May 21 2020

May 21, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about Taking Refuge in Amitabha Buddha

皈命彌陀

There is suffering in this world; but, there is peace and happiness in the Buddha. Being embraced by Amitabha, we are revitalized and all matters from our past lives are gradually wiped away. We depart from darkness forever, because we are always illuminated by the Buddha’s light.

在世上有苦難,在佛裏有平安。在彌陀懷抱中,我們舊事已過,重獲新生;黑暗永離,光明常照。

Namo Amituofo!

May 13 2020

May 13, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about Taking Refuge in Amitabha

皈命彌陀

Taking refuge in Amitabha is already contained within the practice of Amitabha-recitation.

皈命彌陀展現在念佛當中。

Namo Amituofo!

May 4 2020

May 4, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about Taking Refuge to Amitabha

皈命彌陀

For an Amitabha-reciter, nothing is more important than this Buddha’s Name. With the Buddha’s Name we have life, without it we have none. It is because, if we don’t have this Name, we will see King Yama for judgement after we die. He will send us to yet another realm of suffering!

對一個念佛人來說，沒有什麼比「南無阿彌陀佛」這句佛號更重要的了。

它的重要性，就像是我們的生命，有佛號就有我們的生命，沒這句佛號就沒有我們的生命。因為沒有了這句佛號，人死之後就會到閻羅王那裡去受審判，那就非常悲慘了。

Namo Amituofo!

April 27 2020

Apr 27, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about Taking Refuge in Amitabha

皈命彌陀

If you don’t want to recite Amitabha’s Name, it indicates there is a problem in your mind of taking refuge. One should know - the matter of rebirth is of the utmost importance. It is the highest objective of the Buddhist path.

如果不想念佛,則表示歸命的心有問題。要知道:往生之事非常重大,一生目的即在這裡。

Namo Amituofo!

April 17 2020

Apr 17, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about Taking Refuge in Amitabha

皈命彌陀

(continued)

No matter whether we are sacred or ordinary beings, no matter whether we are kind or wicked people, all of our afflictions will completely melt once we arrive in the Land of Bliss, the unconditioned realm of Nirvana. It is just like water on the surface of a road, whether clean or dirty, it immediately becomes the same sea water once it enters the great sea. Just as scraps of metal melt in a great furnace and become gold, we can change from ordinary to sacred beings.

不管是聖人、凡夫、善人、惡人,只要到了無為涅槃的極樂世界,所有的煩惱,就會完全被融化;就像路面上的水,不管清淨的、骯髒的,一旦進了大海,立刻跟大海的水一樣;再怎麼樣的破銅爛鐵,一旦投入大冶烘爐,就立刻變鐵成金,轉凡成聖。

Namo Amituofo!

April 16 2020

Apr 16, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about Taking Refuge in Amitabha

皈命彌陀

(continued)

He is a Buddha with no notion of self and other. He treats enemies and friends equally, and self and others as one entity. He regards every individual as his only child, as a part of himself.

Sentient beings who have severe afflictions, heavy karmic obstructions, and obstinate minds that are difficult to subdue, cannot be saved, and cannot find a place of final settlement. It is lucky that we have come across Amitabha’s pro-active and equal deliverance, and our ultimate home - his Land of Bliss.

(to be continued tomorrow)

祂是佛,沒有人相、我相、眾生相、壽者相,冤親平等,自他一體,把我們每個人都看成祂的獨生兒女、看成祂自己。

像我們這樣煩惱強盛、業障深重,心性剛強、難調難伏的眾生,無人可救,無處可歸,慶幸有彌陀主動、平等地救度,又建設極樂世界讓我們眾生有歸依處。

Namo Amituofo!

April 15 2020

Apr 15, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about Taking Refuge in Amitabha

皈命彌陀

Within the universe, only Amitabha Buddha really understands us, accommodates us, forgives us and does not slight or forsake us. He even jumps into the sea of suffering full of the five kinds of turbidity, to rescue us and carry us to the shore, without caring about being contaminated.

Amitabha Buddha is omnipresent. He is with us in all times and all places. Amitabha Buddha has infinite wisdom and compassion. He can see, hear, and know our involuntary karma and our sufferings.

(to be continued tomorrow)

在宇宙之中,真正瞭解我們、包容我們、體諒我們、不嫌厭我們,甚至不惜污染,親自跳進五濁惡世的苦海抱住我們,救我們到岸上的,只有阿彌陀佛。

阿彌陀佛無時不在、無處不在;阿彌陀佛智慧無量、慈悲無盡,我們的苦,我們的業力、身不由己,祂都看到了,都聽到了,都知道了。

Namo Amituofo!

April 7 2020

Apr 7, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about Taking Refuge in Amitabha

皈命彌陀

When first born, a baby cannot sit or stand. Apart from putting him in a cradle, we can hold him in our arms, in front of our chests. His mother will raise him and take care of him in this way. When he plays on the floor, he is never out of his mother’s sight, because his mother is afraid he will be hurt by touching dangerous things or falling into a hole, etc. This is the compassionate mind of a mother.

Similarly, each Amitabha-reciter is Amitabha’s baby. As Amitabha Buddha’s body, in the form of light, permeates the entire universe, we are never forsaken by him.

Amitabha Buddha always watches us and takes care of us. He will welcome and receive us to the Land of Bliss, to attain the same level of Buddhahood as he, when the time comes.

當嬰兒出生,還不會坐,也不會站,除了把他放在搖籃,就是懷抱在手中、胸前,母親是這樣的養育他、照顧他,即使他在地面遊戲,母親的視線也都時刻不離地觀照著他,深怕他碰到危險物品,或者是陷入坑洞,這個就是慈母之心。

同樣的,每個念佛人都等同是彌陀的嬰兒,阿彌陀佛的佛身充滿整個大宇宙的光明,是永遠不可能捨離他的,阿彌陀佛永遠看著我、照顧著我,時間一到就迎接我們到極樂世界繼承祂的佛位。

Namo Amituofo!

March 31 2020

Mar 31, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about Taking Refuge in Amitabha

皈命彌陀

Amitabha Buddha treats us as himself or his parents, and bears our debts in countless eons. He opens the treasure store of the Dharma and enables us to accomplish merits and virtues. This enables us to: avoid poverty and jeopardies, turn all kinds of fear to peace and safety, leave the cycle of birth-and-death forever, and be reborn in the Pure Land of Peace and Joy in the future.

Though there are plenty of compassionate vows made by all buddhas, only Amitabha has one such as this. Therefore, among all buddhas and bodhisattvas, only Amitabha has the deepest, most intimate relationship with sentient beings.

阿彌陀佛不但將我們看成祂自己,甚至將我們看成祂的父母,為我們承擔曠劫以來所負業債。祂為我們開法藏,使我們成就功德,現世脫離貧苦,免除厄難,一切恐懼,轉為大安;未來往生安樂淨土,永離六道輪迴。

如是悲願,諸佛雖多,唯有彌陀一佛而已。故諸佛菩薩中,唯有彌陀與眾生緣份最深、最親、最近。

Namo Amituofo!

March 22 2020

Mar 22, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about Taking Refuge in Amitabha

皈命彌陀

(continued)

When I sink and almost drown in the great sea, I have no power to float and almost die. Namo Amitabha Buddha jumps into the sea, embraces me, and carries me to the shore. Not only can I survive, but also attain a state of non-retrogression.

When I’m on the edge of falling into hell, I learn that Namo Amitabha Buddha has waited me for ten eons. Despite failing to learn about the Three Studies and the Three Poisons, when I hear Amitabha’s compassionate call, I feel safe and blessed to walk along the White Path. I now know “life is faith and faith is Amitabha-recitation”.

當我沉溺大海,無力上浮,即將滅頂,南無阿彌陀佛躬身跳入海中把我抱上岸來,不但使我重生,且獲得不退轉。當我將墮地獄,始發現南無阿彌陀佛已在此佇候十劫。在這三學不成、三毒難斷的當下,聞到了直來的悲喚,於是大安心大滿足地行走白道,過著生活即信心、信心即念佛的日子。

Namo Amituofo!

March 21 2020

Mar 21, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about Taking Refuge in Amitabha

皈命彌陀

Namo Amitabha Buddha is different from all other buddhas. In facing extremely evil ordinary beings, full of greed and hatred, in the defiled world, the other buddhas in the ten directions have insufficient vow power to save them, and have no pure lands to accommodate them. Among all buddhas only Amitabha Buddha can save them with his vow power and allow them to live in his reward land. Thus, Amitabha’s fundamental vow transcends those of all other buddhas.

(to be continued tomorrow)

南無阿彌陀佛與其他諸佛迥別,面對五濁惡世的貪瞋凡夫、極重惡人,十方諸佛無此願力可救,無此淨土可容;十方諸佛中唯有彌陀一佛有此願力可救,有此報土可容,故彌陀的超世願是超越十方三世諸佛所沒有的「弘願」。

Namo Amituofo!

March 14 2020

Mar 14, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about Taking Refuge in Amitabha

皈命彌陀

It is Amitabha’s Fundamental Vow to deliver us from the burning house of the Three Domains. Now, if we don’t rush out of the great fire upon hearing this teaching, we will be burned and suffer in the fires of hell life after life. In order to be liberated from reincarnation, for eternal happiness, and to expediently achieve Buddhahood, it is worthwhile, no matter how hard it is, to make the effort.

阿彌陀佛的本願,要救度我們離開三界火宅,現在如果不衝過這個大火,聽聞此法門,將來生生世世、世世生生,也必定受三千大千世界的地獄之火所灼燒。為一勞永逸解脫輪迴,為了快速成佛,再怎麼辛苦,也值得付出。

Namo Amituofo!

March 7 2020

Mar 7, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about Taking Refuge in Amitabha

皈命彌陀

A practitioner pristinely and sincerely prepares for liberation from birth-and-death in reincarnation. He does not strive for fame, benefits, or the praise of others, because all of these are considered to be unreal due to their impermanence. So, it is very wise to wish to become a quiet Pure Land aspirant.

一個修行人不為名、不為利、不為人家的讚歎,只是純純粹粹的老老實實的為自己的生死輪迴預作準備,其他的都是虛假的,到最後都成空,所以願做一個靜默往生人,是非常有智慧的。

Namo Amituofo!

February 29 2020

Feb 29, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about Taking Refuge in Amitabha

皈命彌陀

In our lives we must rely on Amitabha Buddha. Nothing can be relied on, except Amitabha Buddha. Actually, nothing in this world is reliable, whether it is tangible or intangible.

No matter how profound our knowledge is, we cannot rely on this knowledge near the end-of-life. No matter how excellent our morality is, we cannot rely on it near the end-of-life. At the end, only “Namo Amituofo” can be relied upon.

生命中必須要有阿彌陀佛的依靠,除了阿彌陀佛的依靠之外,其他的都靠不住。其實人生在世,有形的、無形的都不能作為我們的依靠。

我們即使學問再怎麼高深,到臨終的時候,這些所懂的學問都不能讓我們依靠;我們的修養道德再怎麼好,怎麼優秀,可是到臨終的時候,這些也不能夠讓我們依靠,最後能夠讓我們依靠的就只有「南無阿彌陀佛」。

Namo Amituofo!

February 21 2020

Feb 21, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about Taking Refuge in Amitabha

皈命彌陀

(continued)

Of course, people generally read the sutras for the purpose of eradicating their karmic obstructions and hoping it is helpful during rebirth. However, in this case, it is regarded to be “not exclusive”, implying that their minds are in doubt towards Amitabha’s deliverance. It is an indication that they don’t understand the merits and virtues of the Name, and what kind of Buddha Amitabha is.

Above all, to practice the Pure Land teaching, we have to fully believe in, accept, and totally rely on Amitabha Buddha, Our exclusive recitation of Amitabha’s Name offers proof of our total reliance. Having said that, it doesn’t mean that there are no merits and virtues in practicing the teachings related to other buddhas and bodhisattvas.

However, as far as rebirth in the Land of Bliss is concerned, we have to totally rely on Amitabha Buddha.

當然,一般人誦經的目的,多是希望消業障,往生時希望可以有幫助,可是這樣就已經是不專了,就已表示他的心對阿彌陀佛是有懷疑的,因為他對名號的功德不瞭解,也不瞭解阿彌陀佛是怎樣的一尊佛。

總之,修學淨土法門就是要完全信受阿彌陀佛,完全依靠阿彌陀佛,也就是專念阿彌陀佛。這樣的意思不是說其他的佛菩薩或善行沒有功德,而是說,要往生極樂世界,就要完全依靠阿彌陀佛。

Namo Amituofo!

February 20 2020

Feb 20, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about Taking Refuge in Amitabha

皈命彌陀

The content of the Diamond Sutra - the Chapter on the Universal Dharma Door, the Sutra of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, the Lotus Sutra, and other sutras are all excellent; but, they are not related to the Land of Bliss and Amitabha Buddha.

If an Amitabha-reciter wants to know what the Diamond Sutra is about, what the Sutra of Ksitgarbha Bodhisattva is about, and what the Lotus Sutra is about, then he can read them. However, he should clearly know that he cannot rely on them for rebirth in the Land of Bliss.

《金剛經》、《普門品》、《地藏經》、《法華經》......內容都非常好,可是這些經跟極樂世界、跟阿彌陀佛沒有關係。

除非是要瞭解《金剛經》在講什麼道理,《地藏經》在講什麼道理,《法華經》在講什麼道理,這樣可以去看、去誦。可是一個念佛人,心中必須非常清楚,往生極樂世界並不是靠這些。

Namo Amituofo!

February 11 2020

Feb 11, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about Taking Refuge in Amitabha

皈命彌陀

The only ones who are truly capable of setting forth the mind of leaving the Six Realms are great people, real monastics, and true Buddhist learners. However, it is rare to find a person who really sets forth the mind of leaving. That being the case, what can the majority of sentient beings, who always fall into the wretched realms and reincarnate forever, do?

Amitabha Buddha deeply understands our predicament. To sentient beings like us, who suffer endless reincarnation he says, “As you suffer, I suffer; as you are joyful, I am joyful.” Therefore, Amitabha makes a Fundamental Vow that all will be saved and delivered regardless of who they are.

能發出離心是「大丈夫」,是真「出家人」,是真「學佛者」。但能真正發起出離心的人少之又少,其他絕大多數的「常沉惡道,永在輪迴」的眾生要怎麼辦?阿彌陀佛老早就已深深知道我們就是這樣的眾生,承受常沒常流轉之苦,而感同身受的說:「眾生苦惱我苦惱,眾生安樂我安樂。」因而發了「不論何人,都必定救度」的本願。

Namo Amituofo!

February 3 2020

Feb 3, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about Taking Refuge in Amitabha

皈命彌陀

(continued)

Moreover, he knows that, if there were no six character Name ( Namo Amituofo), he would remain in the cycle of reincarnation. He also knows that fame, gain, status, and wealth are unimportant in his life because all of these can disappear in a moment. Only Namo Amituofo can liberate him from birth-and-death, and lead him to become a Buddha in the Land of Bliss. Because of his deep faith in aptitude and teaching, and his realization of the value of Amitabha-recitation, his habitual leisure also changes. Amitabha-recitation becomes his greatest relaxation and leisure.

而且他知道,若沒有「南無阿彌陀佛」這六字名號,自己一定會墮落輪迴;他

知道人生最重要的不是名、利、地位、財富,因為這些轉眼成空。只有「南無

阿彌陀佛」能讓他了生脫死,往生成佛。因為對「機」、「法」的深信,以及

對「念佛」的體會,他的娛樂及習慣也會自然改變,念佛將變成最輕安、最大的娛樂。

Namo Amituofo!

February 2 2020

Feb 2, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about Taking Refuge in Amitabha

皈命彌陀

An Amitabha-reciter who has already walked along the White Path must move forward without turning back, through continuous Amitabha-recitation without interruption, and without forsaking. Amitabha - recitation is his life. So, those who walk along the White Path, who believe and accept Amitabha’s deliverance, and who are determined to be reborn, view life in a totally different way. The ultimate aim of life is to be reborn in the Land of Bliss and not to reincarnate again.

(to be continued tomorrow)

一個念佛人,他既然已走在白道上,一定是前進不退,相續不斷的念佛,念念不捨的念佛。念佛已成為他的生命、他的全部,所以只要是走在白道上的人、受阿彌陀佛救度的人、往生決定的人,他的人生觀、價值觀會和以前完全不同。他人生的最終目的,是要往生極樂世界,不再來輪迴。

Namo Amituofo!

January 25 2020

Jan 25, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about Taking Refuge in Amitabha

皈命彌陀

Amitabha Buddha is not only able to deliver those who can purify their minds through cultivation, to be reborn in the Land of Bliss, and there to become Buddhas. He is also able to deliver those who have accumulated the most severe karmic offenses that cause them to fall into Avici hell, or even those already in Avici hell undergoing endless suffering. This is an example of Amitabha Buddha’s boundless great compassion.

This great compassion is so immeasurable, boundless, and limitless that even Buddhas cannot fully grasp it. It is also known as “all-embracing great compassion”. It means Amitabha’s great compassion surpasses all other Buddhas in the ten directions. This is why it is called “all-embracing great compassion.”

阿彌陀佛不僅能使心地清淨、會修行的人往生極樂世界成佛,阿彌陀佛也必須同時能使造下了阿鼻地獄之業的眾生,甚至已經墮落阿鼻地獄、受無盡痛苦的眾生,也能往生極樂世界,才算是無限的、無盡的大悲。

無窮無盡、不可限量、諸佛也不可能推測的大悲,叫做「無盡大悲」。「無盡大悲」,另一種版本說是「無蓋大悲」,就是:阿彌陀佛的這種大悲是覆蓋十方諸佛,同時是十方諸佛所不能覆蓋的;尤其是一切眾生沒有不受彌陀大悲的庇蔭覆蓋的,所以叫做「無蓋大悲」。

Namo Amituofo!