八句偈解 林鈺堂 簡繁轉換 - 繁體
昨天讀〈普門品〉讚觀音偈總結之八句時，自然感動淚湧，因此敬書供眾。今天於此對這八句提供拙見之解說。先敬列偈文： 「念念勿生疑」，這似乎是一種教條性的告誡，而不符合佛法不叫人迷信盲從的根本精神。其實此乃經文為免大家愚昧自是地妄起疑念而誤入歧途的警示。接著便說明理由：「觀世音淨聖」，就是說，觀世音菩薩乃是純粹本淨而超越世俗的。疑念是世間範圍的，與超越世俗者無關，所以不要被自己的世俗想法所誤導了。接著更補充說，「於苦惱死厄」，就是說，當有情陷於苦楚、憂惱、瀕死、或厄難之際，「能為作依怙」，就是說，觀世音菩薩有能力提供救護。一位有這樣不可思議的救渡能力者，我們若從世間觀點加以起疑，就是太不自量力了。 「具一切功德」，就是說，所有為眾生服務，引導眾生上覺道的奉獻，觀世音菩薩都已經做過，並且會永遠持續下去。「慈眼視眾生」，就是說，對於一切眾生，祂都平等地在慈悲地關懷，務必幫助眾生離苦得樂。「福聚海無量」，就是說，由於祂的奉獻而累積的眾生之安樂是像大海一樣地無從衡量。「是故應頂禮」，所以，大家應當由衷地敬佩觀世音菩薩！ 菩薩是「無我」的，所以，「具一切功德」及「福聚海無量」都不在於祂擁有甚麽，而是在於祂的無限奉獻及其結果。而「能為作依怙」也不在於祂能「做為」依怙者，而是在於祂能提供救護。闡釋這些微妙的辨別是我想要特別提出此解說的原因。
二〇二三年七月十五日
Exposition on Eight-sentence Gatha Yutang Lin
Yesterday, while reciting the concluding eight sentences of the Gatha in praise of Guan Yin, as found in the ″Universal Gates Chapter″, naturally tears welled up, and hence, I reverently wrote it in calligraphy as offering to all. Today I offered my humble exposition on these eight sentences in this essay. First of all, my English translation of these eight sentences is as follows: Complete with all kinds of merits ″Thought after thought, let no doubt arise! ″ This seems to be a kind of doctrinal admonition, and not in accordance with the fundamental spirit of Dharma in not asking people to blindly believe and follow. In fact, it is the Sutra′s caution lest people are led astray by doubts arising from deluded personal views. It is followed by the reason: ″Pure Holiness Guan Shi Yin″, which means that Guan Yin is of original purity and transcends worldly realms. Doubts are within the worldly realms and have no relevance to transcendental realm, and hence, one should not be misled by one′s worldly thoughts. Furthermore, the reasoning continues by pointing out that, ″In suffering, sorrows, dying or dangers, ″, that means, when sentient beings are trapped in suffering, sorrows, dying or dangers, ″Capable of providing a refuge″, i.e., Guan Yin is capable of providing safe havens. To someone who is capable of such inconceivable salvation, if we doubt from worldly point of views, then we are truly unaware of our own limitations. ″Complete with all kinds of merits″ means that all kinds of services to sentient beings and guidance leading toward the enlightenment path have been offered and endeavored by Guan Yin, and He will perpetually continue the services and guidance for all sentient beings. ″Watching sentient beings with merciful eyes″ means that, to all sentient beings, He will equally care with compassion so as to help them escape suffering and attain happiness. ″Happiness accumulated as a boundless ocean″ means that happiness attained by sentient beings, as results of His services and guidance, is as abundant and immeasurable as a boundless ocean. ″Therefore, all should make prostration to him! ″, hence, all should whole-heartedly pay respect and aspire to Bodhisattva Guan Yin! Bodhisattva has no ′self′, and hence, both ″Complete with all kinds of merits″ and ″Happiness accumulated as a boundless ocean″ are not referring to what He possesses, but to His boundless services and the fruits they yielded. And ″Capable of providing a refuge″ is not referring to Him as a refuge, but to His capacity to provide safe havens. To clarify these subtle distinctions prompted me to offer this exposition.
Written in Chinese and translated into English on July 15, 2023 [Home][Back to list][ Related works: 妙法蓮華經觀世音菩薩普門品、 觀音讚偈、 大悲梵音、普門品偈之說明、 〈普門品偈自誦本〉的講解] |