July 20 2021

Jul 20, 2021

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

淨土信仰

In the very beginning of the Great Learning, it says, “The way of ultimate wisdom is the comprehension of absolute integrity, genial development of the common people, and endless pursuit of the perfection of humanity.” The Great Learning is, of course, a book that explains how to become a sage and sacred person, and the ways to administer the country / nation in peace.

From the Buddhist point of view, the comprehension of absolute integrity originates in the innate Buddha-Nature that all sentient beings possess, and the wisdom to understand the absolute integrity that resides in the Buddha-Nature that is no-birth and no-death, and in the state of purity and Nirvana. We should not strive to only enlighten ourselves; but, also to enlighten others – “genial development of the common people”. That means, through awakening the innate Buddha-Nature in all sentient beings, we will be able to live with new life.

When a person can perfectly enlighten himself through enlightening other people, that is the meaning of “endless pursuit of the perfection of humanity. “ “Endless pursuit of the perfection of humanity” in our School is shared through “Amitabha-recitation with Proper Faith.”

《大學》開宗明義就說:「大學之道,在明明德,在親民,在止於至善。」當然《大學》這一部書是在說明成賢成聖,治國平天下的大道理。

以佛法的觀點來解釋,「明德」就是每一個眾生本具的佛性,「明明德」無非是在覺悟這不生不滅、清淨涅槃的佛性,而且不只是自覺,還要覺他──「親民」,也就是使一切眾生的心靈也都能夠覺悟本有的佛性,過著新的生命。

到了自覺與覺他圓滿,也就是「止於至善」,我們這個法門的「止於至善」就是「正信的念佛」。

Namo Amituofo!

July 19 2021

Jul 19, 2021

An excerpt from ‘In Praise of the Rite of Rebirth’ by Master Shandao

善導大師《往生禮讚》摘句

Question: Why are we not asked to practice contemplation; but, instructed to exclusively recite the Name? What is the meaning of this?

Answer: It is because sentient beings bear heavy karmic obstructions and their minds are too coarse to see the fine scenes and phenomena in the Pure Land. Because our mental focus is wavering and unsteady, it is too difficult to achieve any results in contemplation. With great compassion the great sage (Shakyamuni Buddha) directly advises us to exclusively recite Amitabha’s Name. He does this because of the easiness of Name-recitation. Those who exclusively recite Namo Amitabha Buddha are assured of rebirth in this lifetime.

問曰:何故不令作觀,直遣專稱名字者,有何意也?

答曰:乃由眾生障重,境細心粗,識揚神飛,觀難成就也。是以大聖悲憐,直勸專

稱名字,正由稱名易故,相續即生。

Namo Amituofo!

July 18 2021

Jul 18, 2021

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about Education for Living

生活教育

Children’s eyes are bright and clear. Their eyes capture all of the behaviors of their parents in the threefold karma of their minds, like a camera. So, they see and remember what their parents do as they mature.

Confucius says, “If a person is proper in conduct, people will follow him without being ordered. However, if improper, people will not follow even when ordered. “

Confucius also says, “When a teacher sets himself as a role model, how dare the students not follow.” If we conduct ourselves properly, we will naturally influence others. This means that teaching others through our deeds is worth more than what we only talk about. So, it is more important for us to teach our children by being good role models.

孩子的眼睛都是雪亮的,從小時候到現在,他們的眼睛就像攝影機,把父母的三業行為都攝入他的腦海中,所以他們是看著父母的行為長大的。

孔子說:「其身正,不令而行,其身不正,雖令不從」,又說:「子率以正, 孰敢不正。」我們如做得端正的話,自自然然會影響他人,這就是「身教重於言教」,所以在教養子女方面,以身作則是比較重要的。

Namo Amituofo!

July 17 2021

Jul 17, 2021

Master Yinguang’s Short Teaching about “entirely dependent on the Buddha’s power” (analogy of sailing on board)

印光大師「全是佛力」之文(坐船過海之喻) 

Among Buddhist teachings, there are an immeasurable number of paths, such as the Great Vehicle and Small Vehicle, and the Expedient and Real Teachings. In all of the teachings, a practitioner is required to cut off greed, hatred and delusion through the precepts, meditation and wisdom. In so doing they are completely purified, in order to be liberated from the cycle of birth-and-death.

For most of us, this is as difficult as ascending to heaven, and is beyond the capacity of mundane people like us to fulfil. However, if we truly believe and earnestly aspire to rebirth in Amitabha’s Pure Land, and recite Amitabha’s Name, we can be reborn with recourse to Amitabha’s compassionate power, despite our lack of capacity and meritorious virtues.

In the analogy of sailing on a ship to cross the sea of suffering, in order to reach the other shore of the Pure Land, we must want to board the ship and realize we are powerless to reach the shore without it. This is because it is the power of the ship, not ours, that makes it all possible. It is the same for rebirth in the Land of Bliss through Amitabha-recitation with faith and aspiration. All of it is entirely dependent on the Buddha’s power.

佛法法門無量,無論大小權實,一切法門,均須以戒定慧,斷貪瞋癡,令其淨盡無餘,方可了生脫死。此則難如登天,非吾輩具縛凡夫所能希冀。

若以真信切願、念佛求生西方,則無論功夫深淺、功德大小,皆可仗佛慈力, 往生西方。

此如坐火輪船過海,但肯上船,即可到於彼岸;乃屬船力,非自己本事。

信願念佛、求生西方亦然,完全是「佛力」,不是自己「道力」。

Namo Amituofo!

July 16 2021

Jul 16, 2021

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings - Expressing the Perception of the Pure Land

淨土述懷

There is an ancient pier in the vast sea of the Six Realms,

Where Amitabha’s compassionate ship docks on the shore of the sea of suffering.

When we make the decision to board that ship and set sail to reach the other shore.

We will end our entrapment in the cycle of birth-and-death on the Jambudvipa world (the Earth).

The Great Vow is Amitabha’s Fundamental Vow,

That delivers sentient beings upon the ship of his vow.

By exclusively reciting Amitabha’s Name, we will achieve the state of non-retrogression,

We will transcend and traverse the Ten Grounds and the Three Benevolences.

六道茫茫古渡頭,彌陀苦海泛慈舟;上船決定登彼岸,永絕閻浮生死流。

弘願即是彌陀願,廣度眾生上願船;專念彌陀心不退,橫超十地越三賢。

Namo Amituofo!

July 15 2021

Jul 15, 2021

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about the Patriarchal Lineage of the Pure Land School – Nagarjuna Bodhisattva

《淨宗傳承之龍樹菩薩》

It is our great source of joy that Amitabha: set forth vows for us, cultivated for us, built the Land of Bliss for us, and accomplished all of the merit and virtues necessary for our rebirth. He then dedicated all of those gifts to all sentient beings in the ten directions. Those who understand this point should reverently and gratefully hold fast to reciting Amitabha Buddha’s Name.

今天承蒙彌陀為我們發願、為我們修行、為我們建設極樂世界,為我們成就往生極樂世界的功德資糧,迴向給我們十方世界的眾生,能夠理解到這一點的人就能夠以恭敬心來執持阿彌陀佛的名號。

Namo Amituofo!

July 14 2021

Jul 14, 2021

Common Knowledge in Pure Land Teaching

淨土小常識

The Treatise on Rebirth – It was written by Vasubandhu Bodhisattva. It is also known as the Gatha of Rebirth, the Upadesa of the Infinite Life Sutra, the Commentary on the Pure Land, and the Commentary on the Infinite Life Sutra.

The book is composed of two parts, one is the Gathas and the other is the narratives. The Gathas are mainly based on the Infinite Life Sutra and also cover the principal meanings of the Three Pure Land Sutras.

The objective of the Treatise is to unfold the practices of Amitabha-invocation, prostration, praise, perception, aspiration, and dedication, and to advise and urge all sentient beings to be reborn in Amitabha’s Buddha-land together.

《往生論》- 天親菩薩所造,全稱《無量壽經優婆提舍願生偈》,又稱《淨土論》,或 《無量壽經論》。

全論由「偈頌」及解釋偈頌的「長行」兩部分組成,以《無量壽經》為主,總攝淨土三經要義,為三經通申之論。

本論的主旨,在以身示範五念門行(禮拜門、讚歎門、觀察門、作願門、迴向門),勸導一切眾生共同往生彌陀佛國。

Namo Amituofo!