October 3 2019

Oct 3, 2019

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

皈命彌陀

(continued)

Amitabha Buddha also enables all sentient beings to accomplish merits and virtues. In the Infinite Life Sutra, it says, “He adorned his practices with a great store of merits. By so doing, he enabled sentient beings to partake of it.” So, throughout the process of achieving Buddhahood, Amitabha Buddha himself enables sentient beings to accomplish the merits and virtues necessary for rebirth, and achieving Buddhahood.

Amitabha Buddha assures rebirth through Amitabha-recitation. It says in the 18thVow, “if those who recite my name even ten times should not be born there, may I not attain perfect Enlightenment.” As Amitabha has already attained perfect Enlightenment, sentient beings are assured of rebirth through name-recitation.

(to be continued)

阿彌陀佛也是令諸眾生功德成就的佛。《無量壽經》說:「以大莊嚴,具足眾行,令諸眾生,功德成就。」所以,阿彌陀佛成佛的本身,就是使我們眾生成就往生成佛的功德。

阿彌陀佛是念佛必生的佛。第十八願說:「乃至十念,若不生者,不取正覺。」彌陀既已成正覺,眾生稱念必得生。

Namo Amituofo!

October 2 2019

Oct 2, 2019

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

皈命彌陀

(continued)

Amitabha is also a Buddha who opened the Dharma-store for sentient beings. In the Infinite Life Sutra, it says, “I will open the Dharma-store for the multitudes and endow them all with treasures of merit.” (In order to complete the merits and virtues necessary for their departure from reincarnation within the Three Domains, the Six Realms, and rebirth in the Land of Bliss.)There they achieve Buddhahood, so that they can comprehensively deliver sentient beings in the ten directions.

Amitabha Buddha also carries the heavy karmic burdens of sentient beings on his back. In the Infinite Life Sutra, it says, “Without waiting for their request, he provides sentient beings with the Dharma. He does this for the multitude of poor beings, and carries their heavy karmic burdens on his back.”

(to be continued)

阿彌陀佛也是為眾生開法藏的佛。《無量壽經》說:「為眾開法藏,廣施功德寶。」阿彌陀佛為十方眾生完成脫離三界六道輪迴、往生極樂淨土成佛的功德,並使其能夠廣度十方眾生,所以說「為眾開法藏,廣施功德寶」。

阿彌陀佛也是一位荷負群生的佛。《無量壽經》說:「以不請之法,施諸黎庶,荷負群生,為之重擔。」

Namo Amituofo!

October 1 2019

Oct 1, 2019

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

皈命彌陀

What kind of Buddha is Amitabha? Amitabha is a Buddha who has made vows for sentient beings. In the Infinite Life Sutra, it says, “For five full kalpas he contemplated his vows, and then chose the most pure practices for the establishment of his Buddha-land." So, Amitabha is a Buddha who has made vows after contemplating for five full kalpas for sentient beings.

Amitabha is also a Buddha who cultivated and practiced throughout countless kalpas to fulfill his vows for sentient beings. In the Infinite Life Sutra, it says, “During inconceivable and innumerable kalpas, he cultivated the immeasurable meritorious practices of the Bodhisattva Path.”

(to be continued)

阿彌陀佛是怎樣的佛呢?阿彌陀佛是為眾生發願的佛。《無量壽經》說:「具足五劫,思惟攝取,莊嚴佛國,清淨之行。」所以,阿彌陀佛是為眾生五劫思惟發願的佛。

阿彌陀佛也是為眾生永劫修行的佛。《無量壽經》說:「以不可思議,兆載永劫,積植菩薩,無量德行。」

Namo Amituofo!

September 30 2019

Sep 30, 2019

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings on Faith in Pure Land Buddhism

淨土信仰

Amitabha-recitation, by itself, is already regarded as demonstrating a person’s reliance on the vow power of Amitabha Buddha. It is similar to sailing on a ship. Once we get on the ship, we are guaranteed to reach the other shore. It is because that ship provides a direct voyage to the City of Nirvana. There aren’t any obstructions or any chances to fail. The reciter must reach the destination.

念佛的本身就已經依靠阿彌陀佛的願力了,就像坐船,只要上了船就必定到彼岸,因為這一條船的目標就是直通涅槃城,而且是不受障礙、萬無一失、必然會到達的。

Namo Amituofo!

September 29 2019

Sep 29, 2019

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about Attributes of the Pure Land School:

Worldly Truths

淨土宗宗風俗諦

When three persons gather together, one of them must be my teacher. When any of them acts with greed, hatred, delusion, and arrogance, he is acting as my reflection.

It is not easy to discover one’s true face; so, we have to be thankful for others who let us know what we can improve.

三人行必有我師,別人的起心動念,貪瞋癡慢,都是自己的影子、自己的分身。人不易發覺自己的真貌,故應體諒包容,更應感恩對方的示現,使自己知所改進。

Namo Amituofo!

September 28 2019

Sep 28, 2019

A verse from the Chapter on the Meditative Virtues from the Commentary on the Contemplation Sutra

善導大師語錄《觀經疏》〈定善義〉:

Among those reborn while still possessing doubt concerning Buddha’s wisdom and Name, their flower has not yet blossomed. This state is similar to an embryo that is not quite ready to be born, flower petals that are tightly closed, or like joining one’s palms together.

They still have the joy of the Dharma, without any suffering, while inside. Once the obstruction of doubt is cleared, the flower will blossom in a moment.

Then, their eyes and ears will be sharp, and their bodies will be golden. They will be presented and dressed in jeweled clothing created by bodhisattvas.

They will also achieve the Threefold Perseverance, when the light touches their body. And, they descend from the golden altar if they wish to immediately see the Buddha.

They are welcomed by other Dharma companions in the assembly, and when they see the Buddha’s face, they will praise his goodness.

帶惑疑生華未發,合掌籠籠喻處胎;

內受法樂無微苦,障盡須臾華自開。

耳目精明身金色,菩薩徐徐授寶衣;

光觸體得成三忍,即欲見佛下金臺;

法侶迎將入大會,瞻仰尊顏讚善哉。

Namo Amituofo!

September 27 2019

Sep 27, 2019

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about the Contemplation Sutra

《佛說觀無量壽經》

In the Contemplation Sutra, though it talks at length about the thirteen meditative contemplations, and the non-meditative virtues of the Three Meritorious Deeds in nine levels, it is just a guidance. The eventual aim is to urge us to hold Amitabha’s name.

So, at the end of the Sutra Shakyamuni Buddha tells Ananda: “Bear these words wellin mind. To bear these words in mind means to hold fast to the Name of the Buddha Amitayus."

Singly and exclusively, not mixed, holding the Name of the Buddha Amitayus. “ To bear these words in mind means to hold fast to the Name of the Buddha Amitayus”.

It does not instruct us to contemplate the marks of Buddha Amitayus. So, the conclusion of the Contemplation Sutra is holding the Name, which is exactly the same objective as the Infinite Life Sutra.

《觀無量壽經》雖然前面很長的經文都在講十三定觀以及三福九品,可是這也是一種引導性的,目的還是要我們持名念佛。

所以,經文最後就講:「佛告阿難,汝好持是語,持是語者,即是持無量壽佛名。」

專一的、不雜的、不退的來「持無量壽佛名」,叫做「汝好持是語,持是語者,即是持無量壽佛名」,並不是「觀無量壽佛相」的觀想,所以《觀無量壽經》的歸宗結頂也是在講「持名」,跟《無量壽經》的意旨完全一致。

Namo Amituofo!