Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teaching about “What does life look like?”
慧淨法師之「人生像什麼」
We live and die as eternally lonely wanderers.
人生如永遠孤獨的流浪漢 ── 生前孤獨，死後也孤獨。
Namo Amituofo!
淨土宗溫哥華念佛會 Vancouver Pure Land Buddhism Amitabha-Recitation Association
Friday, June 6, 2025
June 4, 2025
June 4, 2025
Wonderful Metaphors in the Pure Land School
淨土宗妙喻
Metaphor 34: People on a Boat
The term “sincere mind” refers to both the mind of Amitabha Buddha and of sentient beings. On the one hand, the Buddha’s vow to rescue sentient beings is completely sincere. It is as unfailing and unchangeable as a diamond. On the other hand, the aspiration of sentient beings for rebirth in the Land of Bliss is also genuine. Both the rescuer and the one who needs to be rescued are sincere and stay true to their goal.
It is like a boat which is perfectly designed to carry people to the other side of the sea. If people on board trust the boat to do its job and do not jump ship midway, they will safely arrive at their destination.
34. 人坐船喻
這個「至心」，可以就佛和就眾生兩方面來講，也就是說：佛救度眾生是毫不 虛假的，如同金剛，永不改變；眾生的願生極樂世界也是不虛假的。救度的人 ，以及被救的人，都要有真心。好像我們人坐在船上，這艘船是真的要讓人坐 而到達彼岸，而這個人也真心誠意地依靠船、不離開船。這樣的話，船跟人、 救跟被救，就一體不離，同時能夠到達。
Namo Amituofo!
June 3, 2025
June 3, 2025
Basic Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
155. The Relationship Between Amitabha Buddha’s Light and Life (continued 6/6)
4. The Relationship of Essence and Function
In this dimension, Life (shòu mìng 壽命) represents essence (tǐ 體), and Light (guāng míng 光明) represents function (yòng 用).
Amitabha’s Life embodies compassion, while his Light manifests wisdom. Through the union of compassion and wisdom, the dual operation of karuṇa and prajna, Amitabha Buddha imparts his boundless Light and Life.
All self-realized virtues are encompassed within Infinite Life; all outward, altruistic, and transformative activities are expressed through Infinite Light. Hence, Infinite Light and Infinite Life together encapsulate the totality of Amitabha Buddha’s immeasurable virtues.
Infinite Light implies freedom from spatial limitations; Infinite Life implies transcendence of temporal limitations. In fact, space and time are ultimately interwoven — where there is no time, there is no space; where there is no space, there is no time. Where time is present, space must also be; and where space exists, time necessarily accompanies it. These three — space, time, and velocity — form a single conceptual triad. Space is distance; divided by speed, it yields time.
The minds of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas abide in serenity and stillness — unborn and undying. In the dimension of time, their awareness is tranquil and unmoving; and when that stillness is centered upon a single point, there is no motion. Hence, there is no perception of space. Only when there is movement does the notion of spatiality arise.
(to be continued tomorrow)
155 阿彌陀佛光壽關係 (續 6/6)
4. 體用的關係
壽命為體，光明為用。
壽命代表慈悲，光明就代表智慧。悲智雙運，光壽無量。
一切自證功德，無量壽命就可以包括；一切外化、利他的功德，無量光明 都可以說明。所以無量光明和無量壽命，就涵蓋了阿彌陀佛種種無量的功 德。
光明無量，是沒有空間的障礙；壽命無量，是沒有時間的障礙。其實這兩 點也是相通的，沒有時間，就沒有空間，沒有空間，就沒有時間；有時間就有 空間，有空間就有時間。空間、時間和速度，它們是一組的概念。空間就是距 離，除以速度，就等於時間。
諸佛菩薩的心念是寂靜、寂止的，是不生不滅的，時間上，它是寂靜的。 寂靜在一點上，就沒有運動，就沒有空間了，只有運動了，才有所謂的空間感。
Namo Amituofo!
Monday, June 2, 2025
June 2, 2025
June 2, 2025
Basic Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
155. The Relationship Between Amitabha Buddha’s Light and Life (continued 5/6)
3. The Relationship of Mutual Containment
Mutual containment (hù jù 互具) refers to the presence of Life within Light and Light within Life. When Amitabha Buddha’s compassionate radiance shines upon us, it is not mere illumination; embedded within that Light is the Buddha’s own boundless lifespan. This Light is not only radiant, it sustains and extends life itself. Thus, within the Light there is Life: this is known as “Light containing Life.”
When we recite "Namo Amitabha Buddha", the Buddha’s Light embraces us. This luminous Name permeates the ten directions, transforming and guiding all beings. The moment we invoke "Namo Amitabha", the Buddha’s Light immediately illuminates our minds. At that very instant, we are embraced, and the Buddha’s Life reaches us through that Light. Thus, Amitabha’s Life accompanies and is infused within his Light. Wherever the Light extends, so too does the Buddha’s Life. Therefore, his Life pervades all of space and the Dharma Realm.
Because Amitabha’s Light pervades the entire cosmos and because Life is contained within that Light; when we recite the Name of Amitabha Buddha, his infinite Life enters and abides within our hearts. In addition, his Life also contains Light. Amitabha’s Life is one of purity and radiance; it is a luminous, enlightened Life.
(to be continued tomorrow)
155 阿彌陀佛光壽關係 (續 5/6)
3. 互具的關係
互具，即光明裡具有壽命，壽命裡具有光明。阿彌陀佛的慈光照著我們 ，光在這裡，阿彌陀佛的壽命就在光這裡面。這個光是能給我們補充壽命的， 這光明裡面就有壽命，這叫「光具有壽」。
我們念「南無阿彌陀佛」，佛光攝取，是光明名號攝化十方。念「南無阿 彌陀佛」，佛光馬上在心中照耀，當下攝取，當下壽命就在這裡，佛的壽命跟 著光明就來了，阿彌陀佛的光裡面就有佛的壽。所以壽也是盡虛空遍法界 的。
因為光盡虛空遍法界，光裡面就有壽，所以我們念阿彌陀佛，佛壽就來 到我們的心中。壽裡面也具有光，阿彌陀佛的壽命，是清淨、光明的壽命。
Namo Amituofo!
June 1, 2025
June 1, 2025
Basic Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
155. The Relationship Between Amitabha Buddha’s Light and Life (continued 4/6)
2. The Interdependence of Function
This interdependence implies that Light relies on Life for its manifestation, and Life relies on Light for its expression. Light, being an outward radiance, must have a supporting source — a substratum that sustains and enables its projection. This substratum is precisely Life.
Light represents the dynamic vitality of life — its expressive, outward, altruistic energy. Life, in turn, is the embodied reality of this vitality.
In human experience, Light manifests as vitality, as a form of power or force. A person lacking vitality appears dull and lifeless; conversely, one brimming with life force exudes radiance and brilliance.
Amitabha Buddha’s Light and Life are thus mutually dependent. Infinite Light necessitates Infinite Life. If Light were vast but Life limited, then the Light would be temporal and finite — no longer truly boundless.
(to be continued tomorrow)
155 阿彌陀佛光壽關係 (續 4/6)
2.相依的關係
相依，即光明依壽命，壽命依光明。因為光明是對外散發的，它一定要有 一個載體，一定要有一個承擔物，這個承擔就是壽命。光明就代表生命力，外 化利他的。壽命就是生命體。
光代表我們的生命力，是力量的一種──對外的勃發的力量。每一個人也 有光明，一個人如果死氣沉沉就沒有光彩；如果生命力很強，便光彩照人，神 采奕奕。
阿彌陀佛的光和壽是互相依存的，無量光明一定要求是無量壽命的，如 果光很大，可是壽命有限，那就是有限光明有量光了。
Namo Amituofo!
May 31, 2025
May 31, 2025
Basic Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
155. The Relationship Between Amitabha Buddha’s Light and Life (continued 3/6)
1. The Unity of Essence
This unity refers to the idea that Light is the radiance of Infinite Life, and Life is the vitality of Infinite Light. Life, as understood in the Pure Land teaching, is characterized by permanence, bliss, true self, and purity — attributes made possible only by its boundless luminous nature. Conversely, the reason Light is termed "Infinite Light" is because it is grounded in a base of Infinite Life.
A common analogy is that of a candle. When lit, it produces light; the duration it can burn is its lifespan. The light and the candle's wax form an inseparable whole — the function and the substance are united. Yet, such worldly analogies are inherently limited.
A candle may burn for two hours and illuminate only five to ten meters. It is finite in both duration and range. In contrast, Amitabha Buddha's Light and Life are both immeasurable and inconceivable — fully integrated in a boundless, transcendent unity.
(to be continued tomorrow)
155 阿彌陀佛光壽關係 (續 3/6)
1.一體的關係
一體，即光明，是無量壽命的光明；壽命，是無量光明的壽命。壽命是常樂 我淨的，因為有無量光明的壽命；而光明之所以被稱為無量光明，是因為有無 量壽命作為支撐。
比如一根蠟燭，點燃就有光；這根蠟燭能燃燒的時間，這個量就是壽。這 就是一體的關係，這蠟燭的光和蠟燭的燭體不能分開。
當然，世間的比喻不足以形容。這是有量的，蠟燭只能燃燒兩個小時，光 只能照五米、十米，一根小蠟燭而已，但阿彌陀佛的光壽一體都是無量的。
Namo Amituofo!
May 30, 2025
May 30, 2025
Basic Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
155. The Relationship Between Amitabha Buddha’s Light and Life (continued 2/6)
The Amitabha Sutra states:
"Shariputra, the light of that Buddha is infinite, illuminating the lands of the ten directions without obstruction; hence, he is called Amitabha. Again, Shariputra, the lifespans of that Buddha and his people are infinite and boundless, lasting for immeasurable kalpas; therefore, he is called Amitabha."
The conjunction "again" (又) in the passage signifies the intimate and inseparable connection between the virtues of Light (guāng dé 光德) and Life (shòu dé 壽德). Neither can exist independently of the other, nor can either be omitted. Only through their mutual presence and integration can the title "Amitabha" — Infinite Light and Infinite Life — be fully realized.
Given this unity of Light and Life, there are twelve attributes of Light as well as twelve corresponding attributes of Life — such as “Infinite Light and Life, Unbounded Light and Life, Unobstructed Light and Life, and so on, culminating in Light and Life surpassing that of the sun and moon.”
In contrast, the lifespan in this world, the “kalpa of defilement in life” (mìng zhuó 命濁) is devoid of the Buddha’s luminous virtue. Such life is marked by suffering
and defilement; the longer it endures, the more intense the suffering becomes, and is exemplified by beings in the hell realms.
The relationship between Light and Life in Amitabha Buddha can be summarized in several dimensions:
(to be continued tomorrow)
155 阿彌陀佛光壽關係 (續 2/6)
《阿彌陀經》言：「舍利弗，彼佛光明無量，照十方國無所障礙，是故號為阿 彌陀。又舍利弗，彼佛壽命及其人民，無量無邊阿僧祇劫，故名阿彌陀。」一 「又」字，說明壽德與光德之間的密切關係，互不可分，互不可少，如此才能稱 為「阿彌陀」。
既光壽同具，有十二光德，亦有十二壽德。即無量光壽、無邊光壽、無礙 光壽……、超日月光壽。若此間命濁之壽，無佛光明之德，即是苦難、染污之 命，壽愈久，苦愈深，如地獄眾生。
光壽之關係，大致可概括為以下幾重。
Namo Amituofo!
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