March 30 2022

Mar 30, 2022

Master Yinguang’s Short Teaching about Accomplishing Buddhahood by delivering living beings

印光大師法語「成佛度生」之文

If we can bring forth genuine faith, earnest aspiration, and recite the Name of Amitabha with singleness of mind, we will be assured of being received by Amitabha Buddha near the end-of-life, and being reborn in the Land of Bliss.

Once we have attained rebirth, we will say goodbye to the mundane life forever, and ascend to Amitabha’s Pure Land. We will see the Buddha and listen to his Dharma teachings. We will realize the Perseverance of No-Birth. We will be replete with inconceivable spiritual powers and wisdom.

(to be continued tomorrow)

果能信願真切,一心念佛。至臨命終時,決定蒙佛接引,往生彼國。

既得往生,則俯謝凡質,高預聖流。見佛聞法,證無生忍。神通智慧, 不可思議。

Namo Amituofo!

March 29 2022

Mar 29, 2022

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

淨土述懷

Amitabha’s vow power is great, vast, and deep; so that no sentient beings are excluded. It readily provides salvation to all in this world of turbidity in the Dharma-Ending Age.

彌陀願力弘廣偉大,不漏群機,不捨罪人;使末法濁惡眾生,始終都有得救之時,毫無絕望之地。

Namo Amituofo!

March 28 2022

Mar 28, 2022

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about the Patriarchal Lineage of the Pure Land School – the 18th Vow

淨宗傳承之第十八願

(continued)

Nevertheless, not all aspirants need to know all of the complicated teachings of this School; but, only that “sentient beings who recite [Amitabha’s Name] are assured of rebirth.” Just that principle is sufficient. So, Vasubandhu Bodhisattva declares, “I take refuge with singleness of mind”.

Such birds as robins and parrots can imitate people’s vocal sounds and thereby be splendidly and solemnly reborn. It is not the birds’ own skills, merit, and virtues that enable them to attain rebirth, but the natural functional power of Amitabha’s vow.

This vow-power is what Master Shandao means when he says, “Sentient beings who recite [Amitabha’s Name] are assured of rebirth.” The inconceivable power of the Buddha lies within this principle.

“Sincerely”, as mentioned in the 19th Vow, refers to the genuine mind of self-power. This “sincerely” does not rely on Amitabha Buddha; but on the practitioner’s own cultivation of various merits and virtues, that are then dedicated to rebirth in the Pure Land. This “sincerely” is totally different than that in the 18th Vow.

然而一切願生者非必知此繁瑣的宗學不可,但知「眾生稱念,必得往生」,自然具足這些道理。是故天親菩薩自督而言「我一心歸命」。

鴝鵒、鸚鵡等飛禽,但隨人音聲,依樣畫葫蘆地稱念,亦得殊勝莊嚴的往生。此者皆非此等飛禽的功德、工夫,乃彌陀誓願之力的自然運作。所謂「誓願之力」,即善導大師所言「眾生稱念,必得往生」,佛之不可思議,正在於此。

至於第十九願之「至心」,是自力的真實心,其所至心的對象,不是直接向於佛,乃向於自己之修諸功德,將此迴向於佛。此與第十八願之至心相比,不啻天淵之別。

Namo Amituofo!

March 27 2022

Mar 27, 2022

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about the Patriarchal Lineage of the Pure Land School – the 18th Vow

淨宗傳承之第十八願

The words “sincerely”, “joyfully entrust” and “wish to be reborn” can be explained from the point of view of sentient beings or that of the Buddha.

From the point of view of sentient beings, “sincerely” means from the bottom of one’s heart. This reflects genuine faith. “Joyfully entrust” means a mind without any doubt in Amitabha Buddha’s deliverance. “Wish to be reborn” means a mind that aspires to be reborn in that Land.

So, with respect to “sincerely”, “joyfully entrust” and “wish to be reborn”, “joyfully entrust” is the key phrase. “Sincerely” shows the genuineness of “joyfully entrusting” and “wish to be reborn” shows the special meaning of “joyfully entrusting”.

From the point of view of the Buddhist teaching, “sincerely” means the genuine mind of Amitabha’s deliverance of sentient beings; and “joyfully entrusting” is the confidence that Amitabha is capable of easily delivering sentient beings. “Wishing to be reborn” is the mind that aspires to be reborn in response to Amitabha’s calling and teachings.

(to be continued tomorrow)

「至心、信樂、欲生」六字,可從就機、就法兩方面來解釋。

就機──至心:至者極,極於心底,顯示信樂之真實相。信樂者:於佛之救度無疑心。欲生者:願生彼國之決定心。故至心信樂欲生,以信樂為主。至心顯示信樂之真實,而欲生是信樂之別義。

就法──至心是彌陀救度眾生之真實心,信樂是彌陀能夠容易救度眾生之信心,「欲生我國」是彌陀之迴向心,對眾生呼喚欲生我國之敕命,而迴向大功德於眾生之心。

Namo Amituofo!

March 26 2022

Mar 26, 2022

Common Knowledge in Pure Land Teaching

淨土小常識

Nine Grades or Nine Levels

According to the Contemplation Sutra, sentient beings are generally divided into nine different grades or levels. Among the nine grades are: the highest grade in the high tier, the medium grade in the high tier, and the lowest grade in the high tier are for Bodhisattva practitioners of the Mahayana teachings; the highest grade in the middle tier, the medium grade in the middle tier, and the lowest grade in the middle tier are for practitioners who have taken the precepts of the Theravada teaching. The people in these two groups are regarded as virtuous.

The highest grade in the low tier is a wicked person who committed the Ten Evil Deeds. The medium grade in the low tier is a wicked person who has broken the precepts. The lowest grade in the low tier is a wicked person who has committed the Five Gravest Transgressions. All of these three kinds of people have only evil karma.

Master Shandao says, “The Buddha says all sentient beings have different virtuous roots, aptitudes, and capacities - high, medium, and low. He advises all of them to exclusively recite Amitabha’s Name.” So, all sentient beings of the nine grades or levels are the targets of Amitabha Buddha’s deliverance.

九品

依《觀無量壽經》,眾生大分為九種品類。九品之中,上品上生、上品中生、上品下生為大乘行善,中品上生、中品中生為小乘戒善,中品下生為世間善,此六品機為善人。

下品上生為十惡罪人,下品中生為破戒罪人,下品下生為五逆罪人,此三品機,皆唯惡無善。

善導大師言:「佛說一切眾生,根性不同,有上中下。隨其根性,佛皆勸專念無量壽佛名。」故九品眾生,皆是阿彌陀佛救度的對象。

Namo Amituofo!

March 25 2022

Mar 25, 2022

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

淨土信仰

In Buddhist teachings, there are five kinds of inconceivable powers. Among them, Amitabha Buddha’s powers are most inconceivable. This actually refers to Amitabha’s compassionate power of deliverance, as stated in his Fundamental Vow.

To achieve rebirth in the Land of Bliss, we have to:

(1) receive and accept Amitabha Buddha’s merit and virtues, which are shared with us by Amitabha Buddha;

(2) aspire to be reborn in the Land of Bliss by redirecting all previous merit-dedication and blessings only toward that goal.

佛法有五種不可思議,其中佛力最不可思議,而佛力之不可思議,正是指彌陀的大悲本願救度之力。

我們要往生極樂世界,

(一)必須領受阿彌陀佛的功德,這是阿彌陀佛迴向給我們的;

(二)我們要發願願生極樂,回轉以前向天、向人或向其他地方的願心,而轉過來向著極樂。

Namo Amituofo!

March 24 2022

Mar 24, 2022

A verse about “tranquility in the Western Land”, quoted from “the Commentary on the Contemplation Sutra” by Master Shandao

善導大師《觀經疏》「西方寂靜」之偈:

The bliss of unconditioned tranquility in the West

Is the ultimate freedom of joy beyond “existence” and “emptiness”.

With Great Compassion it nourishes our minds while travelling in the Dharma Realms,

These manifested bodies can be split into various forms, in order to benefit sentient beings individually and equally, without any differences.

These manifested bodies can appear to preach the Dharma through their paranormal powers,

Or they can appear with splendid marks and goodness, in order to enable sentient beings to enter Nirvana.

The splendor can be manifested at their own discretion,

Upon seeing these manifested bodies, sentient beings’ karmic offenses can immediately be cleared.

西方寂靜無為樂,畢竟逍遙離有無;

大悲薰心遊法界,分身利物等無殊。

或現神通而說法,或現相好入無餘;

變現莊嚴隨意出,群生見者罪皆除。

Namo Amituofo!