Jan 7, 2018
慧淨上人法語
淨土宗宗風真諦
In a group with the same faith, same aspiration, same practice, same belief and same goal, there should not be no norms, otherwise the good and the bad are intermingled just like weeds and seedlings are mixed. If ordinary beings with the three poisons (greed, anger and delusion) are allowed to be a law unto themselves in the group, it will never be a harmonious association. Therefore, Master Baizhang established the Pure Rules; Master Honen called for restraint in moral conduct and in interactions with other Buddhist sects, and Master Shandao disciplined himself in order to transform others. These are models for us.
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Patriarchs also set the rule “don’t develop intimate relation with friends not practicing on the same path” because rebirth is the upmost important event of our life and we should not follow a group randomly according to circumstances, which will impede this great event. If your intention is to convert a wicked person, or transform those with incorrect views, you should weigh and consider your own ability. If you have accomplished rebirth in the Land of Bliss and return from there, you will be able to guide the confused mass, mingling with them in the same world.
慧淨上人法語
淨土宗宗風真諦
In a group with the same faith, same aspiration, same practice, same belief and same goal, there should not be no norms, otherwise the good and the bad are intermingled just like weeds and seedlings are mixed. If ordinary beings with the three poisons (greed, anger and delusion) are allowed to be a law unto themselves in the group, it will never be a harmonious association. Therefore, Master Baizhang established the Pure Rules; Master Honen called for restraint in moral conduct and in interactions with other Buddhist sects, and Master Shandao disciplined himself in order to transform others. These are models for us.
,
Patriarchs also set the rule “don’t develop intimate relation with friends not practicing on the same path” because rebirth is the upmost important event of our life and we should not follow a group randomly according to circumstances, which will impede this great event. If your intention is to convert a wicked person, or transform those with incorrect views, you should weigh and consider your own ability. If you have accomplished rebirth in the Land of Bliss and return from there, you will be able to guide the confused mass, mingling with them in the same world.
If rules do not exist, ordinary beings can go wild like untamed horses and cause more harm to the group. Moreover, if the knowledge and views are incorrect, they will most easily misconceive the Fundamental Vow of Amitabha Buddha and fall to a place of suffering.
在一個同信同願同行、同理念同目標的團體之中，不可全無規範，否則龍蛇混雜、良莠不齊，三毒凡夫，我行我素的結果，將建不成一個和合的團體。故百丈立清規，法然制戒條，善導大師自行化他，以垂典範。
祖師亦有「不可親近非同行善知識」之戒，蓋往生之事是何等大事，豈可隨緣逐隊，妨礙大事，若要度惡人，化知見不正者，亦宜量己之分；否則從淨土回來時，不怕不能合光同塵地廣度群迷。
凡夫狂性難歇，若無規範，將如野馬不羈，為害更大；倘復知見不正，極易誤解彌陀本願而墮落。
Namo Amitabha!
