Nov 29 2018

Nov 29, 2018
慧淨上人法語
《佛說無量壽經》

The 48 vows can be divided into three categories:
1. Vows related to the Dharma body – also called vows to pursue the Buddha body. These are the vows made by Dharmakara Bodhisattva in selecting the splendors of his Buddha body at the time of becoming a Buddha. According to the Pure Land teaching, this Dharma body is not an ordinary Threefold Buddha body – Dharmakaya, Saṃbhogakaya, Nirmaṇakaya; but, is a Buddha body which contains “the accomplishment of all of his merits and virtues.” Among the 48 vows, the 12th Vow (Vow of Infinite Light) , the 13th Vow (Vow of Infinite Life) and the 17th Vow (Vow of the Praise by all Buddhas) are the teachings of his merits and virtues.
(to be continued)

四十八願，區分為三類： 
    
一、攝法身願，亦名求佛身願：法藏菩薩選擇攝取其成佛之時所要成就的佛身身相莊嚴之誓願。此法身依淨土宗義而言，並非一般三身（法身、報身、化身）之法身，而是「成就功德法」之佛身。四十八願之中，第十二光明無量願、第十三壽命無量願、第十七諸佛稱揚願等三願，正是其功德之法。

Namo Amituofo!

Nov 28 2018

Nov 28, 2018
Master Huijing’s Short Teachings about Taking Refuge to Amitabha
皈命彌陀

A parasite that grows in a flower in the Five Pure Heavens (those in the 4th Dhyana heavens in the Form Domain) will not wither under the sun and wind. Water that flows in the river where the Dragon King lives will never dry out in a drought.

The meaning of this verse written by Master Daochuo is: If our impermanent, ever-changing, reincarnated life has taken refuge in Namo Amituofo, we don’t care about the length of our life. This is because the life of Amitabha Buddha is infinite, and because there is no reincarnation in the Land of Bliss. So, our life transcends the three periods of time – past, present and future, and becomes eternal.

「寄花五淨，風日不萎；附水靈河，世旱不竭。」

道綽大師這句偈的意思是說，將我們這個無常的、生滅的、輪迴的生命，歸命於南無阿彌陀佛，因為阿彌陀佛是無量壽，而且在極樂世界永不輪迴──生命超越過去、現在、未來三世而永恆存在，就無所謂壽命長短了。

Namo Amituofo!

Nov 27 2018

Nov 27, 2018
Master Huijing’s Short Teachings about Deep Faith in Aptitude and Teaching
機法深信

Master Jingzong had a very good speech. He said, “A person who truly believes and accepts Amitabha’s deliverance, exclusively recites Amitabha’s Name, and aspires to rebirth in Amitabha’s Pure Land, must be reverent and humble. He cannot see his wholesomeness. He can only see his unwholesomeness. It is just like candle light that cannot be seen under sunlight. If a person can see the candle light, it means he is still in a dark room.”

So, a person with deep belief in aptitude and in teaching, only feels regret. He knows he is an iniquitous mortal being, who doesn’t feel he has any ability to practice or cultivate. Through Amitabha’s deliverance, a person should feel he is nothing special, even if he practices whatever he can.
.
淨宗法師有一段話談的很好，他說：「一個真正信受彌陀救度，專稱彌陀佛名，願生彌陀淨土的念佛人，他必定是一個恭敬謙卑的人，他看不到自己的善，他所看到的只是自己的惡，就像在太陽底下看不到蠟燭的光，如果還看到蠟燭的光，就表示還在黑暗的房子裡面。」

所以，對於一個信機信法的人，他只有自感慚愧，知道自己是一個罪惡生死的凡夫，他不會覺得自己能有任何修行。在阿彌陀佛的救度之下，即使能做什麼事，也會覺得沒有什麼了不起。

Namo Amituofo!

Nov 26 3018

Nov 26, 2018
Master Huijing’s Short Teachings about Right View on Buddhist teachings
佛法知見

There are different kinds of good advisors, namely, “good advisor in teaching”, “good advisor in guardianship”, and “good advisor in companionship.” However, it doesn’t matter which kind of good advisor they are, those who can tell us about this Pure Land teaching, and help us believe and accept it , are our good advisors.

善知識有「教授善知識」、「外護善知識」、「同行善知識」，但不管什麼善知識，只要能夠講這個法門讓我們信受的，就都是我們的善知識。

Namo Amituofo!

Nov 25 2018

Nov 25, 2018
Master Huijing’s Short Teachings about Faith in Pure Land
淨土信仰

In general Buddhist teachings, one’s own power and skills are required to leave the Three Domains, and completely accomplish the Buddhist Way. Only Pure Land is a teaching of total reliance on Amitabha’s deliverance through devotion. Because of reliance on Amitabha’s deliverance through devotion, all people can leave the endless cycle of birth and death within the Six Realms. They will be reborn in the Land of Bliss, where their full realization of Buddhahood will be expedited. It doesn’t matter if they have their own power and skills or not.

一般法門都必須靠自己的力量、功夫來脫出三界，乃至圓成佛道。唯有淨土法門，是完全仰仗阿彌陀佛的救度。也由於是仰仗阿彌陀佛的救度，所以不管自己有力量、沒力量，有功夫、沒功夫，人人都能脫離六道生死輪迴，人人都能往生極樂世界而快速證入佛果。

Namo Amituofo!

Nov 24 2018

Nov 24, 2018
Master Huijing’s Short Teachings about Attributes of the Pure Land Sect of Buddhism: Worldly Truths
淨土宗宗風俗諦

If our heart contains Amitabha’s life, we will naturally view our mind as Buddha’s mind, and our practices as Buddha’s practices. We are happy to practice virtuous deeds, and we enjoy forgiving others. Because we feel Amitabha’s caring, we will care for other people. Because Amitabha forgives us, we will forgive others. We should do these things because Amitabha gives us the splendid Land of Bliss and pays our karmic debts, accumulated over many eons.

Though a person may not care and forgive other people, he can still acquire Amitabha’s caring and forgiveness. However, once he feels Amitabha’s caring and forgiveness, he will also care and forgive others. If he cannot care and forgive others, he has not realized Amitabha’s caring and forgiveness.

人的內心若有彌陀的生命，自能以佛心為心，以佛行為行；喜行善事，樂恕人過。因為感受到彌陀愛護我們，使我們也會愛護他人；彌陀寬恕我們，使我們也會寬恕他人；更因獲得彌陀惠賜莊嚴的極樂，蒙受彌陀償還累劫的冤債之故。

人雖不能愛護、寬恕他人，亦能獲得彌陀的愛護與寬恕；人若一旦感受到彌陀的愛護與寬恕，也必能愛護、寬恕他人；若其不能愛護、寬恕他人，便是尚未體悟彌陀的愛護與寬恕。

Namo Amituofo!

Nov 23 2018

Nov 23, 2018
A quote from Master Shandao’s Commentary on the Contemplation Sutra
善導大師語錄

A text about “though it can be dedicated”
If one performs the “assorted practices”, one's mind is constantly interrupted. Even though one may transfer or dedicate the merit of such practices for attaining rebirth, these are called “distant and mixed practices”.

《觀經疏》「雖可迴向」之文：
雜行即心常間斷，雖可迴向得生，眾名疏雜之行也。

Namo Amituofo!