Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about Care of Life and a Vegetarian Diet
護生與素食
A Buddhist, especially an Amitabha-reciter, should recite Amitabha’s Name as a vegetarian; while thinking of Amitabha Buddha who set forth great vows to deliver sentient beings of the ten directions, particularly those who suffer most and are urgently in need. So, if we think of Amitabha’s compassion, we should understand that the meat that we eat today is probably a sentient being who Amitabha Buddha wishes to deliver.
Simply speaking, learning to become a Buddha is learning the Buddha’s compassion. We should also realize Amitabha’s great compassion when we recite his Name. We should also realize that the animals we eat today may have been our parents in past lives. Knowing that, why would we choose to eat them?
學佛,尤其是念佛的人,應該長齋念佛,因為想到阿彌陀佛發願要救度的是十方眾生,而且是以最苦的眾生為最迫切要救度的對象,所以如果能體會阿彌陀佛的悲心,就應該會想到我們今天所吃的肉,也是阿彌陀佛所急迫要救度的眾生。
簡要的說,學佛就是要學佛的慈悲心,念佛也要體會阿彌陀佛的大悲心,既然面對的是生生世世的父母,為什麼還要吃他呢?
Namo Amituofo!
