(英)淨因三要 THREE WAYS TO THE PURE LAND(修訂版)

Introduction

Dharma Master Cheng Yen’s teachings in the Three Ways to the Pure Land: The Three Essential Principles for Cultivating Pure Causes are based on the “three blessings from pure actions” described in the Amitayurdhyana Sutra (Sutra of Contemplation of the Buddha of Infinite Life).

In the traditional interpretation, cultivating “pure causes” will allow us to be reborn in the Pure Land of Amita Buddha, the Buddha of Infinite Life and Infinite Light. However, the way that Master Cheng Yen teaches about pure causes is different – her focus is on how we can work to establish a pure land right here and now, in this world, in this life.

The teachings presented in this book can be interpreted as a graduated course of action, allowing us to first perfect our human nature and cultivate blessings through good deeds, then, to attain liberation from the suffering of birth and death, and finally, to reach the state of Buddhahood through walking the Bodhisattva-path. Still, Master Cheng Yen emphasizes that every stage in this practice is a step on the Bodhisattva-path, creating the positive affinities that will allow us to save and transform others and at the same time eliminate our afflictions and negative habitual tendencies. In this way, we can cultivate pure causes, perfect our character, and manifest our full potential as human beings.

In this new edition of the book, the cover and inner design, the translation, contents and organization have been updated to make it more accessible for an audience unfamiliar with Buddhist teachings. Therefore, we have avoided the use of specialized Buddhist terms as much as possible, and have added footnotes to explain specific terms that might be unknown to the reader.

內容簡介

《淨因三要》一語係出自《佛說觀無量壽佛經》，意含「修淨因」得生西方極樂國土。然而，證嚴上人強調的「修淨因」是於此生、此地、此時，當下即可創造淨土。

此書對於如何修正習氣，透過行善、造福，乃至於解脫生死；藉由行菩薩道達到成佛的境地等，皆有次第的闡述。證嚴上人並強調每一個階段的實踐皆是菩薩道的踐履，廣結善緣、度化他人的同時，消除了自我的煩惱與習氣。經由此方法修「清淨因」、美化人格，淋漓盡致地發揮做人的潛能。

除了封面及內頁重新設計，為了讓不熟悉佛法的人士易於閱讀，此修訂版在內文的翻譯、目錄，及架構上皆重新編輯。同時盡可能避免使用不易理解的佛學語彙，必要時並添加註解，使更能貼近讀者。