June 28 2020

Jun 28, 2020

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

淨土宗宗風俗諦

As Amitabha-reciters, we should understand that our karmic obstructions do not hinder us from being delivered by Amitabha. Otherwise, we would be minimizing the power of Amitabha Buddha. No matter how many karmic offenses we have, they cannot prevent Amitabha Buddha from delivering us. If we understand this, we should weep in gratitude to Amitabha Buddha. Through this realization our minds become softened and humble. If a person has regrets, humility, and softness, his threefold karma, temperament, appearance, fate, and personality will improve.

念佛的人,心態上首先要知道:我的業障不會障礙彌陀的救度,否則就是太小看阿彌陀佛了。「我們再多的罪業,都不能障礙彌陀對我們的救度」,有這樣的觀念與瞭解,我們就會感戴恩德而痛哭流涕,心就會謙卑柔軟。人若有慚愧、謙卑、柔軟的話,三業行為、氣質、相貌、命運、人格就會轉化。

Namo Amituofo!

June 27 2020

Jun 27, 2020

An excerpt from the ‘Dharma School of Contemplation and Recitation’

善導大師語錄

《觀念法門》

When they [those of the lowest level in the low tier] become seriously ill and wish to die, they encounter a good advisor who teaches them to recite Amitabha’s name at least ten times. Through these repeated recitations 8 billion eons of heavy karmic offenses are eradicated.

罪人得病欲死,遇善知識,教稱彌陀佛名十聲,於聲聲中,除滅八十億劫生死重罪。

Namo Amituofo!

June 26 2020

Jun 26, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about the Amitabha Sutra

《佛說阿彌陀經》

(continued)

“Namo Amituofo” is abundant in roots of virtues and blessings, great in roots of virtues and blessings, splendid in roots of virtues and blessings, absolute in roots of virtues and blessings, perfect and complete in roots of virtues and blessings.

In contrast, the Three Refuges, the Five Precepts, the Ten Wholesome Deeds, the Four Ways to Embrace, the Six Paramitas and the Eightfold Noble Path are all splendid; but, are insufficient to attain rebirth in the Land of Bliss. Only holding fast to Amitabha’s Name is abundant enough in roots of virtues and blessings to carry us to the Land of Bliss.

「南無阿彌陀佛」則是多善根福德、大善根福德、殊勝的善根福德、絕對的善根福德、圓滿的善根福德。

所以,不管是三皈、五戒、十善、四攝、六度、八正道,這些都很殊勝,但是相對於要往生極樂世界來講,這些都是少善根少福德,唯有執持名號是多善根多福德。

Namo Amituofo!

June 26 2020

Jun 26, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about the Amitabha Sutra

《佛說阿彌陀經》

(continued)

“Namo Amituofo” is abundant in roots of virtues and blessings, great in roots of virtues and blessings, splendid in roots of virtues and blessings, absolute in roots of virtues and blessings, perfect and complete in roots of virtues and blessings.

In contrast, the Three Refuges, the Five Precepts, the Ten Wholesome Deeds, the Four Ways to Embrace, the Six Paramitas and the Eightfold Noble Path are all splendid; but, are insufficient to attain rebirth in the Land of Bliss. Only holding fast to Amitabha’s Name is abundant enough in roots of virtues and blessings to carry us to the Land of Bliss.

「南無阿彌陀佛」則是多善根福德、大善根福德、殊勝的善根福德、絕對的善根福德、圓滿的善根福德。

所以,不管是三皈、五戒、十善、四攝、六度、八正道,這些都很殊勝,但是相對於要往生極樂世界來講,這些都是少善根少福德,唯有執持名號是多善根多福德。

Namo Amituofo!

June 25 2020

Jun 25, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about the Amitabha Sutra

《佛說阿彌陀經》

The purpose of the Amitabha Sutra is to talk about the method of attaining rebirth in the Land of Bliss, which is holding fast to the Name.

The six-syllable Name (Namo Amituofo) is known as “the Great Name of Myriad Virtues”. It indicates that, as long as we hold fast to Amitabha’s Name, we have sufficient roots of virtues and blessings to achieve rebirth in the Land of Bliss.

If we practice various virtues here in the Saha World, such as the Three Studies, the Six Paramitas, etc., we will have only accumulated few roots of virtues and blessings, as compared with the boundless merit and virtues gained through Amitabha-recitation.

(to be continued tomorrow)

《阿彌陀經》目的是在講往生極樂世界的方法,就是「執持名號」。「南無阿彌陀佛」這一句六字名號,叫「萬德洪名」,表示我們只要執持名號,就具足多善根多福德,必定能夠到極樂世界。

如果依我們在這裏(娑婆世界)所修的諸善萬行、三學六度等,跟阿彌陀佛名號功德來比,那就是少善根、少福德。

Namo Amituofo!

June 24 2020

Jun 24, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings - the Buddha’s Enlightening Mottos

醒世箴言

We are busy doing this today and busy doing that tomorrow. We keep so very busy until, before we realize it, we have become old. Without being noticed, our remaining life becomes shorter and shorter. It is like a candle in the wind, which can burn out at any time.

When the candle light is gone, we continue to endlessly reincarnate within the Six Realms forever. Most of us lack awareness of these truths.Today, we have a human body and have encountered the Buddhist teachings. We should cherish this rare opportunity and encourage ourselves to pursue a teaching that can lead us to the state of no-birth, no-death, and no-reincarnation, only everlasting bliss.

我們今天忙這件事,明天忙那件事,一直到老,煩忙不斷。不知不覺間,壽命隨著日夜而消減,好像風中之燈燭,隨時都會滅掉。

燈滅了,就繼續輪迴六道,永無窮盡。可是我們卻茫茫然地,悠悠忽忽地,不知道害怕,也無所驚覺。今天既得人身,又聞佛法,就要把握現在頭腦清醒,身體健康,好好自我勉勵,追求不生不滅、不受輪迴、永恆常住的法門。

Namo Amituofo!

June 23 2020

Jun 23, 2020

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about Encouragement to Practice Amitabha-Recitation

念佛警策

Those who study and practice in the Pure Land School usually give up if they don’t follow Master Shandao’s teachings, as taught by those of his lineage. Otherwise, it is just like drawing a picture in water, even if we have a pure Bodhi mind. Sometimes, we may have a sort of feeling; but, it is not reliable, as it appears under certain conditions and disappears soon after. This is because all phenomena are impermanent and subject to change.

What is permanent and without change is Amitabha’s Name. It is recommended that we recite Amitabha’s Name only in accordance with our individual aptitudes. Our faith is nurtured through Amitabha’s Power and expressed each time we recite Amitabha’s Name.

學習淨土宗,如果不回歸到善導大師的解釋往往都會半途而廢,原因就如善導大師說的「縱發清心,猶如畫水」。我們即使有某一種體會感受,都是不可靠的,往往是「遇緣即現,境過則遷」,因為心境會改變,不是永恒的。

永恒不變的是這一句彌陀名號,永恒不變的是依靠這一句名號,只要以每個人目前的根機去稱名念佛就可以了,我們的信要回歸到這樣的信,信這樣的內容。

Namo Amituofo!