February 3, 2023

Feb 3, 2023

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teaching about Classification of Teachings – the Sacred and the Pure Land teachings

淨宗判教 – 聖淨二門判

(continued)

What about the Pure Land Path? It relies on Other-Power, like relying on a vehicle for transportation. In ancient times, the most comfortable and rapid form of transportation was a boat, so Nagarjuna Bodhisattva said, “The teaching of Amitabha’s deliverance is like traveling on the “boat of the Fundamental Vow”, which can easily enable us to transcend the Six Realms in the sea of sufferings, and reach the shore of the Land of Bliss.

That is to say, even though we are feeble and lack effort, we can be certain of reaching our destination by relying on the boat of Amitabha’s Vow.

那「易行道」呢？是靠他力，也就是靠交通工具。古代，最舒適、最快速的交通工 具就是船，所以龍樹菩薩說，阿彌陀佛本願救度的法門，就是本願船，很輕易的 就能夠橫超六道苦海，到達極樂世界的彼岸。

也就是說，我們即使再怎樣軟弱，依靠交通工具，也必定到達目的地。

Namo Amituofo!

February 2, 2023

Feb 2, 2023

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teaching about Classification of Teachings – the Sacred and the Pure Land teachings

淨宗判教 – 聖淨二門判

There are two kinds of splendid teachings, one being the Sacred Path and the other being the Pure Land Path.

Those on the Sacred Path can also leave the cycle of birth-and-death; but, it is a difficult path because it relies on self-power. Nagarjuna Bodhisattva described it as “like walking on land” when one relies only on one’s own feet, so that it is difficult and painful to reach your destination. Thus, it is called the Difficult Path, a Self-Power Teaching.

(to be continued tomorrow)

佛教之中有二種勝法，二種勝法就是「聖道門」和「淨土門」。

「聖道門」同樣的也能離開生死，可是它是難行道，是靠自己的力量，龍樹菩薩形容說，就好像「陸路步行」，在陸地上靠自己的雙腳走路，要到達很遠的目的地， 這個很難、很苦，恐怕會半途倒下去，所以說是難行道，是自力。

Namo Amituofo!

February 1, 2023

Feb 1, 2023

Master Yinguang’s Short Teaching about “a willing heart to become a Buddha” 

印光大師法語「只怕不成佛」之文

Only by rebirth in the West can one propagate the Dharma to benefit sentient beings.

求生西方，方能弘法利生。

Namo Amituofo!

January 31, 2023

Jan 31, 2023

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teaching of the Patriarchal Lineage of the Pure Land School – the 18th Vow

淨宗傳承之第十八願

(continued)

So, the purpose of the commentaries and teachings given by our patriarchs is to inspire us from different perspectives to arouse faith in “assured rebirth through Amitabha-recitation.”

When we are unable to understand the profound meaning of faith, and endlessly try to grasp what is beyond our foolish brains, our patriarchs advise us to simply focus on Amitabha-recitation whether we believe it or not. In this way, our faith will be nurtured and our minds settled.

所以祖師的闡釋、法語，目的都是要啟發我們對「稱念必生」的信心，只是角度不 一樣而已。

當我們無法掌握信的內涵，推想東推想西、做方方面面的考量、甚至思惟高深玄 妙的道理時，祖師們就說，不管你信不信，稱念都必定往生。這樣當下就能啟發 信心而使人安心。

Namo Amituofo!

January 30, 2023

Jan 30, 2023

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teaching of the Patriarchal Lineage of the Pure Land School – the 18th Vow

淨宗傳承之第十八願

(continued)

Apart from that, I really practice the exclusive recitation of Amitabha’s name with no other assorted practices. Though I have merit and virtues attained through good acts, I will not take them as “subsidies” assisting my rebirth.

It is because, within the 18th Vow made by Amitabha, all faith, aspiration and practice are already given to us. However, because of differences in interpretation and acceptance, people may use different expedient ways to attain rebirth. As Master Ippen Shonin said, no matter whether we are pure or defiled, good or evil, believe or doubt, all those who recite the Name are assured of rebirth. From the point of view of reciters, their faith is inspired by the same Vow.

(to be continued tomorrow)

除此之外，也是真正的專念彌陀名號，除了專念彌陀名號之外，完全沒有雜修雜 行，即使有做其他的善事功德，也不會想以這個來作為往生的資助。 因為第十八願是彌陀所發的願，所以必須要將信、願、行都完整的交待，而對我 們凡夫的領解來說，則方法巧妙各有不同。

譬如日本一遍上人說，不論淨穢、善惡、信疑，稱念就必定往生，就是他從另一個 角度來解釋，但是同樣是在啟發我們的信心。

Namo Amituofo!

January 29, 2023

Jan 29, 2023

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teaching of the Patriarchal Lineage of the Pure Land School – the 18th Vow

淨宗傳承之第十八願

As said in the 18th Vow, you should fully believe in attaining assured rebirth through aspiration for rebirth and Amitabha-recitation. You should Really aspire to be reborn in the Land of Bliss, and you should be genuine in practicing exclusive Amitabha-recitation. That is known as “sincerely and joyfully entrusting yourself”, “sincerely wishing to be reborn” and “sincerely reciting even ten times”. True sincerity comes from the bottom of your heart and is really produced from your deepest mind.

I really believe in the existence of Amitabha, and I believe Amitabha will certainly deliver me. I really believe in the existence of the Land of Bliss as my refuge, and I really wish to be reborn in the Land of Bliss. A person with this kind of genuine belief will not give up midway.

(to be continued tomorrow)

第十八願所講的是，你要真正的相信願生稱名就必定往生，你要真正的願生極樂 ，你要真正的專稱彌陀名號，所以才說要「至心信樂」，要「至心欲生我國」，要「至 心乃至十念」，所以至心是出自於內心，真正從內心產生的。

我從內心真正的相信有彌陀，而且相信彌陀是要救度我的，我真正的相信有極樂 ，極樂是我的歸宿，而我也真的願生極樂，這種相信就是真正的相信，就不會半途而廢。

Namo Amituofo!

January 28, 2023

Jan 28, 2023

The 31 Verses Explaining the Amitabha Sutra from the “Praise of Dharma Practice” by Master Shandao

善導大師《法事讚》 轉《阿彌陀經》31偈語

19. A Verse to Praise the Dwelling with Non-Retrogression for All Those Reborn There

Wish to be reborn. Wish to be reborn.

The Land of Saha is not a place one would want to be reborn in, because it is extremely painful.

Because the Land of Bliss is unconditioned, it is truly splendid.

All sentient beings of the nine levels of aptitude can attain and dwell in the state of non-retrogression, if they dedicate their merits and aspire to be reborn there.

They will become Avinivartaniya Bodhisattvas who are no longer reborn. There, not only are the new-born Bodhisattvas infinite in number ; but, the Bodhisattvas in the tenth stage or below cannot be counted.

The assembly of pure Bodhisattvas is as vast as the great sea and as many as the fine dusts in the Ganges River. Those who have the necessary karmic conditions will be included in the assembly upon arrival.

They will always see the Buddha while walking, standing, sitting, and lying down.

They will also utilize paranormal powers to deliver sentient beings, whether they are traveling or staying at home.

The six kinds of consciousness are naturally enlightened, totally free, and without any obstructions.

They don’t need to rely on the power resulting from meditative virtues. I urge all good advisors, who aspire to be reborn in the Land of Bliss, to concentrate their focus solely on the West.

The multitude should dedicate their merit and aspire to be reborn in the Pure Land. Let’s hold fragrant flowers in our hands and always make offerings to the Buddha.

19. 讚生皆不退偈

願往生 願往生

娑婆極苦非生處 極樂無為實是精

九品俱迴得不退 阿鞞跋致即無生

非直初生無限極 十地以下劫難窮

如此大海塵恆沙 有緣到者入其中

四種威儀常見佛 行來進止駕神通

六識縱橫自然悟 未藉思量一念功

普勸同生善知識 專心專注往西方

眾等迴心皆願往 手執香華常供養

Namo Amituofo!