December 7, 2023

Dec 7, 2023

A Verse sharing Compassionate Advice and Cautions - quoted from ‘In Praise of Pratyutpanna’ by Master Shandao

善導大師《般舟讚》慈悲勸誡

Amitabha’s vow power varies with his mind,

All of his four kinds of adornments are universally spread.

His Three Knowings and Six Paranormal Powers can be freely manipulated,

In order to permeate the minds of sentient beings according to his will,

So that goodness and excellent marks arise within them.

He can instantly manifest a Buddha body of a truly golden color.

The magnificent golden rays are the marks of Amitabha.

Countless haloed Buddhas appear before those who accept his deliverance.

彌陀願力隨心大,四種莊嚴普皆遍,

三明六通常自在,遍入眾生心想中。

佛身相好依心起,隨念即現真金佛,

真金即是彌陀相,圓光化佛現人前。

Namo Amituofo!

December 6, 2023

Dec 6, 2023

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about Impermanence

慧淨法師之無常法語

The pink bones are buried in new graveyards.

Half of the sentient beings in the netherworld are black-haired.

青塚多埋紅粉骨,黃泉半是黑頭人。

Namo Amituofo!

December 5, 2023

Dec 5, 2023

Voice of Master Jingzong - Q and A about the Purpose of Life

淨宗之聲 - 人生目的問答

Q10: For what do people live? Just to aspire to be reborn in the Land of Bliss? What is the meaning of living for an ordinary person?

Answer: (continuation of the answer to Q10 - 6/6)

Only by establishing a purpose in life does our life become meaningful. It is like walking, each step is meaningful only if we have an aim and the prospect of reaching it. If our aim is clear and our prospects are positive, every step we walk is meaningful, isn’t it?

If we look at the life of a worm, if it doesn’t know where it’s going, what is the meaning of its crawling? It is the outcome that determines the meaning of every step.

It is similar to life. Once our goal of aspiring to be reborn in the Western Land of Bliss, in order to become a Buddha is determined, every step in our lives becomes meaningful.

No matter what we do for a living, where we live, with other people, or alone, the meaning is always different. This is because our paths and destinations are not the same.

只有我們建立了人生的目的,我們的現實生活才有意義可言。

就像我們走路一樣,之所以腳下的每一步都有意義,是因為我們有目標和前途。我們的目標明確,前途光明,腳下的步伐才有意義,是不是?

如果像隻蟲子一樣,也不知道往哪裡去,就在那裡轉悠,你說它走一步有什麼意義呢?是未來的前途決定了腳下步伐的意義。

人生也是一樣的。我們往生西方極樂世界成佛的目標一旦確定,我們生活中的每一步都非常有意義。

我們不管做什麼事,哪怕跟別人一樣居家過日子,意義也不一樣,因為我們的目標、目的地不一樣。

Namo Amituofo!

December 4, 2023

Dec 4, 2023

Voice of Master Jingzong - Q and A about the Purpose of Life

淨宗之聲 - 人生目的問答

Q10: For what reason do people live? Just to aspire to be reborn in the Land of Bliss? What is the meaning of living for an ordinary person?

Answer: (continuation of the answer to Q10 - 5/6)

Some people may follow other paths. They do not have the causal conditions, retributive blessings, or wisdom to select the Buddhist teachings. They may hear that a particular god is a creator and that they can fully rely on it. However, from the Buddhist perspective that is only a

temporary solution that will not bring them to the ultimate goal.

As a devoted Buddhist, even though we know it is not a path leading to the ultimate goal, we understand it is their right to choose the path they will follow in pursuing truth, fortune and happiness. Actually, they are at least moving in a more positive direction than those who do not choose and live aimlessly. They have found some value and meaning in their lives.

If people are willing to pursue infinity and fortune, they will find their direction sooner or later. If they don’t make any effort, they will never find their direction. People believe in and worship gods or demons for the sake of happiness; but, the teachings need to be positive.

Some people are greedy and, in hoping to make more money, they may commit crimes and go to jail. Some people may do good for others. This is very positive but not the ultimate.

(to be continued tomorrow)

有的人可能走其他路線,他沒有因緣、沒有福報、沒有智慧來選擇佛法,他可能聽說某某神是創造主,要靠他,暫時他覺得是這樣,事實上是不可能達到的。

雖然作為佛法的信仰者,我們瞭解這是不究竟的路線,但是我們也理解他。從我個人來講,我覺得可以理解,人們為了追求真理、追求幸福和快樂,有這種選擇的權利。

只是說他還沒有智慧、福報選擇正確的路線,但這種選擇比那種不選擇、糊里糊塗悶著頭往下過的人,要崇高、莊嚴得多,這也是他存在的價值和意義。

人們願意追求無限和幸福,他在努力,他遲早會找到這個方向;他如果不努力,就永遠找不到這個方向。

信神的、拜神的,甚至有些搞邪門歪道的,他們也是為了追求快樂。只不過方向、道理要正確。有的走向犯罪,他的目的也不是為了犯罪,只是為了多發點財,然後就貪了,貪了就坐牢了。

當然,這個方向、方法明顯錯誤了。還有一些,比如行善積德,這肯定是好的,但也是不究竟的。

Namo Amituofo!

December 3, 2023

Dec 3, 2023

Voice of Master Jingzong - Q and A about the Purpose of Life

淨宗之聲 - 人生目的問答

Q10: For what reason do people live? Only to aspire to be reborn in the Land of Bliss? What is the meaning of life for an ordinary person?

Answer: (continuation of the answer to Q10 - 4/6)

2. A Buddha is a self-enlightened being, and is capable of enlightening others through his perfect and complete practices.“Self-enlightened” means possessing perfect and complete wisdom. “Enlightening others” means to cut off their afflictions , and help them to reach a state of ultimate perfection and happiness.

Buddhism talks about Nirvana with pure self-nature. It is characterized by permanence, bliss, and the enlightened self(which is no - self and purity). A Buddha’s life and light are infinite and he has a thorough understanding of life and the universe. If you have doubts in life and the universe, will you be happy? If you don’t know or understand your purpose in this life, you cannot be happy.

All human beings have the capacity to pursue blessings and happiness. If we wish to fully accomplish this, we have to become a Buddha, who reaches the ultimate state of infinite light and infinite life.

As an ordinary being, it is not easy to reach that goal through our own power. For this reason, we choose to rely upon Amitabha Buddha’s Other-Power, and aspire to be reborn in his Land of Bliss in the West, which is a land of Nirvana.

In this world we exclusively recite Amitabha’s Name of infinite light and infinite life, in order to totally unite with and fulfill our purpose in life. Some people may think they can achieve enlightenment through the Buddha’s teachings of the Sacred Path, and it is not necessary to aspire to be reborn in the Land of Bliss.

2. 佛是自覺、覺他、覺行圓滿。自我覺悟,智慧圓滿,煩惱斷除;覺悟他人,斷除他人的煩惱,幫助他人達到究竟圓滿的境地,他就獲得了究竟圓滿的幸福與快樂。

佛講涅槃、常樂我淨,佛的壽命是無量壽,光明是無量光明,宇宙人生中沒有他不瞭解的事相。

如果對宇宙人生迷惑,無明,那你有幸福快樂嗎?你心裡不懂、不明白這些事,你也不能幸福快樂。

所以,從人追求幸福與快樂的天然本能這樣一個方向推到極致,必然要成佛,必然要達到一種無限的境地——無量光明、無量壽命。

這個目標,作為我們凡人,談何容易呢?它的方向、目標,就決定了我們要求生西方極樂世界。如果求生西方極樂世界,那裡就是涅槃的國土。

我們在這裡念的名號就是無量光明、無量壽命的名號,所以這自然就和我們人生的目的完全統一起來了。

我想這是一個合理的論斷。當然,有的人認為他有辦法自己修行達到,他未必要求生西方極樂世界,那是佛法中聖道門的修行。

Namo Amituofo!

December 2, 2023

Dec 2, 2023

Voice of Master Jingzong - Q and A about the Purpose of Life

淨宗之聲 - 人生目的問答

Q10: For what reason do people live? Just to aspire to be reborn in the Land of Bliss? What is the meaning of life for an ordinary person?

Answer: (continuation of the answer to Q10 - 3/6)

Thus, a person who wishes to pursue blessings and happiness, and reach a state of absolute safety and perfection, must break through all kinds of limitations, whether they are physical or mental.

However, accomplishing this is not easy. Throughout human history various kinds of religions have emerged. Certain religions say, “God is infinite. If you rely on God, you will have blessings and happiness.”

Buddhism talks about cultivation. If a person realizes the state of no-birth and no-death, he becomes a Buddha who dwells in a state of infinite and ultimate bliss. However, what if you die too soon, how can you achieve such happiness?

Our lives are limited, in both length and quality. Moreover, though you may be happy, your wife or your children may not be. This may make you unhappy and filled with regrets. Try to love all people as you love your family. Having loving hearts can be a source of happiness for us. Unfortunately, if we cannot make other people happy, and help them to attain perfect and complete blessings, this may lead to regrets.

So, in order to reach the aim of real and ultimate blessings and happiness, we have to practice self-benefiting by benefiting others, and guide others to do the same. Then we will more quickly reach the state of infinity.

(to be continued tomorrow)

所以,一個人追求幸福和快樂,要達到絶對的安全、圓滿,必須突破一切有限的障礙,不管是物質上還是精神上。

但是這談何容易呢?在此情況下,就誕生了種種宗教。有的人就靠宗教來達到這個,說:“神是無限的,你靠神了,你就有福了。”

佛教講修行,證悟無生法忍、不生不滅,成佛了,當然就無限了。說“很快樂”,如果馬上就要死,你能快樂嗎?你的壽命有限,不能長久。即使你快樂了,你老婆不能快樂,你心裡也有遺憾;孩子不能快樂,你也遺憾啊。

所謂“老吾老以及人之老”,我們有愛心,即使自己達到了,如果不能讓別人同樣獲得圓滿幸福和快樂,仍然遺憾,仍然不圓滿。

所以,要達到真正究竟圓滿的幸福和快樂,就這個目標,如果按正確的方向去引導,必然要達到無限,要自利利他。

Namo Amituofo!

December 1, 2023

Dec 1, 2023

Voice of Master Jingzong - Q and A about the Purpose of Life

淨宗之聲 - 人生目的問答

Q10: For what reason do people live? Only to aspire to be reborn in the Land of Bliss? What is the meaning of life for an ordinary person?

Answer (continuation of the answer to Q10 - 2/6)

1. Actually, most people are very greedy. For example, if you have 500 million dollars, you want to have 5 billion dollars. In terms of wealth, blessings and happiness, people wish to have the best of the best. However, there is always a limit.

In terms of health, one who is 120 years old may wish to be 150, or even 500. If you are a king, you may seek a medicine that will give you eternal life, just like the emperors in ancient China. Why?

As the master or king of the country , he may not care about the lives of his people. He believes it is fine for him to pursue unimpeded eternal blessings and happiness for himself. However, what happens at the end?

If we think about this more deeply, we know that all things are impermanent and we all must deal with other causative factors. For instance, if your health is limited, your ability to accumulate wealth and develop wisdom is also limited. How can you be happy?

(to be continued tomorrow)

1. 其實人在這世間,講得不好聽就是貪慾很重。比如發財,你發了五個億,還想五十億,總之什麼都要好得不得了。這樣你的幸福和快樂總是沒有邊,總是受到某種程度的侷限。

身體想好,活120歲還覺得不夠,想活150歲;150歲了,最好活500歲。當了皇帝以後,還要求長生不老藥,像秦始皇、漢武帝,派童男童女去求仙藥。他們為什麼這樣呢?也是為了追求幸福和快樂。

做了天下之主了,“你們老百姓死了就死了,我是皇上,我能死嗎?”怎麼辦?

去煉丹煉藥,找仙藥。我覺得這也無可厚非,不能說他們就很愚昧。

這也是代表人類的一種追求,要永恆、無障礙地幸福和快樂。

所以,如果要追求幸福和快樂,到最後只有一個趨向,就是必須達到無限。

你們想想是不是?只要是有限,就不可能幸福和快樂。你的健康有限,財富有限,能力有限,智慧有限,你怎麼會幸福和快樂呢?

Namo Amituofo!