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所以我們萬佛聖城早晨就念藥師琉璃光如來，這是為著所有萬佛聖城的護法來迴向，令他們消災延壽。中午就念釋迦牟尼佛，因為佛法是釋迦牟尼佛傳給我們的，我們應該報佛恩，所以在中午我們念本師釋迦牟尼佛。晚間就念西方極樂世界阿彌陀佛；這是我們最後的目的，是要生在極樂世界去。極樂世界它是沒有三惡道苦的，無有衆苦，但受諸樂；那個地方無憂無愁，無煩無惱，比在這個娑婆世界，一天很多的麻煩，很多煩惱，很多這種令你心裹不平安的事情發生；極樂世界和琉璃世界都沒有這些個問題發生。
我提出來萬佛聖城這三個時候念佛不同，因為萬佛聖城是新開闢的道場，和中國大陸的道場完全不同的，和香港、臺灣、新加坡、越南，和所有的地方都不同的；在其他的地方，都跟著中國的佛教，這麼早晨也是念阿彌陀佛，晚間也是念阿彌陀佛，中午還是念阿彌陀佛，它是這樣的。所以現在外邊的出家人，到了萬佛聖城，覺得萬佛聖城所行所作都是不對的，不懂規矩。
那麼萬佛聖城呢，不能說自己的對，可是我們一早起，應該效法消災延壽藥師佛這個願力，令每一個人都有一股生氣。這個生氣，不是生脾氣那個氣，就是生生不息的有一股朝氣，像那個「木欣欣以向榮，泉涓涓而始流」，這都是朝氣的表現。就是表示我們這一早起，我們這個生命的火正燒得很旺的，那麼一切一切都是如意吉祥的。那麼中午我們應該感謝釋迦牟尼佛，對我們說一切佛法，一切經典；所以中午萬佛聖城就念釋迦牟尼佛。晚間歸向極樂世界；我們最後的歸宿，要生在極樂世界去，離開這個娑婆世界，所以晚間念阿彌陀佛。這是萬佛聖城的課程，和其他道場完全不相同的地方。
那麼這麼多年來，沒有人懂得這個是和其他地方不同的，都以為其他的地方，都是像萬佛聖城這樣子，不是的。所以我們萬佛聖城所行所作是別具一格的，是別開生面的，在中國的佛教裏邊你看不見的。好像我們萬佛聖城和金輪聖寺、金山聖寺，要是正式講經的時候，都有人請法；這在其他的道場裏邊，你也看不見的，是沒有的。那麼因為你們也都沒有見過太多佛教的這種儀式，也不知道這對不對，所以我今天才特別詳細地來告訴告訴你們。
有沒有人對我方才所講的這個經典，有什麼意見？或者覺得我講的什麼地方不圓滿，你若是有什麼看法，可以到這上邊來告訴我。我們研究佛法一定要令大家心服口服，心裏沒有一點疑惑才可以。你們各位對於這個經文上所說的道理，有沒有什麼不同意的地方，都可以說一說。
真正沒有妄想了，就是往生極樂世界；你真正沒有欲念了，那就是教化衆生了。
誰教你打妄想？誰教你有欲念？如果沒人教，根本就是個空的、虛妄的；如果有人教，是誰教？是你自己教的？是旁人教的？是你自己教的，為什麼打妄想的時候，剛一開始打，你都不知道？什麼道理？
你沒有妄想，就是淨土；這多方便，多痛快，多快！只是把妄想收拾乾淨了，那就是極樂世界了。你沒有妄想，那就沒有煩惱；沒有煩惱，那就是快樂，就是極樂世界，不需要各處亂跑！
淨土法門也說得很清楚的，不過我們人都不注意，它說：「生則決定生，去則實不去。」生，就生出來淨土；生出淨土，就是教你自己自性現出光明來，所謂「唯心淨士，自性彌陀。」不一定要到外邊找；到外邊找去，那是為著一般普通的人說的。你若真想要修行，想要研究佛法，你要明白這個極樂和娑婆不離當念，就是當下這一念就是極樂！就是娑婆！你染汙心生出來就是娑婆；你清淨心現前，那就是極樂世界。所以不必頭上安頭，一定執著我教化衆生，或者一定執著我生到極樂世界去。我們念佛是不妨念，那麼生不生？也不要管它，我們只是誠心來修行就好了。那就是說：你沒有煩惱，就是極樂世界，這是很現成的；你有煩惱，就是娑婆世界，就是苦不可言的一個世界，就是在這兒嘛！
待續
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At the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, we recite the name of Medicine Master Buddha in the morning and dedicate the merit to the Dharma-protectors of the City, praying that they will be safe from disasters and will enjoy long life. At noon we recite "Namo Fundamental Teacher Shakyamuni Buddha" in order to repay the kindness of Shakyamuni Buddha, who taught the Dharma to us.
In the evening we recite the name of Amitabha Buddha, vowing to be born in the Land of Ultimate Bliss, where the three evil paths do not exist. In the Saha world, we are troubled and afflicted every day, but in the Land of Ultimate Bliss and the Lapis Lazuli Land, there is only happiness.
The City of Ten Thousand Buddhas is a new Way-place, and we recite the names of three different Buddhas in the morning, at noon, and in the evening. In this respect, we differ from Way-places in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Vietnam, and other countries where they follow the Chinese Buddhist tradition and recite Amitabha Buddha's name all the time. When left-home people from other places visit the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, they think that we do everything wrong and do not understand the rules.
We do not claim that what we do at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas is correct. However, when we rise in the morning, we should emulate the vows of Medicine Master Buddha Who Quells Disasters and Lengthens Life. This will give us the fresh, youthful energy of dawn; an invigorating vitality like that of trees reviving after a drought or a spring bubbling forth from the ground. When we rise at dawn, the fire of our life burns brightly and everything is auspicious. At noon, we should be grateful to Shakyamuni Buddha for all the Dharma and Sutras that he taught us. At night, our thoughts return to the Land of Ultimate Bliss, the final haven where we wish to be reborn.
All these years, you assumed that other places did things the same way. You didn't realize that the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas has a different style. For example, at all of the monasteries of Dharma Realm Buddhist Association, we begin each Sutra lecture with a formal requesting of Dharma. You won't see this at other temples. I am telling you this because you are not familiar enough with the Buddhist rituals to know if it is right or not.
Does anyone have questions, criticisms, or opinions on this passage of the Sutra or on my explanation of it? In studying the Dharma, we should investigate the principles until we are completely convinced of them, without the slightest doubt in our minds. If you disagree with something in the Sutra, speak up.
If you really have no deluded thoughts, then you have already been born in the Land of Ultimate Bliss. If you are truly free of desire, then you have already taught and transformed living beings. Who told you to indulge in deluded thoughts? Who told you to have thoughts of desire? If no one told you, then it’s empty and false. If someone told you, who was it? If it was you, then why weren’t you aware of it when the deluded thought first arose in your mind?
Your not having any deluded thoughts is already the Pure Land. See how convenient, how immediate it is! Simply clean up your deluded thoughts, and you'll be in the Land of Ultimate Bliss. When you have no deluded thoughts, then you have no afflictions. That freedom from afflictions, that happiness, is itself the Land of Ultimate Bliss. So, don’t go running all over the place!
The Pure Land teaches very clearly, "One definitely creates it; one doesn’t really go anywhere." You create the Pure Land yourself by revealing the light of your own nature.
The Pure Land is in the mind.
Amitabha is in one’s own nature.
You needn’t look outside. Ordinary people think that the Pure Land is outside, but if you really want to study and cultivate Buddhism, you must understand that the Land of Ultimate Bliss and the Saha world are not beyond this very thought. A defiled thought is the Saha world, while a pure thought is the Land of Ultimate Bliss.
Don’t be attached to the fact of your teaching living beings or being reborn in the Land of Ultimate Bliss. Recite the Buddha's name without worrying about whether you will be reborn there. Just cultivate sincerely. If you are free of affliction, then the Land of Ultimate Bliss is right here, ready-made. If you become afflicted, then you are in the Saha world, with its unspeakable suffering.
To be continued
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