December 20, 2022

Dec 20, 2022

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teaching about Classification of Teachings – the Sacred and the Pure Land teachings

淨宗判教 – 聖淨二門判

(continued)

Apart from the Pure Land School, all other schools such as: the Tientai School, the Huayen School, the Chan School, the Tantric School, the Vinaya School, or the Three Shastra School, all belong to the Sacred Path.

The Sacred Path requires one to cultivate with one’s own power to reach the Land of Bliss. If he cannot achieve it in this life, he has to continue in the next. If he cannot achieve in the next life, he has to continue in the life after that. This is called the Sacred Path teaching. It is classified separately from the doctrines of the Pure Land School.

除了淨土法門以外的所有宗派,天台宗也好、華嚴宗也好,禪宗、密宗、律宗和三論宗等都屬於「聖道門」。

「聖道門」的定義是靠自己的力量在娑婆世界修行,這一輩子不成,下輩子再來,下輩子不成,下下輩子再來,這一種法門叫做「聖道門」,這是以淨土門的教理來判別的。

Namo Amituofo!

December 19, 2022

Dec 19, 2022

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teaching about Classification of Teachings – the Sacred Path and the Pure Land teachings

淨宗判教 – 聖淨二門判

In Buddhist teachings, there are the so-called Eight Schools, which can be divided into two kinds, one being the Pure Land Door, and the other being the Sacred Path. The Pure Land Door consists of - rebirth in the Land of Bliss through Amitabha-recitation, so as to cease reincarnating within the Six Realms forever, and to become a Buddha after birth in the Pure Land. Then, after becoming a Buddha, one can return to the Land of Saha or even the worlds of the ten directions, to deliver all sentient beings by splitting his body into thousands and billions of forms. This is called the Pure Land teaching.

(to be continued tomorrow)

佛法中所謂的八個宗派,可分為兩種法門,一個是「淨土門」,另一個是「聖道門」。淨土門就是念佛往生極樂世界,永離六道輪迴,在淨土直接成佛,成佛之後再倒駕慈航到娑婆世界,乃至十方世界,分身千百億,廣度諸眾生,這一個法門叫做淨土法門。

Namo Amituofo!

December 18, 2022

Dec 18, 2022

Master Yinguang’s Short Teaching about “non-retrogression attained in this lifetime”

印光大師法語「現生不退」之文

If a man has deep faith in this [Pure Land] teaching,

Even if he is still an ordinary man in bondage,

His “seed nature” (mind-nature) is already considered above that of practitioners of the Two Vehicles.

This resembles a prince who is born into a royal family.

His position is higher than any of the officers.

能於此法,深生信心,則雖具縛凡夫,其種性已超二乘之上。

喻如太子墮地,貴壓群臣。

Namo Amituofo!

December 17, 2022

Dec 17, 2022

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

淨宗傳承之第十八願

How does Amitabha Buddha enable us to attain rebirth? By fully relying on Amitabha, believing in, and complying with his 18th Vow. (Through wishing to be reborn and exclusively reciting the Buddha’s Name, you will be reborn naturally when the time comes”.

阿彌陀佛是怎樣讓我們往生的?那是阿彌陀佛的事情,總之我們只要信順彌陀的第十八願──願生我國,專稱佛名,時間到了自然就往生。

Namo Amituofo!

December 16, 2022

Dec 16, 2022

Common Knowledge in Pure Land Teaching

淨土小常識

Especially Preserving this Sutra

(continued)

Preserving the Infinite Life Sutra is the same as preserving the teaching of Amitabha-recitation. It is because the Infinite Life Sutra reveals Amitabha’s 48 vows, and especially the 18th Vow, which is the Fundamental Vow among the 48 vows. The 18th Vow teaches us about “aspiration to be reborn in the Land of Bliss and recitation of Amitabha’s Name, in order to be assured of rebirth in the Land of Bliss.”

特留此經

又作「特留念佛」

保留《無量壽經》等於保留念佛法門,因為《無量壽經》在講四十八大願,四十八大願的根本願是第十八願,第十八願講的就是「願生極樂、稱念彌陀,就必定往生極樂」。

Namo Amituofo!

December 15, 2022

Dec 15, 2022

Common Knowledge in Pure Land Teaching

淨土小常識

Especially Preserving this Sutra

Also known as “Especially Preserving the Practice of Amitabha-recitation”.

The Infinite Life Sutra says, “In the future, the Buddhist scriptures and teachings will perish ; but, out of pity and compassion, I will especially preserve this Sutra and maintain it in the world for a hundred years more. Those beings who encounter it will attain deliverance in accord with their aspirations. “

In the age of Dharma-Extinction, which follows the Dharma-Ending Age for a thousand years, all sutras will perish. The Three Stores and the Twelve Divisions will vanish in order (starting from the Surangama Sutra), even the names of the Three Jewels will also disappear. At that time sentient beings will not know about karmic retribution for good and evil deeds, following the Law of Cause and Effect, the three periods of time, or reincarnation within the Six Realms. Out of pity and compassion for sentient beings in the ten directions, Shakyamuni Buddha will especially preserve this Sutra through the power of this vow.

(to be continued tomorrow)

特留此經

又作「特留念佛」。

《無量壽經》言:「當來之世,經道滅盡,我以慈悲哀愍,特留此經止住百歲。其有眾生,值斯經者,隨意所願,皆可得度。」

末法萬年之後的滅法時代,所有經典都沒有了(三藏十二部依次消滅,先從《楞嚴經》開始),也沒有三寶的名字,那時的眾生不曉得有善惡報應、三世因果、六道輪迴。釋迦牟尼佛慈悲哀愍十方眾生,以慈悲願力把《無量壽經》保留下來。

Namo Amituofo!

December 14, 2022

Dec 14, 2022

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

淨土信仰

Reciting the six-syllable name (Namo Amituofo) is a splendid and fast track to accumulating merits and virtues. It is a simple, easy, safe, and secure method. Because it is simple and uncomplicated, it is not necessary to understand complex theories. It is considered easy, because upholding difficult practices is not required. Anyone can do it. There are no qualifications or restrictions, and no conditions as to time or location.

All that you need is a mouth, and to practice the recitations accordingly. It doesn’t matter if the pronunciation is correct or incomplete. In other words, simply recite, regardless of the time and place, whether you are smart or slow-witted, good or bad.

稱念「南無阿彌陀佛」六字洪名,「功德殊勝快速,方法簡易穩當」。因為簡而不繁,不需深入煩瑣的教理;易而不難,不必修持艱難的行法。任誰都能,毫無資格限制,絕無任何條件,亦無時間、地點、事情的忌諱。

只要有口,依樣畫葫蘆的稱念亦可;而音不準確、不完全也無礙。亦即只要稱念,一切善惡賢愚、時處諸緣,不在簡別之列。

Namo Amituofo!