July 7

Jul 7, 2017
慧淨上人法語
專稱彌陀佛名
(continued)

So, the purpose of Shakyamuni Buddha’s discourse on the three tiers and nine levels is to reveal that although there are sentient beings whose aptitude and capacity can be categorized into the three tiers and nine levels, all of them have to rely on Amitabha  Buddha, and converge at the single-minded and exclusive recitation of Amitabha’s name. This is the only way to transcend the three tiers and nine levels; otherwise, falling into its scope is unavoidable—that means rebirth inside the bud as said in the Infinite Life Sutra. The result is unable to bloom, being prevented from seeing the Buddha and listening to his teachings for 500 years.

所以釋迦牟尼佛說三輩、說九品，目的是要顯示根機雖然有三輩九品，可是統統要依靠阿彌陀佛，統統要回歸一向專稱彌陀佛名，這樣才能夠超越三輩九品，不然就會落入三輩九品的範疇裡面，也就是《無量壽經》所說的胞胎，受五百歲不能花開見佛聞法。

Namo Amitabha!

July 6

Jul 6, 2017
慧淨上人法語
專稱彌陀佛名

Regarding the three tiers mentioned in the text, the Infinite Life Sutra emphasizes that even though the aptitude and capacity of sentient beings are different, all of them have to rely entirely on the merits and virtues of Amitabha’s Name for rebirth in the Land of Bliss, and to attain equally the status of the buddha in one more lifetime.

If the superior beings rely on their superior wisdom and practices, and the other two kinds of beings rely on the practices of their own levels, and if they do not completely let go the tightly-held merits and virtues attained through their self-powered practices and do not rely entirely on the merits and virtues of Amitabha’s name, their rebirth in the Land of Bliss will, of course, end up with different levels and classes.

（continued tomorrow）

《無量壽經》下卷所講的三輩，是強調雖然三輩根機各不相同，可是都要完全依靠彌陀名號的功德才能到極樂世界，並且平等的得到一生補處的果位。如果上輩依靠上輩的智慧根機，中輩、下輩也都各依靠他們的根機，不完全放下對自己修行功德的執著，來完全依靠彌陀名號的功德的話，這樣到了極樂世界當然就會有品位階級的不同。

Namo Amitabha!

July 5

Jul 5, 2017
慧淨上人法語
信受彌陀救度

By the time that we believe and accept Amitabha’s deliverance, aspire to be reborn in the Land of Bliss and recite the Name, we are already on board of Amitabha’s ship. It doesn’t mean we have to recite his Name single-mindedly with no distracted mind, or in a proficient manner reaching a certain realm, like in one-pointedness, otherwise we are not on board. It also doesn’t mean we recite his Name now, and will attain one-pointed recitation without the distracted mind in future, in order to be on board. It should be: at the moment of believing and accepting, at the moment of reciting the Name, we are on board right the way.

我們只要信受彌陀的救度，願生極樂，稱念名號，當下就在彌陀的本願船上了；並不是說我要念佛念到一心不亂、功夫成片、動靜一如，那時候才是坐在船上；也不是現在念佛，將來一心不亂才是坐在船上，而是當下信受，當下稱念，當下就在船上了。Namo Amitabha!，願生極樂，稱念名號，當下就在彌陀的本願船上了；並不是說我要念佛念到一心不亂、功夫成片、動靜一如，那時候才是坐在船上；也不是現在念佛，將來一心不亂才是坐在船上，而是當下信受，當下稱念，當下就在船上了。

Namo Amitabha!

Jul 6, 2017
Master Huijing’s Dharma Words about Exclusiv

July 4

Jul 4, 2017
慧淨上人法語
人生目的

What is the purpose of life? Probably, most people have not seriously reflected on and asked themselves these questions: Why was I born here? Why do I live here?

Life is full of sorrow.  For instance, the recent economic climate of Taiwan is in depression, and some individuals have committed suicide due to the unbearable sufferings in lives. Some others endure no matter how severe the conditions are; but for what should they endure? Where should the life go and what path should follow?

If people can think about this aspect of life, they will develop wisdom, and enter into the arena of faith. Thereafter, once they find the answer, they will become stable, relaxed, and comfortable in the rest of their life.

人生的目的是什麼？可能絕大多數的人都沒有確實的反問自己：「我為什麼生下來？我為什麼活著？」人生很苦，像最近台灣景氣不好，有人因為生活痛苦而自殺；有的人則是再苦也忍耐活下去。但是，「忍耐活下去是為了什麼？人生何去何從？」

如果能夠往這方面去思考，人就會產生智慧，同時也會走進信仰領域，此後只要他找到答案，那麼他的餘生，就能過著安心、安穩、安樂的日子。

Namo Amitabha!

July 3

Jul 3, 2017
慧淨上人法語
念佛度亡

Preaching to a person at the end-of-life or to a “bardo” (being in-between two lives) according to the Pure Land teaching is sufficient.  The Sutra of Delivering the Dead is a scripture in Tantric Buddhism. We Pure Land practitioners will follow the Pure Land teaching rather than the Tantric.

以淨土法門為臨終或中陰身開示便足。《度亡經》屬密法，吾人學淨不學密，故依淨不依密。

Namo Amitabha!

July 2

Jul 2, 2017
慧淨上人法語
念佛利益

Those who do not recite Amitabha’s name always think and invoke in accordance with his karmic afflictions and habitual behavior. This makes them feel unhappy and stressful, both physically and mentally. By reciting Amitabha’s name, they can open their mind with wisdom, and clear karmic obstruction. Moreover, they also feel relaxed and comfortable, both physically and mentally because they don’t have false and miscellaneous thoughts now.

After they practice Amitabha-recitation for a period of time, they will have an experience of tranquility. Their temperament, character, habit, and amusement are changed. The character of a person who was previously impatient, hot-tempered, calculative, and attached in all matters will also change. He will take it easy for all worldly disputes. So, Amiatbha-recitation costs us nothing; it benefits us in various ways.

沒有念佛的人都會隨煩惱、習氣而起心動念，這樣會使人感到身心沈重，心情不愉悅。念佛不但能開智慧、消業障，且因為沒有妄想雜念，而感覺身心輕安。

念佛久了，因為有寂靜的體會，人的氣質、個性、習慣、娛樂就會改變，一個原來急躁、暴躁，凡事與人計較、執著的人，個性會改變，對世間的是非會看淡。所以念佛不但不用付出，還會得到種種的利益。

Namo Amitabha!

July 1

Jul 1, 2017
慧淨上人法語
念佛方法
(continued)

Being a honest and simple-minded Amitabha-reciter, one should not argue with others, no matter internally in the mind or externally with words. Do not gossip on trivial or interpersonal matters; do not dispute over issues like happiness and suffering, fortune and misfortune, or honor and disgrace; and do not show off deliberately, or behave affectedly.

They recite “Namo Amituofo” under any circumstance: at praise, recite Namo Amituofo; being treated with disdain, also recite Namo Amituofo, as they always bear Namo Amituofo in mind. Apart from Namo Amituofo, they give no thought to any other thing. This is “Amitabha-recitation with no-argument”, and also truly  “Amitabha-recitation in a honest and simple-minded manner”.

要老實念佛，就是外也好、內也好，都與人無諍，既不談一些閒言雜語、人我是非，也不去計較什麼順逆苦樂、稱譏毀譽，不想出鋒頭，不想顯耀自己，但也不是故意造作。

有事沒事，都是「南無阿彌陀佛」，人家讚歎也是「南無阿彌陀佛」，人家鄙視也是「南無阿彌陀佛」，心中始終只有「南無阿彌陀佛」，除了「南無阿彌 陀佛」，其他都置之度外了，這個就是「無諍念佛」，也就是真正的「老實念佛」。

Namo Amitabha!