《Lecture 10 of the Collection of Choosing the Original Vow and Reciting Buddha's name: Chapter on Benefit
Explanation: Master Chunxiang
《The Collection of Choosing the Original Vow of Reciting Buddha's Buddha's name is a work selected by Master Fa Ran from the essential texts of sutras, treatises and interpretations. The sequences of the first few chapters are: 1. Second door chapterTo give up the sage and return to purity, Master Daran asked us to give up the holy path and choose the Pure Land teaching to "relieve life and death";2. Two-line chapterIf you abandon miscellaneous things and return to the right, you will have special practices and miscellaneous practices in your practice. Special practices are the practice of reciting the Buddha's name based on the original vows chosen by Amitabha Buddha, that is, the 17 vows and 18 vows. The opposite of special practices is the miscellaneous practices, and except for the original vows, they are all miscellaneous practices;3. Chapter of this wishAccording to the Great Sutra, the method of practicing Pure Land Buddhism comes from the original vow of Dharmazang Bodhisattva in the "Amitabha Sutra". The original vow is the core, so the third chapter is also the core. The original vow chapter is composed in sequence, which is the original vow text, the achievement text, and the benefit text of the original vow, which means that the benefits of rebirth are placed in the original vow chapter;4. Three generations of chaptersAccording to the Great Sutra, the Buddhist teachings are vast and the foundations of sentient beings are different. According to the "Amitabha Sutra", there are three generations of rebirth. The previous generation gave up their families and abandoned desires, developed bodhicitta, and cultivated all merits. The middle generation did some practices of burning incense and eating monks, and the lower generation also had practices of developing bodhicitta. No matter how the three generations practiced, they were fundamentally reborn by the power of Amitabha Buddha's original vows. All the previous contents pointed to choosing the original vow to recite the Buddha.Learn Chapter 5 now:Chapter of Interest
The Buddha said to Maitreya: If you hear the name of the Buddha, you will be happy and excited, and even have a thought. You should know that this person will have the greatest merits in order to gain great benefits.
This is a text quoted from the "Amitabha Sutra" for the benefits of rebirth. Pure Land Buddhism takes the benefit of rebirth as the benefit of rebirth. Rebirth means achieving faith and rebirth in the gathering of right concentration.
Shandao Li praised him: If you have heard the name of Amitabha Buddha, and you will be reborn in the same thought.
This is the verse of Master Shandao in "Praise of Rebirth", which is called "The verse of reciting the Buddha's name". All are born, all are born into the Pure Land, and all are born into the Pure Land will be born into the Pure Land. The beginning of the chapter will first quote the Buddha's scriptures and then quote the explanation of the ancestors.
Question: In addition to reciting the Buddha's name, why not praise the merits of Bodhicitta and other things, but praise the merits of chanting the Buddha's name?
《The Selection Collection mainly guides us to make the right choice. We should choose Pure Land teaching in teachings and practice. We should choose to recite the Buddha's name like a tutor to help you analyze and choose. There are countless methods in Buddhism. Which kind of practice should we choose bring you the greatest benefits?It is based on the "Amitabha Sutra" that continuously reveals the benefits of choosing the original vow to recite the Buddha's name from all aspects. Then the questions arise in the chapter on rebirth of the three generations of chanting the Buddha's name. There are many ways of practicing in the three generations of chanting the Buddha's name, such as the development of bodhicitta, meditation, forbearance, and giving to the six waves of mist. Why do other practices mention that they do not praise the merits of other practices, but only praise the merits of chanting the Buddha's name?
Answer: The holy intention is difficult to predict, and it must have profound meaning.And it is called a person who is good at guiding one's mind.
The holy intention is the Buddha's intention. Ordinary people have many delusions and are far away from the Buddha. We cannot know the Buddha's profound meaning.《The Amitabha Sutra says: The sea of wisdom of the Tathagata is deep, vast and endless. The two vehicles are not measured, but the Buddha only understands it.There is no way for the wisdom and merits of the Buddha. Arhats and Pratyekabuddhas to measure the depth of the infinite light. Moreover, we are just ordinary people and we cannot measure it. I will learn the Pure Land scriptures with you. We will learn how the scriptures say. Even if we say we know, it is not what I know. It was explained by the ancestors. We cannot really know the Buddha's will. If the holy will be difficult to measure, it can be put in all words. The Buddha's words must have a deep meaning. The Buddha's will only understand the Buddha's will. We have no chance to meet the Buddha, and the Buddha's deep meaning cannot be directly known. Therefore, it is very important for the teacher to study Buddhism.Mahayana Buddhism is generally explained by Bodhisattvas. Great Bodhisattvas are closer to Buddha. Their explanation is the medium of our proximity to Buddha. Many people among the ancestors also show their manifestations by Bodhisattvas. For example, the Japanese monk Master Faran was the manifestations of Bodhisattva Mahasthamaprapta. Master Yin Guang in modern times is also the manifestations of Bodhisattva Mahasthamaprapta. Zen Master Yongming Yanshou is the manifestations of Amitabha Buddha. Master Faran admires Master Shandao very much. No matter where he is, he first quotes the Buddha and then leads Master Shandao. The talk here is relatively relaxed, and it does not say that only Shandao is the only correct one. Let’s follow Master Shandao’s statement for the time being.
Although the Buddha's intention only wants to speak the practice of reciting the Buddha's name in a straightforward way, he will randomly talk about the practices such as Bodhicitta, and the three different levels of the three generations.
The Buddha's meaning is unpredictable. The Buddha's meaning here refers to the Buddha's meaning of Sakyamuni Buddha. What did he think?According to Master Shandao's meaning, Sakyamuni Buddha also wanted to express the benefits of reciting the Buddha's name, but whenever he went random, he had to look at the other person's acceptance. It was not just random that he confessed directly. According to different people and opportunities, some people like to be Bodhisattvas and praise Bodhisattvas, while others wanted to increase their wisdom. Everyone's wishes are different, and they should not be stubborn about their own ideas and impose their ideas on others. The Buddha wanted to directly say that reciting Namo Amitabha Buddha is good. The original wish of Dharmazang Bodhisattva is also the same, but it depends on the different foundations of sentient beings. The three generations have different shallows and depths. So he talked about the practices of Bodhicitta, burning incense and scattering flowers, and eating monks.
Those who have given up but did not sigh, and those who have placed it but could not be discussed.Only the one who recites the Buddha's name, and once you choose, praise, and think and be discriminated.
The Buddha's preaching is as he wishes, as he wishes, and as he wishes, and as he wishes, and as he wishes, for example, for those who want to be a Bodhisattva, Bodhicitta is very special, and for those who want to become a monk, it may praise the merits of becoming a monk. In the middle chapter of the "Amitabha Sutra", it is about becoming a monk. The Buddha is speaking of the Dharma to the point of being an opportunity. We must listen to everything. For example, when we go to the mall to buy things, we will tell you that this is good and that is good, chanting Buddha's name is good, bodhicitta is good, and becoming a monk is good, but in the end the Buddha will still do it.Self-consciousSay it out:If you hear the name of the Buddha, you will be happy and excited, and even think of it. You should know that this person will have the greatest merits in order to gain great benefits.If one hears, the name of that Buddha means that when one hears the name of "Namo Amitabha", he is happy and excited, even if one thought, he should know that this person is very profitable. He does not say here. If one hears the joy of Bodhicitta, he will let go of all other practices. In the end, he will return to the same end and the benefits will be the greatest benefit, and even if one thought you will be great, the benefits will be full of supreme merits.This is compared with the benefits obtained by practicing other methods, and it once again shows that you need to recite the Buddha's name.
Many people are not very emotionally close to Amitabha Buddha. Emotionally close is the true closeness. Some people like to recite scriptures, some people like to practice Zen, some people like to chant mantras, some people like Manjushri Bodhisattva, and some people like Guanyin Bodhisattva. The things they like are influenced by karma.For those who chant the Buddha's name, our teacher is Amitabha, and we should be closest to him. If you have faith in Amitabha, you will know that Amitabha is definitely better than Manjushri Bodhisattva. Manjushri Bodhisattva has everything, and Amitabha Buddha is there, so you don't have to ask for it. You really have to find others to ask for it. You are really sure that Amitabha Buddha is the supreme Mani treasure. When you hear the name, you will be happy and excited. No one can surpass him. At this time, whether it is the heretics who tempt you or other methods in Buddhism that will influence you again, you will naturally think that I have already got the best. I will go to my teacher and my Amitabha Buddha, and I will not go to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, Manjushri Bodhisattva, Zen and Tantric Buddhism. Anyway, Amitabha Buddha has it here.If you have no faith in the Buddha, it is easy to shake. Oh, it seems that there is no response when you recite the "Amitabha Sutra". There may be some problems that have not been solved for me. You should recite the "Lotus Sutra" and the Diamond Sutra, or the Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva. This is our common situation. If you think about it this way, you have no faith in Amitabha Buddha. Let go of Namo Amitabha Buddha and recite Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva or Manjushri Bodhisattva. Your faith in Amitabha Buddha at this time is obviously not as good as that in Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva or Manjushri Bodhisattva.Faith is very important in the practice of learning, because we cannot make decisions in our hearts. On the one hand, we have a lot of greed, so we also have many needs and many ideas to satisfy;On the other hand, there are many problems, and there are many difficulties to solve. When encountering difficulties, this may help you, and that will also help you, which involves the choice problem.
《The Collection of Choosing the Original Vow of Buddha's Recitation" keeps saying that the benefits of chanting the original Vow of Buddha are the greatest. Compared with other Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and good deeds, is it better to chant Buddha's name than Bodhicitta?For ordinary people, it is obviously good to recite the Buddha's name.Reciting Buddha's name, Buddha is Bodhi, and reciting Buddha's name itself contains the Bodhicitta.，It’s not that you don’t need Bodhicitta after chanting the Buddha’s name, but you can only grasp one in the realm of ordinary people. If you change your name, you won’t recognize it. Chanting the Buddha’s name is the greatest benefit. Here, Sakyamuni Buddha is a competition between the merits of reciting the Buddha’s name and all kinds of practices. Ordinary people’s discriminatory thoughts are always in competition. Whether to follow Amitabha Buddha or others, they are always competing. When you see that, you will go and see it. You may forget Amitabha Buddha. Our faith in the Buddha is indeed not that pure, unlike Amitabha Buddha who is like us. The light of Amitabha Buddha shines on us and never abandons us at all times. We are just seeing different thoughts and are led away at any time.
There are two meanings in the three generations of chanting Buddha's name: one follows the "The concept is shallow and deep”And the difference is, the second is "How much does it take to recite the Buddha's name"And separate.“Shallow and deep”This is as quoted above: "If you say it, you should be the best."
In the third generation chapter, it is said that chanting Buddha's name is divided into three generations, and all actions are also divided into three generations. According to Master Shandao, there are two levels of chanting Buddha's name, and the state is shallow and deep. Master Shandao has supernatural powers and specializes in competing merits. Once he points to the Buddha's statue, the Buddha's statue can emit light. When we ordinary people recite the Buddha's name, there is no response. There are differences in chanting Buddha's name. Although it is the same on the Buddha's side, the response is different, so there is a difference in shallow and deep.
“How many"In the lower class, there are ten or even one thought in the number of texts, and the upper and middle class are the first and second generations, so this is the increase.The "Concept Method" says: "If you recite the Buddha ten thousand times a day, you must also praise the solemn affairs of the Pure Land according to the time.Those who need to make great efforts or obtain 360,000 or 100,000 are all top-grade and high-quality people."You should know that 30,000 is the highest level of karma;Thirty thousand has passed, and the top grade has left the karma.Since you count according to the number of times, you will be clear about the taste!
There are also many differences in chanting the Buddha's name. Master Shandao's "Conceptual Method" talks about how many people practice and recite the Buddha's name. He recites Namo Amitabha 10,000 times a day, and also according to the time, just like doing morning and evening homework, praising the solemnity of the Pure Land is chanting sutras. Some people recite 36,000 million yuan. According to the amount of chanting the Buddha's name, the level of rebirth, and chanting more than 30,000 yuan a day is the karma of the highest rebirth. We have an old lay Buddhist chanting Namo Amitabha 30,000 yuan a day.The Pure Land Buddhism sometimes says it particularly specifically, such as "the sound of reciting is one", and chanting the Buddha's name is one thought. Here we simply say that chanting tens of thousands of times a day is the best and middle level karma.For ordinary people like us who are ignorant, we are particularly concerned about these things. We are very clear that we should recite 30,000, 10,000, Namo Amitabha, and Namo Amitabha. We should continue to recite this way. This is based on the amount of chanting the Buddha's name.
Now, the word "one thought" refers to the "one thought" mentioned in the achievement of the Buddha's wish to recite the Buddha's name, and the "one thought" understood by the next generation.I wish to achieve the achievement of a single thought in the text, but I did not say that there is great merit and benefits;Even though the lower-class article says a thought, it does not mention the merits and benefits;At this point, one thought is called "great profit", and it is said to be "supreme", and one should know that it refers to the previous thought.
《There are several places in the Amitabha Sutra that mention "one thought". The thought in the achievement text is: All sentient beings, who hear their names, are faithful and happy, and evenOne thought。The rebirth of the next generation also mentioned even one thought and ten thoughts. At that time, it was not mentioned how great the merits of reciting the Buddha's name were. In the benefit text, it was specifically mentioned that even one thought would have the supreme greatest benefit. Therefore, we know that the thought in the achievement text and the thought in the next generation are both for the benefit of gaining great benefits and possessing supreme merit.
this“Italy”This is a small benefit.Use small profits to do things such as Bodhicitta, and even a thought to make great profits."Supreme merit"It's the best words,The following are the best practices, and the following are the supreme ones by chanting the Buddha's name.Since one thought is the supreme, one should know that ten thoughts are the supreme, one hundred thoughts are the supreme, and one thousand thoughts are the supreme, and one thousand thoughts are the supreme. In this way, from the least, chanting the Buddha's name will always be the supreme, and the supreme merit will also be the supreme sand, and this way you should know.Why do all those who wish to be reborn have to abandon the supreme and great benefit of chanting Buddha's name and practice the best practices?
“Even a thought "You must listen to everything, even a thought does not mean a thought,Even a thought ＝Reciting Buddha's name accomplished by faith，Therefore, even a thought is full of supreme merits, and the one that compares with supreme merits is that there are supreme merits.There is also blessings with merit. Merits are like happiness in the bank, and blessings are connected. Merits and blessings are different from blessings. Merits will be used up, and they are defiled and contaminated. Merits can bring you ultimate happiness, eliminate all your troubles and pains, and get the benefits of getting rid of life and death. Merits are even more powerful and stronger than blessings.The greatest merit is Buddha。
Many people pay special attention to practicing Buddhism. What will happen if they have merit?The "Amitabha Sutra" says that because of the merits of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, countless treasures are everywhere, and wherever they go, there are treasures, and you can feel happiness everywhere. It is so extraordinary. The merits are like energy. If you worship him, you can bless you and bless you.If you have merits, it will be easy to understand the Buddhist scriptures. You are as close to Arhats and Bodhisattvas as friends, as if you are about the same level as him.If there is no merit, you will not understand the realm of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. If there is not enough merit and blessings in practicing Buddhism, there will be many obstacles. If the merit is enough, Buddhas and Bodhisattvas will even appear in an instant. It is so easy, so merit becomes particularly important.
How to cultivate merit best?In Pure Land Buddhism, chanting Buddha's name, even one thought can bring great benefits and possess supreme merits. Why are many people not touched when reading the scriptures?Because of no merit, what's wrong with supreme merit? It's better to make a fortune immediately and make a good image of 100,000 or 200,000 yuan. People who don't sound confident and do not know the extraordinary Dharma will feel that it's too empty.If people who feel the benefits of Buddhism are extremely happy, and their merits are also born from joy. If you hear the name of Amitabha Buddha and even a thought, are we happy and excited when we hear Amitabha Buddha's vows?This is not easy. Many lotus friends listened for a long time, not to mention the name of Buddha. They often don’t understand the name of me. They can’t understand the Buddhist scriptures explained in modern languages even if they read them. Don’t talk about the name of Buddha. If you don’t feel anything, you will not be happy or excited, and you will not even have a thought, which means you have no merit.People who are happy to hear the name will even have supreme merits in one thought, and one thought will be one supreme, and ten supreme will be ten supreme, which means that the mountains will never be too high and the sea will never be too deep. Once they become Buddhas, they will continue to save sentient beings.The fastest way to achieve merit is to chant the Buddha's name，Keep an eye on this point and don’t give up. Don’t do other miscellaneous acts. Listen to others that this merit is great, that method is very special, it has merits, and it eliminates karma quickly. It will be shaken. Just recite the Buddha’s name with all your heart and mind, and even one thought is your mind. If you invest in Amitabha’s career in this thought, you will join the Buddha’s shares. If you don’t recite the Buddha’s name, you may buy stocks in other methods.The scripture tells you that if you recite Namo Amitabha Buddha, you will only gain great benefits. Great benefits refer to becoming a Buddha. What benefits in the world are the greatest?It is to become a Buddha and save sentient beings. There is nothing greater than this benefit. Even in one thought, the benefits of the Pure Land teaching are rebirth. Rebirth is connected with becoming a Buddha. This is based on the scriptures. After the Pure Land teaching has achieved rebirth, one will live in the right concentration of concentration in this life. After gaining faith, you will not go anywhere except the Western Pure Land. The thing about going to the Western Pure Land has been accomplished. This is the right concentration of concentration. This achievement means that one must reside in the position of becoming a Buddha. Rebirth is definitely a certain Buddha.
We are all ordinary people of life and death, and some are even evil people. It takes a long time to become a Buddha to follow the common teachings. The Pure Land teaching is the fastest to become a Buddha. Those who have gained faith are reborn in the Pure Land, which is equivalent to becoming a Buddha. This life is the last life.《The Amitabha Sutra says that this life is equivalent to Maitreya Bodhisattva, which is the benefit of joy, enthusiasm, and even a thought.Although it is not clearly stated that one will become a Buddha, the first part of the scripture says that one can stay in the right concentration, be faithful and happy, and even a thought, one can be reborn. If one stays in the same place, one will be benefited from not regression. Only gaining great benefits after the scripture means that one has supreme merits and a person with supreme merits is a Buddha, which contains such meanings. Therefore, the Pure Land teaching is very special. Of course, one must pursue the ultimate goal of practicing Buddhism. When you gain the faith to be reborn, the further thing is to become a Buddha. The scripture contains a lot of content.
Finally, Master Fa Ran summarized, how can those who are willing to be reborn in the Pure Land be abolished?Don’t you specialize in chanting Buddha’s name?Is there any small profit to practice?Reciting Buddha's name is the supreme benefit and the greatest merit. You must let go of others and practice reciting Buddha's name. Don't abandon the big and the small.In the actual situation, we are quite distorted and are not so loyal to the Buddha. Even if we specialize in Pure Land teaching, we cannot recite Namo Amitabha Buddha all day long and are not so honest people, and we like to join in the fun and make trouble.Master Fa Ran shows that chanting Buddha's name is extraordinary at every step. He focuses on his focus and never leaves the name of Namo Amitabha, and never leaves the original wish to chant Buddha's name. He starts to guide you from the beginning. He always concentrates on chanting Namo Amitabha until the supreme benefits. This is the most extraordinary practice. The more faith in Amitabha, the more he believes in Buddha. When he hears the name, he will always like to recite him and become your favorite person. He will never forget it even if he wants to. He will hear it. The greatest joy in life you will never forget. Joy and enthusiasm are the joy of unity of body and mind. Therefore, becoming a Buddha is the whole operation, and you can have these experiences based on faith. The meaning of the scriptures is very profound.
When you are just starting out, you should specialize in chanting Buddha's name;If you have no wish, practicing a wish is also chanting Buddha's name;If you want to be reborn after you have a wish, you must also recite the Buddha's name;If you have been reborn, you must become a Buddha and recite the Buddha's name;It is Namo Amitabha, okay, Namo Amitabha, we will learn this.
Recording: White Lotus Compilation: Ruyi Review: Chunxiang Master
