Saturday, November 2, 2024

November 2, 2024

Nov. 2, 2024
Basic Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識

136. The real form of the Pure Land of Bliss (continued)

With respect to the palaces and pagodas, human beings understand them as shelters which is an important aspect of a home. In the Pure Land, there is no rain or wind, no summer or winter; so, it is not necessary to have shelter. Similarly, fountains and gardens are necessary as a way to relieve people from stress.

However, since there are no afflictions or hardships in the Pure Land, it isn’t necessary to have gardens with trees and ponds. So, all of these are depicted as a way of accommodating the worldly needs of human beings.

The Great Sutra says, “That Buddha Land is pure, serene, wondrous and joyful. It is equivalent to the realm of unconditioned nirvana. All of its Sravakas, Bodhisattvas, celestial and human beings have the most advanced wisdom, and thoroughly penetrating supernatural powers. They are actually all of the same type and there is no difference in their appearance.

However, in order for them to enter other realms, they assume the forms of ‘celestial and human beings.’ In the Pure Land their countenances are refined, transcendent and extraordinary. Their complexions are exquisite and marvelous, neither celestial nor human. They are all endowed with natural, immaterial bodies, and the ability to assume unlimited forms.”

So, the Land of Bliss is a realm of free will. It can manifest in any form sentient beings prefer. As the Treatise on Rebirth says, “Forever free from physical and mental afflictions, they enjoy uninterrupted happiness. All that sentient beings wish for and delight in can be satisfied. “

136極樂淨土之真相(續)

以宮殿樓閣而言,人類界為避風雨寒暑,故有家屋之必要,無風雨無寒暑之淨土,則無家屋之必要;以清泉花池庭園而言,為賞心悅目,以慰勞苦,有珍草嘉木、清泉花池等庭園之必要,既無勞苦亦無憂惱之淨土,則無七寶樹林、八功德水等庭園之必要。故,七寶樓閣、七寶樹林等,皆是隨順人類界之描

述。

《大經》說:彼佛國土,清淨安穩,微妙快樂,次於無為泥洹之道。其諸聲聞、菩薩、天人,智慧高明,神通洞達,咸同一類,形無異狀;但因順餘方,故有天人之名。顏貌端正,超世稀有,容色微妙,非天非人,皆受自然虛無之身、無極之體。

然而,極樂世界乃如意境界,可隨眾生所欲,而如意變現。如《往生論》所說:永離身心惱,受樂常無間。眾生所願樂,一切能滿足。

Namo Amituofo!

November 1, 2024

Nov. 1, 2024
Basic Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識

136. The real form of the Pure Land of Bliss (continued)

Actually, it is not. These forms are used to accommodate human beings. The actual “forms” within the Pure Land cannot be described, and are far beyond the descriptions of Nirvana in the human world. The realm of Nirvana is an absolute realm, so it is totally different from the forms and marks in the human realm.

Thus, however we describe the realm of Nirvana, we cannot fully understand it. It’s similar to the way cats, dogs, and sea creatures cannot understand magnificent buildings, the value of money, or gold and silver.

Shakyamuni explained the realm of Nirvana to human beings using the analogies of jewels and jades for the palaces and pagodas, in order to show that the Land of Bliss is absolutely splendid.

In other words, the absolute realm of the Land of Bliss cannot be described or understood fully by human beings. In order to help us understand the splendors of the Land of Bliss, Shakyamuni had no alternative, but to use gold, silver and other jewels to describe and reveal the adorned forms of the Land of Bliss.

Thus, in reality, there are no palaces, pagodas, seven-jeweled trees, water with eight virtues in the ponds, and no foods with different tastes. Those terms were used to help human beings imagine those forms of existence.

136極樂淨土之真相(續)

其實,如上之記事,皆順人類界之相狀而說,故《大經》說:「因順餘方。」本來淨土之真相,不可描述,而極樂淨土是遠遠超越人間世界之大涅槃界,大涅槃界即是絕對界,因此,其光景全然異於人類世界之樣貌,故雖對我等人類描述涅槃界之光景,我等亦不可能了解。

譬如對動物類貓狗或水族類魚蝦等,描述人間豪宅的美觀,黃金白銀鈔票的價值,彼等亦全然不能了解。因此釋尊對人界說明大涅槃的境界,便隨順人界用重寶、採勝景之金殿玉樓等,以如上所說,而對我等顯示極樂淨土是絕妙絕勝的世界。

換言之,絕對界的極樂淨土之真光景,是人類之知識所不能了解分別,故為使人類知道極樂勝妙之內容,便以人類世界最為殊勝的事物描述之外,無有方法,故假藉以金銀琉璃等七寶嚴飾花池樓閣,而顯示極樂淨土之莊嚴相。

因此,據實而言,極樂淨土,本來並無宮殿樓閣,亦無七寶樹林,亦無八功德水之七寶池,亦無百味飲食。說有此等之物,乃是姑順人類界之相狀而假說。

Namo Amituofo!

October 31, 2024

Oct. 31, 2024
Basic Knowledge in the Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識

136. The real form of the Pure Land of Bliss (continued)

The Pure Land of Bliss is the glorious adorned world where the reward body of Amitabha Buddha resides. Actually, it is a realm of great Nirvana with respect to the Buddha’s infinite light and life. For Amitabha Buddha, it is a place where sentient beings are delivered and are reborn. For sentient beings, it is a place to be reborn, and enjoy its unsurpassed rewards.

The Buddha’s body is the Dharma substance that cannot be compared, fully described, or fully conceived. The Pure Land is the wonderful inconceivable realm where Amitabha resides. Thus, the Great Sutra says, “Seeing the adorned Pure Land, subtle and difficult-to-conceive. That Buddha-land is pure and safe, wonderful and joyful, consisting of unconditioned Nirvana. The Buddha-land is pure and adorned, surpassing all other worlds in the ten directions.

The Treatise on Rebirth says, “ The splendors of the Land of the Buddha of Infinite Life are wondrous manifestations according to the “First-Principle Truth. Ultimately [the Pure Land] is like a void, immense and boundless.” One should know that the real form of the Pure Land of Bliss is so splendid that it exceeds our narrow and deluded imaginations, and limited knowledge.

However, the Three Pure Land Sutras say, “In the Pure Land of Bliss, there are seven rows of balustrades, seven rows of decorative nets, and seven rows of trees. There are seven-jeweled ponds filled with water of the eight excellent qualities. Lotus flowers in blue, green, red and white bloom, fragrant and clear. Palaces and pagodas are magnificent and beautifully decorated with seven jewels. The ground is gold and the terrains are level, without mountains, rivers, or seas.The sounds of music permeate the sky. Birds of different colors sing a variety of melodies.

All kinds of tasty foods naturally appear as one wishes. Everyone is extremely happy. Are all these forms depictions of the reality of the Pure Land of Bliss?

(to be continued tomorrow)

136極樂淨土之真相 (續)

二、極樂淨土之真相

極樂淨土是報身阿彌陀佛所居住清淨莊嚴之世界,其實質是相應於光壽二無量之佛身的大涅槃界。對阿彌陀佛而言,是使眾生往生之處,是救度眾生之處;對我等眾生而言,是我等眾生往生之處,享受無上大果之處。

佛身是不可稱、不可說、不可思議之法體,故彌陀所居住之淨土,亦非吾人之知識範圍所能思議之妙境,故《大經》說:「見彼嚴淨土,微妙難思議。彼佛國土,清淨安穩,微妙快樂,次於無為泥洹之道。其佛國土,清淨莊嚴,超踰十方一切世界。」

《往生論》說:「無量壽佛國土莊嚴,第一義諦妙境界相。究竟如虛空,廣大無邊際。」可知,極樂淨土之真相,非以吾人有限狹小迷暗的思想知識所能思量想像的勝妙相。

然而淨土三經說,極樂淨土有七重欄楯,七重羅網,七重行樹;有七寶池,八功德水,青黃赤白蓮花鮮開,清香普薰;有七寶莊嚴之廣大宮殿樓閣;黃金為地,地面平坦無山無河無海;有萬種音樂於空中播放;種種雜色之鳥出和雅音;百味飲食自然現前,其快樂無極等。

此等記事,果為極樂淨土真相之描寫嗎?

Namo Amituofo!

October 30, 2024

Oct. 30, 2024
Basic Knowledge in the Pure Land School
淨土小常識

136. The real form of the Pure Land of Bliss

1. The literal meaning of the Land of Bliss

As far as the literal meaning of Land of Bliss is concerned, the Amitabha Sutra says, “If you travel westward from here, passing a hundred thousand kotis of Buddha-lands, you will come to the land called 'Utmost Bliss,' where there is a Buddha named 'Amitabha.' He is living there now, teaching the Dharma.”

The Sutra on Praising the Pure Land (another version) says, “As there is no physical or mental suffering and no afflictions, there is only infinite purity, joy and peace; so, it is called the Land of Bliss.”

This is said to contrast the forms in the deluded world filled with Four Sufferings and Eight Sufferings. Thus, it is called the Land of Bliss because of the absence of the various kinds of sufferings and the complete presence of all kinds of joy. The joy in the Land of Bliss is absolute, not relative. It is true joy that transcends both happiness and suffering. As it says in the Sutra, “Great joy is no-happiness and no-suffering, which is the nature of Nirvana. Thus, Nirvana is true joy.”

The literal meaning of Bliss in the relative sense is the departure from all kinds of suffering in the deluded world, and the enjoyment of various joys. However, in terms of the absolute, it is a real realm of Nirvana with true joy that transcends all kinds of suffering and joy in the deluded world.

One ought to know: this kind of absolute joy cannot be conceived of, understood, or explained by us.

(to be continued tomorrow)

136極樂淨土之真相

一、極樂之語義

就極樂語義而言:《阿彌陀經》說:「彼土何故名為極樂?其國眾生,無有眾苦,但受諸樂,故名極樂。」《稱讚淨土經》說:「無有一切身心憂苦,唯有無量清淨喜樂,是故名為極樂世界。」

經文是相對於迷妄世界四苦八苦之眾苦充滿之相狀,而說無有眾苦但受諸樂,故名極樂。然而,極樂世界之樂,據實而言,並非與苦相對之樂,是超越苦樂之真樂,如《大涅槃經》卷二一〈德王品〉說:「無苦無樂乃名大樂,涅槃之性無苦無樂,是故涅槃名為大樂。」

此極樂之語義,若以相對性解釋,是脫離迷妄世界所有之苦,但受諸樂之世界,故名極樂;若以絕對性解釋,是超越迷界之苦樂的大涅槃真樂境界,故名極樂。而且應知,此絕對性真樂非吾人所可想像,亦非吾人所能了解。

Namo Amituofo!

Tuesday, October 29, 2024

October 29, 2024

Oct. 29, 2024
Discussion on Excerpts from the Scriptures of the Pure Land School
淨土宗精要法語討論

05. Making the General Vows with the Bodhi Mind in the Infinite Life Sutra
I vow to become a Buddha
With the same sublimity as you, Dharma King.
I shall deliver beings from transmigration
And let them all attain liberation.
I vow to attain Buddhahood
And fulfill this vow universally,
Turning all of the fears [of sentient beings]
Into great peace.
When I become a Buddha,
My land will rank first.
Its inhabitants shall be wonderful,
And its cultivation sites shall be second to none.
My land shall be like nirvana,
Peerless and without equal.

Question 05.01: Dharmakara Bodhisattva made vows to establish his practices. In how many ways can the vows be divided?

Answer: There are three kinds of vows. The first are the vows related to his Dharma Body - I vow to become a Buddha, with the same sublimity as you, Dharma King. The second are the vows related to sentient beings - Turning all of the fears [of sentient beings] into great peace. The third are the vows related to the land - When I become a Buddha, my land will be the most sublime.

05.《無量壽經》 發心總願
6.
願我作佛,齊聖法王,過度生死,靡不解脫。......吾誓得佛,普行此願,一切恐懼,為作大安。......令我作佛,國土第一,其眾奇妙,道場超絕。國如泥洹,而無等雙。

05.1 問:法藏比丘發願,分為哪幾方面?

答:分為三方面,一是攝法身願——「願我作佛,齊聖法王」,二是攝眾生願——「一切恐懼,為作大安」,三是攝淨土願——「令我作佛,國土第一」。

Namo Amituofo!

October 28, 2024

Oct. 28, 2024
Q and A about Practicing Amitabha-Recitation
Part Two - Rebirth through Amitabha-Recitation
第二部分 有關念佛往生

21. Question: If our minds are not pure, with all kinds of miscellaneous thoughts flying around, while reciting Namo Amitabha Buddha, can we still be reborn?
Answer: Most definitely! See the accounts recorded in the Third Collection. Those lay people who recite Amitabha’s name, despite having all kinds of scattered thoughts, can still be reborn.
Actually, whether your mind is pure or not, and whether you have miscellaneous thoughts or not, are not related to rebirth at all. If you exclusively recite Namo Amitabha Buddha, and really wish to be reborn, nothing can obstruct Amitabha’s deliverance.
It is just like traveling on a ship, if your body is already on board, it doesn’t matter what you think, as long as you stay on the ship, you will eventually arrive on the shore.
Taking refuge in Amitabha Buddha means totally surrendering our desire to become a Buddha to Amitabha Buddha. If we exclusively recite Amitabha’s name and fully entrust in his deliverance, our being is already on Amitabha’s great ship.
We have formed one entity with Amitabha. It doesn’t matter what our conscious mind brings up, as they are just thoughts. They are impermanent virtual images without any substance. How can they obstruct Amitabha’s deliverance? How can they prevent Amitabha’s great vow ship from sailing? They can’t! Amitabha’s unimpeded light can easily save us and deliver us to the West.
Generally, we say that if a person has many false and miscellaneous thoughts, his mind is not at ease, and he suffers from numerous afflictions. So, it is better to have fewer miscellaneous thoughts. How can we do that? Try to let go of worldly matters, and recite the Buddha’s name more often. After a while, our miscellaneous thoughts will be reduced.
“The ten-recitation method” adopted by Master Yinguang is also an effective way of practicing “single-minded” Amitabha-recitation.

21問:雖念佛,心不清淨,雜念紛飛,能往生嗎?
答:能!《念佛感應錄》第三集所記往生各例,都是普普通通的念佛人,也都不免多多少少雜念,但都往生。
其實心清淨不清淨、念佛有沒有雜念,與能不能往生是絲毫也不相關的。
專修念佛,真願往生,即使是一天到晚雜念紛飛也一點點都不會障礙阿彌陀佛的救度,一點點都不會影響往生的。
好比身體已經坐上了大船,就是心裏動念想東想西,只要安心在船上而不下船,船仍然會拉著我們到彼岸,而絲毫不受影響。
歸命阿彌陀佛,把我們的解脫成佛的性命交給阿彌陀佛,而一向念阿彌陀佛的名號,安心讓阿彌陀佛救度,我們的心就已經在阿彌陀佛的大願船上,與阿彌陀佛成為一體了;即使第六意識想東想西,不過是「前塵影事」、「虛妄想像」,本身就是生滅無常、沒有體性的,能妨礙阿彌陀佛的救度嗎?
能阻擋阿彌陀佛的大願船嗎?一點點都不會!阿彌陀佛的無礙光,會很輕鬆、毫不費力地把我們救到西方。
只是說一個人的妄想雜念多,內心就不容易安定,心裏也多一些煩惱,所以念佛的人還是希望雜念少一些。那也有方法,就是儘量看淡世事,多念佛,久而久之,自然雜念就會少一些。
印光大師的「十念記數法」也是攝心念佛的好方法。

Namo Amituofo!

October 27, 2024

Oct. 27, 2024
Short Dharma Teaching about the Grace of Deliverance
救恩法語(一)

In the Pure Land teaching, a thousand out of a thousand and ten thousand out of ten thousand who believe will be assured of rebirth.
Those who commit the gravest offenses and slander the Correct Dharma will fall into hell; but, they can still be saved by Amitabha Buddha if they believe and accept the Buddha’s deliverance. If they don’t, they cannot be saved, because they don’t believe, don’t rely on the Buddha, and don’t accept the Buddha’s grace of deliverance.

淨土法門千信即千生,萬信即萬生。
五逆十惡極重罪人應墮阿鼻,佛可以救;若不信佛佛不能救。
因為不信佛、不靠佛、不接受佛的救度之恩。

Namo Amituofo!