《虛雲老和尚畫傳》序

圖片說明：上人瞻仰虛老舍利

《釋迦如來應化事迹》一書問世久矣，為教門中之偉作，眾生界之寶筏，人人樂讀，個個願觀，容易明瞭；誠對機之善本，契理之妙論。

今為仰慕上虛下雲老人道德、戒行、學問、智慧、苦行、願力、實行、慈悲、喜捨、平等、布施、忍辱、精進、禪定諸波羅密門，一生之奇特事蹟，堪為末法之指南，斯世紀之救星。故而不惜重資，聘專家繪畫佛教人材，精美國畫二百餘幅。竭數寒暑之精思設計，今始告成問世。藉此將老人道德，推行於全世界。人手一編，家喻戶曉，以此而發菩提心，以此而成無上道，以此而倒駕慈航，教化眾生，皆得不退轉於菩提覺位矣。

歲次庚子年元月彌勒聖誕日
山僧度輪拜序於香島佛教講堂之華嚴座室

Preface

The Life Story of Shakymuni Buddha has long been circulating in the world, and it is considered a masterpiece within the Teachings, a precious raft upon which living beings can pass beyond this realm. Everybody likes to read it; one and all are delighted by the pictures that accompany the text. The book is easy to understand, truly a magnificent work that responds to potentials, a wondrous exposition that tallies with principle.

The author has long cherished a deep admiration for his teacher, Venerable Hsu Yun. This admiration extends to the Master's Way virtue, precept conduct, erudition wisdom, ascetic discipline, vow power and actual practice. It includes the Master's kindness, compassion, joy, and renunciation, his equanimity, giving, patience, vigor, Dhyana samadhi, as well as all the other Paramita doors. The numerous events that happened throughout his life can certainly act as a compass for those in the Dharma-ending Age, a saving force for this century.

Therefore, the author found an especially talented artist in Buddhist subjects, in preparing 200 scrolls, and after several years of careful planning and deliberation, this book has now been published. It is my hope that the Venerable Yun's virtuous conduct will be made known to the entire world. May many people through reading his life story be encouraged to bring forth the Bodhi resolve and accomplish the unsurpassed Way, and then, may they reverse the boast of compassion to come back and teach and transform living beings, so that together we attain irreversibility from the position of enlightenment.

Written respectfully by mountain monk Tu Lun, (Hsuan Hua)
In the Flower Adornment Study at the Buddhist Lecture Hall, Hong Kong,
On the holy day of Maitreya Bodhisattva,
The first day of the Lunar New Year, in the year 1960.