September 7, 2024

Sept. 7, 2024

Discussion on Excerpts from the Scriptures of the Pure Land School

淨土宗精要法語討論

The 18th Vow in the Infinite Life Sutra (continued)

4. Question: Some people say, “If we have false thoughts in our minds while reciting Amitabha Buddha’s Name, we cannot match Amitabha’s mind, even if we recite his Name for our entire lives.” Is this correct?

Answer: Referring to the state of mind of sentient beings mentioned in the 18th Vow - if they “sincerely and joyfully entrust themselves to me, desire to be born in my land, and call my Name even ten times”, they will “match” with Amitabha Buddha’s mind. If we recite his Name with faith and the aspiration to be reborn in his Pure Land, we will also “match.” “Matching” does not mean achieving a meditative state in which we perceive that we and Amitabha are one. Purifying the mind through Buddha-recitation is the aim and practice of the Sacred Path, which should not be confused with the Pure Land Path.

《無量壽經》第十八願 (續)

4. 問:有人說,「念佛時雜念紛飛,念一輩子也不能與阿彌陀佛相應」,是這樣嗎?

答:第十八願所誓眾生的心行是「至心信樂,欲生我國,乃至十念」,想要與佛相應,只要信願念佛,而非禪定一心。念佛淨心是聖道門的修法和目的,不宜照搬到淨土門。

Namo Amituofo!

September 6, 2024

Sept. 6, 2024

Discussion on Excerpts from the Scriptures of the Pure Land School

淨土宗精要法語討論

The 18th Vow in the Infinite Life Sutra (continued)

3. Question: How can sentient beings in the ten directions “entrust themselves sincerely and

joyfully”, as said in the 18th Vow?

Answer: We are taught that Amitabha’s compassion does not exclude even one sentient being from his deliverance. He awakens the mind of aspiration within us. We are also taught that Amitabha’s Name is replete with all of the credentials necessary for our rebirth. By reciting his Name, we can receive and accept them. Thus, our rebirth is assured and our entrapment in the cycle of birth-and-death is forever eliminated.

(to be continued tomorrow)

《無量壽經》第十八願 (續)

3. 問:第十八願中「十方眾生」是怎樣「至心信樂」的?

答:聞知阿彌陀佛不捨一人的慈悲願心和無一遺漏的救度力量,聞知名號本具往生資糧,稱念即可領納,定得往生,輪迴從此永斷。

Namo Amituofo!

September 5, 2024

Sept. 5, 2024

Discussion on Excerpts from the Scriptures of the Pure Land School

淨土宗精要法語討論

The 18th Vow in the Infinite Life Sutra (continued)

2. Question: Some people ask , “How can a person be reborn through mere Amitabha-recitation?”

Answer: The fundamental principle of rebirth is clearly explained in the 18th Vow. Amitabha-recitation is a primary cause of rebirth, stipulated in the agreement between sentient beings and Amitabha Buddha, who made this oath while in his causal ground.

(to be continued tomorrow)

《無量壽經》第十八願 (續)

2. 問:有人說,「光念佛怎麼能往生?」

答:第十八願說明往生的根本原理,念佛是阿彌陀佛因地誓願與眾生約定的往生正因,《阿彌陀經》也單提念佛,未言及其他行法。

Namo Amituofo!

September 4, 2024

Sept. 4, 2024

Discussion on Excerpts from the Scriptures of the Pure Land School

淨土宗精要法語討論

The 18th Vow in the Infinite Life Sutra

If, when I attain Buddhahood, sentient beings in the lands of the ten quarters who

sincerely and joyfully entrust themselves to me, desire to be born in my land, and

call my Name, even ten times, should not be born there, may I not attain perfect

Enlightenment. Excluded, however, are those who commit the five gravest

offenses and abuse the right Dharma.

1.Question: Can this vow be called “the Vow for Achieving Assured Rebirth through Reciting Amitabha’s Name by Ten Times” ?

Answer: No, it should be called “the Vow for Attaining Assured Rebirth through Amitabha- Recitation, because “even ten times” is said in the Vow. “Reciting Amitabha’s Name by Ten Times” does not include the meaning of “even”.

(to be continued tomorrow)

《無量壽經》第十八願

設我得佛,十方眾生,至心信樂,欲生我國,乃至十念,若不生者,不取正覺;唯除五逆、誹謗正法。

1.問:這一願可否稱為「十念必生願」?

答:應稱「念佛往生願」,願文說「乃至十念」。「十念必生」,「乃至」之意不能涵蓋。

Namo Amituofo!

September 3, 2024

Sept. 3, 2024

Q and A about Practicing Amitabha-Recitation

Part Two - Rebirth through Amitabha-Recitation

第二部分 有關念佛往生

Question 17. Can I still be reborn in the Pure Land if I haven’t taken refuge in the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha?

Answer 17: Yes, you can. Please refer to the account of Mr.Hui on Page 172 in the Third Collection of the Accounts of Amitabha-Recitation, Mr. Hu on Page 215, Ms. Chi on Page 275, and Mr. Huang on Page 342. All of them had not taken refuge, but were reborn through Amitabha-recitation.

However, if it is at all possible, it is better to take refuge; because taking refuge is a decision about faith, an entry to the Buddhist door, and the first step in becoming a Buddhist disciple. How can a person who wants to recite Amitabha Buddha’s Name to be reborn not want to take refuge?

17問:未皈依,念佛能往生嗎?

答:能!《念佛感應錄》第三集第172頁許培枝、第215頁胡老漢、275頁池貞子、第342頁黃英夫等,都還沒有皈依,也都念佛往生。

如條件允許,還是皈依的好。因為皈依是定信仰、入佛門、成為佛弟子的第一步,豈有想念佛、想往生的人不願皈依的呢?

Namo Amituofo!

September 2, 2024

Sept. 2, 2024

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teaching about the Grace of Deliverance

慧淨法師之救恩法語(一)

The pristine Pure Land teaching transcends all sentiments and is beyond all views; so, it is an inconceivable teaching, concerning a realm of Buddhas. Ordinary beings should unconditionally entrust in it and accept it, without any discussions or arguments.

“Inconceivable” refers to the compassionate deliverance of Amitabha Buddha. Those who wish to enter the gate of the Pure Land should believe in and accept Amitabha’s deliverance.

純正淨土法門乃超情離見之「不可思議」法門,是佛與佛的境界,於凡夫但能無條件地信受,絲毫不可擬議。

「不可思議」即是指彌陀的慈悲救度。故欲入淨土門之人,應「信受彌陀救度」。

Namo Amituofo!

September 1, 2024

Sep. 1, 2024

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teaching about Impermanence

慧淨法師之無常法語

Everyone believes that next year will come.

Every family plants a crop for next year.

Everyone believes that the next life will come.

However, people do not cultivate the necessary blessings for the next life.

人人知道有來年,家家盡種來年榖;

人人知道有來生,何不修取來生福。

Namo Amituofo!