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今天我就給各位講一講「觀世音菩薩」這幾個字。
怎麼叫「觀」呢？觀就是一種觀智——能觀的智慧，世音就是所觀的境界；以這個能觀的智慧，觀這個所觀的境界，觀這個世間所有一切的境界，一切的音聲。這個音聲有苦聲，有樂聲，有善聲，有惡聲，有好聲，有壞聲；觀世音菩薩觀看這世界種種的音聲，他就遂心滿願。眾生無論向觀世音菩薩求什麼，觀世音菩薩一定就遂心滿願的。
「世」，有過去世、現在世、未來世，這三世。觀世音菩薩觀這一切眾生過去世的因緣，現在世的因緣，未來世的因緣，觀看他三世的因緣，然後應該用什麼方法去救度這個眾生，去教化這個眾生，觀世音菩薩就用他所修行成就的這種神通去救度眾生，所以這叫「觀世音」。
「菩薩」是半梵語，具足叫「菩提薩埵」，翻譯成中文「菩提」就是覺，「薩埵」就是有情，就叫「覺有情」——覺悟這一切的有情。又有一個講法，說是有情裏邊的一個覺悟者。什麼叫有情呢？就是一切有知覺性，有感覺，有氣血的這一些個有生命的東西都叫有情。觀世音菩薩他以前和我們是一樣的，就因為他不怕苦難去修行而覺悟了，是有情眾生裏邊的一個覺悟者；也就是他以他覺悟這種智慧，再來覺悟我們這一切的眾生，這叫菩薩。
菩薩又有一個名稱叫「大道心的眾生」，他這個道心最大的；有大道心的眾生這就叫菩薩，觀世音菩薩也就是這一類的眾生。
在沒有成佛以前，所有的菩薩也都叫眾生，不過他是眾生裏邊的一個覺悟的眾生，而不是迷昧的一個眾生。迷昧的眾生遇到一切的境界就執迷不悟，遇到一切的事也都看不破，放不下。觀世音菩薩對一切的事也都看得破，放得下，無所執著了，所以他覺悟；不但自己覺悟，而且又能去覺悟其他一切沒有覺悟的眾生，所以這叫「觀世音菩薩」。這是觀世音菩薩大概的意思。
有一首讚歎觀世音菩薩的偈頌，是說觀世音菩薩一個簡略的大概。這一首偈頌怎麼樣說的呢？
「觀音菩薩妙難酬，清淨莊嚴累劫修」：說觀世音菩薩他這種神通智慧方便，一切一切的，都是不可思議的。這種不可思議的境界，沒有法子可以講得完。他這種清淨莊嚴的相好，累劫修，不是一生一世修來的，是生生世世修福修慧；很多個大劫以前他就修福修慧，才有這種清淨莊嚴的相好，這相貌非常圓滿。
「朵朵紅蓮安足下，彎彎秋月鎖眉頭」：觀世音菩薩在腳下有朵朵紅蓮花，他站在紅蓮花的上邊，非常地妙好。彎彎秋月，觀世音菩薩那眉毛彎彎，像秋天那月牙似地鎖眉頭，這個相貌生得非常地妙好，非常地圓滿。
「瓶中甘露常遍灑」：觀世音菩薩手裏拿著淨水瓶，他這個瓶裏邊所裝的是甘露水。這甘露水向我們每一個人的頭上一灑，我們每個人就得到清涼，災消病散；病也沒有了，災難也消了，罪也滅了，福就會生出來。怎麼叫遍灑呢？遍灑是普遍地，任何人有什麼災難，他都可以去救。
「手內楊枝不計秋」：觀音菩薩手裏有個楊枝，他用這個楊枝沾著甘露水這麼一灑，這個地方就清淨了，什麼魔障也沒有了，什麼麻煩也沒有了，一切一切都清淨了。只要觀世音菩薩來用楊枝沾著甘露水一灑，這個地方就平安無事了。不計秋，就是不知道多少年了。
「千處祈求千處應」：這觀世音菩薩不是一個地方求，他來救一個地方；你就千處、萬處、百千萬處，有多少人求他，他都遂心滿願，來幫忙這麼多的眾生，令你離苦得樂。
「苦海常作度人舟」：我們這個世界就好像一個苦海一樣，觀世音菩薩在這個茫茫的苦海裏邊，常常地作度人的這麼一個船的樣子。
觀音菩薩這種的神通妙用，相好莊嚴，講是講不完的，不過我們人知道他一個大概，對觀音菩薩有少少的認識，以後好多接近觀音菩薩，多向觀音菩薩來學習，學習觀音菩薩這種的慈悲，這種的普門示現來教化眾生。
我講到這個地方，想起一個公案來，給大家講一講。這公案本來以前也講過，但是有的人還沒有聽過，不妨給這沒有聽過的人再講一講。
待續
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Today I will explain a little bit about the words "Bodhisattva Who Contemplates the Sounds of the World" (Guanshiyin Bodhisattva).
What is contemplation? It refers to a contemplative wisdom, the wisdom that is able to contemplate. The sounds of the world are the state that is contemplated. The wisdom that is able to contemplate is used to contemplate the state that is contemplated-all the states within this world, all the sounds. The sounds include sounds of suffering, sounds of happiness, wholesome sounds, evil sounds, good sounds, bad sounds. Guanshiyin Bodhisattva observes all the various sounds of the world. He fulfills all wishes. No matter what living beings seek from Guanshiyin Bodhisattva, he will grant their wishes for sure.
The Chinese character shi (世) for "world" also refers to "period of time," as in the three periodsods of time-past, present, and future. Guanshiyin Bodhisattva contemplates the past causes and conditions, present causes and conditions, and future causes and conditions of all living beings. Looking at the causes and conditions in the three periods of time for each living being, Guanshiyin Bodhisattva employs whatever method is suitable for saving and teaching that living being. He uses the spiritual penetrations he has accomplished through cultivation to rescue living beings. Thus, he is called the One Who Contemplates the Sounds of the World.
Pusa is a partial transliteration of the Sanskrit word "Bodhisattva" in Chinese. The meaning is translated thus: "Bodhi" means enlightenment and "sattva" means sentient being, so it means "one who enlightens sentient beings," and also "an enlightened one among sentient beings." What is meant by "sentient being"? It refers to any living thing endowed with awareness, sentience, breath, and blood. Guanshiyin Bodhisattva used to be the same as all of us, but because he cultivated without fear of suffering or hardship and became enlightened, he is an enlightened one among sentient beings. Moreover, he uses the wisdom of his enlightenment to further enlighten all of us living beings.
Such a one is called a Bodhisattva. Bodhisattvas have another name: They are called living beings with a great resolve for the Way. They have the greatest resolve for the Way. Living beings with a great resolve for the Way are called Bodhisattvas. Guanshiyin Bodhisattva is a living being of this type.
Before they become Buddhas, all Bodhisattvas are also called living beings, but they are enlightened living beings, not confused living beings. When confused living beings encounter any kind of state, they cling to it and fail to awaken. No matter what affair they come across, they cannot see through it and put it down. Guanshiyin Bodhisattva is able to see through and put down all matters. He is not attached to anything, and so he is enlightened. Not only is he himself enlightened, he can also enlighten all other unenlightened living beings. Therefore, he is called Guanshiyin Bodhisattva. That's a general explanation of Guanshiyin Bodhisattva.
There is a verse in praise of Guanshiyin Bodhisattva that gives a general description of Guanshiyin Bodhisattva. How does it go?
Guanshiyin Bodhisattva is wonderful beyond description. His pure adornments were gained through many kalpas of cultivation. That describes the inconceivability of Guanshiyin Bodhisattva's spiritual powers, wisdom, expedient means, and everything about him. There is no way to completely speak about such an inconceivable state. One could never finish describing it. His pure, adorned features were gained through many kalpas of cultivation, not just one life. He cultivated blessings and wisdom in life after life. Many great
kalpas ago, he was already cultivating blessings and wisdom. That's why he has such pure and adorned features. His appearance is full and perfect.
Red lotus flowers rest beneath her feet. The crescent of an autumn moon is in the curve of her brows. Guanshiyin Bodhisattva has red lotus flowers beneath her feet. He stands upon red lotus flowers, extremely wonderful and fine. The curved brows of Guanshiyin Bodhisattva resemble the crescent moon. His experience is extremely fine and perfect.
Sweet dew from his vase constantly sprinkles everywhere. In his hand, Guanshiyin Bodhisattva holds a pure vase filled with sweet dew. When he sprinkles the sweet dew upon our heads, it refreshes each of us and wipes out our disasters and offenses. Our sicknesses disappear, disasters and offenses are wiped out, and blessings are produced. "Sprinkles everywhere" means the sprinkling is all-pervasive. He can rescue any person who is in calamity.
In his hand, he holds a willow branch through countless autumns. Among the hands of Guanshiyin Bodhisattva, there is a willow branch hand. He dips the willow branch in sweet dew water and then sprinkles the water, and the place is immediately purified. All demonic obstacles and all troubles are gone, and everything is pure and clear. As long as Guanshiyin Bodhisattva dips the willow branch in sweet dew and then sprinkles it, that place will be peaceful and without incident. The willow branch has been there for countless autumns, for who knows how many years.
Prayers depart a thousand hearts; in a thousand hearts he answers. Guanshiyin Bodhisattva doesn't only rescue one person in one place when that person prays to him. However many people pray to him, be it a thousand, ten thousand, or a hundred million, he will grant their wishes. He will come and help that many living beings to leave suffering and find happiness.
He constantly sails the sea of suffering, crossing people over. Our world is like a sea of suffering. In this boundless sea of suffer ing, Guanshiyin Bodhisattva constantly serves as a ferry to take people across.
One could never finish speaking of the wonderful functioning of Guanyin Bodhisattva's spiritual powers and his adorned features. However, now at least we have a general idea and know a little bit about Guanyin Bodhisattva, so in the future we will be able to draw near to Guanyin Bodhisattva and learn from Guanyin Bodhisattva. We should emulate Guanyin Bodhisattva's kindness and compas sion in manifesting universal doors to teach and transform living beings.
At this point, I will tell everyone a true story that has come to my mind. I told this story before, but there are some people who haven't heard it, so I will retell it for those who haven't heard it before.
To be continued
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