December 18 2020

Dec 18, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about the Commentary on the Treatise of Rebirth

《往生論註》

(continued)

It is because the Shastra of Rebirth is difficult for us to understand that people may think it is written only for people on the bodhisattva level and not meant for ordinary beings like us.

In the beginning of the Commentary on the Shastra of Rebirth, it talks about the Difficult Path and the Easy Path, and indicates that ordinary beings can rely on the Easy Path. The Easy Path refers to Amitabha’s vow power. Relying on Amitabha’s vow power is like sailing. Once a person is on board, he will reach his destination effortlessly, comfortably, safely and joyfully when the time comes. It is the real meaning of “it can promptly satisfy us in full, because it is a great ocean filled with merits and virtues.”

因為我們很難理解《往生論》,會認為《往生論》是菩薩的境界,跟我們毫不相干,不能為我們凡夫所受用。

所以,《往生論註》一開頭就把難行道和易行道點出來,指出一切凡夫都能夠依靠易行道;而所謂的易行道就是阿彌陀佛的願力,靠阿彌陀佛的願力,就如乘船,只要上了船,就能毫不費力、輕鬆、安樂,時間一到就到達目的地,真正的「能令速滿足,功德大寶海」。

Namo Amituofo!

December 17 2020

Dec 17, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about the Commentary on the Treatise of Rebirth

《往生論註》

In perceiving the power of the Buddha’s Fundamental Vow, no one who comes across it will fail to be benefitted. It can promptly and fully satisfy us, because it is like a great ocean filled with merits and virtues.

When hearing of “perceiving”, we may think it is a kind of meditative or contemplative observation only achievable by those of the bodhisattva level.

However, if we consider it from the perspective of Amitabha’s Fundamental Vow, this perceiving is not a meditative state of the bodhisattva realm; but, is hearing to believe and contemplating to know Amitabha’s deliverance through his 18thVow, from the view of ordinary beings. It is also what Master Tanluan explains about perceiving to know and hearing to believe, when the causal conditions to believe are present, one is ready to rely on the Buddha’s vow power.

So, after the explication of the Shastra of Rebirth by Master Tanluan, the true meaning and the true spirit of the Shastra is thoroughly revealed and expounded. If there were no Commentary on the Shastra of Rebirth, it might be neglected and covered up forever.

(to be continued tomorrow)

「觀佛本願力,遇無空過者,能令速滿足,功德大寶海」,這個「觀」如果單單從《往生論》來看,會覺得這是菩薩境界的觀察、觀想,必須要入定才有辦法。

可是如果從阿彌陀佛的本願力來講,就不是菩薩境界入定的「觀」,而是凡夫信受第十八願彌陀救度的聞信、觀知、信知的「觀」;也就是曇鸞大師所解釋的「但以信佛因緣,乘佛願力」觀知聞信的「觀」。

所以《往生論》經過曇鸞大師的解釋之後,《往生論》的真義、真精神才能夠徹底展現發揮出來,如果沒有《往生論註》的話,千古以來,《往生論》恐怕將永被埋沒。

Namo Amituofo!

December 10 2020

Dec 10, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings concerning the Commentary on the Treatise of Rebirth

《往生論註》

(continued)

Every single sentient being like us, has the afflictions of the Five Gravest Transgressions and slandering the Dharma in his mind. Those afflicted ordinary beings can rely on the Easy Path of Amitabha’s deliverance. In this way they can attain Nirvana without cutting off their afflictions and without any change of their status.

So, when we hear that we can rely on Amitabha’s other-power, we should fully entrust ourselves to it, without even the smallest amount of self-generated restrictions. This is the general meaning of the Commentary on the Treatise of Rebirth.

我們每一個眾生,內心都含有五逆謗法的煩惱,這種煩惱的凡夫依靠阿彌陀佛救度的「易行道」,就能夠原原本本、在不斷煩惱的當下得涅槃。

所以,我們「聞他力可乘」,就「當生信心,勿自局分」,這是《往生論註》的大意。

Namo Amituofo!

December 9 2020

Dec 9, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings concerning the Commentary on the Treatise of Rebirth

《往生論註》

Pure Land teaching is the Path of Easy Practice. This Path refers to deliverance through other- power, the power of Amitabha Buddha. It does not refer to how sentient beings like us practice and dedicate merits to Amitabha Buddha, and beg Amitabha Buddha to deliver us. It is not like that.

It is deliverance through other-power, the power of Amitabha Buddha. Our deliverance also requires faith in the teaching and the exclusive practice of Amitabha-recitation. Thus, the Pure Land teaching is round, sudden, simple, and fast.

(to be continued tomorrow)

淨土法門就是「易行道」,這個「易行道」,是講阿彌陀佛的他力救度,不是講我們眾生要如何來修行,然後迴向給阿彌陀佛、拜託祂來救度我們,不是這樣的。

所以,是講阿彌陀佛的他力救度,也是講眾生信順、信心念佛而被救,所以是一個圓、頓、簡、速的法門。

Namo Amituofo!

December 2 2020

Dec 2, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about the Commentary on the Treatise of Rebirth

《往生論註》

The Commentary on the Treatise of Rebirth was written by Master Tanluan, the first patriarch of the Pure Land lineage in China. Master Tanluan’s Commentary on the Treatise of Rebirth is the elaboration and synthesis of Nagarjuna Bodhisattva’s Chapter on the Easy Practice and Vasubandhu Bodhisattva’s Treatise of Rebirth.

《往生論註》是我們中國第一位傳承祖師——曇鸞祖師的著作。曇鸞祖師這部《往生論註》,是將龍樹菩薩的《易行品》和天親菩薩的《往生論》統合在一起,並加以發揮的一部作品。

Namo Amituofo!