May 7, 2023

May 7, 2023

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

善導大師《法事讚》 轉《阿彌陀經》31偈語

30. A Verse to Reveal the Original Intent of Shakyamuni Buddha

Wish to be reborn. Wish to be reborn.

The Tathagata appears in the world of Five Kinds of Turbidity, and uses various expedient means to teach all ordinary beings according to their circumstances.

He sometimes offers extensive teachings in order to deliver them. At other times he gives them a precise interpretation of those teachings; so, they may realize the three kinds of paranormal powers.

He sometimes teaches about wisdom and compassion, in order to eradicate our obstructions. At other times he teaches sitting meditation, for us to perceive and contemplate.

All of the teachings can lead us to emancipation; however, none of them is better than the teaching of rebirth in the West through Amitabha-recitation.

For one’s whole life at maximum, or just three to ten times at minimum, so that Amitabha Buddha appears, and welcomes us as we near death.

This occurs simply because Amitabha’s vows are so powerful and all encompassing, that they enable ordinary beings to attain rebirth immediately through Amitabha-recitation.

The multitude unanimously admires Amitabha and aspires to be reborn. Let’s hold fragrant flowers in our hands and always offer them to the Buddha.

顯釋尊本懷偈

願往生 願往生

如來出現於五濁 隨宜方便化群萌

或說多聞而得度 或說少解證三明

或教福慧雙除障 或教禪念坐思量

種種法門皆解脫 無過念佛往西方

上盡一形至十念 三念五念佛來迎

直為彌陀弘誓重 致使凡夫念即生

眾等迴心皆願往 手執香華常供養

Namo Amituofo!

May 6, 2023

May 6, 2023

Common Knowledge in Pure Land Teaching

淨土小常識

Giving them Great Peace

The infinite Life Sutra says, “I vow that, when I have become a Buddha, I shall carry out this promise everywhere; and to all fear-ridden beings, I shall give great peace. “

“I” refers to Amitabha Buddha in his causal ground, who was then named Dharmakara Bodhisattva. He vowed to become a Buddha who would be capable of clearing all kinds of fears from all sentient beings, and giving them deep peace. To give all frightened sentient beings the deepest peace is Amitabha Buddha’s aim in becoming a Buddha.

為作大安

《無量壽經》言:吾誓得佛,普行此願; 一切恐懼,為作大安。

「吾」是指阿彌陀佛於因地、身為法藏菩薩時的自我稱呼。他發誓要成為能使一切眾生去除恐懼、得大安穩的佛。使恐懼的眾生得到大安穩,就是阿彌陀佛發願成佛的目的。

Namo Amituofo!

May 5, 2023

May 5, 2023

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

淨土信仰

As Buddhists, we must work to clear our karmic offenses in accordance with the conditions we encounter, refrain from committing new offenses, and willingly accept any adverse circumstances. Secondly, we must exclusively recite Namo Amituofo; and thirdly, we must aspire to be reborn in the Land of Bliss.

一個念佛人,第一要隨緣消舊業,更莫造新殃,逆來順受,隨遇而安;第二要專念南無阿彌陀佛;第三要願生極樂世界。

Namo Amituofo!

May 4, 2023

May 4, 2023

A Verse about Compassionate Advice and Cautions - quoted from “In Praise of Dharma Practice” by Master Shandao

善導大師《法事讚》慈悲勸誡偈

Living in the realm of birth-and-death for many eons, we constantly and directlysuffer from sinking into the Three Wretched Realms.

Now, we have been born in a human body and have heard the Right Dharma. We are like thirsty people finding a spring of clean water.

Upon hearing about it , we think of the Pure Land teaching in every single thought, and vow to practice according to every word and sentence.

Remembering the sorrow of wandering in those days, I listen to the Dharma attentively, in order to enter the real gate.

There is no birth and no differentiation in the Pure Land, as we have a diamond body of ultimate emancipation.

曠劫以來居生死,三塗常沒苦皆逕;

始服人身聞正法,由如渴者得清泉。

念念思聞淨土教,文文句句誓當勤;

憶想當時流浪苦,專心聽法入真門。

淨土無生亦無別,究竟解脫金剛身。

Namo Amituofo!

May 3, 2023

May 3, 2023

Pure Land Patriarch - Master Daochuo

道綽大師

Theory of Rebirth in the Reward Land by Ordinary Beings - With the aid of his understanding of trustworthy words, Master Daochuo revealed the doctrine of Rebirth in the Reward Land by Ordinary Beings in the Pure Land School.

First, he defined Amitabha Buddha and his Pure Land as the Reward Buddha and the Reward Land respectively. In Chapter 7 of the First Great Gate in his book (“the Collection on Peace and Joy”) refers to the Sutra on Common Nature in Mahayana, and says, “ All those who become Buddhas in the pure lands exist in their Reward Bodies, and all those who become Buddhas in the defiled lands exist in their Transformed Bodies.

This is because “a pure land is formed as the reward of a Buddha who makes vows and practices in the causal ground; so, it is commonly called a reward land.” Thus, those who attain perfect Enlightenment and become Buddhas also receive a Reward Body.

Moreover, in determining that ordinary beings can be reborn in Amitabha’s land of rewards through reliance on the power of Amitabha’s vow, he says in Chapter 8, “In Amitabha’s Pure Land, the superior, inferior, ordinary, and sacred live together because of the Buddha’s vow. It is applicable to all of these types of beings because it enables them to attain rebirth.

凡夫入報論:道綽大師引用聖言量顯明凡夫入報土之宗義。

首先判定阿彌陀佛及其淨土是報身、報土,本書(《安樂集》)第一大門第七章引用《大乘同性經》言:「淨土中成佛者悉是報身,穢土中成佛者悉是化身。」

因為「淨土乃酬佛之因位願行而現成者,故說皆是報土。」而於淨土中得道成佛者,亦當然為報身。

其次判定凡夫依靠彌陀願力能夠往生彌陀報土,其第八章說:「彌陀淨國,位該上下,凡聖同往,......由佛願故,乃該通上下,致令凡夫之善,並得往生。」

Namo Amituofo!

May 2, 2023

May 2, 2023

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

淨宗判教 – 聖淨二門判

Enlightenment in the Sacred Path refers to the thorough realization of our Fundamental Nature through the perfection of wisdom, in order to become a Buddha. Enlightenment in the Pure Land Path refers to the realization of our ignorance, simple acceptance of Amitabha’s Fundamental Vow, and being reborn in his Pure Land where we become Buddhas.

The word “enlightenment” is the same ; but, its meanings are different. Those who thoroughly accept the Fundamental Vow are truly rare among human beings. Though they are ignorant and inferior, without any of the enlightenment of the sacred teachings, they deserve to be called “enlightened beings”. I hope everyone can thoroughly accept the Fundamental Vow and be protected by Amitabha.

聖道門的悟,是極智慧徹悟本性,見性成佛。淨土門的悟,是還愚癡徹悟本願,往生成佛。

悟字相同,意則不同。何況徹悟本願之人,是人中上上人,稀有人。雖愚癡卑賤,毫無聖道之悟,亦無所求,無所欠,且當之無愧。期望大家皆能徹悟本願,安住彌陀。

Namo Amituofo!

May 1, 2023

May 1, 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

29. A verse Praising the Virtues Each Other

Wish to be reborn. Wish to be reborn.

The World Honored One earnestly teaches his chief disciple, Sariputra, that the great compassion of all Buddhas is the same.

They praise each other without any differences in their minds. Each of them expediently plays different roles, in response to the aptitudes of their students and the timing of their deliverance.

All Tathagatas of the six directions praise Shakyamuni, whose appearance was an extremely rare occurrence.

It was an extremely fortunate period when Shakyamuni taught sentient beings in the world of Five Kinds of Turbidity, because their ignorance was extremely severe and very hard to eliminate.

Because turbidity increases with the passage of time, people’s bodies become smaller. The wickedness of the turbidity in sentient beings is like snakes and dragons.

The turbidity of afflictions is everywhere, exceeding the number of grains of dust in the world. Love and hatred, adversity and fortune, are piled as high as Mount Yue.

The turbidity of views is like a tree with spines and thorns. The turbidity of life results in sudden premature death.

The direct and circumstantial rewards are extinguished simultaneously. People turn their backs on the orthodox, follow heretics, and blame each other with no good reason.

All ninety-five kinds of heterodox teachings spoil the world. The Buddhist teaching is the only one that is pure and relaxed.

The aspiration of Buddhas to share Perfect Enlightenment extends boundlessly. They return to the burning house to deliver human and celestial beings.

The multitude unanimously admires them and aspires to be reborn. Let’s hold fragrant flowers in our hands, and always offer them to the Buddhas.

29. 互相讚德偈

願往生 願往生

世尊殷勤告身子 表知諸佛大悲同

互相讚德心無異 巧應時機各有功

六方如來皆讚歎 釋迦出現甚難逢

正治五濁時興盛 無明頑硬似高峰

劫濁時移身漸小 眾生濁惡等蛇龍

惱濁遍滿過塵數 愛憎違順若岳山

見濁叢林如棘刺 命濁中夭剎那間

依正二報同時滅 背正歸邪橫起怨

九十五種皆污世 唯佛一道獨清閑

出到菩提心無盡 還來火宅度人天

眾等迴心皆願往 手執香華常供養

Namo Amituofo!