今天，是一個很好修懺悔法的日子。願所有的佛弟子精進修持，好好洗滌自己身心靈的「污穢」，才有更大的能力，讓佛道隆昌、法輪恆轉。吾以此文章供養大聖佛陀，也祝所有師兄師姐們卫賽節快樂。
Today is a wonderful opportunity to cultivate the repentance practice. I hope that all Buddhists will be diligent in their practice and purge their bodies, hearts and souls of the muck accumulated. Only then will we have a greater ability to flourish the propagation of Dharma and turn the Wheel of Dharma into eternal motion. I humbly offer my article to the Great Lord Buddha, and wish all Dharma Brothers and Sisters a Happy Vesak Day!
《通往佛國的音律》
The Rhythm To Access The Land of Buddhas
(English version below)
佛弟子、修行人，可以說皆與經咒，無不有關。若妳你還未皈依，偶在某些場合、道場，或在網路上看到、聽到，是不能就這樣順口跟著唸誦的哦！為什麼不能呢？因為這是盜法的。盜法當然也就不如法，不祇會有過失，所唸所誦的經、咒，或無法產生效力與功德力。就好像妳你很喜歡讀書，但妳你卻還沒辦理入學手續，因此未能獲準進入課室，正式上學。就算妳你在課室外，偷聽老師的教學，沒人給妳你應證，沒人給妳你文憑，妳你所偷聽學來的，妳你自己也不置可否，所以也就無效啊！
其實誦經持咒，都有其音律及拍子的。這音律及拍子，是莊嚴經咒，是調整妳你的呼吸，是使氣脈通暢，經咒由口出，入於耳，印於心。這樣的修法，雜念容易止，容易產生法喜、法樂，容易進入專注，容易達於定境，誦經持咒之功德，這時才算圓滿。今天如果吾沒寫出這一段，誦經持咒的「功法」，相信很多佛弟子，修來修去始終十年如一日，毫無進境可言。這誦經持咒的「功法」，實為千金、萬金難買啊！今日妳你有幸得之，應當好好修去，靈山就在不遠處。
佛國到底是什麼樣的一個地方？佛國是一個常樂我淨的地方，是名符其實的聖土、極樂世界。如此高......尚的境界，要如何才能夠到達？首先，我們一定要認禮明師，求法、守戒、實修，就能到達也。聽似好難呀！就是因為難，才難能可貴啊！一件陳年衣服，灰塵佈滿，妳你將它拿去洗，乾淨如新，這就是實修。以後不再置之不理，且定時穿洗，就是守戒。天天的行持下去，命終後佛國自然去得。
有位老婆婆，天天唸佛做功課。一聽之下，會讚嘆老婆婆真是精進，真是吾等學佛的榜樣。可是，事實並不如此。她是真的天天唸佛做功課，但她一邊唸，一邊唸她的老伴及媳婦。直到有一天刮風打雷下大雨，她一害怕雷聲大作，而大聲唸了一句佛號，跟著頭傾斜而終。閻王秤其生前所用之數珠，僅一粒有份量。若她懂得「通往佛國的音律」，她就不用到冥府，而是直接通往極樂佛國嘍！
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It is a common for Buddhists and spiritual practitioners to be associated with sutras and mantras. If you have yet to take refuge in the Triple Gem, you cannot recite the sutra or mantra which you pick up from puja events, temples or the Internet. Why is that so? Because this would equate to stealing of the Dharma, and that is of course not in accordance with the Dharma. Not only will you sin, there will be no effect or merit generated from reciting the sutra or chanting the mantra. Using this analogy: if you are fond of studies, but did not enroll into a school proper, you will be barred from entering the classroom and be a student formally. Even if you stand outside the classroom, and eavesdrop on the teacher teaching the class, no one would administer examinations nor confer any certificate upon you. What you have secretly learned cannot be validated and is of no use in the end!
Actually there is a rhythm and beat to follow when one is reciting the sutra or chanting the mantra. This rhythm and beat is to uphold the sutra or mantra in high esteem, and serve to regulate your breathing and clear your Qi channels. As you recite the sutra or chant the mantra, the sounds enter your ears, and impress upon your heart. This method of spiritual cultivation easily puts a stop to distracting thoughts, and effortlessly alleviates you to a state of Dharma bliss and joy, allowing your mind to stay focused and eventually into meditative stillness. In such a way, the merits from your practice shall be complete. Had I not written this passage on the correct practice of sutra recitation and mantra chanting, I believe many Buddhists would not attain any level of accomplishment even after 10 years of practice. This method is priceless, and cannot be bought with thousands taels of gold! You are fortunate to know this today, and ought to put it into diligent practice. If you do so, your accomplishment shall not be far away.
What kind of place exactly is the Land of the Buddhas? It is a place with eternal bliss and purity, a place fitted to be named the Land for the Enlightened, the Land of Everlasting Bliss. How can we reach this place of such high nobility? First and foremost, we must identify and take refuge in an accomplished master, and seek the Dharma from Him, abide by the precepts and practice diligently before we can arrive at the Land of the Buddhas. This seems to be quite a tall order, but that is precisely why it is so precious! A diligent practice can be described using this analogy: When you take a piece of old clothing covered with a thick layer of dust to the laundry, it is totally transformed into a clean and new clothing. What about abiding by the precepts? It is akin to washing that same piece of clothing regularly to keep it clean and new. Keep up this practice until the end of your life, and you will ascend to the Buddha's Paradise.
There was an old lady who recited the Buddha's Name every day. You might be in awe of her diligence, and think that she is the perfect role model for learning the Dharma. However, things are not what they seem to be. She may be reciting the Buddha's Name daily, but as she recited, she also grumbled about her husband and daughter-in-law. Until one day when the thunderstorm arrived, a sudden jolt of thunder frightened the old lady, and she shouted out the Buddha's Name in all sincerity before taking her last breath. When the King of Hades weighed her chanting beads, there was only one bead with sufficient merit. If she had known the "rhythm" to directly access the Buddha's Paradise, she would not have to suffer at the Netherworld, but instead gain the instant pass to the Land of the Buddhas!
www.masterdaihu.com/the-rhythm-to-access-the-land-of-buddhas/
Photo credit: Meld Magazine
