學習觀世音菩薩的根本精神─大悲心(救拔眾生之苦)---1070224開春法會暨春節團拜聚餐 To Learn the Basic Spirit of the Guanyin Bodhisattva─Great Mercy (Relieving Suffering Beings)--- Dharma Assembly at the Beginning of Spring and Chinese New Year Dinner Gathering on February 24, 2018 @ 中華清淨學佛協會

民國107年2月24日下午，協會舉辦開春法會，老師於法會伊始慈悲開示，告訴我們，在新年度開春，持誦觀世音菩薩相關經文與觀世音菩薩聖號，有其殊勝的意義。感恩老師帶領我們持誦《般若波羅蜜多心經》、《千手千眼無礙大悲心陀羅尼》，及觀世音菩薩聖號，讓我們能在三寶的加持下，以殊勝的因緣開啟新的一年！

In the afternoon of February 24, 2018, the Pure Buddhist Association held a Dharma Assembly at the beginning of spring, the Teacher told us that chanting Sutras which are relevant with the Guanyin (Avalokitesvara) Bodhisattva and Bodhisattva's holy name has wonderful meaning. Thank the Teacher for leading us to chant“ The Heart Sutra”,“The Great Compassion Mantra”and the holy name of the Guanyin Bodhisattva to make us turn over a new leaf in the wonderful blessing of the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha.

誦經圓滿後，老師慈悲為我們開示「觀世音菩薩的根本精神」，但並非直接給予我們答案，而是首先以問題引發我們的求知心並開啟思考─「為甚麼最廣為人知、家家戶戶最常見的神祇是觀世音菩薩？」經過腦力激盪後，老師為我們解惑：「因為觀世音菩薩的根本精神是大悲心，生生世世發願要救拔苦難眾生，娑婆世界的每一個眾生都曾經受過觀世音菩薩的救助，感念菩薩的恩德，所以家家戶戶都知道、愛戴觀世音菩薩。也因為觀世音菩薩救拔苦難的大悲心(因)，而發展出了千手千眼、耳根圓通尋聲救苦的大用(果)。」

After the Sutra chanting , the Teacher compassionately instructed us in “the basic spirit of the Guanyin Bodhisattva”. But she didn’t give us the answer directly; instead, she aroused our curiosity with a question at first─”Why the most widely known and most common Bodhisattva in every household is the Guanyin Bodhisattva?” After brainstorming, the Teacher gave us the answer: “Because the basic spirit of Guanyin Bodhisattva is great mercy, and the Bodhisattva made vows life after life to save suffering beings. Every being in the Saha universe had been saved by the Guanyin Bodhisattva and remembers the Bodhisattva’s merits with gratitude. It is why every household loves and respects the Guanyin Bodhisattva. And due to the Guanyin Bodhisattva’s great mercy of relieving suffering beings(cause), the great function of thousands of hands and eyes and the perfect penetration through the ear faculty to hear sounds and save those in sufferings are naturally developed (result).”

在老師鞭辟入裡的講述下，我們看到了，對比凡夫的凡事都要計較利益得失，能像觀世音菩薩這樣發起一顆悲心，願意生生世世不計回報地去救渡苦難眾生，是多麼多麼地偉大，雖然不求回報，但卻成就了家家觀世音的宏大功德，看到一顆真心、悲心竟能有如此不可思議的力量，在場同學都深受感動及震撼。老師並勉勵我們：「即使現在還無法像菩薩一樣救拔苦難，但在生活中能做到安慰、探望、鼓勵、陪伴需要幫助的人，就是向觀世音菩薩學習，就是觀世音菩薩的弟子。」

Under the penetrating elaboration of the Teacher, we realized that compared to ordinary people’s habit of weighing up gains and losses in everything, how great it is to have such a heart which is full of compassion and willing to save suffering people without expecting in return life after life. The Guanyin Bodhisattva never asks for any return; however, the Bodhisattva has established the great merits of “every household knows and loves the Guanyin Bodhisattva”. We were deeply touched and shocked to see the incredible power of a true heart with great mercy. The Teacher also encouraged us that “although we can’t yet be like the Bodhisattva to save suffering beings now, as long as we can comfort, visit, encourage and accompany those who need help in our life, it is learning from the Guanyin Bodhisattva, and the one is a disciple of the Guanyin Bodhisattva.”

當晚春節團拜聚餐，同學與眷屬都很歡喜在新春能夠齊聚一堂，在蔬食饗宴中彼此樂話家常，有同學分享，媽媽因為很喜歡每年這樣的溫馨團拜聚餐，早早就在詢問今年是否也有舉辦。席間司儀妙語如珠，逗得大家笑得前俯後仰樂開懷。

In the Chinese New Year Dinner Gathering at night, students and their relatives were all happy to gather together at the beginning of spring and chat with each other in the vegetable feast. Someone shared that her mother loves such a heartwarming dinner gathering very much, so she asked very early if the activity holds this year. During the dinner, the emcee constantly made witty remarks which made everyone laugh heartily.

之後，延續往年的新年祈願活動，大家踴躍分享自己的新年祈願。

Then as previous years, the activity of New Year Wish was coming! Everyone shared their own new year wish actively.

有親友分享：「因為感受到了跟隨老師學習的朋友的滿滿正能量跟溫暖，想要了解他的正能量的源頭，所以開始參加協會的講座，聽老師講經，破除了自己以前對宗教的刻板印象，發現佛法不是一種迷信，而是可以實際運用在生活裡的。」

A relative shared that “Because feeling full positive energy and warmth from my friend who learns from the Teacher Duan, I wanted to know where her positive energy comes from, then I began to attend the Dharma Lectures of the Association. After listening to the Teacher’s Dharma teaching for us, my previous stereotypes about religion were broken, and I found that the Buddha Dharma is not a superstition but can be actually used in our daily life. ”

有同學說：「很感謝老師讓我們能有機會透過做協會的事務學習，老師不只教我們做事，在當中也不斷教導我們修練自己的心。希望新的一年自己有能力承擔更多事務，在其中學習。」

A student said that “I am very grateful to the Teacher for giving us opportunities to learn through doing affairs of the Association. The Teacher not only taught us to do things but also constantly taught us to cultivate our minds in the process. I hope that in the new year I can have enough ability to afford more affairs and learn more in it.”

有同學說：「因為老師的教導，讓自己能去看到別人的付出並真心感謝，不再視為理所當然。希望新的一年能夠改掉自己冷漠的習性，成為一個溫暖的人。」

A student said that “Thanks to the Teacher’s teaching, I took others’ giving for granted before, but now I learn to see others’ giving and thank them sincerely.” I hope I can get rid of my habit of being indifferent and become a warm person in the new year. “

在新年祈願分享之際，同學紛紛表達對老師的感謝之情，老師維持一貫謙虛地說：「感謝因為有同學真心的學習，而能成立清淨學佛協會。學佛並非如許多人誤解的消極，而是十分積極，人生在世，目的應該是希望能帶給別人善的能量，在工作上盡心盡力地做好能做的，在生活裡真心地去為別人著想。希望新的一年裡，協會能跟更多眾生廣結善緣，將善的種子、正面能量擴散出去。」

On the occasion of sharing new year wishes, students expressed their gratitude to the Teacher one by one. With consistently humble attitude, the Teacher said that ”Thanks to my students’ sincere studying, the Association of Pure Buddhist could be set up. Learning the Buddha Dharma is not as negative as what many people misunderstand; instead, it is very positive. In my thought, living in the world, the aim should be to bring good energy to others, doing our best in what we can do on works and caring for others sincerely. I hope that the Association can make good affinity with more people to spread good deeds and positive energy in the new year.”

經過了2月24日的開春誦經法會及春節團拜聚餐，祈願眾人都帶著三寶加持的滿滿正面能量，開啟一年美好的序章。

After the Dharma Assembly and Chinese New Year Gathering at the beginning of spring on February 24, we sincerely hope that everyone takes full positive energy from the blessing of the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha and turns over a new beautiful leaf.