Dharma Master Cheng Yen was born in 1937 in a small town in Taichung County, Taiwan. When she was twenty-three years old, she left home to become a Buddhist nun, and was instructed by her mentor, Venerable Master Yin Shun, to work “for Buddha’s teachings, for sentient beings.” In 1966, she founded a charity, which later turned into the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, to “help the poor and educate the rich”—to give material aid to the needy and inspire love and humanity in both givers and recipients.

 

In recent years, Master Cheng Yen’s contributions have been increasingly recognized by the global community. In 2011, she was recognized with the Roosevelt Institute’s FDR Distinguished Public Service Award and was named to the 2011 TIME 100 list of the world’s most influential people. In 2014, she was presented with Rotary International’s Award of Honor in recognition of her humanitarian efforts and contributions to world peace.

What is karma?”

“Which is more important: harmony or principles?”

“How can we understand ourselves?”

“How can we be understanding toward others?”

“What is true spiritual cultivation?”

 

Dharma Master Cheng Yen answers these and other questions from people seeking guidance in their spiritual journey.

 

Infinite TEACHINGS, Infinite MEANINGS is a collection of questions and answers that are organized based on the key concepts in Chapter Two of the Sutra of Infinite Meanings ─ “Expounding the Dharma.” In this book, Dharma Master Cheng Yen wisely answers questions related to a variety of issues people encounter in daily life, such as parent-child relations, education, career, marriage, etc., as well as offers guidance on the Buddhist faith, morality and ethics.

 

The Master’s compassion and eloquence, which shine through every page of the book, exemplify how Bodhisattvas impart infinite teachings with infinite meanings to suit the different capacities and dispositions of sentient beings as described in Chapter Two of the Sutra of Infinite Meanings. The pure wisdom found in each of the answers she provides not only enlightens readers, but also inspires them to guide others onto the path of awakening.

證嚴上人於一九三七年出生於臺灣省臺中縣清水鎮。一九六三年，證嚴上人依印順導師為親教師出家，師訓「為佛教，為眾生」，證嚴上人奉持不懈。一九六六年，證嚴上人創辦佛教克難慈濟功德會。慈濟世界在法師慈悲呵護下，數十年來，一步一步地堅實茁壯；發展為慈善、醫療、教育、人文四大志業，以及國際賑災、環保、社區志 工、骨髓捐贈八大腳印，透過親手拔除眾生的苦痛，以善與大愛膚慰人間。

 

近年來，證嚴上人的貢獻獲得國際間一致推崇；於2011年獲美國羅斯福基金會頒贈「傑出公共服務獎」， 並被時代雜誌列為2011年全球百大最具影響力人物。2014年獲頒國際扶輪社「最高榮譽獎」，肯定證嚴上人對於人道主義精神與世界和平的貢獻。

「什麼是業？」

「圓融與原則，何者重要？」

「如何了解自己？」

「如何體諒別人？」

「什麼是真正的修行？」

 

人們在修行過程中尋求指引，提出了種種困惑，證嚴上人一 一為之作覆。

 

本書係以《無量義經‧說法品》為全書章節骨幹，再以證嚴上人與大眾的對答互動作為血肉，內容為上人應機應緣與大眾的對答實錄，用以指點迷津，如夫妻、親子、婆媳、同事等人際之間，且及於求法問法、相談天道地理人倫等等萬物真理。

 

一則一則的觀機逗教，讓人從中體悟上人的說法無礙，以及上人寬廣的慈悲心。如同《無量義經‧說法�