Master Jingzong Answers Questions about the Purpose of Life
淨宗之聲 - 人生目的問答
(Continuation 4/5 to answer the question: How can we attain real happiness in the Land of Saha?)
The third kind of happiness is the happiness of Dharma Joy, which is the joy of life produced through practicing the Buddhist Dharma. It can be subdivided into two categories.
The first one is the Dharma Joy and Delight experienced by those on the Sacred Path. Those who can be enlightened, realize their Buddha Nature, and see the Way (truth) through practicing the Buddha’s teachings, can experience absolute peace and joy. This is called “the happiness of Dharma Joy”. If they can be like the great Bodhisattvas and eliminate their ignorance and realize the Dharma Nature, their joy will be ineffable.
It is a kind of Dharma Joy and Delight felt through experiencing absolute purity, non-differentiation, originality, and naturalness; which transcend repeated reincarnation and the Three Domains. As ordinary beings, we have never had the experience of this level of joy.
The second one is the Dharma Joy of Amitabha-recitation in the Pure Land Teaching. As ordinary beings we cannot fully enjoy the satisfaction of the Five Desires. We may lack wealth, have a broken family, no social status, and have poor living conditions. We certainly cannot experience the joys of meditation because our minds are so distracted. Yet, we know we are assured of rebirth in the Pure Land at the end of this life, where we will soon become Buddhas. Fully understanding this brings us absolute comfort and joy.
So, we will be happy and peaceful when making karmic connections with people in this world while always reciting Amitabha’s Name. They know the ocean-like suffering has been extinguished, and the other daily sufferings become like a drop of water. They are relaxed and emancipated in daily life and advise others to believe the Pure Land teaching according to their circumstances. I believe most exclusive Amitabha-reciters experience this kind of joy and delight in their daily lives.
(4 / 5 completed. To be continued tomorrow)
第三種樂是法樂樂,就是由佛法而產生的生命的喜樂。這又有兩種。
一種是聖道法門的法喜法樂。
信奉佛陀的教言,能夠開悟、見性、見道,見到佛所說的如如真理是什麼樣,心中生起絶對的安穩和喜樂,稱為“法樂樂”。如果豁破無明、證悟法性,像諸大菩薩那樣,那這種樂是無法言喻的。
它是超越生死輪迴、出離三界以外的一種從本有佛性當中所湧生的絶對清淨、無分別、本有、自然的法喜法樂。我們是凡夫,當然也沒有嘗過。
另一種就是淨土法門的念佛之樂。我們念佛,雖然還是一個凡夫,五欲之樂也不能健全地享用,或許資財很缺乏,家庭也不如人,在社會上也沒有地位,吃得也不好,晚上也睡不安穩,禪定的經驗更沒有,是散亂的凡夫。
但內心有絶對的安慰,知道此生了畢,決定到淨土去成佛。所以在這個世間會安定自在地跟大家結善緣,一向念佛。以“已滅之苦如大海之水,未滅之苦只如毛滴之水”這樣一種解脫自在、瀟灑的心情在這個世間隨緣度日、隨緣勸化、自信教人信。我想很多專修念佛人都有這種念佛的法喜法樂。
Namo Amituofo!
