November 30 2021

Nov 30, 2021

上人法語

淨宗判教 - 總顯其義

Before the time of Master Honen, Japan had various Mahayana and Theravada schools of Buddhism ; but, not the Pure Land School. Thus, there was no Pure Land Sangha. There were no Pure Land Sutras chosen for practitioners to rely on, and no theoretical framework established for defining the Pure Land teaching. Because of this, no one knew about the specific sutras to rely on or the practices that led to rebirth in the Pure Land.

For generations after generations, practitioners who aspired to be reborn in the Western Pure Land had to attach themselves to other schools, mixing [Amitabha-recitation] with other irrelevant practices, which are then dedicated to others. This is known as an ‘affiliated school.’ Teachings of other schools were used to define the Pure Land of Amitabha Buddha. As a result of this situation the dependent conditions, the resultant beings of the Pure Land, as well as the main cause of rebirth, were interpreted differently and changed from one school to another.

(to be continued tomorrow)

法然上人以前的日本佛教，雖有大小乘各宗派，卻獨缺淨土宗派，所以沒有淨土門的教團，也沒有確立淨土門正依的經典與教相上的理論架構，因此也不知道往生的行體。

雖然當時願生西方淨土的行者，代不乏人，但都依附在各宗門下，雜行雜修，然後迴向，謂之「寓宗」，並且以其各宗之教理來判別彌陀的淨土，因而淨土依正及往生正因，隨各宗的宗義而轉。

Namo Amitufo!

November 29 2021

Nov 29, 2021

印光大師法語 -「念佛足矣」之文

One single Name – Namo Amituofo, encompasses the entire Great Store Canon. It is unfathomable and all inclusive!

一句佛號，包括一大藏教，罄無不盡。

Namo Amituofo!

November 28 2021

Nov 28, 2021

淨土述懷

Amitabha Buddha treats sentient beings of the ten directions as his parents, his only son, and himself. He loves, respects, nurtures, and perfects us. This concept is based on the Infinite Life Sutra spoken by the Buddha. When I edited this Sutra, I included this concept in the appendix at the end of the Sutra. For those Pure Land practitioners who wish to preach this teaching, it is best for them to read it thoroughly and memorize it fully, so that they can be more versatile in explaining it.

阿彌陀佛把十方眾生看成祂的父母、祂的獨子、祂本身，而來孝敬我們、撫育我們、成就我們。這些理論的根據都在《佛說無量壽經》，在我所校訂的《佛說無量壽經》後面所附錄的〈無量壽經摘要〉內都有結集，有志於講經佈教的同修，最好能把這些摘要背到滾瓜爛熟，才能運用自如。

Namo Amituofo!

November 27 2021

Nov 27, 2021

淨宗傳承之第十八願

What does the 18th  Vow contain? Three things: faith, Amitabha-recitation, and rebirth. “Sincerely and joyfully entrust themselves to me and desire to be born in my land” are faith; “call my Name, even ten times” is Amitabha-recitation; and “should they not be born there, may I not attain perfect Enlightenment” is rebirth. Amitabha Buddha has already become a Buddha. So, as long as we believe in Amitabha’s deliverance, aspire to be reborn in the Land of Bliss, and recite Amitabha’s Name, we are assured of attaining rebirth.

第十八願講什麼？講三件事情：信心、念佛、往生。

「至心信樂，欲生我國」是信心，「乃至十念」是念佛，「若不生者，不取正覺」是往生。現在阿彌陀佛已經成佛了，我們只要信彌陀的救度，願生極樂而念佛，就必定往生。 

Namo Amituofo!

November 26 2021

Nov 26, 2021

淨土小常識

Karma of Assurance and Supportive Karma

There are five Primary Practices. They can be divided according to the two kinds of karma – Karma of Assurance and Supportive Karma. The fourth Primary Practice (Name-recitation)is known as the Karma of Assurance, and the other four Primary Practices are regarded as Supportive Karma.

The full name “Karma of Assurance” originates from the passage on “Faith in the Context of Practice” from the Chapter on Non-meditative Virtues, in the Commentary on the Contemplation Sutra. It states that reciting Amitabha’s name single-mindedly and without variation, whether walking, standing, sitting or lying down, whether for long or short periods is the karma of assurance. It is so because it accords with Amitabha Buddha’s 18th Vow.

Supportive Karma means karma that supports the practitioner’s mind in practicing the karma of assurance.

正助二業

五種正行，開為五種，合為正助二業。其中第四稱名正行為正業，前三後一四種正行，為助業。

正業，全稱「正定業」，出自善導大師《觀經四帖疏．散善義》「就行立信」：「一心專念彌陀名號，行住坐臥，不問時節久近，念念不捨者，是名正定之業，順彼佛願故。」

助業者，能助行者之心，行於稱名之正定業，故稱助業。

Namo Amituofo!

November 25 2021

Nov 25, 2021

上人法語

淨土信仰

It is very difficult for ordinary beings to understand the vast and deep meaning of Amitabha Buddha. With our limited knowledge, perception, and inability to liberate ourselves, how can we possibly describe it? However, we do know that all of the vows that he made, and the merit and virtues that he cultivated, are totally immersed in the Name. So, the Name is Amitabha Buddha himself. The reason he puts all of his merit and virtues into his Name is to facilitate its recitation and the attainment of those benefits for sentient beings like us. So, whether we know this principle or not, as long as we recite his Name, Amitabha Buddha is immediately one with us and we emit his light.

阿彌陀佛的意義以我們凡夫有限的知見，是無法形容、無力思惟、無能解說的，因為祂的意義很廣很深。不過我們知道，阿彌陀佛祂所發願、所修行的功德，通通融入在這句名號當中，所以這句名號就是阿彌陀佛的本身，而之所以將全部功德融入這句名號，就是阿彌陀佛要讓我們眾生容易稱念，容易得到利益。所以不管我們知不知道這個道理，只要稱念這一句名號，阿彌陀佛就在我們口中跳躍，在我們身上放光。

Namo Amituofo!

November 24 2021

Nov 24, 2021

善導大師《法事讚》「願力平等」之偈：

The power of Amitabha’s vow is equal for all.

Whoever dedicates his merits and aspires to be reborn, will hold that flower in his hand.

He will be transported in the span of one thought to the joy of the Land of Bliss,

And he will ultimately live in a state of bliss with no danger of sliding back.

彌陀願力皆平等，

但使迴心華自捧；

一念逍遙快樂國，

畢竟常安無退動。

Namo Amituofo!