October 4, 2022

Oct 4, 2022

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teaching of the Patriarchal Lineage of the Pure Land

School – the 18th Vow

淨宗傳承之第十八願

(continued)

So, “excluded, however, are those who commit the five gravest offenses and abuse the right Dharma”, as said in the 18th Vow. The word “excluded” is interpreted from the point of view of inhibition. However, the ultimate purpose of the inhibition is not to inhibit; but, to embrace and deliver. Thus, whether it is to embrace and deliver, or it is to inhibit and warn, it reveals Amitabha Buddha’s great compassionate vow power to deliver all suffering sentient beings in the ten directions.

所以,第十八願所講的「唯除五逆,誹謗正法」的「唯除」,是就抑止角度來講的,抑止的最終目的不在抑止,而是為了攝取、救度。因此,不論就攝取、救度這邊來講,或者就抑止、警誡這邊來講,都在彰顯阿彌陀佛救度十方罪苦眾生的大悲願力。

Namo Amituofo!

May 16 2021

May 16, 2021

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about the Patriarchal Lineage of the Pure Land School – Nagarjuna Bodhisattva

《淨宗傳承之龍樹菩薩》

(continued)

The core fundamental teaching in the Chapter on the Easy Path, written by Nagarjuna Bodhisattva, is Amitabha’s deliverance through his Fundamental Vow. It says, “Amitabha’s Fundamental Vow is as follows: If anyone thinks of me, recites my name, and takes refuge in me, he will instantly enter the state of assurance [non-retrogression], and subsequently attain the highest perfect enlightenment. For that reason, you should always be mindful of him.”

The Fundamental Vow mentioned here also refers to the 18th Vow, and not the other vows. It clearly affirms “If anyone thinks of me, recites my name, and takes refuge in me”; only the 18th Vow talks about it, not the 19th Vow nor the 20th Vow. Hence, Nagarjuna Bodhisattva directly calls the 18th Vow the Fundamental Vow.

龍樹菩薩《易行品》的根本核心主要講的就是阿彌陀佛的本願救度,而說:「阿彌陀佛,本願如是,若人念我,稱名自歸,即入必定,得阿耨多羅三藐三菩提,是故常應憶念。」

在這裡所講的本願也是指第十八願,不是指其他的願,而且很明確的點出「若人念我,稱名自歸」,「若人念我,稱名自歸」是只有第十八願才這麼講,第十九願、二十願並沒有這麼講,所以龍樹菩薩也是直接把第十八願直稱「本願」。

Namo Amituofo!

May 15 2021

May 15, 2021

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about the Patriarchal Lineage of the Pure Land School – Nagarjuna Bodhisattva

《淨宗傳承之龍樹菩薩》

When we say the “Fundamental Vow”, it only refers to the 18th Vow, not the other vows. There is a verse in the Infinite Life Sutra that says, “By the power of that Buddha's Fundamental Vow, All who hear his Name and desire birth will, without exception, be born in his land, and effortlessly enter the Stage of Non-retrogression.”

The meaning of the Fundamental Vow here refers to the 18th Vow – Vow of Rebirth through Amitabha-Recitation, and not the other vows. In the Treatise on Rebirth there is another verse saying,” As it pertains to the Buddha’s Fundamental Vow, no one who encounters it will leave empty-handed.”

Any person who comes across it can expediently receive abundant merit and virtues, like an ocean of treasures. The Fundamental Vow mentioned here also refers to the 18th Vow, and not the other vows.

(to be continued tomorrow)

我們在稱「本願」的時候,都是單指第十八願來講的,不是指其他的願。《無量壽經》有一首〈本願偈〉說:「其佛本願力,聞名欲往生,皆悉到彼國,自致不退轉。」這裏的「本願」兩個字所含的意義也是在說明第十八願,不是在說明其他的願。

《往生論》裡面也有一首〈本願偈〉說:「觀佛本願力,遇無空過者,能令速滿足,功德大寶海。」偈中的「本願」也是在指第十八願,不是指其他的願。

Namo Amituofo!

May 8 2021

May 8, 2021

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about the Patriarchal Lineage of the Pure Land – Nagarjuna Bodhisattva

《淨宗傳承之龍樹菩薩》

Among the teachings on cultivation in Buddhism, apart from the ones through diligence and vigor in practice( like the Sacred Path), there is another one through belief. Belief in what? Belief in the easy practice. What is the easy practice? It simply means belief in Amitabha’s readily available deliverance.

Some people may think that diligence and vigor in practice is the only bodhisattva way. Perhaps, it is not possible for us to practice that bodhisattva Way, as it is so easy to see belief as an expedient means? However, Nagarjuna Bodhisattva has a different view. He says, diligence and vigor in practice are, of course, the bodhisattva Way and a Buddhist teaching. However, it is also the bodhisattva Way and a Buddhist teaching that, accepting belief as an expedient means, one arrives at the destination quickly through the easy practice.

(to be continued tomorrow)

佛教之修行法門,除了聖道門之勤行精進以外,另有一種「信」的法門;信是信什麼呢?信易行,什麼叫做易行呢?簡單講就是信阿彌陀佛現成的救度,這就是易行。

可能有人會認為,應該是勤行精進才是行菩薩道,如果只是以信方便,很容易的話,那可能不是行菩薩道吧?但是龍樹菩薩卻不這樣認為,他認為「勤行精進」固然是菩薩道、是佛法,「以信方便,易行疾至」也是菩薩道,也是佛法。

Namo Amituofo!