Essence of the Infinite Life Sutra – Excerpt Forty-Nine

Trivial matters can develop into matters of great angst and extreme severity. This is all due to a desire for wealth, lust, and an unwillingness to give. Each one thinks of nothing but one’s own enjoyment and disregards what is right or wrong. Compelled by ignorant desires, people want to benefit themselves and compete for Read More …

Essence of the Infinite Life Sutra – Excerpt Forty-Six

People in this world are indecisive and indolent. They are unwilling to do good deeds, be disciplined in their behavior, or cultivate [proper] karmas. They disobey their parents and rebel against their teachings. They are like foes to their parents, who may as well not have them as children. They are ungrateful, go against ethics, Read More …

Essence of the Infinite Life Sutra – Excerpt Forty-Five

People in this world do not think of practicing goodness. They use divisive speech, harsh speech, false speech, and enticing speech. They detest and are jealous of virtuous people. They discredit the worthy and the wise. They are not filial to their parents, and they are not respectful to their teachers and elders. They are Read More …

Essence of the Infinite Life Sutra – Excerpt Forty-Four

People in this world are born from interrelated karmic causes. How long can one live? Unvirtuous people are not proper in their behavior and thoughts. They usually harbor evil intentions and their minds are constantly preoccupied with immoral lust. Restlessness fills their minds, and their exterior persona reveals wantonness. They waste away their family fortune. Read More …

Essence of the Infinite Life Sutra – Excerpt Forty-Three

People in this world do not follow laws and rules. They are extravagant, indulge excessively in desires, and are arrogant—they willfully do whatever they want. Those who hold high positions are corrupted; they are not upright in their duties. They falsely incriminate others and harm loyal and upright people. What they think is contrary to Read More …

Essence of the Infinite Life Sutra – Excerpt Forty

[All of you] can rectify your minds, correct your thoughts, and refrain from committing evil deeds in this world. This is quite a great merit. “Rectify your minds, correct your thoughts” refers to generating the bodhi mind. Simply put, rectifying one’s mind means not thinking, not seeing, and not hearing anything that is not reasonable Read More …

Essence of the Infinite Life Sutra – Excerpt Thirty-Nine

Having received the Buddha’s clear teachings, we need to be focused and diligent in our learning, and practice according to the teachings. There is no doubt at all. When we receive the Buddha’s clear teachings, we need to aspire to learn and practice with concentration and diligence. We should practice according to the teachings without Read More …

Essence of the Infinite Life Sutra – Excerpt Thirty-Eight

Words and behavior should be faithful and trustworthy. Within and without should match. This is the basic attitude we need when we start our practice. The ancient people talked about ending wrongdoing and practicing virtuous conduct. Where does one start? One starts with no lying. Confucius said, “If a person cannot be trusted, there is Read More …