彌陀七心得分享

發佈日期: 作者:

敬愛的上人，法師們，諸位善知識，阿彌陀佛！

我的名字為瑞·羅培茲(Ray Lopez）。我是德州達拉斯DRS Technologies公司的等離子體處理工程師。自1996年以來，我已有多次來參加彌陀七。自1996年我第一次訪問萬佛聖城以來，已經過了很長的時間。當時我剛開始我的職業生涯，現在我快要60歲，考慮提早退休。我的生活和這個世界已發生了很多變化。然而，有些事物自1996年以來一直沒有改變。看看你周圍，你正在看著它。這座寺廟萬佛聖城自1996年以來一點都沒變。它正如我1996年12月第一次來時那樣，專注在修行上。這是一個美好的參加共修的場所。

因為我的工作非常忙碌，我在家裡沒有做到我所期望的一個佛教修行者。工作花去了我大量的時間。我有時候要從早上5點工作到晚上8點，因為我總是不得不應對各種問題。到家裡時，我通常沒有更多的精力來念誦。然而，這次佛七的時間非常好。因為在這次佛七期間，我的公司也放假，不營運，我可以專注於7天的共修活動。在這裡參加佛七，可以忘卻工作。這是一件好事！

在這次的佛七中，我可以看到有三個非常重要的活動正在進行。

  1. 讀誦《阿彌陀經》
  2. 念阿彌陀佛名號
  3. 完成八十八佛懺悔

《阿彌陀經》中有兩個非常重要的地方清楚地指出了念阿彌陀佛名號的重要性。 請參見萬佛聖城黃色課誦本第96頁和第104頁的《阿彌陀經》。要點如下：

 “舍利弗。若有善男子善女人，聞說阿彌陀佛，執持名號，若一日、若二日、若三日、若四日、若五日、若六日、若七日，一心不亂，其人臨命終時，阿彌陀佛，與諸聖眾，現在其前。是人終時，心不顛倒，即得往生阿彌陀佛極樂國土。”

“舍利弗。若有人已發願、今發願、當發願，欲生阿彌陀佛國者，是諸人等，皆得不退轉於阿耨多羅三藐三菩提，於彼國土，若已生、若今生、若當生。是故舍利弗，諸善男子善女人，若有信者，應當發願，生彼國土。”

在假日期間，我想不出有比這更好的地方了！我真的很喜歡來萬佛聖城參加7天的共修。這是一項具有挑戰性的旅程，好像嘗試攀登珠穆朗瑪峰（喜馬拉雅山最高峰）一樣！在這個佛七中有很多挑戰必須克服：

  1. 心理的挑戰和遊移的心念。保持專注，儘管感到疲憊或寒冷。
  2. 活動的挑戰

a. 很早起床

b. 大量的禮拜

c. 長時胡跪

d. 長時正坐

  1. 生理的挑戰

             a. 由於以上活動而身體感到非常痠痛

b. 缺乏睡眠

c. 寒冷的天氣

d. 下雨

佛七的開始，過了二天後，我問自己：“我能完成這次佛七嗎？”我幾乎無法行走。我的膝蓋或臀部非常痠痛。然而，我喜歡這種挑戰！！！這正是使這個佛七很棒的原因！

充分利用好這次共修非常重要，你必須保持溫暖和乾燥，這樣你才能參與共修及念佛名號。如果你生病了，即會負面影響這次共修。帶上保暖的衣物！帶上雨衣！帶上雨傘！

最後，我要感謝法師們在這一週中引領和指導我們的活動。我要感謝廚師們為我們準備食物，使我們在此次佛七中身體得到營養。我要感謝善知識提供給我睡袋和毛毯來保持溫暖。

Dear Venerable Master, Dharma Masters, all Good and Knowing Advisors:

Amitofo!

My name is Ray Lopez and I am an Plasma Process Engineer at DRS Technologies in Dallas Texas.

I have been coming to the Amitabha Buddha Retreat on several occasions since 1996.

It has been a long time since 1996 when I first visited the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas.

I was in the early phase of my career and now I am approaching 60 years old and thinking of retirement sooner rather than later. A lot has changed in my life and in the world.

There is something that hasn’t changed since 1996. Take a look around you. Your looking at it now.          The Temple hasn’t changed since 1996.

The City of Ten Thousand Buddhas hasn’t changed at all since 1996. It is just like it was when I first visited here in December 1996. That is a good thing! The focus is on the practice!                                                          It is a wonderful place to visit and attend the retreat.

I am not a practicing Buddhist at home to the degree that I want to be because I am so busy at work. Work takes a lot out of me. I sometimes work from 5 AM to 8PM because I am always having to deal with problems. I don’t have energy left to recite at home generally.

However the timing of this retreat is very good because while I am here at this retreat, I can focus on my 7 day retreat activities because my company is also shutdown during this time for the Holiday. I can forget about work while I am here at the retreat.  That’s a good thing!

Because while I am at the retreat here, I can see there are three very important activities happening.

Reciting Amitabha’s Sutra, Reciting Amitabhas name and completing 88 Buddhas Repentance.

The Amitabha sutra has two very important times in the sutra where it is clearly defined how important reciting Amitabha name.

See Amitabha Sutra page 96 and page 104 of the yellow book. The Key points:

“Shariputra, if there is a good man or woman who hears spoken Amitabha and holds the name. Whether for one day, two days, three, four, five day, six days, as long as seven days, with one heart unconfused, when this person approaches the end of life, before him will appear Amitabha and all the assembly of holy ones. When the end comes, his heart is without inversion. In Amitabhas land of ultimate bliss, he will attain rebirth.

“Shariputra, if there are people who have already make the vow, who now make the vow, or who are about to make the vow, “I desire to be born in that country”, these people whether born in the past, now being born, or to be born in the future, all will irreversibility attain Annutara-Samyak- Sambodhi!

Therefore Shariputra, all good men or women, if they are amongst those who have faith, should make the vow, ’I will be born in that country.’

I cannot think of a better place to be while on holiday!  I really like coming to the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas for the 7 day retreat. It kinda of feels like a challenging journey to attempt to climb Mount Everest!

There are so many challenges within this retreat that have to be overcome:

  1. Mental challenges and wondering thoughts. Staying focused despite being tired or cold. 
  2. Activity challenges;
    1. Waking up very early
    1. Numerous Prostrations/bows
    1. Extended Kneeling
    1. Extended time sitting
  3. Physical Challenges
    1. My body feeling very sore from the activities
    1. Lack of sleep
    1. The cold weather
    1. The rain

 At the beginning of the retreat, after the 2nd day, I ask myself: “Will I make this retreat” I can barely walk, my knees or hips are so sore.  However,  I love the challenge!!!!                                                                       This is what makes the retreat Great!

It is very important to get the most out of this retreat, you must stay Warm and Dry so you can participate in the retreat and recite Buddhas name. If you get sick, it diminishes the retreat. Bring Warm clothing! Bring a raincoat! Bring an umbrella!

In closing, I want to thank the Dharma Masters in leading and guiding us in the activities this week.

I want to thank the cooks who prepared the food and nourishment for us to participate in the retreat.      I want to thank the Good Advisor to offer me a sleeping bag and blanket to start warm.