April 24, 2023

Apr 24, 2023

Common Knowledge in Pure Land Teaching

淨土小常識

Receiving the Assurance of Nirvana (continued)

“Sentient beings who merely recite his Name for - the remainder of their lives, ten times, one time, or even within one thought near the end-of-life; this name-recitation is done for the sake of receiving the reward of blessings in this life. You can also be born in a heavenly realm in future. However, those who aspire to be reborn in that Land [of Bliss] through sincere dedication, will be reborn in that Land. Thus, they are assured of rebirth immediately, and dwell in the state of non-retrogression.

Receiving the Assurance of Nirvana is a benefit received in the present life (out of the two kinds of benefits - in the present and in future lives). Other schools believe that receiving the assurance of Nirvana is attained only after rebirth in the Land of Bliss. However, the Pure Land School believes it can be attained in the present life.

入正定聚

眾生只要上盡一形,乃至臨終十聲、一聲、一念,念其名號 —— 這個念佛不是只為了現世的福報,或者將來求生人天,而是「至心迴向,願生彼國」,這樣就「即得往生,住不退轉」,當下就獲得往生身分了。

「入正定聚」屬「現當二益」中的現世利益。以一般法門來看,認為往生極樂之後才能入正定聚,但是我們淨土法門不然,是現在就能獲得。

Namo Amituofo!

April 23, 2023

Apr 23, 2023

Common Knowledge in Pure Land Teaching

淨土小常識

Entering the Assurance of Nirvana

The Assurance of Nirvana is Avinivartaniya or the State of Non-retrogression.

The passage on the Fulfillment of the 18th Vow in the Infinite Life Sutra reads: “All sentient beings who, having heard his Name, rejoice in faith, remember him even once and sincerely transfer the merit of their virtuous practices to that land, aspiring to be born there, will attain birth and dwell in the Stage of Non-retrogression.”

Master Tanluan says in his Commentary on the Shastra on Rebirth: “If a person merely hears about the purity, peace and joy of that Land [of Bliss], and aspires to be reborn there, he can attain rebirth and immediately receive the Assurance of Nirvana. It reveals that receiving the Assurance of Nirvana is attained in the present life, and it is not necessary to wait to be reborn in the Land of Bliss after the present life ends.

(to be continued tomorrow)

入正定聚

「正定聚」,就是「阿鞞跋致」「不退轉」。

《無量壽經》第十八願成就文說:諸有眾生,聞其名號,信心歡喜,乃至一念, 至心迴向,願生彼國,即得往生,住不退轉。

曇鸞大師《往生論註》說:若人但聞彼國土清淨安樂,剋念願生,亦得往生,即入正定聚。顯示「入正定聚」是在現生所獲得的,不必等到命終往生極樂世界之後。

Namo Amituofo!

April 22, 2023

Apr 22, 2023

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

淨土信仰

We are unable to fully comprehend this teaching of becoming a Buddha to deliver sentient beings. The teaching is bestowed as Amitabha’s proactive, equal, non-discriminative and unconditional reward. The basis of this teaching is the exclusive recitation of “Namo Amituofo”.

我們無法想像的,可以成佛、度眾生的這個法,阿彌陀佛主動、平等、無差別、沒有條件地布施給我們,這個法就是「南無阿彌陀佛」。

Namo Amituofo!

April 21, 2023

Apr 21, 2023

A Verse about Compassionate Advice and Cautions - quoted from “In Praise of Dharma Practice” by Master Shandao

善導大師《法事讚》慈悲勸誡偈

Mortal beings continuously sink in the sea of birth-and-death in the Land of Saha. They always remain in the Three Wretched Realms and the Asura Realm.

They suffer from wearing animal skins with horns on their heads, and have never heard the name of any sacred being.

Being taught about these painful lives experienced during endless eons, they should vow to give up mortal life and take refuge in Amitabha.

The multitudes are joyful in both body and mind. Let’s hold fragrant flowers in our hands and always offer them to the Buddha.

久住娑婆常沒沒,三惡四趣盡皆停;

披毛戴角受眾苦,未曾聞見聖人名。

憶此疲勞長劫事,誓願捨命見彌陀;

眾等身心皆踴躍,手執香華常供養。

Namo Amituofo!

April 20, 2023

Apr 20, 2023

Pure Land Patriarch - Master Daochuo

道綽大師

(continued)

It is the same for all practitioners who are learning Buddhism, and it is the same for them to aim at realizing the “fruit”. However, one way is painful and the other is painless ; one way is difficult and the other is easy. Actually, it is the purpose of this book - the Collection on Peace and Joy: to eliminate suffering and render happiness, to give up the difficult path and take the easy one, to discard self-power and take refuge in other-power, to set aside the Sacred Gate and enter the Pure Land Gate. Thus it says, “Only by entering the Pure Land Gate can we enter”. It is also verified in the Sutra and says, “why not give up the difficult practices and follow the easy one on the Way. “

同樣都在學佛,同樣都以證果為目的,然而一者苦一者樂,一者難一者易;拔苦與樂,捨難取易,拋自力歸他力,擱聖道門入淨土門,正是本書(《安樂集》)之目的,故說「唯有淨土一門可通入路」,又說:「經教既爾,何不捨難依易行道矣!」

Namo Amituofo!

April 19, 2023

Apr 19, 2023

Pure Land Patriarch - Master Daochuo

道綽大師

(continued)

It is because the practices of the Sacred Path mainly emphasize interpretation and understanding through wisdom, which are included in the karmic practice. So, when the understanding is shallow, the practice is deficient. If the practice is deficient, they will not achieve realization. This is why the Buddha says, “In the Dharma-Ending Era , not a single person can attain enlightenment or realization.

In the Pure Land teaching, listening to the Three Sutras is the “teaching”, and believing in the Other-Power is the “principle” ; exclusive name-recitation is the “practice”, and attaining rebirth and becoming a Buddha are the “realizations”.

(to be continued tomorrow)

因為聖道門之行以「智解」為主,而此智解是包含「行業」的,故「解微」便是「行缺」,行缺則「證無」;因此佛說「末法時中,未有一人得證者」。

而淨土門聞三經之「教」,信他力之「理」,依稱名之「行」,得往生成佛之「果」。

Namo Amituofo!

April 18, 2023

Apr 18, 2023

Pure Land Patriarch - Master Daochuo

道綽大師

(continued)

A practitioner should realize the principle through the practices of the threefold karma - body, mouth and mind. Thus, principle and practice are established in the relationship between “ following” and “ being followed”. The principle is to be followed, while the practice is to follow.

Moreover, the principle to be followed initiates the practice to follow. So, following this practice will lead to realization of the “fruit” (reward). Thus, practice and reward are established in the relationship between “to realize” and “to be realized”. The practice is to realize, and the reward is to be realized. However, for people in this world of wickedness and turbidity in this Dharma-Ending Age, it is impossible to genuinely realize the principles of the “Real Mark of all Dharma” or “ the unobstructed penetration” between each of the phenomena,” through one’s own threefold karma. This is the meaning of “shallow understanding of profound principles or laws”.

(to be continued tomorrow)

將此「理」實現在自己的身口意三業之上謂之「行」,故理與行是建立在能依與所依的關係上,理是所依,行是能依。

又以所依之理起能依之行,依此行而證「果」,故行與果是建立在能證與所證的關係上,行是能證,果是所證。

然而末法之時,濁惡之機,將此聖道門所說的諸法實相或事事無礙之理如實地顯現在自己的三業之上,根本不可能,這便是「理深解微」。

Namo Amituofo!