元宵随笔 Yuanxiao Festival Reflection by Master Jingben | 2026.03.03
🏮今日元宵十五，月圆人团圆。在这光明圆满的日子里，有缘为两位来自海外的母女莲友传授皈依。
老妈妈七十多岁，精神慈祥安稳，为她取皈依号“佛佑”——象征一生在阿弥陀佛的护佑之中，无论顺境逆境，都有佛光相随、愿力守护。女儿取名“佛领”——象征阿弥陀佛以本愿力引领众生，远离苦海，走向极乐。母女同日皈依，一人蒙佛护佑，一人随佛引领，同在阿弥陀佛的大愿之中，这也是一份难得的因缘。
她们分享，从疫情期间开始，便透过线上持续聆听法义。虽相隔千里，却始终不离弥陀名号。老妈妈笑着说：“师父，听了您的开示很安心。晚上睡不着时，打开来听一听，很快就能安稳入眠。”我心中也不禁一笑：世间有安眠曲，佛法开示也有安眠的作用。真正让人安心的，是弥陀的佛光加持。
女儿佛领从事医学工作，对无常二字体会尤深，因而愈发体会弥陀救度法门的难得与可贵。
多年闻法中，二人许多疑惑慢慢解开，对念佛得度之理，愈发笃定。因此，她们平日也随缘随份地与人结缘，赠送念珠、念佛机，引荐亲友聆听开示，劝人念佛、劝人茹素。自信教人信，自度亦度他。同时，也表达心愿，希望将来能礼请前往当地弘法，让更多有缘大众听闻弥陀救度之法门，共同种下念佛的善根。
皈依仪式圆满时，二人脸上满是欢喜与安定。那不是一时的激动，而是一种找到归依、找到方向的踏实。元宵灯火虽美，但真正的光明，是这一句“南无阿弥陀佛”在心中长明不灭。
随喜赞叹母女二人今日皈依，正式成为佛子。愿佛佑常在，佛领不失；愿一家同心，信念坚固。南無阿彌陀佛。
净本法师 元宵随笔
| 净土宗 Pure Land Buddhism
🏮 Today is the fifteenth day of the Lunar New Year — the Yuanxiao Festival, when the moon is full and families gather in reunion. On this bright and perfect day, I had the good fortune to confer the Three Refuges upon a mother and daughter from overseas.
The mother, in her seventies, carries a gentle and serene presence. I gave her the Dharma name “Fó Yòu” (Protected by the Buddha) — symbolizing a life embraced by Amitabha Buddha’s protection, guarded by His light and vow-power through both favorable and adverse circumstances.
The daughter received the name “Fó Lǐng” (Led by the Buddha) — symbolizing Amitabha Buddha guiding beings with His Original Vow, leading them away from the sea of suffering toward the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.
On the same day, the mother receives the Buddha’s protection, and the daughter follows the Buddha’s guidance — both within Amitabha’s great vow. This, too, is a rare and precious affinity.
They shared that since the pandemic period, they have continuously listened to the Dharma teachings online. Though separated by great distance, they have never departed from Amitabha’s Name. The mother said with a smile, “Master, listening to your teachings gives me great peace. When I cannot sleep at night, I turn them on, and soon I am able to rest calmly.”
I could not help but smile inwardly — there are lullabies in the world, and the Dharma can also soothe one into restful peace. What truly brings comfort is not merely the sound, but the blessing of Amitabha’s compassionate light.
The daughter, Fó Lǐng, works in the medical field and has a profound understanding of impermanence. Witnessing birth, aging, sickness, and death has deepened her appreciation of how rare and precious Amitabha’s path of deliverance truly is.
Over the years of listening to the Dharma, many of their doubts gradually dissolved, and their conviction in attaining liberation through Buddha-recitation has grown ever firmer. As a result, they naturally share the teaching with others according to conditions — offering prayer beads and chanting devices, encouraging friends and relatives to listen to the Dharma, to recite the Buddha’s Name, and to adopt a vegetarian lifestyle. Having faith themselves, they inspire faith in others; seeking deliverance themselves, they also help guide others. At the same time, they have expressed the heartfelt wish to one day respectfully invite us to their local area to share the Dharma, so that more people with the proper affinities may hear Amitabha’s teaching of deliverance and plant the wholesome roots of Buddha-recitation together.
When the Refuge Ceremony concluded, their faces shone with joy and serenity. It was not a momentary excitement, but the steady assurance of having found refuge and direction in life. The lantern lights of the festival are beautiful, yet the truest light is this single phrase — “Namo Amitabha” — shining unceasingly in the heart.
We rejoice in and praise this mother and daughter for taking refuge today and officially becoming disciples of the Buddha. May the Buddha’s protection always remain; may the Buddha’s guidance never be lost. May their family be united in heart, steadfast in faith.
Namo Amitabha.
— Yuanxiao Festival Reflection by Master Jingben
| Pure Land Buddhism
