May 2 2021

May 2, 2021

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about the Patriarchal Lineage of the Pure Land School – Nagarjuna Bodhisattva

《淨宗傳承之龍樹菩薩》

Regarding the splendor and power of Amitabha’s merit and virtues, Nagarjuna Bodhisattva used “sailing on board a ship” to describe it in his Chapter on the Easy Path. All other teachings are described as “walking on foot”.

Nagarjuna Bodhisattva says walking is painful, making it difficult to reach one’s destination, and there are likely to be set backs along the way. However, sailing on board a ship is not painful. It can be very relaxed, and you are assured of arriving at your destination.

This is teaching us that the karmic obstruction of our afflictions is like a huge stone weighing trillions of tons. Even a small pebble will sink to the bottom of the sea, not to mention a huge stone. If it is placed on the sea of suffering of the Six Realms, it must undoubtedly sink.

However, if the stone is placed on the giant sturdy ship of Amitabha’s great vow, it will not sink, and can smoothly leave the sea of suffering of the Six Realms.

關於阿彌陀佛的功德力量之殊勝,龍樹菩薩在《易行品》當中用「乘船」來形容;除此之外,其他的法門,龍樹菩薩用「步行」來形容。

龍樹菩薩並說,步行非常的苦,而且很難順利到達目的地,往往是中途退墮的;乘船則不苦,很安樂,而且必定達到。

意思就是說,我們眾生的煩惱業障如同千百萬億噸的大石頭,即使小小的石頭放在水裏都會沉了,更何況是巨石呢?放在六道的苦海中, 必沉無疑。

可是如果將這顆大石頭放在阿彌陀佛堅固又廣大的願船上,不僅不會沉,還能夠順利度脫六道苦海。

Namo Amituofo!

May 1 2021

May 1, 2021

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings - Encouraging the Practice of Amitabha-Recitation

念佛警策

Having no further doubt after coming to believe is known as “genuine belief”. If you continue to doubt after believing, you do not genuinely believe. Actually, all people have doubts, greed, hatred, and delusion at times. It is normal for us to doubt various people and various matters.

If we cannot totally accept and affirm Amitabha’s deliverance, it is fine. As long as we feel we have no alternative to reciting Amitabha’s Name in order to be delivered, these kinds of doubts will not obstruct us very much. Even if you doubt, Amitabha Buddha and his deliverance are always on your mind through continuing to recite his Name. You continue to be embraced by Amitabha’s light and never forsaken. Amitabha Buddha will still appear to welcome you when your life approaches its end.

信以後不再懷疑,這就是真正的信;信以後還有懷疑,那現在就不是真正的信。其實人都有煩惱,有時會貪、瞋、癡、疑。所以往往會對某些人、某些事產生某種懷疑。

如果對阿彌陀佛的救度一時不能徹底肯定、認同,也無妨,只要自覺我們沒有第二條路,唯有念佛才能得度,那麼雖有那種莫名的懷疑,則障礙不大。你即使有懷疑,你自己心裏還是曉得有阿彌陀佛,有阿彌陀佛的救度,還是會繼續念佛的,照樣在彌陀光明的攝取不捨當中,臨終阿彌陀佛就會顯現來迎。

Namo Amituofo!

April 30 2021

Apr 30, 2021

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

淨土信仰

If we ordinary beings wish to become Buddhas and deliver sentient beings, we must set forth the Bodhi Mind, practice the Six Paramitas, accumulate a myriad of virtues, and cultivate the Buddha Way. We make the following vows:

I vow to deliver numberless living beings.

I vow to cut off endless afflictions.

I vow to study the countless Dharma doors (teachings).

I vow to realize the supreme Buddha Way.

However, although we make these vows, we do not have the capability to achieve them. In response, Amitabha Buddha set forth the Bodhi Mind and cultivated the Bodhisattva Way for us. He then injected his infinite merit and virtues into his Six-Syllable Name, and gave us the Name. Whoever recites the Six-Syllable Name possesses the necessary merit and virtues to set forth the Bodhi Mind and cultivate the Bodhisattva Way.

我們凡夫眾生若要成佛、度人,必須發菩提心、修六度萬行、行菩薩道,所謂「眾生無邊誓願度,煩惱無盡誓願斷,法門無量誓願學,佛道無上誓願成」,但是我們空有其心而毫無其力,所以阿彌陀佛代替我們發菩提心、行菩薩道,然後一點一滴的把功德融入六字名號中,再把這名號送給我們。不管是誰,只要稱念這六字名號,就具足六度萬行,就是在發菩提心、行菩薩道。

Namo Amituofo!

April 29 2021

Apr 29, 2021

A paragraph from the Chapter on the Meaning of the Non-meditative Virtues from the Commentary on the Contemplation Sutra

《觀經疏》〈散善義〉:

Those of the lowest level of the low tier have the fewest virtuous roots.

They commit the Ten Unwholesome Deeds and the Five Transgressions, due to greed and hatred.

They also steal the property of the Sangha and slander the right Dharma. They do not yet repent nor regret what they do.

When one of them is dying, he experiences all kinds of suffering.

Just as the flames of hell appear in front of him, he meets a virtuous advisor with a good knowledge of rebirth.

The advisor urges him to exclusively recite Amitabha’s Name.

Subsequently, following his voice, Amitabha and the bodhisattvas arrive.

Inclining wholeheartedly toward the Buddha, with singleness of mind he enters a jewelled lotus flower.

下輩下行下根人,十惡五逆等貪瞋,

四重偷僧謗正法,未曾慚愧悔前愆。

終時苦相如雲集,地獄猛火罪人前,

忽遇往生善知識,急勸專稱彼佛名,

化佛菩薩尋聲到,一念傾心入寶蓮。

Namo Amituofo!

April 28 2021

Apr 28, 2021

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings - Education for Living

生活教育

Believing in an after-life is the beginning of having wisdom. Several positive and beneficial outlooks on life are thus naturally established:

1. It becomes easy to believe in retribution for good and evil deeds, and also reincarnation within the Six Realms.

2. It becomes easy to set forth the vow of benefitting oneself by benefitting others.

3. To discipline oneself to cease evil and perform good deeds based on one’s conscience, so as to accumulate blessings and virtues.

4. To be prepared for the future life and be free from worry, panic and regret in this life.

5. Eradicate physical and mental illnesses through psychological comfort and spiritual reliance.

6. Because of the belief in the future life, we are well prepared to feel the value of this life and the meaning of living.

相信有來世是智慧的開端,自然能建立起幾種非常正面有益的人生觀:

一、容易相信善惡報應、六道輪迴。

二、容易發起自利利人的願心。

三、有良心監督自己要去惡行善,積極累積福德。

四、知道有未來世,而預先做準備,讓自己的人生,無憂、無懼、無悔。

五、由於精神有寄託,心理有安慰,自然會消除一些身心的疾病。

六、因為相信有來世,能為來世做準備,就會感覺人生有價值,生活有意義。

Namo Amituofo!

April 27 2021

Apr 27, 2021

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings Expressing the Perception of the Pure Land

淨土述懷

Amitabha’s body and mind permeate the entire Dharma Realm.

He can enter the minds of sentient beings.

So, if a sentient being always thinks of Amitabha Buddha,

Amitabha and the sentient being become one entity.

彌陀身心遍法界,進入眾生心念中;

眾生常念彌陀佛,彌陀眾生一體融。

Namo Amituofo!

April 26 2021

Apr 26, 2021

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about the Patriarchal Lineage of the Pure Land School – Nagarjuna Bodhisattva

《淨宗傳承之龍樹菩薩》

The text of the Chapter on the Easy Path is very short. With respect to easiness in practice, it refers to the easy practice of all Buddhas in the ten directions, the easy practices of the past eight Buddhas, the easy practices of all Buddhas in the three periods of time, the easy practices of various bodhisattvas, and, of course, the easy practice of Amitabha.

All of the easy practices mentioned above are just the side dishes for the main course, which is the easy practice of Amitabha recitation, our core teaching. It is the crystallization and final settlement of the Chapter on the Easy Path.

So, what does the Chapter on the Easy Path say? It teaches us about name-recitation in accordance with the Fundamental Vow of Amitabha. It also says: by following name-recitation in accordance with the Fundamental Vow of Amitabha, one can quickly attain rebirth in the present life, eliminate retrogression, and become a Buddha.

龍樹菩薩的《易行品》內文很短,所講的易行有十方諸佛的易行、過去八佛的易行、三世諸佛的易行以及諸菩薩的易行,同時也講到彌陀的易行。

講了這麼多的易行其實是在襯托出彌陀的易行是《易行品》的核心、《易行品》的結晶、《易行品》的歸趨。

所以《易行品》在講什麼?在講彌陀的「本願稱名」,在講只要依彌陀本願稱名就能夠現生不退而往生快速成佛。

Namo Amituofo!