Essays No. 41 – No. 50
(Coming soon …)
Instruction to the Lay Practitioners
(by Grand Master Lian Chi)
In this life, the relationships of mother and son, husband and wife, or other family members are all merely fleeting connections from past lives. We gather for a short while but are destined to part; this is no cause for sorrow or anguish. What is truly lamentable is to let a lifetime pass in vain without practicing mindfulness of the Buddha.
Now, simply let go of all worldly concerns and turn your attention inward to recite the Buddha’s name; this is the single most important matter of your life – nothing else need be said.
Beyond this, focus solely and wholeheartedly on the recitation. As you recite, let every single syllable resonate clearly within your mind; maintain an earnest, focused mind at all times, allowing no room for even the slightest deluded thought or distraction. During your morning and evening devotions, make a sincere vow to be reborn in the Pure Land. If you persist in this way until the moment of death, right mindfulness will naturally manifest, and you will be reborn in Amitabha Buddha’s Land of Ultimate Bliss – born from a lotus flower and forever liberated from suffering.
示在家二眾
人生母子、夫妻、一家眷屬，俱是宿世虛緣。暫時會聚，終必別離，不足悲苦。可悲可苦者，乃是空過一生，不念佛耳。今但萬緣放下，迴光返照念佛，即是一生要緊大事，更無多語。此外只管純一念佛。其念佛，要字字心上照過，歷歷分明，時刻切心，不容些須妄想雜念。早晚禮佛時，懇苦發願求生淨土。如此捱到臨命終時，自然正念現前，往生阿彌陀佛極樂淨土，蓮華化生，永離諸苦。
