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「藥師琉璃光」：是這一位佛的名號；「如來」：是佛的十號之一；「本願」：是在他沒有成佛之前，所發的菩提願，所發的菩提心。在沒成佛之前發，所以叫本願。
「功德」：外邊所立的，叫功；內邊所積蓄的，是德。譬如你建造廟宇，修補橋樑、道路，為所有的人來謀幸福，令所有的人都得到利益了，這叫立功。足乎己，無待於外，之謂德，德就是自己沒有虧心的事情。你做事情做得仰不愧於天，俯不怍於人，外不欺人，內不欺己。你所行所做，在外邊立功，而內裏頭積聚著，就有德行，所以這叫功德。立功、立德；這個德行的事情是裏邊的，功是外邊的。這個德行，所謂「善欲人見，不是真善」；你做的善事，不一定要教人人都知道，也不需要各處去賣廣告，說：「我又做了什麼什麼好事了。」
或者「我又受了五戒了，受了八戒了，受了多少戒了，我是一個受菩薩戒的人！」這不需要表露自己的身分，不需要自誇。德行是沒有人知道的，你教人知道了，那就差一點了。所以說：「善欲人見，不是真善；惡恐人知，便是大惡。」你善欲人見，那就不是德行了；惡恐人知，那真是大的罪過了。
我們學佛的人，不要那麼俗頭巴腦的，俗裏俗氣的，還是各處爭第一，說：「我又造了什麼什麼好事了！我又怎麼樣子啊，布施了什麼什麼！我又怎麼樣做護法了！」一有這一種的思想，和自誇自滿的行為，這都不夠護法的資格了。
所以你們各位學佛法、聽經，都是要在這個地方用功夫；不要虛張聲勢地，弄一些個虛偽的宣傳。我注重的是真功實行，不注重那些個虛偽的宣傳。我們學佛的人，再那麼俗頭巴腦的，再那麼俗裏俗氣的，那你說世界還有不俗的人嗎？所以這個很要緊的，我們要給世人做一個榜樣，真正地令人佩服我們佛教徒的這種品行，這種思想，那才能感化動人呢！
「經」：這個經是經常之法，經常不變的一種法門。經就是聖人被下之言，就是聖人所說出的言教。那麼這種經是一字不可去，一字不可添。它有很多的意思，簡略地講，不外貫、攝、常、法四個字。
貫，是把佛所說的道理、意義，由始至終貫穿起來。攝，是攝受所有眾生的機宜。常，是什麼時候也不改變，古今都不改變，都是這麼一個經常之法。法，是過去諸佛，現在諸佛，未來諸佛；過去眾生，現在眾生，未來眾生，所有的眾生，都遵從這個法。所以說「三世同遵名曰法」，這是法，大家都要遵守這個法則。
經又有繩墨義，好像做木匠的用來畫線的斗似的。又是湧泉義，就好像在這個地裏頭，泉水湧上來了，這叫湧泉義。
若講起來，經字也有很多很多的道理，不過你們可以把這個意思記一個大概。什麼叫經呢？經，就是經常不變之法；不能改變的，它是永久都是這樣子。這一位佛講，是這樣子；那麼將來的佛講，還是這樣子；過去的佛講，也都是這樣子。所以古今不變叫常，三世同遵叫法。《藥師琉璃光如來本願功德經》，簡單地解釋，就是這樣子。
待續 |
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Medicine Master Vaidurya Light is the name of this Buddha. Tathagata is one of the ten titles of all Buddhas. Past Vows refers to the vows to achieve Bodhi that Medicine Master Buddha made before he became a Buddha.
Merit and Virtue: Merit is created externally, while virtue is accumulated internally. One creates merit by building temples, repairing bridges or roads, or doing other work to benefit others. Virtue exists within oneself and does not rely on anything external. A virtuous person does not have a bad conscience. He has no reason to feel ashamed before the heavens or before other people. He doesn't cheat others, nor does he cheat himself. In everything he does, he creates outer merit and amasses inner virtue. A saying about virtue goes,
Good done in the hope that others will notice is not genuine good.
Evil done in the fear that others will find out is truly great evil.
Don't boast about yourself, saying, "I've done good deeds.
I've received the five precepts, the eight precepts, and the Bodhisattva precepts!" Virtuous deeds are done without others' knowing. If you want others to notice your good deeds, you are not virtuous. If you try to cover up your bad deeds, then your offenses are great indeed.
Buddhists should not be boastful or competitive, saying, "I've done many good deeds and made lots of donations! I really do a lot to support Buddhism!" People with such an attitude are not fit to be Dharma-protectors.
Therefore, in studying the teachings, we should remember this point. We should value genuine practice, not false publicity. This is very important. As Buddhists, we must be models for the world. If we have integrity and hold to our principles, other people will respect us and be influenced by us.
Sutra refers to the eternal Dharma, to teachings that are not subject to change. Since the Sutras are the teachings of sages, we should never delete or add even a single word to them. The word "Sutra" has many meanings, but in general, they do not go beyond the four meanings of "stringing together," "attracting," "constant," and a "standard."
The Four Meanings of "Sutra"
1. "Stringing together": The principles and meanings spoken by the Buddha are strung together from the beginning to the end.
2. "Attracting" means to gather in all living beings.
3. "Constant" means never changing from ancient times to the present. It is the same whether it is spoken by the Buddhas of the past, present, or future.
4. "A standard": A Sutra is a standard followed by all Buddhas and all living beings of the past, present, and future. By definition, a "standard" is honored by all throughout time.
The word Sutra has the meaning of "a chalkline," for it is like the marking line that carpenters used in ancient times for making straight lines. Sutra also means "bubbling spring," for it is like water gushing forth from a spring. Although the word "Sutra" contains a great many principles, you should remember the general meanings discussed above.
To be continued |
