I hope all of you are doing well. Today is the fifth day of the Aspirations to End Adversity. Today, the texts we will recite together are the Sutra of the Essence of Immeasurable Longevity and Wisdom and Karma Chakme’s Aspiration for Rebirth in Sukhavati.
大家好！今天是除障祈願共修的第五天。大家要一起念誦的是《阿彌陀鼓音聲王陀羅尼經》和《洽美極樂願文》。

The Sutra of the Essence of Immeasurable Longevity and Wisdom is one of several sutras associated with the Buddha Amitayus in the Tibetan Kangyur. The Buddha Amitayus is one of the most well-known buddhas of all those mentioned in the Mahayana sutras. In the Pure Land tradition of Chinese Buddhism, the Buddha Amitabha is the main focus of practice. The practice of Amitabha is easy to do and has great blessings, so it has spread widely among the public. Amitabha is probably the only buddha of the Mahayana to whom a specific lineage is devoted. I don’t think there is any other.
《阿彌陀鼓音聲王陀羅尼經》是西藏「甘珠爾」裡面有關阿彌陀佛的經文中的其中一部。「阿彌陀佛」是大乘經典提到的諸佛當中最著名的一尊佛。漢傳佛教中的淨土宗，就是以修持彌陀法門為主。由於彌陀法門修持容易，加持巨大，所以非常普羅大眾。在大乘中，大概只有阿彌陀佛是以一尊佛而形成一個宗派的。

Though there is no separate Pure Land tradition in Tibet, there are countless teachings and practices of Amitabha that come from the Kangyur, Terma, and pure visions. Among them, the ones everyone considers authoritative are the sutras and dharanis of Amitayus in the Kangyur. This Sutra of the Essence of Immeasurable Longevity and Wisdom is, between sutra and tantra, included within tantra.
藏傳佛教當中，彌陀雖然沒有獨立的宗派，但是各種彌陀相關的教言、伏藏和淨觀法門是極為豐富的。其中，出自「甘珠爾」的有關阿彌陀佛的經典和咒語是受到普遍認可的。其中《阿彌陀鼓音聲王陀羅尼經》是屬於顯密當中的密乘經典。

As the Sutra of the Features of Manjushri’s Realm says: 「All dharmas depend on conditions; They rest on the base of aspiration. Whoever makes any aspiration Will achieve that result.」
《大聖文殊師利菩薩佛剎功德莊嚴經》中說：「諸法屬因緣，樂欲為根本，如彼所希願，獲果亦如是。」

The amazing, wonderful pure realm of Sukhavati arose because of the aspirations of the Buddha Amitabha, it is said. Thus we should also, even within our present daily lives, take up the intention to help others, foster a good motivation, and take care of the natural environment and animals. If we do so, we can create a small Sukhavati around ourselves. These days, we face many severe, perilous environmental crises such as climate change. Scientists see this and lead us by the hand to show us, but if we lack sufficient motivation and courage to change, it cannot be of much benefit to our actual situation.
阿彌陀佛由於他的大願成就了殊勝不可思議的極樂淨土，因此我們在現實生活當中也應當懷有利他的良善動機。如果可以關懷大自然、愛護動物，那麼我們就是在建立一個小小的極樂世界在自己周圍。現在氣候改變、環境危急的情況層出不窮，雖然科學家們都指證歷歷、大聲疾呼，但是我們改變的意願和力道還是太小。對於實際情況的改善，是沒有多大的助益的。

We might think that we can just ruin this earth and then go off to some other pleasant place, but I don’t think that karmic cause and effect works that way. This earth of ours doesn’t belong just to our generation. It doesn’t belong just to humans. Either we can transform this earth into a pure realm for future generations and other sentient beings, or we can transform it into a hell. It’s in our hands right now. We all must do as the Buddha Amitabha did and make vast aspirations for the sake of other sentient beings, make a strong commitment, and strive to benefit others. I think that this is one of the most important points of the teachings on Amitabha.
如果我們恣意地破壞這個地球，妄想還有另外一個舒適的地方可以遷居，我覺得這樣的想法和行為，是違背因果的。這個地球不僅僅是屬於是我們這一代人的，也不僅僅是屬於人類的。它屬於世世代代的人類和其他所有的生命。那麼，地球將會要變成淨土或是地獄，就完全掌握在我們的手中。所以，我們應該效法阿彌陀佛，發起利他的大願，發起誓言，盡力利益他人。我覺得，這就是修持彌陀法門的重點之一。

Next, please join me in reciting the Sutra of the Essence of Immeasurable Longevity and Wisdom and Karma Chakme’s Aspiration for Rebirth in Sukhavati with the kind intention of bringing benefit to all sentient beings.
接下來，我們帶著利益一切眾生的善心，念誦《阿彌陀鼓音聲王陀羅尼經》和《洽美極樂願文》。