October 20, 2026

Oct. 20, 2026

Wonderful Metaphors in the Pure Land School 

淨土宗妙喻 

Metaphor 75: Light Pierces the Darkness 

Even those who have committed the five gravest transgressions can find themselves sitting on the golden lotus platforms to gain rebirth in the Pure Land. Like a dark room - once illuminated, how can the darkness linger? 

How is it that those who have committed such heinous acts or slandered the Dharma, who truly deserve to suffer in the infernal Avici Hell, can be seated on the golden lotus platforms for rebirth in the Land of Bliss? The answer lies in reciting the Name of Amitabha – a name that embodies infinite light and ensures one's rebirth. 

[As Master Tanluan eloquently puts it]: Imagine a room shrouded in darkness for a millennium. The moment light pierces that darkness, the room becomes instantly illuminated. Can the darkness argue its right to stay, claiming a thousand-year occupancy? Similarly, when the light is switched on in a room that has been dark for a thousand years, the darkness vanishes immediately. It’s impossible for the darkness to insist on a gradual retreat simply because it has been residing there for centuries”. 

75. 明破暗喻 

五逆猶坐金蓮台，明破暗時，何暗留室。 

五逆謗法的眾生，本來應該墮落阿鼻地獄，受地獄之火的燃燒，居然能夠坐 上金蓮台，靠什麼？靠這句彌陀名號。彌陀名號是無量光明，所謂：「千年暗 室，光若暫至，即便明朗；暗豈得言，在室千歲，而不去耶？」好像一千年的黑暗房子，一旦打開電燈的話，黑暗當下通通消除，不可以說黑暗已經一千年， 所以必須要慢慢地消除。 

Namo Amituofo! 

October 19, 2026

Oct.19, 2026

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

淨土短文 (一) 

29. “Bodhisattvas who have newly aroused the aspiration for enlightenment should not distance themselves from the Buddhas. 

Just as an infant should not be separated from its mother. Just as a traveler should not go without provisions. Just as, in great heat, one should not be without a cool breeze or cold water. Just as, in a severe cold, one should not be without fire. Just as, when crossing deep waters, one should not be without a boat. Just as, when suffering from a serious illness, one should not be without a good physician.” 

(from the Treatise on the Great Perfection of Wisdom) 

29. 龍樹智度論：新發意菩薩，不應遠離諸佛。如嬰兒不應離母；如行道不離糧食； 

如大熱時，不離涼風冷水；如大寒時不離火；如渡深水，不應離船；如犯重病， 不離良醫。

Namo Amituofo!

October 18, 2026

Oct. 18, 2026

Clarifying Doubts About the Pure Land (II) 

淨土釋疑(二)

Answer to Q50 (continued) : Because one has attained the Twofold Deep Faith, there is no longer a single one of the 84,000 Dharma practices that one can rely upon or adopt as one’s path. This is because there is nothing else to rely upon, no way to turn back, and no path on either side. It is like walking along the White Path. 

Walking upon the White Path is itself an expression of the Twofold Deep Faith. Once a person is walking on this White Path, how could any of the 84,000 Dharma practices still serve as something on which he can rely? He can only proceed directly, maintaining right mindfulness. 

Such a person is already embraced and protected by Amitabha Buddha. It is impossible for him to fall again into the dangers of the water and fire. Nor can he turn back. He will no longer wander through the six realms of samsara. 

Is this not precisely what is meant by “rebirth and non-retrogression assured in this life”? 

Therefore, with a correct understanding, one will not fall into the mistaken view that, “Since my rebirth is already assured in this life, I no longer need to recite Namo Amitabha Buddha very much.” 

續答 Q50： 

因為有「機法兩種深信」，八萬四千法門就沒有一個法門學得來了，因為他一 無所靠，後退無路，兩邊也無路，就像走在白道上。走在白道上就是機法兩種 深信的現象，走在白道之上，八萬四千法門怎麼還有一個法門可以靠得上 呢？他一定是正念直來，這種眾生已經在阿彌陀佛的攝受當中，不可能再墮 入水火之難了，也不可能後退，將不再輪迴於六道，這豈不是平生業成現生 不退嗎？所以如果有正確的觀念，就不會認為我已平生業成，可以不用多念 佛的錯誤見解了。

Namo Amituofo!

October 17, 2026

Oct. 17, 2026 

Clarifying Doubts About the Pure Land (II) 

淨土釋疑(二) 

Question 50: If we rely on the power of Amitabha Buddha’s Vow, is there any difference between reciting Namo Amitabha Buddha throughout one’s life and reciting it only ten times? 

Answer: What is meant by reciting Namo Amitabha Buddha throughout one’s life and reciting it ten times is expressed as “from the upper limit of one’s entire life down to ten recitations, or even one recitation.” This is why the Eighteenth Vow says “even down to ten recitations”. 

Whenever you encounter and accept this Dharma teaching, you should recite Namo Amitabha Buddha from that point onward, throughout the rest of your life. If you encounter this teaching just before you’re about to die, then you recite Namo Amitabha Buddha up to ten times. 

In other words, after hearing and embracing this Dharma, one no longer relies on any other expedient practice; but, exclusively recites Namo Amitabha Buddha and relies on the power of Amitabha’s Vow for rebirth. 

Therefore, for those who practice this Dharma, if one thinks, “My rebirth is already assured and I am assured of non-retrogression in this life, so I no longer need to recite Namo Amitabha Buddha.” That would be a mistaken understanding. 

People who have truly attained “rebirth assured in this life” will certainly “never abandon their recitations.” Such people will recite Namo Amitabha Buddha throughout their lives; because they have deeply understood the meaning of the Twofold Deep Faith ( in the aptitude of sentient beings and in the Dharma). 

Imagine that someone whose entire being has been engulfed by the flames of hell, and is utterly unable to save himself, is rescued by Amitabha Buddha. How

would such a person live the rest of his life? Surely, reciting Namo Amitabha Buddha would become the most important matter of his life. 

If this teaching remains merely an intellectual concept without being genuinely experienced and understood, it is impossible to develop the attitude of “never abandoning the recitation, moment after moment.” 

(to be continued tomorrow) 

第50問：如果靠佛願力，一生稱名和乃至十念稱名，有沒有不同？ 

答：所謂一輩子的稱名和十念稱名，意思是上盡一形、一輩子，下至十聲、一 聲，所以是「乃至」。你什麼時候遇到這個法門，就從此之後乃至一輩子稱名， 是斷氣前十念才遇到的，就十念稱名。就是聞此法門後，從此不假方便，一向 稱念彌陀名號，靠彌陀願力往生。所以學我們這個法門的人，如果認為我已 往生決定現生不退，可以不念佛了，那就錯了。 

一個真正「平生業成」的人，他一定會「念念不捨」，一輩子念佛，因為體會到 「機法兩種深信」的道理。一個被地獄之火燒到的人，在沒辦法自救的情況下 被阿彌陀佛拉上來，他此後的人生會怎樣？一定是以念佛為他人生最重要的 事。如果這個道理只停留在觀念上，沒有真正體會，就不可能「念念不捨」的 念佛。

Namo Amituofo!

October 16, 2026

Oct. 16, 2026 

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teaching about “The Fear of Death” 

慧淨法師之「 死的恐怖」 

Liberation from the cycle of birth and death is the ultimate purpose of human life, and also the ultimate purpose of learning Buddhism. 

Yet this is the most difficult task in the world, something that cannot be accomplished through self-power alone. It can only be achieved by relying on Amitabha Buddha’s deliverance. 

生死輪迴的解決，是人生唯一最終目的，也是學佛的最終目的； 但，卻是天下絕對難事，非自力可成，唯依彌陀救度。 

Namo Amituofo!

October 15, 2026

Oct. 15, 2026

Q and A about Practicing Amitabha-Recitation 

Part Four - The Mindset and Practice in Daily Life 

念佛實用問答(4) - 日常心行 

Question 83: Besides reciting Namo Amitabha Buddha every day, I also enjoy playing mahjong. Can I still be reborn in the Pure Land? 

Answer to Q83 : It depends on your mindset. If you regard rebirth in the Pure Land through the exclusive recitation of Namo Amitabha Buddha as the most important matter in your life; but, still enjoy playing mahjong because of your habitual tendencies, you will still attain rebirth. However, after playing, you may feel that you have wasted your time and that reciting Namo Amitabha Buddha would have been more worthwhile. As time goes by, you will naturally play less and eventually stop. 

However, if you recite Namo Amitabha Buddha merely as a superficial addition to your life, while playing mahjong is what you truly enjoy and pursue, then you have reversed your priorities. In that case, rebirth in the Pure Land will be difficult.

83問：我每天念佛之外，還喜歡打打麻將，這樣能否往生？ 

答：這要看你的心。如果以念佛往生為人生第一要事，但因為習氣，喜歡打 麻將，那還是會往生。不過打完之後，自己也會覺得是浪費時間，不如念佛 的好。久而久之，自然也就少打、不打了。如果念佛只是裝點，打麻將正為 所好，這樣主次輕重顛倒，往生就有困難了。 

Namo Amituofo! 

October 14, 2026

Oct. 14, 2026

Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teaching about the Grace of Deliverance 

慧淨法師之救恩法語(二)之愛的心語 

The Buddha alone is the true Father of all sentient beings, rescuing them from the fires of afflictions. 

— Mahasaṃnipata Sutra

唯佛獨是眾生父，於煩惱火而救拔。《大集經》 

Namo Amituofo!