「舉目滔滔」：舉起來眼睛一看，滔滔，都是這樣子，就像汪洋大海那麼滔滔無盡的，這些個人都是在那兒搞名搞利。所以有人要跟著我出家，你再搞名搞利，絕對不行的，一定不要同流合污。我們在這個末法時候，一定要作一個真的。舉目滔滔，「天下皆是」：天下都是這樣子。
「 不知佛是何人」：不知道究竟佛是怎麼回事？「法是何義」：這個法是要人斷惡生善，改過自新，要人明白的。可是他不懂，他越學越糊塗，越學越不明白。「僧是何名」：究竟僧是什麼？這佛法僧是三寶，他不了解。
什麼叫僧呢？不是一個人叫僧；四個人以上才叫僧呢！一般人說一個人也叫僧，那是錯誤的。僧就是和合大家在一起，叫僧，就是六合同住。「衰殘至此，殆不忍言」：這連一個佛法僧都不懂了，衰殘至此我真是說不出來的，沒有法子說了。「每一思及，不覺淚下」：每一次我一想到這個道理，就淚下如雨，淚如湧泉了。
「我為佛子，不能報恩」：我做一個出家人，做佛的弟子，我不能報佛恩。「內無益於己，外無益於人」：往內裏頭來說，我沒有好好修行，對自己也沒有利益，對外我也沒利益人。「生無益於時，死無益於後」：我活著，沒有什麼利益於我生的這個時候，我死了也沒有什麼益處於後。「天雖高，不能覆我」：天雖然高，我都不容於天地之間。「地雖厚，不能載我」：地雖然厚，我也沒有資格與天地為參。「極重罪人，非我而誰」：最重最重這個罪人，除了我，還有誰呢？
由是痛不可忍。計無所出。頓忘鄙陋。忽發大心。雖不能挽回末運於此時。決當圖護持正法於來世。是故偕諸善友。同到道場。述為懺摩。建茲法會。發四十八之大願。願願度生。期百千劫之深心。心心作佛。從於今日。盡未來際。畢此一形。誓歸安養。既登九品。回入娑婆。俾得佛日重輝。法門再闡。僧海澄清於此界。人民被化於東方。劫運為之更延。正法得以久住。此則區區真實苦心。是為發菩提心第十因緣也。
「由是痛不可忍」：說到這個地方啊！我痛得簡直忍不住了，難忍能忍也忍不住了。「計無所出」：我也沒有什麼方法可以逃得出這個罪業的淵藪。「頓忘鄙陋」：所以我即刻就忘了我自己這麼卑鄙，這麼樣醜陋，我都忘了。於是乎就「忽發大心」：就發大菩提心了。不行！我不能這麼樣子做一個罪大惡極的人，我要發大菩提心！「雖不能挽回末運於此時」：雖然我發大菩提心，不能把末法這種氣數完全挽救回來。「決當圖護持正法於來世」：我一定要發願在來世我護持正法。
我告訴你們，我為什麼要主持正法呢？也就因為生生世世我願意發護持正法這個願，我要一定行持正法。這是我從無量劫以來就發這個願，所以我到什麼地方，我一定要扎正了來做，我一定要主持正法的。怎麼樣地困苦艱難，就誰罵我誰譭謗我，我都是要主持正法的；不論誰妒忌我障礙我，怎麼樣子我都要主持正法。這個志願，絕對我不把它放鬆了！
「是故偕諸善友同到道場」：因為這個，我就同著我很多善的朋友同到萬佛城來，知道嗎？「述為懺摩」：我們大家就是到這個地方來修大悲懺法。
待續
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Look around: the deluge has spread throughout the world. It's like this everywhere. The situation is like a huge ocean. Everyone is caught up in making a name for himself or getting a fortune. If anyone wants to leave home with me, it will not do for you to continue pursuing fame and profit. You must not follow the unwholesome trends of the world. In this Dharma Ending Age, we must certainly be true and genuine.
No one knows who the Buddha is. No one knows what the Buddha is all about, or what the Dharma is. The Dharma exhorts people to stop evil and practice good, to change their faults and renew themselves, and to understand things as they are. However, people fail to understand. The more they learn, the more confused they become. The more they study, the less they understand. Or what constitutes the Sangha. What ultimately is the Sangha? They don't understand the Triple Jewel-the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha~at all.
What is a Sangha? One individual cannot be called a Sangha. It takes four or more people to make a Sangha. Most people make the mistake of calling a single person a Sangha. The Sangha is a harmonious assembly. They dwell in six kinds of harmony. The decay has reached such a perilous point, where people don't even know what the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha are, that one can scarcely bear to speak of it. It's impossible for me to talk about it. Every time I consider it, my tears fall without my realizing it. Every time I think of this situation, my tears fall like rain. They well forth like a bubbling spring.
I am a disciple of the Buddha, a left-home person, yet I am unable to return the kindness that has been done to me. I have no way to requite the Buddha's kindness. I do not benefit myself; personally, I have not practiced well and so have not benefited myself. And as for the community at large, I cannot benefit others. While alive, I am of no benefit to the time I live in. My life has not benefited anyone in this day and age. After I die, I will be of no benefit to posterity. Although the heavens are high, they cannot cover me. There is no place between heaven and earth that will hold me. Although the earth is thick, it cannot bear me. I am not worthy of being an equal with heaven and earth. If my own offenses are not extremely grave, then whose are? Aside from myself, who has such great offenses?
Text:
My pain is therefore unbearable. I have no recourse but to immediately forget my baseness and quickly make the great resolve. Although I cannot reverse the fate of the Dharma's end in the present, I certainly must plan to protect and uphold the Proper Dharma in the future.
Therefore good friends, gather together at the Way-place, perform the repentance ritual, and establish Dharma assemblies. Make the forty-eight vows, each of which is for saving living beings. Make a deep resolve that will last for hundreds of thousands of eons; in thought after thought, resolve to be a Buddha.
From this day to the end of future time, vow to return to the peace of the Pure Land at the end of every life, ascend to the nine grades of lotuses, and then come back to the Saha World. Make the Buddhas' sun shine gloriously once more. Open the Dharma's gate again. Let the Sangha's ocean be clear and pure in this world. The people of the East will be taught and the age will be prolonged. The Proper Dharma will long continue. Such is my meager but genuine resolve that I strive to fulfill. This is the tenth cause and condition for resolving the mind upon Bodhi.
Commentary:
My pain is therefore unbearable. Even though I can bear most of what is unbearable, I can scarcely endure this pain. I have no recourse but to immediately forget my baseness. I must forget my own inferiority and unwholesomeness, and quickly make the great resolve. No! I must not continue to be a big offender! I must make a strong commitment to seek enlightenment. Although I cannot completely reverse the fate of the Dharma's end in the present by the mere strength of my commitment to Bodhi, I certainly must plan to protect and uphold the Proper Dharma in my lives in the future.
Let me tell you something. Why do you think I want to make the Proper Dharma prevail? It's because, in life after life, I made vows to protect and uphold the Proper Dharma. I am determined to practice the Proper Dharma. I have been making these vows for countless eons, which is why I insist on doing things right and maintaining the Proper Dharma wherever I go. No matter who gets jealous or tries to obstruct me, I will still uphold the Proper Dharma regardless. I absolutely will not relax my resolve! Therefore, all my many good friends, let us gather together at the Way-place. Let's all come to the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas and perform the Great Compassion repentance ritual.
To be continued |
