講座圓滿，感恩無限──1090119佛學講座：淺釋《地藏菩薩本願經》第十九講講座報導 The Dharma Lectures Were Successfully Completed, and the Infinite Gratitude Will Last Forever---Dharma Lecture Nineteen of “Sutra of the Original Vows of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva” on January 19, 2020 @ 中華清淨學佛協會

深深感恩老師在今日為我們圓滿四年來講授《地藏菩薩本願經》講座，老師在開場時的一席話：「我們所處的這個世界，曾飽受戰火流離，父祖輩時代可能連完整的經書都難以覓得，更遑論能像我們現在有時間心力安穩聽經了，而且從歷史的洪流來看，我們正處於難得的和平歲月，希望我們珍惜難得聞法的因緣，以珍重心來聞法學習。」我們深深感恩諸佛菩薩的護佑及老師慈悲教導，特別感恩老師因為考量我們現代人忙碌的平日生活，特意在這四年來將講座時間安排為每兩個月一講，以這樣的慢速，讓我們得以在此生能有機會，完整聽聞這一部殊勝的佛經─

《地藏菩薩本願經》。

We are deeply grateful to the Teacher Susan Duan for completing teaching us the Dharma in the Dharma lecture of “Sutra of the Original Vows of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva” in the past four years. The Teacher's opening speech: The world we live in had been war-torn, for the older generation who were in hard days of flams of war, it’s difficult to find complete scriptures of a Sutra, not to mention listening to the Sutra teaching with peace and stability of mind like us. In addition, from the standpoint of history development, we are in a rare period of time of peace, the Teacher hoped that we can treasure and respect the precious causes of learning the Dharma." The dialogue made us feel deeply grateful for the protection of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and the compassionate teaching of the Teacher. Additionally, we particularly thank the Teacher for specially arranging one lecture in every two months for the sake of considering that we modern people are busy in daily lives, through such slow speed, giving us an opportunity of completely learning the solemn Buddhist Sutra---“Sutra of the Original Vows of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva” in this life.

老師在本次《地藏菩薩本願經》講座的最後一講，總結了貫穿於全經的幾個重要觀念，再次提醒我們：

一、

一切從初發心開始，從心願開始。《地藏菩薩本願經》，講的就是地藏菩薩過去生一次次發的願，菩薩累世的願，成就了菩薩的佛行事業，度脫了許多眾生，老師說，其實對我們凡夫來說也一樣，甚麼願，將帶給我們什麼樣的人生或生活。既然一切都從這顆心出發，就要善加看好自己的心，起了甚麼心，動了甚麼念，善用我們的心去發心發願，不要因為擔心自己能力不夠而不敢發心發願，願本身就是一種帶有指向並引出各種未來可能性的意念，正是這個意念引導了我們後續的所思所為所言。這也就是所謂的「初發心時成正覺，如是二心初心難。」

In the last lecture of the "Sutra of the Original Vows of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva", the Teacher Susan Duan summarized several important concepts that run through the whole Sutra, reminding us again:
1.

It all starts with the very beginning of making the vows. What the "Sutra of the Original Vows of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva" talks about are Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva’s vows which have been made again and again in past lives accomplished the Bodhisattva’s activities benefiting and saving all sentient beings. The Teacher said that it is the same for us ordinary people, the vows we make will cause the lives we have. Since everything starts from the minds, it is necessary to keep an eye on our minds, observing what kinds of minds we have and what kinds of thoughts we have generated and making good use of our minds to make vows. Don’t be afraid to make vows for worrying about insufficient ability, vow itself is a kind of idea that points to and leads to various future possibilities, it is this idea that guides our subsequent thinking, acting and saying. And it is so-called "At the very beginning of making vows to attain enlightenment and mindfulness, it has been predestined for one to become Buddha. However, to make such vows is more difficult.”

二、

發了願，要去做，不做光想，永遠是空的。《地藏菩薩本願經》講了很多「事」，可是這些事，是靠做而出現存在的，「事」不是靠坐在那裡想，就能達到或成就的。其實也可以，但前提是你得修到那個程度境界，那時候確實是光用意念想就可以，如同佛菩薩在定中就能化現去度化眾生，因為本來一切萬法唯心造，外在物質世界的所有一切，確實都是靠心念創造來的，只是當你修的境界高了，你心想的事，就會有很多因緣促成它，甚至連護法都會幫你，當然如果牽涉到其他人，當然還是有對方自己的因緣參雜其中。但我們現在還是凡夫，當然在想了之後，發了心願之後，要透過身體行動去做，才能成就。

Once we make a vow, we have to do it, the vow without action is meaningless. The "Sutra of the Original Vows of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva" talks about many “things”, but those things exist on the basis of doing, “things” can’t be done or fulfilled by just sitting there. In fact, it is possible, but the premise is that you have to cultivate to some level, at that time, just need to think with your minds, for example, the Buddha and Bodhisattva can manifest in Samadhi to save sentient beings. Because everything is created from the mind alone, everything in the external material world is indeed created by the mind, when your state of cultivation is high enough, there will be many causes to make what you think come true, even the Guardians of the Buddhist Dharma will help you; if other people are involved, of course, there are other people's own causes mixed in. Nevertheless, we are still ordinary people now, after thinking and making a vow, of course, we must do it through physical action to achieve it.

三、
也許有人會問說，佛法不是叫我們不要執著？既然無常，既然空，那乾脆就不要做了。老師其實在四年來的講經過程裡說過很多遍，佛法說的空性，是讓你看懂宇宙真相，進而不執著，不是教你甚麼都不必做了。要達到真正自在解脫，得靠我們在方便道上，照著佛的教授去做，去修正，《地藏菩薩本願經》講了很多事，這些佛菩薩講的事，就是一種「方便」，例如，要我們念佛，恭敬三寶；要我們不要做五無間罪的事情；告訴我們，殺生會得到宿殃短命的果報，偷盜會得到貧窮苦楚的果報，這就是要我們不要殺生偷盜啊，(閻浮眾生業感品第四)。經裡教導我們要布施，並且迴向法界；要我們多做供養三寶的事；要我們恭敬瞻禮地藏菩薩，要我們持續千日千遍菩薩聖號的定課；要我們對臨終人念佛號，因為臨終時，若能聞得一佛名一菩薩名，乃至大乘經典一字一偈，除五無間殺害之罪，(閻羅王眾讚歎品第八，主命鬼王說的，別以為那是鬼王說的，就不相信，佛說了，主命鬼王是寄位的大菩薩，是未來的無相如來)；要我們自修自念，分分己獲。要我們諸食未獻佛僧，勿得先食；要我們生產孩子時，不要殺生，令母子俱不得安；要我們知道有親友臨終時，不要殺生，因為在世之人殺生去拜祭鬼神，反而使臨終人罪緣轉增深重，假使來世或現在生得獲聖分，生人天中，反而被這些眷屬造的惡因，拖累晚生善處。(利益存亡品第七)。告訴我們見地藏形相及聞此經(囑累人天品第十三)乃至讀誦，供養得二十八種利益，我們能想到想不到的都有了，但我們得做，我們得誦，而且是至心恭敬(見聞利益品第十二)。
《地藏菩薩本願經》聽講之後，就是照著做，檢視自己的心，惡業自然漸漸消滅。其實四年來，在座一直參與聞法的許多同學，過去這些年都有很多正面變化與滿足心願的實際生活例子，老師說，這些都是諸佛菩薩的恩德，也是同學們自己用功實修的見證。

Some people may ask, doesn't the Dharma tell us not to attach? Since the truth of universe is impermanence and void, so we might as well not to do anything. However, the Teacher said many times during the process of teaching the Dharma in past four years. The void the Dharma says is to make us understand the truth of the universe, and then we wouldn’t attach, not to teach us that we don’t have to do anything.
To achieve true liberation, we have to do and cultivate ourselves in accordance with the Buddha’s teaching in convenient way, The "Sutra of the Original Vows of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva" teaches many things, these things the Bodhisattva talked about are kinds of “convenience”, for example, making us recite the Buddha’s holy name and respect the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha; making us not to do the things which will result in five incessant karmic retribution; telling us that killing would lead to misfortune and short lifespan, and stealing or robbing would lead to poverty and wretched suffering, it is teaching us not to kill, steal and rob(Chapter 4: “Karmic Retributions of Beings in Jambudvipa). Besides, the scripture teaches us to give and dedicate the merits to the Dharma Realm; making us do more offerings to the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha; making us reverently gaze Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva and keep reciting the Bodhisattva’s holy name regularly one thousand times a day every day for one thousand days, making us recite the Buddha names to the dying one because when nearing the time of death, if they are able to hear a Buddha’s name, a Bodhisattva’s name, or a sentence or a verse from the Mahayana sutras, excepting those with the five great violations of killing and harming that lead to incessant torments(Chapter 8: The Praise of King Yama and His Retinue, the Ghost King, Presiding Over Life, said. Don’t doubt the credibility just because it’s said by the Ghost King, the Buddha had said that the Ghost King, Presiding Over Life, is actually manifested by a great Bodhisattva, and he will become a Buddha named Signless Tathagata); making us cultivate for ourselves because we will receive every part of the benefit; making us not to eat food before the food has been offered to the Buddha and Sangha; making us not to kill other lives when giving birth to baby which keeps the mother and child from peace and happiness; making us not to kill other lives when knowing our relatives or friends are nearing death because our killing, harming, worshipping and offering sacrifices will just render their bad karmic become deeper and more severe, if in this life or in the future the departed one gains elements of holiness and is to be reborn among humans or devas, but because his relatives commit these evil causes for his sake when he is on the verge of death, he will be delayed from being reborn in an upper realm(Chapter 7: Benefiting the Living and the Deceased). And telling us that seeing Ksitigarbha’s image and hearing the Sutra(Chapter 13: Entrusting Humans and Devas), and even chanting and making offerings will gain twenty eight kinds of benefits. The things we can imagine or can’t are all included in the Sutra, but we have to do and chant this Sutra, and it must be with wholehearted reverence(Chapter12: The Benefits from Seeing and Hearing).
After attending the lectures of "Sutra of the Original Vows of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva," just follow the instructions and examine one’s mind, the bad karma will disappear gradually. In fact, during the past four years, many students who keep attending the lectures and learning the Dharma have a lot of positive changes and fulfilled their wishes in these years. The Teacher said that these are the kindness and virtues of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and the testimonies of the students' hard work themselves as well.

講座圓滿後，協會在老師的指示下，將供養諸佛菩薩的糕餅禮盒與在場大眾結緣，每個人一一從老師手中接過這份代表著諸佛菩薩加持與祝福的禮盒時，回想起四年來老師一句句地為我們講解經文義理，以我們生活中遇到的煩惱為例，教導我們如何將佛法應用到生活中解決問題，從「理」看「事」，再從「事」回照「理」，老師手把手教導的恩德點滴在心頭，許多人都不禁紅了眼眶，流下感激的眼淚，深深感恩能遇到這麼慈悲並且智慧善巧懂我們根機的老師，當我們依著《地藏菩薩本願經》經上所說及老師的教導，一點一點地去做，慢慢地累積之中，數年至今，回首一看，發現自己真的能夠比以前多放下一點我執，少了一些煩惱，多了許多笑容，同時，大家在感恩之中亦有不捨，希望能再繼續聽聞老師慈悲的教導(期待老師再開設講座呀)，也發願要依老師諄諄囑咐教導，持續為自己發真心離苦的願，以願導行，並依《地藏菩薩本願經》所說老實照做，以行填願。也謹以聽經聞法的功德迴向六道所有眾生，皆能有因緣學佛聞法，了知宇宙實相，早日離苦，究竟成佛。

After the lecture was successfully completed, the Association of Pure of Buddhist, guided by the Teacher, gave the pastry gift box which offered to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas to the audience in order to build good connection. Everyone received the gift box representing the wonderful blessings from the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas from the Teacher one by one and recalled that, during the past four years, the Teacher explained to us the meaning of the scriptures sentence by sentence by taking our vexations which we encountered in life as examples, teaching us how to apply the Dharma to life to solve problems, see “Things” from “Reason,” and reflect “Reason” from “Thing.” The Teacher gave each of us wholehearted and personal teaching and such kindness and mercies were all marked in our mind so that many people couldn't help but turning their eyes red and shedding tears of gratitude, and were deeply grateful to encounter the Teacher who is so compassionate, wisely and intelligently understands our situation. From 2015 till now, we followed the “Sutra of the Original Vows of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva” and the Teacher's teaching and guidance, did little by little and accumulated slowly. When we looked back, we found that we can really let go of ego more and have less vexations and more smiles than before. At the same time, in the grateful mood, everyone was also reluctant and hoped that they could continuously learn under the Teacher's compassionate teaching (Hopefully the Teacher will give the lecture soon again). Moreover, we made vows to follow the Teacher’s earnest guidance and teaching, continuously make heartfelt vows to leave suffering, let the vows lead the actions, honestly follow the instruction indicating in the “Sutra of the Original Vows of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva,” and complete vows with the actual actions. Meanwhile, we sincerely dedicated the merits of listening the Sutra and learning the Dharma to all sentient beings of six realms to have the opportunity to learn how to become the Buddha (with full awareness) and listen the Dharma, become aware of the Universe’s truth, keep from suffering soon, and ultimately become a Buddha.

附註：段老師的話---
感謝中華清淨學佛協會承辦這四年來的講座，工作同仁付出許多時間與體力一同進行每場講座的前置作業，乃至結束後，從物品歸檔到帳務整理以及報導圖文等工作，大家也在其中一起克服了許多困難，實踐了佛法所教授我們的正見，這整個四年的過程本身就是一場佛法的實修，辛苦你們了，在此致上深深隨喜與感謝。繼續加油喔。
Note: Teacher Duan’s words
Thank the Association of Pure Buddhist for holding the lectures in the past four years. Co-workers devoted a lot of time and physical strength to preceding procedure for each lecture, and even after each lecture, in the work process from putting things/stuffs to their original locations to the preparation of account statements and preparing the article and photos of reporting, everyone overcame many difficulties together and practiced what the Buddha Dharma instructed us. The whole four-year process itself is the real practicing of the Dharma. Your hard work is appreciated with deep rejoicing and thank. Keep doing it!

附註：理事長的話---
感恩老師的指導，也辛苦了老師的帶領，讓協會備辦講座的大小事務最終能夠順利圓滿。我們會繼續加油的！
Note: Chairman of Board’s words
Thanks very much to the Teacher for her leading and hard-work to give us uncountable guidance so that the Association's preparation of lectures can be successfully completed. We will keep it up!