老來學佛 Practicing Dharma in Old Age

年老體漸衰
自知餘時不多
又時有病痛來纏擾
此際學佛當如何

既已不堪繁重
便當簡約行持及所修之法
專精於簡短之佛號或咒語
若尚能做到
每日也要禮佛與經行
順便鍛鍊身體

平生放不下事甚多
趁老年健忘之便
慶幸能忘　減少自擾
只有學佛之志不忘
因為只有這一路能究竟自利利他
其餘，不待說明，即將皆成鏡花水月

一生所見人間苦楚無盡
當起悲憫
將此微薄餘力
全用在為所有眾生祈求佛佑之上
願早出輪迴　速登解脫彼岸

若能發大菩提心
利用一生積累之能力來助弘法
不但早登菩薩地道
更能助益大眾　增進世間和樂
暢佛慈懷　無以倫比

                                                                                 二○一二年二月廿一日
                                                                                 養和齋　　  　於加州

Practicing Dharma in Old Age

Yutang Lin

As one enters old age physical strength gradually dwindles
And one realizes that the remaining time is not much
Furthermore, now and then, illnesses and pains arrive to bother
How should one practice Dharma at such a juncture

Since one is no longer capable of handling complicated and heavy stuff
One should simplify and reduce Dharma practices and activities
Concentrate on simple epithet of Buddha or short mantra
And if one is still capable of doing some physical exercises
Daily do prostrations to Buddha and circumambulations
As one meaningful way of exercising the body

In life many are the things that one could not let go of
Making use of the increasing forgetfulness in old age
Be grateful that one could now really forget something
And thereby reduce self-inflicted mental tortures
Only the aspiration toward full enlightenment must not be forgotten
Because only this path can ultimately benefit oneself as well as all others
All the rest, no need to expound explicitly, will soon become
Flowers in mirrors and moon in water

What one has seen in life is full of endless human sufferings
One should hover in mind genuine compassionate mercy
And dedicate the remaining meager strength and energy
Fully into praying to Buddha for all sentient beings' sake
May they soon leave suffering in transmigration
And arrive at the other shore of blissful emancipation

If one could develop great Bodhicitta
To employ all powers one has accumulated in life
         To help propagate Dharma
Thus one would not only soon advance to the stages of Bodhisattva
But also help many beings and increase harmony and happiness in the world
To fulfill Buddha's compassionate intentions
         There could be no better approach in old age

Written in Chinese and translated on February 21, 2012
El Cerrito, California

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