願力的不可思議---1070121佛學講座：淺釋《地藏菩薩本願經》第十講講座報導 The Unbelievable Power of Vows---Dharma Lecture Ten of “Sutra of the Original Vows of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva” on January 21, 2018 @ 中華清淨學佛協會

民國107年1月21日，協會舉辦佛學講座：「淺釋《地藏菩薩本願經》」第十講，感謝段老師為我們講述《地藏菩薩本願經》第四品〈閻浮眾生業感品〉。

The Association of Pure Buddhist held Dharma Lecture Ten of “Sutra of the Original Vows of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva” on January 21, 2018. Thank Teacher Duan for giving a speech on Chapter 4, Karmic Retributions of Beings in Jambudvipa, for us.

老師帶我們從經文上看到佛菩薩的言行身教，地藏菩薩因累劫以來不斷地慈悲發願救拔苦難眾生，成為證得無上智慧的大菩薩，但仍是「不忘佛恩，知恩報恩」，將功德都歸於釋迦牟尼佛的恩澤，不像我們凡夫有了一點點世間成就，便驕矜自滿，以為都是自己的功勞。

老師藉此教導，我們一般覺得只要感謝報答帶給我們好處的人，但事實上，給予我們逆境的人們，對我們也是有恩的，因為通常人只有在遇到了挫折困境，才會停下來反省、改變，智慧往往是在逆境中長養出來的，因此，不論順緣、逆緣，都是修行成長的養分。所有的眾生也都是我們的恩人。

The Teacher led us to read the Sutra and see the Buddha and Bodhisattva’s words and action which we can learn from. For example, although the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva have been a great Bodhisattva and have ultimate wisdom due to his continuously compassionate vows of rescuing sentient beings, the Bodhisattva still recognize and return the Buddha’s favor; furthermore, the Bodhisattva gave all the credit to the Buddha. Unlike we beings who are arrogant when having a little worldly achievements and think those are all our own credit.

Through this, the Teacher taught us that we generally think that we just need to thank and return those who give us benefits; however, in fact, those who bring us adversity also give us favors. It’s because that only when people encounter difficulties can they stop to reflect and change. Wisdom usually rises in the adversity. Therefore, no matter prosperity or adversity, the two are both nutrients of helping us cultivate our minds and grow up. So all the sentient beings do us favors and we should be grateful to them.

此外，老師特別闡述了發願的益處，我們常常不敢發願，害怕一旦發了願就遇到障礙，老師教導我們，其實發了願，會遇到障礙，是正常的。但是老師說他自己不會稱之為障礙，而是把所謂的「障礙」視為「考驗」，當考題來了，就把它們當作磨練自己增長心性、能力的機會，去跨越、突破障礙，而道力就是這樣生長出來的。光是這一點，就已經是發願帶來的益處之一了。

In addition, the Teacher particularly elaborated on the benefits of making vows. We always don’t dare to make vows because we are afraid that once we make a vow, we will encounter obstacles. The Teacher taught us that actually it is normal to face obstacles after making a vow. However, the Teacher further said that she doesn’t call them obstacles but regards so-called “obstacles” as “tests”. When the tests come, just take them as opportunities of training and improving our minds and ability to cross and overcome these obstacles. In the process, the ability of cultivating our minds gradually grows up. This is already one of the benefits “making vows” bring.

在這一品經文裡，我們也明白了我們眾生是如何的性識無定、逐境而生，以至於在六道輪迴裡愈陷愈深、不得出脫，同時也震撼地看到地藏王菩薩在過去世是如何一次又一次地立下誓願：

「却後百千萬億劫中，應有世界，所有地獄及三惡道諸罪苦眾生，

誓願救 拔，令離地獄惡趣，畜生餓鬼等。如是罪 報等人，盡成佛竟，

我然後方成正覺。」

老師說：「可見我們每一個眾生其實都在地藏菩薩的願力之中，那麼為什麼我們卻還在煩惱痛苦中呢？佛菩薩誓願救拔每一個罪苦眾生，但也得我們打開我們內心的天線；陽光不是不照進你的屋內，但你得自己先打開窗簾。」

這番結語，即使講座結束後，仍迴盪在我們心中，但願自己及眾生真的都能看懂一切順逆，無一不是增上之緣，而回歸自己的心，老實修行。

In this chapter, we understood that how unstable we beings’ minds are, and the minds are always changed with environment without a moment’s rest, it’s why we sink deeper and deeper in the samsara of six realms and can’t leave. But at the same time, we were also impressed to see how the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva made vows in his past lives again and again:

I vow that from this day on, throughout billions of eons, I will rescue all beings who are undergoing sufferings for their bad behaviors in the hells or the Three Evil Paths of any world. Only after these beings with such retributions have been rescued from the evil destinies of the hells, hungry ghosts, animals, and the like and all become Buddha will I achieve perfect enlightenment (become Buddha).

The Teacher said that ”Therefore, we can see that we are all in the vows of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, but why are we still in vexations and pain? The answer is that Buddhas and Bodhisattvas vow to rescue every being who are suffering from their bad behaviors, but we have to turn on the “antenna” of our minds. It is not that the sunshine doesn’t light up your house, but you have to draw the curtain aside first.“ Even after the lecture completed, the speech from Teacher Duan still echoed in our minds. We hoped that ourselves and sentient beings can really understand that both prosperity and adversity are to help us improve ourselves, then we can return to our minds and cultivate the minds honestly.