April 12, 2026

Apr. 12, 2026 

Master Huijing’s Short Teaching about the Pure Land (I) 

淨土短文 (一) 

12. After being reborn in Amitabha’s Pure Land, all become pure bodhisattvas, who will not regress, and are destined to attain Buddhahood in one more lifetime. ( one-lifetime-to-Buddhahood bodhisattvas). 

Those who are reborn in Amitabha’s Pure Land should not take inferior or shallow good deeds as their fundamental basis. 

“Hold fast to the Name and wish to hear it. When it is heard, one wishes to recollect it with the mind neither confused nor scattered.” 

(Sanskrit version of the Amitabha Sutra) 

12. 往生彌陀淨土之後，都是清淨、不退轉，一生補處的菩薩。 往生彌陀淨土的眾生，不可唯以下劣的善為根本的。 

執持名號，願聞其聞，願憶念，……心不迷亂，願憶念。（梵文小經） 

Namo Amituofo!

April 11, 2026

Apr. 11, 2026 

Clarifying Doubts About the Pure Land (I) 

淨土釋疑(一)

Answer to Q33: (6 /6) 

But when one has received Amitabha’s Paramitas, it is different. If others truly need help, we will give without even considering ourselves, because what we have received is already so abundant. When insulted or slandered, instead of 

merely enduring it, we may ask the other person to forgive us. After all, who have we not wronged in past lives? Who has not suffered insults from us? If not for such karmic entanglements, we would not be beings without the conditions to escape samsara. 

When we understand these principles, our hearts naturally soften. This is what is called “becoming gentle upon encountering the Buddha’s light.” When we exclusively recite Namo Amitabha Buddha, we receive Amitabha’s light and our bodies and minds become soft and gentle. 

However, reciting Namo Amitabha Buddha can be done in two ways: self-power recitation and other-power recitation. To practice recitation with reliance on other-power, one must understand the principle and true meaning of the six-characters (“Namo Amitabha Buddha”). Everything we have discussed today explains the principle and true meaning of Namo Amitabha Buddha. Then we understand that we are naturally embraced and protected by Amitabha’s light, and gradually transformed. 

33問 (6 /6)： 

但是，領受阿彌陀佛的救度就不同了，對方真正需要的話，甚至不考慮自 己，因為我們所得的太豐富了嘛；受到人家謾罵、侮辱，以前是忍辱，現在反 而要求他來原諒我們。哪一個人不是我們欠他的？哪一個人沒有受到我們的 謾罵、侮辱（如果不是這樣，我們就容易解脫了，就不是「無有出離之緣」的人 了）？能夠體悟到這些道理，我們的心自然就會軟化，所謂「觸光柔軟」（即稱 念這句名號，就會觸到彌陀的光明，就會變得身心柔軟）。

不過，稱名既然有自力稱名和他力稱名，而他力稱名總要去瞭解六字名號的 原理、真義。那麼，我們今天所講的，都是六字名號的原理，瞭解六字名號的 真義，無形之中就是在受彌陀光明的攝護，就在觸光，就會有所改變。

Namo Amituofo!

April 10, 2026

Apr. 10, 2026 

Clarifying Doubts About the Pure Land (I) 

淨土釋疑(一) 

Answer to Q33: (5 /6) 

He does not give us gold and silver treasures, but the Land of Bliss itself. In that land, the ground is made of gold. The houses there are built not with bricks like ours, but with gold. Most precious of all, he gives us Infinite Light and Infinite Life, and the same Forty-Eight Great Vows that he possesses. 

At that time we will feel: “I am rich beyond measure!” If we possess so much, would we still be stingy when giving a little to others? If someone owes us a small amount, would we insist on reclaiming it at all costs? No. These things no longer matter. Our hearts will be transformed. 

Therefore, although the Pure Land path does not emphasize the practice of the Six Paramitas and countless virtuous deeds, it emphasizes the exclusive recitation of Namo Amitabha Buddha. Through these recitations the entirety of the Six Paramitas will naturally be awakened in us. 

In contrast, practitioners who rely on self-power, must deliberately weigh their giving before they give. While giving, they may calculate, “How much have I given? How much merit have I accumulated?” They may also calculate how much they can give without affecting their livelihood or business. Patience is similar—when criticized or insulted, they remind themselves, “I must endure; I must practice patience.” 

(to be continued tomorrow) 

33問 (5 /6)： 

阿彌陀佛給我們的不是金銀財寶，而是極樂世界，極樂世界的寶，地面上 都是黃金。我們這裏的房子是磚塊砌成的，極樂世界的磚塊是黃金；最豐富的 就是給我們無量光、無量壽，給我們與阿彌陀佛一樣的四十八大願——是給 我們這些東西啊！那個時候，我們就會感受到：「我太富有了，不應該有、卻 有那麼多東西。」今天，我們拿出這麼一點點給人家，還會吝嗇嗎？今天人家 欠我們一點點，我們一定要苦苦地追討回來，會這樣嗎？不會了，這些已經 不計較了。心就會轉化。 

所以，淨土法門雖然不強調六度萬行，只強調一向稱名，可是六度萬行就 會在懂得一向稱名的人的內心自然流露出來。 

而自力修行者，未布施以前要強調布施，而且布施的時候，會在心中盤算 「我布施了多少，有了多少功德」，甚至盤算：「我現在要布施，我要拿出多少 錢，這些拿出去，必須是不影響自己的家境、生活，不影響自己的事業；如果 有影響的話，那就要斟酌。」忍辱也是一樣，今天受人家批評謾罵，就會在心 中說：「要忍呀、要忍呀，要有修行。」

Namo Amituofo!

April 9, 2026

Apr. 9, 2026 

Clarifying Doubts About the Pure Land (I) 

淨土釋疑(一) 

Answer to Q33: (4 /6) 

Amitabha Buddha has reached out his golden hands. He has been waiting for us for ten kalpas. The ones he calls to are not sages, but ordinary beings like us—those who know they cannot practice well, who are troubled, and who fear the endless cycle of birth and death. Such people are precisely the ones Amitabha calls.

When we truly realize the Buddha’s heart, how could we ever say, “Look, I am already saved and I don’t care if you are going to hell.” That would never happen. Instead we will feel compassion for others. After all, what relationship did we originally have with Amitabha? None. Yet he regards us as his own family, even as part of himself. He vowed and practiced for us, to share the teaching of rebirth through the exclusive recitation of Namo Amitabha Buddha. He even honors us as if we were his parents. His only purpose is for us to receive his Infinite Wisdom and Compassion and be freed from suffering. 

Once we receive Amitabha’s Infinite Compassion , we naturally share that compassion by understanding, tolerating, and forgiving others. What Amitabha has given us, we will share with others. 

What Amitabha gives us is life restored from death. We not only gain life again, but the abundant life that leads to Buddhahood. 

(to be continued tomorrow) 

33問 (4 /6)： 

阿彌陀佛既然伸出金色的手，等待我們十劫了，他所要接引的、呼喚的對 象，不是聖人，而是我們凡夫。我們不是覺得自己會修行、自己非常安樂，而 是覺得自己不會修行、自己正在苦惱當中，正在為自己的生死輪迴懼怕，我 們這種人就是彌陀呼喚的對象。 

我們既然體悟到佛心，我們怎麼可能說：「哎呀！你看我已經被救了，你呀，你該下地獄」——不會這樣，反而會去體諒別人，而且認為：我跟阿彌陀佛 有什麼關係？沒有吧！阿彌陀佛竟把我看成他的親人，看成他自己，發願為 我修行，甚至為了將念佛往生的法門告訴我，把我當成他的父母來孝敬，目 的就是讓我體悟他的救度，從而免除我的痛苦，這純粹都是彌陀的大心。

領受彌陀的大悲心之後，我們就會散發這個悲心去體諒別人，包容、寬恕別人。我們領受彌陀給我們這麼多的東西，就會拿去給別人。

阿彌陀佛給我們的是起死回生。我們重生，不但得到了生命，而且得到成 佛那樣豐富的生命。 

Namo Amituofo!

April 8, 2026

Apr. 8, 2026 

Clarifying Doubts About the Pure Land (I) 

淨土釋疑(一) 

Answer to Q33: (3 /6)

Will beings like us, who create so much negative karma, become arrogant and complacent upon receiving Amitabha’s Compassion? No. On the contrary, we will become more understanding toward others. Because Amitabha truly understands us, he made vows and practiced on our behalf beforehand. His vows and practices were all made for us. What he vowed and cultivated he gives to us freely — without asking for anything in return. His only wish is: “Just come to the Land of Bliss and accept its Infinite Life and Infinite Light.” 

This is like a mother who wholeheartedly gives herself to her child without expecting repayment. Once a child is born, a mother naturally has the feeling: “I will protect this child with my life.” This is a natural instinct. 

Confucius said, “No woman learns how to raise children before she marries.” No one needs to learn this beforehand. Once the child is born, love and care naturally arise. 

Amitabha’s Infinite compassion is also like this—it is his natural state. His very existence is for saving ordinary beings. 

It is like a compassionate wealthy person who gives money to those in need. If someone already has money, he would not need to give it. Because he is so wealthy, giving away money causes him no loss at all. He doesn’t give it to the rich, but to those who are poor and in need. 

(to be continued tomorrow) 

33問 (3 /6)： 

我們這種造罪造業的眾生，領受彌陀的救度、稱念這句名號是否就自驕 自滿、洋洋得意呢？不會，反而會去體諒別人，因為阿彌陀佛體諒我們，為我 們預先發願，為我們預先修行，他的願、他的行是為我們而發、為我們而修的 ，他把所發的願、所修的行，原原本本地白白送給我們，不要我們一毛一點點的回報都不要，他的目的是說：「你只要到極樂世界來，你只要隨順我的 救度」，就這樣而已。 

譬如為人母親的人，專心為兒女付出，不求回報，兒子生下來，就有一種 心：「我要以我的生命來保護這個嬰兒。」這是天性。孔子說：「未有學養子而後 嫁者也。」沒有人會說「我要嫁人了，我要先去學習養兒育女的心與方法」，沒 有，也不必，因為只要兒子生下來了，自自然然就會天性地去愛護他、養育他。 

阿彌陀佛救度我們，也是天性。他的天性，他的存在，就是要救度罪業的 眾生。 

好比一個富有而又慈悲的人，他既然錢拿出來了，就是要給沒錢用的人， 如果對方有錢，他就不用給他。他有愛心，而且富有，他即使拿再多的錢出來 ，對他來講，一點損失都沒有，因為他太有錢了。他拿錢出來，不是給有錢的 人，而是給沒錢而又需要錢的人。

Namo Amituofo!

April 7, 2026

Apr. 7, 2026 

Clarifying Doubts About the Pure Land (I) 

淨土釋疑(一) 

Answer to Q33: (2 /6) 

If Amitabha’s Name were compared to a ship or an airplane, then once you recite the Name, you are already on board. When you understand this principle, you will exclusively recite Namo Amitabha Buddha throughout your life. For beings like us, only Amitabha Buddha can be our fundamental source of refuge, our savior, our 

master, and our very life. There is no second savior we can rely upon. Therefore, in our Buddhist hall it is enough to enshrine Amitabha Buddha, or at most the Three Sacred Ones of the Western Pure Land. 

Master Shandao said in his Commentary on the Contemplation Sutra in Four Fascicles, “when we recite, we should exclusively recite Namo Amitabha Buddha.” If we bow, we bow only to Amitabha. If we contemplate something, it should only be our future homeland — Amitabha’s Pure Land. If we make offerings or praise, we direct them only to Amitabha. Our mind remains single and focused. It is like

entering a highway where one can only move forward and not turn back. Once we reach the destination, there are no side roads. In this way we will no longer return to the cycle of the six realms. Once we board, we will certainly arrive at the Land of Bliss. 

(to be continued tomorrow) 

33問 (2 /6)： 

這句名號如果是一艘船，或是一架飛機的話，你稱念這句名號，就已經在 船中或飛機上了，你懂得這個道理的話，自然會一生不變地稱名念佛，因為 像我們這種眾生，唯有以阿彌陀佛為我們的本尊、為我們的救主、為我們的 主人、為我們的生命，再也沒有第二個本尊、第二位救主可以讓我們依靠，因 此，我們佛堂只要供一尊阿彌陀佛，頂多西方三聖就好。 

善導大師在《觀經四帖疏》裏說：我們如果稱名，就一心專稱「南無阿彌陀 佛」名號；禮拜，就一心專拜阿彌陀佛；觀想（這個觀想不是《觀經》的十三種定 觀，而是想像我們未來所要去的那個美好的家園，這個想像），也是只想像我 們的家園，不想像其他十方佛國；供養讚歎，也只供養讚歎阿彌陀佛。這一顆 心始終都是專一的，好像上了高速公路，只能前進，不能後退，一旦停下來，就到了目的地了，沒有岔路。所以，使我們不會再回到六道輪迴去。不上則已 ，一上就必定到極樂世界。

Namo Amituofo! 

April 6, 2026

Apr. 6, 2026 

Clarifying Doubts About the Pure Land (I) 

淨土釋疑(一) 

Question 33: 

Master, I understand that since Amitabha Buddha saves us, we should not do things that go against the Buddha, but instead do things to repay the Buddha’s kindness. Yet sometimes, without realizing it, we still create negative karma. When we commit such negative karmic actions, will it affect our positive karma? Can Amitabha Buddha eliminate these karmic offenses for us? 

Answer: 

If we are speaking about ordinary beings like ourselves, when are we not committing negative offenses and karma? The Ksitigarbha Sutra says: “Sentient beings of Southern Jambudvipa — every movement and every thought create negative karma.” In particular, the very fact that we can survive often depends on eating the flesh of other beings. Who among us has never eaten meat since birth? Therefore we have all created the karma of killing — if not by doing the killing,

then by others killing on our behalf. Every thought we give rise to can create negative karma. 

Our thoughts are filled with greed, anger, and ignorance. We are all very self-centered. For example, when we are about to take a photograph, we first make sure our own appearance looks proper; and when the photo is developed, the first person we look for is ourselves. 

If someone treats us slightly better or praises us a little, we feel pleased. However, if someone says something unfavorable about us, or whispers behind our backs, we feel unhappy. If we are insulted or slandered, we feel even worse. Thus greed, anger, and ignorance constantly exist in our minds and will not disappear even after death. Even after we have accepted Amitabha’s deliverance, this remains the case. 

It is precisely such beings that Amitabha Buddha intends to save. The only condition for receiving Amitabha’s saving embrace is exclusively reciting Namo Amitabha Buddha. 

(to be continued tomorrow) 

33問：請問師父，我知道佛的救度，本來不應該幹一些對不起佛的事，應該幹 一些報佛恩的事，可是有時候不知不覺就造了業，造這些業，是不是就受影 響了？阿彌陀佛能不能給我們消除這些業？ 

答：如果論我們眾生，何時不在造罪造業？《地藏經》說：「南閻浮提眾生， 舉止動念，無不是業，無不是罪。」尤其是我們之所以能夠生存，是靠著吃眾 生肉而來的——誰生下來沒有吃過肉？所以，我們都曾造殺生的業，不是自 己殺，就是人家為我而殺，起心動念都是業、都是罪。 

我們起心動念都是貪瞋癡，都是自私自利，把自己考慮在第一位。今天要 照相了，一定要先端正自己的儀容；等相片出來了，第一眼先看的一定是自 己。所以，自自然然地，我們都把自己考慮到第一位。

人家如果對我稍微好一點，對我稍微讚歎一兩聲，心中就會很快意；如果稍微說我們一兩句壞話，或 者是背後竊竊私語，我們就會不喜歡；受到侮辱、誹謗，則更加不愉快。所以， 貪瞋癡時時存在於我們心中，到死都消不掉，即使我們信受彌陀救度了，也 仍然如此。 

阿彌陀佛正是要救度這種眾生。阿彌陀佛救度的條件，就是「你只要稱名 念佛就可以了」，這樣的眾生就已經給救到了。

Namo Amituofo!