Jan 8, 2024
Voice of Master Jingzong - Q and A about the Purpose of Life
淨宗之聲 - 人生目的問答
Q14: How can we put the theories and concepts of the Pure Land teaching into practice in our daily lives?
Answer: How can we transform conceptual knowledge into an inseparable part of our lives? Taking refuge in the Three Jewels is the simplest answer.
Many people who take refuge in the Three Jewels become Buddhists; but, their initial practices and understanding remain in a purely conceptual state in terms of taking refuge. Taking refuge in the Three Jewels should involve our bodies and minds, which are the basis of our lives. So, taking refuge should be a lifelong process ; but, most Buddhists remain in the conceptual state according to their various aptitudes and capacities.
Those who truly take refuge in the Three Jewels, should have no problems with rebirth in the Land of Bliss. Some of those who have taken refuge, received the precepts, recited the Buddha’s Name, and made donations, etc. for many years, may still not feel confident about being reborn in the Land of Bliss. This means that they have not truly taken refuge,
even though they completed the ceremony. Speaking in more depth, this shows that the Buddhist teachings have not become the guiding focus of their lives, or even a lesser part. Why?
(to be continued tomorrow)
問(14):修學淨土,如何從理論觀念轉化為生命?
我剛學佛不久,也瞭解了善導大師的淨土思想,但只是知識性的理論,並沒有完全做到淨土宗所講的深信、切願,會猶豫,會懷疑。請問法師,怎樣才能把這種深信從知識性的理論轉化為自身不可分割的一部分?
淨宗之聲:
很多人初學佛一般都是這樣的狀態。這位提問者也很清楚,有很好的目標,希望把知識性的概念轉化為自身不可分割的一部分。確實是這樣,我們就以最簡單的受三歸依來說。
一般人歸依就是個概念,“我到寺院找師父作一個歸依的儀式,現在我就是佛弟子、三寶弟子了”,這多數還是一種觀念性的。
歸依是身心歸命于三寶,成為我們生命當中的根本,對很多人來講,這是一個長期的過程。當然,有的人根機不一樣,一下就歸依、歸命,但對多數人來講,都是觀念、理論的多。真正的身心歸投三寶、歸命三寶,往生極樂沒任何問題。
有的人歸依過了,還受過戒,念了多少佛,又作了多少功德,經過多少年,還覺得往生心裡沒底,這從根本來講,三歸都沒達成——當然儀式上是完成了。所以,講到深入之處,就是佛法沒有成為我們的生命,沒有成為我們自身不可分割的,甚至根本的生命。
問題出在哪兒呢?
Namo Amituofo!
