Oct 17

Oct 17, 2017
慧淨上人法語
淨土宗宗風俗諦

Do rectify faults first before doing good deeds. There is a reason for saying that. The general precepts of the buddhas stipulate, “Avoid evil, actively do good, and purify the mind. These are the teachings of the Buddha.” Looking at the sequence of the words, “avoid evil” is placed before “actively do good”, just the same as “do rectify faults first”. Hence, correcting one’s own faults or mistakes is very, very important.

What is “doing good” truly according to the teachings of our school? The answer is Amitabha-recitation, and also to have faith in the teachings and then teach others to believe. That is doing good. What is rectifying faults then? That is to rectify our behaviors in accordance with the standards as written in the tenets or teachings laid down by the holy sages and the virtuous of ancient times. 

未論行善，先須改過，這個很有道理。諸佛通戒的那一段法語說：「諸惡莫作，眾善奉行，自淨其意，是諸佛教。」眾善奉行之前，要先諸惡莫作，這就是「先須改過」，所以自我改過是非常、非常重要的。

對我們這個法門來講，真正的「行善」是什麼呢？就是念佛，以及自信教人信，這個就是行善。「改過」是什麼呢？就是以宗風或古聖先賢的法語做為標準來改正。

Namo Amitabha!