一貫道郭明義

點亮生命的光-2(中英對照)

念佛即有光明                          translate by Lily

Reciting Buddha’s names brings brightness

    簡單的說，仙佛菩薩的世界有通關密碼留在人間，就像我們上網，要先輸入密碼，我們要進入佛菩薩的網路，也要輸入祂們所設定的密碼，而這密碼很簡單就是「佛號」。

    Simply speaking, there must be passwords to Buddha’s world in our world. It’s just like the fact that we need to enter the password before surfing the Net. We also have to enter the password set by Buddha or bodhisattvas in order to enter their world. Their password is very simple; that is, Buddha’s name.

    所以「唸佛」念的不是「佛」的文字，而是「光明」當我們念佛，心中就充滿光明，這個光明可以照亮自己也照亮別人，因為人的心靈是相通的。

    Therefore, when reciting Buddha’s names. We are not just reciting the word “Buddha”(佛) but also bringing its brightness. When we recite their names, our minds are filled with brightness that can lighten up others as well as ourselves. This is because human minds are connected together.

    念佛雖然簡單，卻有不簡單的內涵，仙佛把一切修持的精髓濃縮凝聚在一句佛號上，只要你去念，就可以和諸佛世界感應道交，得到諸佛的加持和無量功德。不需要參禪打坐、不需要讀經閱典，不須有深厚的修持功夫或經驗，只要誠心、專注的持念，每個人，不論年紀不分男女，都可以立刻受益。

    Reciting Buddha’s name is simple, but it has a rich content. Buddhas and bodhisattvas use their wisdom to condense all of their compassion and practice into a name. As along as you start to recite it, you can connect their world and obtain their blessings and unlimited merits. We don’t need to stay still for meditation, reading a great number of sutras, or having deep religious experiences. Only by sincere and concentrated reciting can everyone of us get the unlimited benefits at once, no matter what age or gender we are.

    就像小孩上網，和每個大人一樣，可以進入無邊的智庫，得到最珍貴的資訊。最簡單反而是最上乘的，複雜難修的法門如果我們不具備足夠的知識、基礎、功力，反而無法有實效。

    Just like every child, he can enter the rich world of the internet to get precious information like every adult. Our method to enter Buddha’s world is simple but very precious. Complicated methods may not be suitable for us because we need to have enough knowledge or religious basis to fit in. 

彌勒佛的通關密碼

Maitriya Buddha’s password

    所以無論你是上班族、家庭主婦、學生…沒有時間到佛堂參班、聽課，家裡也沒有佛堂。沒有關係，只要有「無字真經」這個通關密碼，佛菩薩的光明、力量，就會直接傳達到你的生命。

    If you are an official, a housewife, or a student who has no time to attend classes in temples or you don’t have one at home, then the Five Word Sutra can be your password to Maitriya Buddha’s pure land. Through these Five Words, Buddha’s brightness and power will enter your life directly.

    無論你是十歲、二十、五十、七十…歲，「默念真經」都是最簡單、最有效的修持。無論任何時候，只要去念，屬於彌勒佛的光明就會充滿你的生命，彌勒祖師的慈悲、歡喜，可以掃除你的緊張、煩惱、憂鬱…讓你即刻得到法喜。

    No matter how old you are, reciting the Five Word Sutra will always be the simplest and the most effected way of religious practice. Anytime when you are free and you recite it, the brightness from Maitriya Buddha will fill your life immediately. His compassion and joy will sweep off your nervousness, worries and melancholy, and make you obtain the joy of Dharma at once.

    佛菩薩的光明這麼簡單就可以得到，尤其是我們的祖師彌勒祖師，隨時放出無限光明，只要我們用「無字真經」這通關密碼，開啟我們和彌勒祖師之間的窗戶，彌勒佛的佛光、慈悲，還有祂大度能容的歡喜就立刻照亮我們的生命，不論何時何地都可以坐擁佛世界的清淨與光明。

    It’s so easy to get Buddha’s brightness. Our Maitriya Buddha is especially compassionate because he gives off unlimited brightness any time. As long as we use his password the Five Word Sutra and let open our channel to Maitriya Buddha, his light, compassion, joy and tolerance will lighten up our lives. In this way, we can own the purity and brightness of Buddha’s pure land any time and any place.

    很多學生最喜歡在考試時默念真經，覺得有種神奇的加持力，考試時頭腦特別清楚、運氣特別好，甚至不會題目也在那關鍵時刻突然想通，想不出來，用猜的命中率也奇高…。也許這也是彌勒祖師和小孩子結緣的方式之一。

    Students especially love to recite the Five Words when taking the exam. They will feel the magic empowerment from Buddha. Also, they will have a clear mind and god luck so that they can figure out those difficult questions at the crucial moment. I think this is perhaps the way that Maitriya Buddha helps children.

    憂鬱症患者在默念真經上也特別有效，當憂鬱襲擊生命時，默念真經就像一個救生圈，不會身不由主的捲入負面情緒的漩渦，彌勒祖師會迅速抓住往下墜落的你，慢慢將你從黑暗深淵中拉出來，重見光明。

    For people who have melancholy, reciting the Five Word Sutra is especially effected. When melancholy strikes their life, reciting it is like a lifebuoy to prevent them from falling into negative emotions. Maitriya Buddha can swiftly grab your mind and pull you out from the darkness, giving you the brightness again.

默念真經的方法：

Methods of reciting the Five Word Sutra

    默念真經很簡單，就是在心中默念「無字真經」的五個字，一字一字清楚的念，不要模糊，每個字都清晰就表示心是專注的，如果很模糊，就表示心不夠專注。

    It’s easy to do this practice. Recite each word in mind clearly. Don’t make it blurred. If each word is clear, that means your mind is very concentrated. If the word is blurred, that means your mind is distractive.

默念真經的重點：

The points of reciting.

˙專注在五個字，每個字出現時心中只有那一個字。

Focus on the Five Words. Recite each word with all your heart. Don’t try to think about the next word.

˙盡量做到不要讓其他念頭出現。

Try not to have other thoughts when reciting.

˙默念的速度：緊張時自然會唸得快，放鬆時自然念得慢，

Speed of reciting: we will recite more quickly when feel nervous and more slowly when feeling relaxed.

念久了會發現默念真經速度會和自己心跳的速度一樣，但不必刻意去調整，依個人習慣與喜愛的速度就可以

After reciting for a while, we may find its speed can be the same as our heart beat.

˙默念時，意念凝聚在眼前。

Concentrate our thoughts in front of eyes.

˙心念跑掉時，要把真經再抓回來念。不要縱容自己一邊念真經一邊胡思亂想。

Try to recite more clearly as soon as we are distracted. Don’t allow ourselves to have wandering thoughts.

(未完待續   to be continue)