Episode 1 — 如何讓我們對於淨土有更深刻的認識

第一集視頻文字檔如下:

Please find the full texts of Ep 1 below：

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如何讓我們對於淨土有更深刻的認識 – 第1集

How can we gain a deeper understanding of the Pure Land method?

我們得到海賢老和尚的加持，為我們作證，幫助我們堅定信願，我們對這個科註，對我們現在學習的方式，不再產生懷疑，信心堅定，願心堅固，決定在這一生當中求生淨土。我更希望同學們真正發心，我們取得西方淨土，就在這次第四回，這一年當中完成。

We have the support of Great Master Hai Xian ^[1] because he had corroborated this annotation and our current learning method to help us foster firm belief and vow so that we will never harbour doubts about this annotation and method anymore. With unwavering confidence and firm vow, we are resolute to seek rebirth in the Pure Land in this life. I hope all of you would truly bring forth the vow to achieve rebirth in the Pure Land and may this vow be accomplished within the year this fourth round of lectures is carried out.

完成之後，生死自在，想什麼時候去就什麼時候去，沒有罣礙。不管是壽命到還是不到，都得自在。壽命沒有到，不要了，可以提前往生；壽命是到了，我們還想在這個世間表法，那是阿彌陀佛最歡喜的一樁事情，他會延長你壽命。

Once this is accomplished, we can freely decide when to leave for the Pure Land without any obstacle. Whether our life has come to an end or not, we can leave this world at will. We can choose to leave for the Pure Land earlier even though our life is not due to end yet. If our life has come to an end but we wish to remain in this world to set an example for others, Amitabha Buddha would extend our lifespan because this is what he is most happy to see.

所以我們相信，真相信，沒有懷疑，海賢老和尚活了一百一十二歲，那不是他本來的壽命，是阿彌陀佛幫他延長了。這個老和尚自己給我們說明的，他是見過阿彌陀佛，我相信不止一次，每一次見到佛，都希望佛帶他到極樂世界，佛告訴他時節因緣還沒到，你要留在世間表法。

That’s why we truly believe without doubt that Great Master Hai Xian’s one-hundred-and-twelve-year-old lifespan was not his original lifespan, but Amitabha Buddha had helped him extend it. The Great Master himself had indicated to us that he had seen Amitabha Buddha (more than once, I believe). Every time he saw Amitabha Buddha, he requested Amitabha Buddha to take him to the Pure Land, but Amitabha Buddha told him that the timing and causal condition were not yet right, and that he must stay in this world to set an example for others.

表什麼法？就表告訴世人，夏蓮居老居士的會集本是真經，不是假的，應當要尊重，應當要認真學習；黃念祖老居士的註解是稀有難逢的以經證經，以祖師大德的開示為我們解釋淨宗法門，讓我們對於極樂世界、對於阿彌陀佛有更深刻的認識，我們的信心、願心才能發得出來。

What did the Great Master demonstrate to us? First, he confirmed to the world that the current version of The Infinite Life Sutra compiled by Upasaka Xia Lian Ju ^[2] is authentic, so everyone should respect, learn and practise it seriously. Second, it is extremely rare to encounter Upasaka Huang Nian Zu’s ^[3] annotation as the elder had used many sutras to verify the texts in this sutra. He had also cited the past patriarchs’ and great masters’ commentaries to explain the Pure Land method to us so that we have a deeper understanding of the Land of Ultimate Bliss and Amitabha Buddha. Only then will we bring forth firm belief and vow to be reborn in the Pure Land.