English
English version Recite the Buddha's name and perform meritorious deeds when opportunities arise. This is my teacher's clear instruction. However, when performing meritorious deeds, the mind is focused on the deeds, and not on the Buddha's name. Switching between one and the other, can this be considered 'single-minded concentration'? Answer: A clear mirror is inherently empty. When objects appear, they are reflected. How does this obstruct the emptiness of the mirror? People only suffer when they anticipate events before they happen or dwell on them after they have passed. Answer to Layman Jiang of Yuyao To eradicate desires from the root is truly difficult. Contemplation of impurity (a practice of observing the body's impurity) is a superficial remedy. Investigating the origin of desire is the fundamental cure. Now, simply investigate 'Who is the one who is mindful of the Buddha?' When practicing mindfulness of the Buddha's name, focus solely on reciting the name. Visualizations are acceptable only during prostrations to the Buddha. Answer to Layman Gong Guangqi Whether lay or ordained, holding onto the name, with single-minded concentration, then holding onto the four characters of the name, is the entry point. Do not casually overlook the words 'holding onto'. Reflecting back to see 'Who is the one reciting the Buddha's name' has the same meaning as Chan (Zen) meditation. Various Mahayana sutras are worth reading, but prioritize maintaining right mindfulness. Answer to Dajing The teachings and doctrines mentioned above should not be sought after aimlessly. Just diligently recite the Buddha's name, and when you reach single-minded concentration, you will naturally awaken. Answer to Layman Jiang After one turning, there is another turning, and one cannot escape future consequences. Therefore, seeking rebirth in the Pure Land is most important. Answer for Guang鐈, seeking repentance for his mother's abortion The ancients said, 'Rather dwell in the lowest grade of the nine lotuses than be reborn in the human world and suffer the pain of the womb.' To detest the suffering of the womb, diligently recite the Buddha's name, and with single-minded concentration, you will be born from a lotus flower. Question: When single-mindedly reciting the name, if one also desires rebirth, aren't there two thoughts? Answer: The desire for rebirth should be expressed during morning and evening vows. When reciting the name, one should be single-minded and not mix in other thoughts. For example, a scholar preparing for the imperial examinations, reading and writing are his actions, but why does he read and write? To pass the examinations, this is his aspiration. The above was not asked of a specific person. Sitting in meditation to recite the Buddha's name may make it difficult to focus the mind. It is better to practice walking meditation. To investigate 'Who is reciting the Buddha's name,' a genuine doubt must arise. If genuine doubt has not arisen, then recite silently for now. Those who practice Chan meditation, even if their vows are not deep, can still be reborn (in the Pure Land). However, for those who cultivate Pure Land practice, faith, vow, and practice are like the three legs of a tripod; none can be missing. At the time of the Dharma's decline, even raising a single blade of grass can become a spear (referring to the degenerate age, even small acts of goodness can have a great impact). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 。可以杀人。此时诸法已灭。止留弥陀一句救人。人有念得一句全者。便为世间师。 以上并未详问语。 附 劝修作福念佛图说 人天路上作福为先 生死海中念佛第一 人间天上。快乐逍遥。皆因广作诸福。最紧最要。故曰为先。若欲高出人天。速超生死。者登不退。则有念佛往生一门。最尊最胜。故曰第一。偈曰。作福不念佛。福尽还沉沦。念佛不作福。入道多苦辛。无福不念佛。地狱鬼畜群。念佛兼作福。后证两足尊。 作福 但作一福。福下一点。不论大小多寡 孝顺父母 忠报君王 装塑佛像 印造经典 斋供僧伽 敬事师长 营修寺宇 流通善法 禁绝宰杀 买放生命 饭食饥民 衣济寒冻 开掘义井 修理桥梁 平砌街道 普施茶汤 看疗病人 给散药饵 伸雪冤枉 出灭刑罪 安养衰老 抚育孤孩 埋藏尸骨 给与棺木 饶免债负 义让财产 还他遗失 救济患苦 祈祷灾难 荐㧞亡魂 劝和争讼 生全人命 念佛 千声填一圈。白黄红青黑。可填五次 无事身间者。时时勤念。有事缠身者。早晚课念。至心发愿。求生净土。平日遇福便作。作讫还念。即以所作之福。回向净土。求愿往生。善人(某甲)受持。 归戒图说归依佛。不堕地狱。我今归依佛。归依法。不堕饿鬼。我今归依法。归依僧。不堕旁生。我今归依僧。一不杀生 凡有命者不得杀害。二不偷盗 一针一草不问不取。三 ```json { "translations": [ "现代汉语译本", "可以杀人。此时一切诸法已经寂灭。只留下弥陀（Amitābha，阿弥陀佛）一句可以救人。如果有人能够一心念诵这一句，便是世间的导师。", "以上并没有详细的问答。", "附：", "劝修作福念佛图说", "人天路上作福为先，生死海中念佛第一。", "在人间和天上，享受快乐逍遥的生活，都是因为广泛地行善积福，这是最重要、最紧迫的事情。所以说‘作福为先’。如果想要超越人天境界，快速脱离生死轮回，证得不退转的果位，那么念佛往生净土这一法门，是最尊贵、最殊胜的。所以说‘念佛第一’。偈语说：‘作福不念佛，福尽还沉沦。念佛不作福，入道多苦辛。无福不念佛，地狱鬼畜群。念佛兼作福，后证两足尊。’", "作福：只要做一件善事，在‘福’字下面点一点，不论大小多少。", "孝顺父母，忠报君王，装塑佛像，印造经典，", "斋供僧伽（Saṃgha，僧团），敬事师长，营修寺宇，流通善法，", "禁绝宰杀，买放生命，饭食饥民，衣济寒冻，", "开掘义井，修理桥梁，平砌街道，普施茶汤，", "看疗病人，给散药饵，伸雪冤枉，出灭刑罪，", "安养衰老，抚育孤孩，埋藏尸骨，给与棺木，", "饶免债负，义让财产，还他遗失，救济患苦，", "祈祷灾难，荐拔亡魂，劝和争讼，生全人命。", "念佛：每念一千声填一圈。可以用白、黄、红、青、黑五种颜色，可以填五次。", "没有事情缠身的人，要时时勤奋念佛。有事情缠身的人，早晚功课时念佛。至诚恳切地发愿，求生净土。平时遇到可以行善的机会就去做，做完之后还要念佛，把所做的善事功德，回向净土，祈愿往生。善人（某甲）受持。", "归戒图说：归依佛（Buddha），不堕地狱。我今归依佛。归依法（Dharma），不堕饿鬼。我今归依法。归依僧（Saṃgha），不堕旁生。我今归依僧。一不杀生：凡是有生命的都不得杀害。二不偷盗：即使是一针一线，未经允许也不得拿取。三" ], "english_translations": [ "English version", "It is permissible to kill. At this time, all dharmas (teachings, phenomena) have ceased to exist. Only the phrase 'Amitābha' (Amitābha, the Buddha of Infinite Light) remains to save people. If someone can recite this phrase wholeheartedly, they become a teacher of the world.", "The above does not contain detailed questions and answers.", "Attached:", "Illustration and Explanation for Encouraging Merit-Making and Buddha Recitation", "Making merit is foremost on the path to humans and devas (gods), Buddha recitation is paramount in the sea of birth and death.", "In the realms of humans and devas, enjoying happiness and freedom is all due to extensively accumulating merits, which is the most important and urgent thing. Therefore, it is said, 'Making merit is foremost.' If one wishes to transcend the realms of humans and devas, quickly escape the cycle of birth and death, and attain the state of non-retrogression, then the practice of Buddha recitation for rebirth in the Pure Land is the most venerable and supreme. Therefore, it is said, 'Buddha recitation is paramount.' The verse says: 'Making merit without reciting the Buddha, one will still sink when the merit is exhausted. Reciting the Buddha without making merit, one will encounter much hardship on the path. Without merit and without reciting the Buddha, one will fall into the realms of hell, hungry ghosts, and animals. Reciting the Buddha and making merit, one will eventually attain the state of two-fold perfection.'", "Making Merit: Just do one good deed, and put a dot under the character 'merit,' regardless of how big or small.", "Be filial to parents, be loyal to the sovereign, create Buddha images, print scriptures,", "Make offerings to the Sangha (Saṃgha, monastic community), respect teachers and elders, build and repair temples, disseminate good teachings,", "Refrain from killing, buy and release living beings, feed the hungry, clothe the cold,", "Dig wells for public benefit, repair bridges, pave streets, offer tea and soup to all,", "Care for the sick, distribute medicine, redress grievances, reduce or eliminate criminal punishments,", "Provide for the elderly, nurture orphans, bury corpses, provide coffins,", "Forgive debts, righteously relinquish property, return lost items, relieve suffering,", "Pray for the alleviation of disasters, dedicate merit to the deceased, reconcile disputes, save lives.", "Buddha Recitation: Fill one circle for every thousand recitations. You can use five colors: white, yellow, red, blue, and black. You can fill it five times.", "Those who are free from worldly affairs should recite diligently at all times. Those who are entangled in worldly affairs should recite during morning and evening recitations. Sincerely make vows to seek rebirth in the Pure Land. Usually, when encountering opportunities to make merit, do so, and after doing so, recite the Buddha. Dedicate the merit of what you have done to the Pure Land, and pray for rebirth. The virtuous person (so-and-so) upholds this.", "Illustration and Explanation of Taking Refuge and Precepts: Taking refuge in the Buddha (Buddha), one will not fall into hell. I now take refuge in the Buddha. Taking refuge in the Dharma (Dharma, the teachings), one will not fall into the realm of hungry ghosts. I now take refuge in the Dharma. Taking refuge in the Sangha (Saṃgha, monastic community), one will not fall into the realm of animals. I now take refuge in the Sangha. First, do not kill: Do not harm any living being. Second, do not steal: Do not take even a needle or a blade of grass without permission. Third," ] } ``` -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 不邪淫 礼法持身不犯外色。四不妄语 妄言。绮语。恶口。两舌。悉禁。不说。五不饮酒 酒名狂药。乱性迷魂。禁不入口。 既受归戒。诸恶莫作。众善奉行。一心念佛。求生净土。诸恶。谓不忠不孝。不仁。不义。如是诸恶不能尽举。但瞒天昧心等事。便不应作。众善。谓忠。孝。仁。义。如是众善。不能尽举。但上顺天理。下合人心等事。便应力行。念佛。谓一心持念阿弥陀佛。万德洪名。每日。或念一千。二千。三五七千。或至于万。随意多少。凡一千念。则点一圈。先白。次黄。次红。次青。四遍点过。满四十八万。持。此佛前证明。乃议微细用心。参入元境。 弟子(某甲)受持。 六斋月斋图说 六斋 每月六日。初八。十四。十五。二十三。二十九。三十。如遇月小。二十八。二十九。当持日斋。 月斋 每年正。五。九。三个月。当持月斋。不能三月持斋。必须三月戒杀。 经云。四天王每月六日。巡行南赡部洲。初八。二十三。使者巡。十四。二十九。太子巡。十五。三十。天王亲巡。考察人间。何人孝顺父母。何人忠报君王。何人正直公平。何人慈悲方便。何人归依三宝。戒杀持斋。广修众善。如是等人。加福增寿。何人忤逆父母。何人。背叛君王。何人欺诈奸巧。何人刚狠暴虐。何人不信三宝。宰杀生命。广造诸恶。如是等人。削福灭寿。又正。五。九月。天王分镇南州。考察罪福。又玉皇天帝。正。五。九月。以大宝镜正照南州。考察罪福。可不惧哉。可不慎哉。此六 ```json { "translations": [ "现代汉语译本", "不邪淫：遵守礼法，约束自身，不犯不正当的性行为。", "四不妄语：禁止一切虚妄不实的言语，包括妄言（谎话）、绮语（花言巧语）、恶口（粗言恶语）、两舌（挑拨离间的话），一概不说。", "五不饮酒：酒被称为狂药，能扰乱心性，迷惑灵魂，禁止入口。", "既然已经受了归戒，就要诸恶莫作，众善奉行，一心念佛，求生净土。", "诸恶，指的是不忠、不孝、不仁、不义等。像这样的恶行，不能一一列举，但凡是瞒天昧心的事情，就不应该做。", "众善，指的是忠、孝、仁、义等。像这样的善行，不能一一列举，但凡是上顺天理、下合人心的事，就应该努力去做。", "念佛，指的是一心持念阿弥陀佛（Amitabha）万德洪名。每天或者念一千、两千、三五千、七千，甚至到一万声，随意多少。凡念一千声，就点一个圈。