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静思语 Readings For Silent Reflection

• Dawnfirstlight

  17 Jun 15, 13:43

  Can Dogs Reach Pure Land?
  
  I am a novice in the Dharma but I would like to share my recent experience. I had attended Shi'an's 10th run of the 'Understanding Amituofo Via The Amitabha Sutra' course in 2012, and I am glad that I did as I learnt much from his lessons. I put what he taught into good use for my beloved dog when he passed away on 12 June 2013. (You can look out for information about the 12th run of the course to be held in September 2013, to be updated at http://thedailyenlightenment.com/category/06 soon.)
  
  My dog had severe skin infection for many years and lost his sight a few years ago. I knew Shi'an said that such suffering could be due to the negative karma built up in the (present or) previous lives. If so, I think he should have expended much of this pent up negative karma in this lifetime. I wanted to help free him from samsaric suffering. Although uncertain if animals can reach Pure Land, I nevertheless tried to guide him along.
  
  I remembered clearly that Shi'an told us to chant sincerely. My Sister and I chanted for him for several hours on the day he died. The next day, we noticed that his limbs were still fairly supple when he was put him into a box for cremation staff to pick him up.
  
  In the afternoon, I heard music of Amituofo's name. I thought it was from some wake downstairs or from my handphone, as I had been playing Amituofo's name for my dog in the past few months when he was bedridden. But my Mum said there was no wake. Neither was my phone playing any music. I could still hear the music as I walked to my dining room. When I asked my Sister if she heard the nice music, she shook her head. I don't think it was hallucination as I was eager to guide my dog to go Pure Land and the music was fairly clear.
  
  Those who keep pets will share the same feeling - 'once a pet, always a pet'. Though a dog, he was an important member of our family. I am glad I did what I could to help him have a good rebirth. I am sure he is now relieved from his long suffering.
  
  Notes:
  
  1. Indeed, animals can reach Pure Land too, when they are guided to give rise to the Three Provisions (Faith, Aspiration & Practice) in time.
  2. There are more inspiring cases to share at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Amituofo/message/322
  3. Having supple limbs is a good sign, aligned with Amituofo's vow #33 of being able to share his merits with those mindful of him to have tenderness (ease and blissfulness) of body and mind (身心柔软).
  4. Hearing Amituofo's name (天�盈空) is a good sign too. As there was enough presence of mind to check with others if they heard it, it was unlikely to be unmindful hallucination. Often, it is those with stronger affinity with Amituofo who hear such sacred music as a sign of assurance, while those with less connection are not sufficiently aligned to hear it yet.
  5. With these auspicious signs, it is very likely that your dog reached Pure Land. Even if not, there is definitely a good rebirth. Amituofo.
  
  Namo Amituofo : Shen Shi'an

• Dawnfirstlight

  17 Jun 15, 13:44

  

• Dawnfirstlight

  17 Jun 15, 13:45

  

• Dawnfirstlight

  17 Jun 15, 13:45

  

• Dawnfirstlight

  17 Jun 15, 13:46

  

• Dawnfirstlight

  19 Jun 15, 17:31

  

• Dawnfirstlight

  19 Jun 15, 17:32

  

• Dawnfirstlight

  19 Jun 15, 17:33

  If it is easy to lose one’s way
  in this one lifetime,
  it is even much easier to lose one’s way
  from lifetime to lifetime.
  
  – Stonepeace
  
  To solve the dangerous problem of repetitive backsliding from life to life, all Buddhas, as stated in the Immeasurable Life Sutra and Amitabha Sutra, repeatedly urge beings of their worlds to seek birth in Amitabha Buddha’s (Amituofo) Pure Land, where we will all crystal clearly remember all our past lives, while being in the best Dharma school for swiftly training towards Buddhahood, with no more possibility of backsliding. This does not forsake other beings still in Samsara, as it is wise to train well on the Bodhisattva path by learning from a Buddha in person, so as to most efficiently guide everyone else!

  

• Dawnfirstlight

  19 Jun 15, 17:34

  

  Ignorance
  
  When pursuing wealth, sex or fame, people are bold and industrious. They resemble moths heading towards a flame.
  
  Since they can live in such a world without fear, they are known as “long-suffering beings.”
  
  If people are willing to put a tenth of the effort they expend on chasing worldly desires into seeking the Dharma, the world would be completely transformed.
  
  If there’s an expression that can describe human beings, it is “ignorant and confused.”
  
  They consider truth as a lie, and lies as the truth. They think suffering is joy, and joy is suffering. This is called ignorance.
  
  Consider a glass that is upside down. Once it is turned over, it can be used to drink water; nothing more is needed. Ignorant beings, once they are “turned over,” become Buddhas, with nothing more required. To practice Buddhism simply means rectifying what is upside down.
  
  It is extremely difficult for an upside-down glass to turn itself over, but it is easy for people to do so.
  
  Those who seek rebirth in the Pure Land through Amitabha-recitation will be turned over naturally by the hand of Amitabha Buddha. As the sutra says, “When death comes, their minds will not be severely confused.”
  
  - Master Jingzong

• Dawnfirstlight

  19 Jun 15, 17:35

  

• Dawnfirstlight

  19 Jun 15, 17:37

  

• Dawnfirstlight

  19 Jun 15, 17:40

  

• Dawnfirstlight

  19 Jun 15, 17:41

  

• Dawnfirstlight

  19 Jun 15, 17:42

  

• Dawnfirstlight

  19 Jun 15, 17:44

  

• Dawnfirstlight

  19 Jun 15, 17:45

  

• Dawnfirstlight

  19 Jun 15, 17:48

  佛說：告訴您一個超簡單極速改變é�‹æ°£ä¹ƒè‡³å‘½é�‹çš„方法! 

  

  有一個超級簡單的極速改變命�的方法，想和大家分享一下。
  
  這個方法就是�念念利他，廣傳善念】，具體方法如下：
  
  �無論在任何地方，見到任何人，就在心裡�他們默念：「願諸�平安��康�如�~�】這個善念�以��任何你覺得是善念的話語。
  
  為什麼這樣簡單的默念一�話就會改變你的�氣和命�？
  
  第一：當你�別人默念傳播善念的�時，其實你�時是在洗刷自己的心�，洗刷掉你�好的一切，默念一次，就洗刷一次，當你心裡的塵埃被洗刷多了，自然整個人的精氣神都�一樣，自己的氣場也改變了，整個人的�勢自然上�。
  
  第二：當你�別人-特別是曾經傷害你的人默念的時候，�以讓你心中的怨念�憎��所有負�情緒都轉化為善念，別人�你�好，你�而�願他們好，這樣�以極速轉�你的念頭，進而轉�你整個心�，�進而轉�你整個人的氣質，整個身心氣質都會改變。你整個人會變得包容��大�寬廣�慈悲，這樣�，你已經超脫了因果怨�，命�怎麼會�改變？
  
  第三：宇宙是有迴響的，當你傳播善念的�時，其實善念也在傳播回給你，也在願你平安��康�如�，��來�願你，增加你的�勢。
  
  這個方法，我自己親身體驗�，效果很好。
  
  當你整個人都�為傳播善念的�頭，整個人的�場都改變了，�什麼事情都是順順利利無阻無礙，善�的願望也會很快��。
  
  懂得了這個方法，��三天的時間，你就�以熟悉而自然的��一個人傳播善念。三天就�以改變你的�氣和命�。
  
  這個方法，念念都是利他，所以善念一旦傳播開了，把好的�西好的願望贈�給別人了，你很自然�以破除貪念�嗔念��懼。
  
  
  貪嗔�懼破除了，自然而然�起真誠平等�敬的心，心變得清凈而真誠，原先粗糙的善�念頭慢慢變�真誠清凈的心，�一�善念都是發自你的清凈心，用最真誠的善念傳播開，由此�以破除你的慢心，�起你的�敬心。
  �時由於善念改變，�事順順利利，�善念沒有了疑惑，�佛法沒有了疑惑，�自己和人生沒有了疑惑，所以�以破除你的疑惑，�起正知正見，消除癡念癡行。
  
  至此，貪�嗔�癡�慢�疑�以藉此簡單方法一舉快速消除，快速�起你的清凈�平等�真誠��敬�慈悲心。
  這個方法的妙用�未到此，�是我個人眼光淺薄�能看到這裡。
  
  願看到此文的朋�都能平安��康�如�。
  
  願以此文供養諸佛�薩，願世界和平�消�消難�人人廣發善念善行。
  願以此功德，莊嚴佛凈土，上報四��，下濟三途苦，若有見�者，悉發��心，盡此一報身，�生極樂國。
  
  �無本師釋迦摩尼佛
  
  �無阿彌陀佛
  
  �無大慈大悲觀世音�薩
  
  �無大願地�王�薩
  
  �無一切佛 �無一切僧 �無一切法
  
  

• Dawnfirstlight

  19 Jun 15, 17:50

  During bad times, don't hate and bad times will soon pass. During good times, don't be greedy and all the good things will come to you.

  

• Dawnfirstlight

  19 Jun 15, 17:51

  

• Dawnfirstlight

  19 Jun 15, 17:52

  

• Dawnfirstlight

  19 Jun 15, 17:54

  

  He who in autumn does not
  provide for the coming winter
  Is considered a fool.
  
  The Dharma alone
  will help us when we die,
  and we know that death is certain –
  So not to practice it now is utterly foolish.
  
  – Gyalse Ngulchu Thogme
  
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  To multiply your diligence
  in Dharma learning and practice,
  do it for always; not just later.
  
  – Stonepeace

• Dawnfirstlight

  19 Jun 15, 17:55

  

• Dawnfirstlight

  19 Jun 15, 17:56

  

• Dawnfirstlight

  19 Jun 15, 17:57

  

• Dawnfirstlight

  19 Jun 15, 17:58