Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about Faith in Pure Land Buddhism
淨土信仰
In the very beginning of the Great Learning, it says, “The way of ultimate wisdom is the comprehension of absolute integrity, genial development of the common people, and endless pursuit of the perfection of humanity.” The Great Learning is, of course, a book that explains how to become a sage and sacred person, and the ways to administer the country / nation in peace.
From the Buddhist point of view, the comprehension of absolute integrity originates in the innate Buddha-Nature that all sentient beings possess, and the wisdom to understand the absolute integrity that resides in the Buddha-Nature that is no-birth and no-death, and in the state of purity and Nirvana. We should not strive to only enlighten ourselves; but, also to enlighten others – “genial development of the common people”. That means, through awakening the innate Buddha-Nature in all sentient beings, we will be able to live with new life.
When a person can perfectly enlighten himself through enlightening other people, that is the meaning of “endless pursuit of the perfection of humanity. “ “Endless pursuit of the perfection of humanity” in our School is shared through “Amitabha-recitation with Proper Faith.”
《大學》開宗明義就說:「大學之道,在明明德,在親民,在止於至善。」當然《大學》這一部書是在說明成賢成聖,治國平天下的大道理。
以佛法的觀點來解釋,「明德」就是每一個眾生本具的佛性,「明明德」無非是在覺悟這不生不滅、清淨涅槃的佛性,而且不只是自覺,還要覺他──「親民」,也就是使一切眾生的心靈也都能夠覺悟本有的佛性,過著新的生命。
到了自覺與覺他圓滿,也就是「止於至善」,我們這個法門的「止於至善」就是「正信的念佛」。
Namo Amituofo!
