淨土宗溫哥華念佛會 Amitabha Buddhist Vancouver Association
May 20, 2019
A quote from Master Shandao’s Commentary on the Contemplation Sutra
善導大師語錄
A text about ‘the substance being non-outflow (flawlessness)’:
The substantial state of all sages in the Pure Land is “non-outflow” (flawlessness), and their functional state manifests great compassion.
《觀經疏》「無漏為體」之文:
淨土之中,一切聖人,皆以無漏為體,大悲為用。
Namo Amituofo!
May 19, 2019
Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about the Infinite Life Sutra
《佛說無量壽經》
The Infinite Life Sutra expounds the teaching of the causes and effects of Amitabha’s Buddhahood. That is to say, it is a sutra about the causes and effects of rebirth in sentient beings becoming Buddhas. The basis of the sutra is the 48 vows. Among them, there is a fundamental vow, which is the 18th Vow. The 18th Vow summarizes the Infinite Life Sutra.
What does the 18th Vow talk about? It talks about assured rebirth in the Land of Bliss through exclusive Amitabha-recitation. What will we become upon rebirth there? To be reborn in the Land of Bliss expedites our becoming Buddhas.
《無量壽經》是說「阿彌陀佛成佛因果」的經典,也是在說「眾生往生成佛因果」的一部經,它有一個根本就是「四十八大願」,「四十八大願」又有一個最根本的願,就是「第十八願」。所以整部《無量壽經》如果濃縮而言,就是「第十八願」。
「第十八願」講什麼呢?講「只要念佛就必定往生」;往生是生到那裏成為什麼?是生到極樂世界,快速成佛。
Namo Amituofo!
May 18, 2019
Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about Taking Refuge in Amitabha
皈命彌陀
A genuine Buddhist must realize deeply the mind of impermanence (birth and death). With this mind, he will set forth a vow to cultivate. After a while, he finds he is actually a typical ordinary being with very few roots of virtues, shallow in blessings, and incapable of practicing cultivation.
At that time, he will seek a teaching of external power that enables him to be liberated. Amitabha Buddha’s compassionate vow is his last hope, and the teaching of Amitabha’s deliverance is a silver lining of a cloud, and a glimpse of light in darkness.
真正學佛的人,必然是無常心深厚的人;有了這種無常心,他就會發起修行的願,經過一段時間,他更會發現,原來自己是一個十足的凡夫,善根很少,福德很薄,沒辦法靠自己修行。
那個時候,他就會尋求假借外力使自己能夠解脫得度的法門。那麼,阿彌陀佛的慈悲誓願,是他最後的希望,是他絕處逢生、柳暗花明的救度法門。
Namo Amituofo!
May 17, 2019
Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about Deep Faith in Aptitude and Teaching
機法深信
Ordinary beings deeply believe that all of their threefold karma are offenses resulting in everlasting reincarnation, and they have no power to leave the Three Domains. However, they are the targets of Amitabha’s deliverance through his compassionate vows. If these ordinary beings, with fear and anxiety in their minds, understand the reality of Amitabha’ embrace, protection and deliverance, through his Fundamental Vow; and if they undoubtedly believe and accept his deliverance, they will instantly attain assured rebirth. This is the meaning of “undoubtedly, they are assured of rebirth with recourse to the Buddha’s vow power”.
It is also said in the Great Sutra, “If, when I attain Buddhahood, sentient beings in the lands of the ten quarters should not be born there, may I not attain perfect Enlightenment. I further vow that, when I have become a Buddha, I shall carry out this promise everywhere, and among all fear-ridden beings I shall give great peace. I take pity on living beings and resolve to save them all. Those who come from the ten quarters, shall find joy and serenity of heart. My compassionate heart eternally delivers sentient beings from Avici Hell and all other suffering.”
凡夫深信自己三業都是罪惡,永沉輪迴,無出三界之力;然此凡夫是彌陀深生悲愍,為其發願立誓所要救度的對象,此凡夫恐懼不安的心中，體悟彌陀本願力的攝護救度之真實,而毫無疑慮地信受彌陀本願之救度，當下即時獲得往生決定,此即「無疑無慮,乘彼願力,定得往生」之意。
亦即《大經》所言:「設我得佛,十方眾生，若不生者，不取正覺。」「吾誓得佛,普行此願,一切恐懼,為作大安。」「我當愍哀,度脫一切,十方來生，心悅清淨。」「常運慈心拔有情，度盡阿鼻苦眾生」的宗旨。
Namo Amituofo!@
May 16, 2019
Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about Right View on Buddhist teachings
佛法知見
The practices of each Dharma school are rewarded with different realms in response. The characteristics of our school are: Name-recitation in accordance with the Fundamental Vow, Rebirth of ordinary beings in the Pure Land’s realm of rewards, Assured rebirth in this lifetime, and Non-retrogression in the present life. So, as we see, it doesn’t matter whether we can see the Buddha in this life. A person is still assured of rebirth and attaining non-retrogression in the present life.
If a person doesn’t practice this teaching, doesn’t understand the principles of them, and doesn’t believe in and accept Amitabha’s deliverance, he will not attain the benefits of our school, even if he has seen the Buddha in a dream.
感應的境界,每個法門各不同。我們法門的特色是「本願稱名,凡夫入報,平生業成,現生不退」,所以不管有沒有現生見到佛,他都是「平生業成,現生不退」的。
如果不是修習我們這個法門、不了解這個道理,沒有這種信受,即使夢中夢到佛,或者念佛當中看到佛,也未能獲得我們這個特色所得的利益。
Namo Amituofo!
May 15, 2019
Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about Faith in Pure Land Buddhism
淨土信仰
Accomplishing the Fundamental Vow, Amitabha Buddha completes three things: first - accomplishing Namo Amitabha Buddha (Amitabha’s Name that we can recite), second - accomplishing the Land of Bliss, to which we can go ; third – accomplishing the merits and virtues, the functional power, and credentials necessary for delivering us to be reborn in the Land of Bliss.
So, accomplishing the Fundamental Vow accomplished three things: the Buddha body (the direct reward), the Land of Bliss (the circumstantial reward), and the merit and virtues (necessary for our rebirth).
阿彌陀佛本願成就,成就了三件事情:第一,成就了南無阿彌陀佛本身,也就是這一句彌陀名號;第二,成就了我們所要去的極樂世界,也可以說極樂世界是阿彌陀佛為我們而成就,是我們的;第三,成就了救度我們往生極樂世界的功德、功能、資糧。
所以阿彌陀佛成就本願就是成就：佛身(正報)、極樂(依報)、名號(我們往生的功德)這三件事情。
Namo Amituofo!
May 14, 2019
Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about Attributes of the Pure Land School:
Worldly Truths
淨土宗宗風俗諦
(continued)
If our thoughts are good, good responses will come to us in due time; if our thoughts are not good, misfortune will come to us.
So, we must always practice positive thinking with a loving heart. We should: benefit others, accept losses without argument, be considerate and kind to others, and be humble and soft. Pass all merit and blessings to others; but, share the suffering due to faults and mistakes.
起好的念頭,有一天好的事情就會來到我們身邊;起不好的念頭,有一天不好的事情也會來到我們的身上。
所以，我們要時時刻刻存著正面的思惟,存著愛心,存著利益他人的心,凡事肯吃虧不計較,凡事為對方設想,凡事對他人恩慈體貼,對自己謙卑柔和,凡事讓美歸功,分怨共過。
Namo Amituofo!