必今生今世求生淨土,無有退轉。

Namo Amituofo!

August 3 2020

Aug 3, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings - the Buddha’s Enlightening Mottos

醒世箴言

There is a saying: Once the human physical body is lost, it may take more than ten thousand kalpas to be born into another. Many Buddhists have heard this. However, if they haven’t absorbed this deeply, they might as well have not heard it at all!

有句話說:「一失人身,萬劫不復。」學佛的人,常聽到這句話,可是聽入耳中,如果沒有深映入心中,也等於聽而不聞。

Namo Amituofo!

July 27 2020

Jul 27, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings - the Buddha’s Enlightening Mottos

醒世箴言

Elder Sudatta sponsored and built Jetavava-vihara for Shakyamuni Buddha. In measuring the foundation of the building, Sariputra found ants on the ground, and he took the opportunity to talk to Elder Sudatta, “They have been repeatedly born to be ants during the lifetimes of the past seven Buddhas.

How long does it take for a Buddha to be born in terms of kalpas? The time that must pass for seven Buddhas to be born is very long and the ants have been reincarnating during that length of time . The eighth Buddha to be born will be Maitreya Buddha, in 5.67 billion years in the Longhua Assembly. Despite that long passage of time, it is not sure that these ants can transform to another body? Even if they can transform, they may not have a human body. So, it says, “Once a human body is lost, it cannot be recovered for ten thousand kalpas.

須達長者發心為釋迦牟尼佛建造祇園精舍,在丈量地基的時候,舍利弗看到地上的螞蟻,當下利用機會對須達長者說:這些螞蟻從七佛以來都一直當螞蟻——「七佛以來,猶為蟻子」。

一尊佛出世要經過多少時間,甚至多少劫?何況「七佛以來」,時間那麼漫長,都是當螞蟻。而第八位佛就是彌勒佛, 祂還要再經五十六億七千萬年才到這個世間成佛,龍華三會, 那個時候,這些螞蟻,是不是已經離開了螞蟻之身呢?縱使離開了螞蟻之身,能夠得到人身嗎? 所以說「一失人身,萬劫不復」。

Namo Amituofo!

July 17 2020

Jul 17, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings - the Buddha’s Enlightening Mottos

醒世箴言

There are generally two kinds of donations. One is to donate one’s organs, such as heart, kidney, etc. upon death, which needs to be done by surgery. The other is to donate one’s whole body after a period of time, in order for students to learn through dissection.

Between the two, Amitabha-reciters aspiring for rebirth in the Land of Bliss, should select the second one, which means leaving the body to a school of medicine for dissection. In order for rebirth to proceed smoothly, a period of time must pass after death before the body can be dissected.

If it is required to donate the organs immediately after death, you should consider whether your patience is strong enough, and whether your hatred and pain can be subdued.

捐獻大體有兩種:一種是斷氣時捐出心臟、腎臟等身體器官,當下要開刀;另一種是大體先放著,一段時間後讓學生解剖。

兩種當中,一般念佛人要往生極樂世界,應選擇第二種,就是身體留給醫學院解剖使用,因為醫學院解剖不會一斷氣就開刀,不至於影響往生大事。

如果當下要捐獻器官,就要考慮你的忍辱心夠不夠?會不會起瞋恨心、痛苦心?

Namo Amituofo!

July 10 2020

Jul 10, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings - the Buddha’s Enlightening Mottos

醒世箴言

Through the accounts regarding the experience of near-death, we clearly know that death is not the permanent extinction of the light of our being. Consciousness continues to receive retribution or reward as “we” continue to reincarnate within the Six Realms. Most importantly, we can be delivered by Amitabha Buddha to be reborn in his Land of Bliss, where we can enjoy all kinds of happiness without any suffering.

透過「瀕死體驗」的各種事例，讓我們明確知道，並非人死如燈滅，一了百了，而是死後尚有善惡報應，六道輪迴；也有但受諸樂、無有眾苦的極樂世界與彌陀救度。

Namo Amituofo!

July 2 2020

Jul 2, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings - the Buddha’s Enlightening Mottos

醒世箴言

It is said that those who have died are dead. Almost all people in the world reincarnate, according to their past karma, after they die. They are gone forever. If a person is revitalized after death, he can tell us about the mental state of near-death and the journey towards death. Through his words we can prepare and select appropriate options, so as to attain serenity in body and mind in dealing with the matter of birth-and-death.

所謂「往者已矣」,世間人大都死後便隨業流轉,一去不復返。若有人死而復生,告訴我們瀕臨死亡時的意識狀態及死後的種種歷程,讓我們有生之年做最好的選擇與充分的準備,則能身心安穩,生死安然。

Namo Amituofo!

June 24 2020

Jun 24, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings - the Buddha’s Enlightening Mottos

醒世箴言

We are busy doing this today and busy doing that tomorrow. We keep so very busy until, before we realize it, we have become old. Without being noticed, our remaining life becomes shorter and shorter. It is like a candle in the wind, which can burn out at any time.

When the candle light is gone, we continue to endlessly reincarnate within the Six Realms forever. Most of us lack awareness of these truths.Today, we have a human body and have encountered the Buddhist teachings. We should cherish this rare opportunity and encourage ourselves to pursue a teaching that can lead us to the state of no-birth, no-death, and no-reincarnation, only everlasting bliss.

我們今天忙這件事,明天忙那件事,一直到老,煩忙不斷。不知不覺間,壽命隨著日夜而消減,好像風中之燈燭,隨時都會滅掉。

燈滅了,就繼續輪迴六道,永無窮盡。可是我們卻茫茫然地,悠悠忽忽地,不知道害怕,也無所驚覺。今天既得人身,又聞佛法,就要把握現在頭腦清醒,身體健康,好好自我勉勵,追求不生不滅、不受輪迴、永恆常住的法門。

Namo Amituofo!

June 18 2020

Jun 18, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings - the Buddha’s Enlightening Mottos

醒世箴言

Inevitably all people must die. However, If we constantly dwell on this truth, our lives will be shrouded in complete darkness. Thus, as a coping mechanism, we avoid thinking about it.

However, even if we can forget death, death will not forget us! It can suddenly attack us at any time. We must positively confront and resolve our fear of death. In so doing, we can naturally acquire a true life, filled with brilliance and happiness.

所有人都非一死不可!若老實地凝視這事實時,我們的人生便會陷入黑暗之中,因此平生儘量地忘懷於死,這是世人共同的心態。

然而,即使我們能忘記死,而死卻不會忘記我們,且會突然襲擊我們。若能正面跟死接手,並解決死的問題時,自然也就能夠真正得到明朗快樂的人生了。

Namo Amituofo!