March 17, 2023

Mar 17, 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)

Thus, Master Fazhao says, There is no need to practice various virtues to become a Buddha once we have arrived in the Pure Land. We just simply recite Amitabha’s Name while sitting properly on the lotus platform. That is to say, upon arrival in the Land of Bliss, we are not required to labor in practicing the Six Paramitas for three great eons. We need only to sit properly within a lotus flower and recite Namo Amituofo. That’s All!

Why is it so easy? What is the rationale behind this? Upon watching a star at dawn, Shakyamuni Buddha was thoroughly and totally enlightened, thus becoming a Buddha. When we are reborn in the Land Bliss, our six sense organs (roots) capture the six scenes (dusts), enabling us to be thoroughly and fully enlightened. The perfect beauty of all of the scenes enables us to also become Buddhas.

因此,法照大師說:「成佛不勞諸善業,華台端坐念彌陀。」也就是說,到了極樂世界要成就佛果,不必勞煩我們再用三大阿僧祇劫的期間去廣修六度苦行,只要端坐在蓮花上念「南無阿彌陀佛」就可以了。

為什麼這麼容易,道理何在?釋迦牟尼佛夜睹明星大徹大悟而成佛,我們到極樂世界六根門頭對極樂世界的六境,因情境皆殊勝,同樣也都能夠大徹大悟, 都能夠成佛的。

Namo Amituofo!

March 16, 2023

Mar 16, 2023

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

淨宗判教 – 聖淨二門判

(continued)

To become a Buddha in order to deliver sentient beings in the Saha World is the Sacred Path. The prerequisite is that the practitioner has the aptitude to become a sacred being, which is very rare and not possible for all people. Based on that benchmark, most of us do not possess the aptitude to become a sacred being.

To enter the Pure Land from this Defiled Land is the Pure Land Path. That is, being reborn from the Saha World to the Land of Bliss, then accomplishing Buddhahood in the Land of Bliss. Does that mean that we go to the Land of Bliss in order to study all the teachings of the Sacred Path? No, it doesn’t.

It is because all that we need has already been included by Amitabha, when we exclusively recite his Six-Syllable Name. So, we don’t need to pursue other expedient means of study and practice once we are reborn in the Land of Bliss.

(to be continued tomorrow)

「聖道門」是在娑婆世界成佛度眾生,它的先決條件,必須要有聖者的根性,是很難得,但我們都做不到;而且以此衡量,我們都不是聖人的根性。淨土門是「從穢入淨」,從這個娑婆世界往生極樂世界,在極樂世界成就佛果。不是到了極樂世界再去學、再去修聖道門所應該修的法門?不用!因為所應該學、應該修的都在這一句名號裏面,阿彌陀佛都已經為我們完成了,通通容納在這六字名號裏面。所以我們到極樂世界,不用再假藉其他方便。

Namo Amituofo!

March 15, 2023

Mar 15, 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

As it pertains to cultivation on the Sacred Path, if the practitioner doesn't dedicate his merits and virtues toward rebirth in the Pure Land, he is still on the Sacred Path. If he dedicates towards rebirth in the Pure Land, he is regarded as following the Pure Land Path with mixed practices.

The Sacred Path relies upon the aptitudes and capacities needed to become a sacred being, one who “enters from the ordinary to the sacred”. That is to say, though he is an ordinary being, he has the capacity to become a sacred being. He can practice the Six Paramitas to accumulate a myriad of virtues life after life. If he cannot achieve it in this life, he can continue in the next life, so on and so forth. He can enter from ordinary to sacred after a great many eons, provided he doesn’t give up or have setbacks along the way. This is called the Sacred Path.

(to be continued tomorrow)

聖道門中的修行,如果不迴向往生(淨土),就是聖道,迴向往生(淨土)的話,就是雜行。那什麼是聖道?什麼是淨土呢?

所謂「聖道」就是聖人的根性,它是「從凡入聖」。也就是說他有聖人的根性,雖然是凡夫,可是他可以生生世世,這一輩子、下輩子,下輩子不成就再下下輩子,這樣苦修六度萬行來從凡入聖,經過三大阿僧祇劫,期間都不能有退心,有退心就半途而廢了,這個叫「聖道門」。

Namo Amituofo!

March 13, 2023

Mar 13, 2023

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

善導大師《法事讚》 轉《阿彌陀經》31偈語

24 A Verse about Affirmation by all of the Buddhas in the West

Wish to be reborn. Wish to be reborn.

There are as many Buddhas in the West as there are sands in the Ganges River. Each of them praises the Tathagata from his own country.

The Tathagata splits his body into hundreds and billions of forms during his life in Jambudvipa. This is truly rare!

Ordinary beings in the world of Five Kinds of Turbidity say that the Buddha was real. He realized the unconditioned realm after six years of ascetic practices.

He conquered demons, achieved Buddhahood, and shared the wonderful Dharma. All of his various kinds of expedient teachings have many levels of understanding.

He comprehensively advises sentient beings to return to the Pure Land. However, they need to think about it, hesitate, worry, and even doubt.

Now, I extend my tongue to affirm that the Land of Bliss in the West is a place we can rely on.

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 offer them to the Buddha.

24. 西方證誠相偈

願往生 願往生

西方諸佛如恆沙 各於本國讚如來

分身百億閻浮內 示現八相大稀奇

五濁凡夫將謂實 六年苦行證無為

降魔成道說妙法 種種方便不思議

普勸眾生歸淨土 前思卻慮更生疑

我今舒舌以為證 西方極樂必須依

眾等迴心皆願往 手執香華常供養 

Namo Amituofo!

March 14, 2023

Mar 14, 2023

Master Yinguang’s Short Teaching about “ the greatest in benefiting others”

印光大師法語「利他最大」之文

Urging people to aspire to be reborn in the West through Amitabha-recitation, is the same as enabling ordinary beings to become Buddhas. The merit and virtues attained are of the highest level.

勸人念佛求生西方,即是成就凡夫作佛,功德最大。

Namo Amituofo!

March 12, 2023

Mar 12, 2023

Common Knowledge in Pure Land Teaching

淨土小常識

Characteristics of Amitabha’s Deliverance

Pure Land teaching is the teaching of Amitabha’s deliverance. Amitabha’s deliverance is proactive and motivational. It is not dependent upon requests or prayers. It has no specific targets or conditions for deliverance, and has no relationship with our wisdom, knowledge, cultivation, kindness, or evilness.

彌陀救度的特點

淨土法門是彌陀救度的法門,而彌陀的救度是主動、積極而來,不因祈求、拜託而來,不問對象,不講條件,與智慧無關,與學問無關, 與修行無關,與善惡無關。

Namo Amituofo!

March 11, 2023

Mar 11, 2023

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

淨土信仰

As long as we open our mouths, and recite Namo Amituofo, it is the same as reciting the names of all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in the ten directions. It is the same as cultivating eighty four thousand teachings, and receiving all of the merits and virtues that exist in the Dharma Realms of the ten directions. It doesn’t matter whether we know them or cannot even imagine them.

我們只要張開嘴巴念南無阿彌陀佛就等同念了十方諸佛菩薩,就等同修了八萬四千法門,盡宇宙遍法界我們所知道的、不知道的,能想像、不能想像的功德統統都領受到了!

Namo Amituofo!