The purpose of life｜01 Practical Advice for Pure Land Practitioners
Channel: 淨土宗澳洲 Pure Land Buddhism Australia
Date: 22/03/2021

The purpose of life｜01Practical Advice for Pure Land Practitioners 

------Master Huijing

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淨土宗澳洲 Pure Land Buddhism Australia
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The purpose of life
01Practical Advice for Pure Land Practitioners 


The purpose of life is to utilize our brief time in this world to study Buddhism. It is to seek liberation from the endless cycle of birth and death, so-called samsara. 

If there were no afterlife and death means nothingness, there would be no retribution or reward, 

no causation of the past, present and future, no transmigration in the Six Realms (heavens, asuras, humans, animals, ghosts and hells). There would be no need to study Buddhism. We should by all means enjoy our lives thoroughly. 

However, such is not the case with life and the universe. Karmic retribution, causation and the cycle of rebirth all exist. 

Over innumerable eons, we have performed good and evil deeds. They determine whether our next life will be spent as a human, animal, hungry ghost, in a hell or in a heaven. The probability of rebirth in a celestial realm is extremely small, and even human form is hard to gain. That is why Sakyamuni Buddha said that rebirth as a human is rare. 

That is to say, it would be hard to be a human again in our coming lives. Does that mean we would likely be reborn in the Three Wretched Realms? Indeed, it does. Going by the Law of Causation, wholesome actions may lead to rebirth in the heavens while unwholesome deeds could induce birth in a hell domain. These are the principles behind karmic consequences of past, present and future, as well as rebirth in the Six Realms. The principles are the bedrock of Buddhism, which then teaches ways to transcend this cycle of rebirth. 

Without such a foundation, there can be no Buddhism. When we speak the Dharma we must emphasize its fundamentals. Otherwise, it would be a deviation from Buddhism. The principles are the foundation of Buddhism, of the Dharma. 

Because samsara exists and its essence is suffering and unease, leaving it behind means liberation from suffering. What is there after such liberation? Things would be beautiful and marvelous, as we would no longer be subject to rebirth in the Six Realms and all types of suffering. We would be forever healthy and long-lived. Such longevity would be eternal, transcending time. 

Thank you 
Namo Amitabha Buddha


🙏【第十八願】
設我得佛，十方眾生，至心信樂，欲生我國，乃至十念，若不生者，不取正覺。唯除五逆，誹謗正法。


🙏【The 18th Vow of Amitabha Buddha】

If, when I achieve Buddhahood, 
Sentient beings of the ten directions 
Who sincerely and joyfully entrust themselves to me, 
Wish to be reborn in my land and recite my name, 
Even ten times, should fail to be born there, 
May I not attain perfect enlightenment. 
Excepted are those who commit the five gravest transgressions 
or slander the correct Dharma.


🙏【善導大師四十八字釋】

若我成佛，十方眾生，稱我名號，下至十聲，若不生者，不取正覺；
彼佛今現，在世成佛，當知本誓，重願不虛，眾生稱念，必得往生。

🙏【Master Shandao‘s 48-word Explanation of the 18th Vow】

If, when I achieve Buddhahood, 
Sentient beings of the ten directions 
Who wish to be reborn in my land and recite my name, even ten times, 
should fail to be born there 
Relying on the power of my Vow, 
May I not attain perfect enlightenment.

Today Amitabha is before us, 
Having achieved Buddhahood. 
We should know that his Fundamental Vow 
Has been unequivocally fulfilled. 
If sentient beings recite his name, 
They will certainly be reborn 
In the Land of Bliss.


🙏【淨土宗特色】

本願稱名，凡夫入報， 
平生業成，現生不退。

🙏【Characteristics】

Recitation of Amitabha‘s name, relying on his Fundamental Vow (the 18th)
Rebirth of ordinary beings in the Pure Land‘s Realm of Rewards
Rebirth assured in the present lifetime
Non-retrogression achieved in this lifetime


🙏【淨土宗宗旨】

信受彌陀救度，專稱彌陀佛名； 
願生彌陀淨土，廣度十方眾生。

🙏【Guiding Principles】

Faith in, and acceptance of, Amitabha‘s deliverance
Single-minded recitation of Amitabha‘s name
Aspiration to rebirth in Amitabha‘s Pure Land
Comprehensive deliverance of all sentient beings