大悲咒能消災難

　　The Great Compassion Mantra Can Dispel Calamities

　　真正的好處，是說不出來的，如人飲水，冷暖自知。

　　One cannot speak of true advantages. It is just as someone will know

　　the warmth or coolness of a glass of water only after drinking from it.

　　在天氣炎熱中，大家能不畏熱，也不怕山高路遠地趕來參加打七，究竟有什麼好處？真正的好處，是說不出來的，如人飲水，冷暖自知，唯有真心的人，才能自然而然地領會到其中的妙處。

　　Despite the hot weather, people have not been put off and have rushed here to attend the session, undaunted by the long journey and arduous climb. Ultimately, what advantages does this have

　　 One cannot speak of true advantages. Just as someone will know the warmth or coolness of a glass of water only after drinking from it, true-hearted people will naturally understand the wonder in this.

　　怎麼樣才能獲得好處呢？沒有其他，正如方才所說，只要真心地念菩薩的名號。真心，換句話來說就是專心；所謂「專一則靈，分歧則弊」，能夠專一，就自然能夠感應道交，這種感應道交的力量，是不可思議的，可是這卻要自己用功，旁人無法代替你，更不是可以僥幸得到的。

　　How can one obtain the advantages

　　 There”s no way aside from what I just said─you must recite the Bodhisattva”s name with a true heart. A true heart is just a concentrated mind. It is said, "When one is concentrated, it is efficacious. When one is scattered, there is nothing." If you can be single-minded, you will obtain a spontaneous response in the Way. The power of the response in the Way is inconceivable. However, you must apply the effort yourself; no one can do it for you, and even less can you attain it by chance.

　　就拿「說食數寶」作一個譬喻，譬如一個人，光是說吃飯怎麼樣有營養，可是始終都不去吃，那麼，飯縱使真有營養，而說的人能得到它的營養嗎？所謂：

　　終日數他寶，自無半錢分；

　　于法不修行，其過亦如是。

　　Consider the example of “talking about food and counting others” wealth.” If someone talks about how nutritious the food is, but doesn”t eat it, then even if it really is nutritious, how can the person get the nutrition

　　 It is said:

　　All day long you count the money of others,

　　But you don”t own half a cent yourself.

　　If you don”t cultivate the Dharma,

　　You make the same mistake.

　　我們念菩薩，也是這個樣子，不能只是知道，或談論念菩薩的功德就算了，我們要能真正地念到一心不亂，甚至于，更進一步地連水流、風動，在我們的耳中聽來，也無不是稱誦菩薩洪名的聲音，所謂：

　　有情無情，

　　同演摩诃妙法。

　　It is also the same when we recite the Bodhisattva”s name. If we just know and talk about the merit and virtue of reciting the Bodhisattva”s name, it doesn”t count. We have to truly recite until we are single-minded and unconfused, and even further, until the sounds of the water and wind in our ears are just the recitation of the Bodhisattva”s vast name. It is said,

　　Sentient creatures and insentient things,

　　All proclaim the wonderful Dharma

　　of the Mahayana.

　　如果不能做到這一地步，不能一心不亂的話，那麼，各相雜陳，風吹就是呼呼聲，水流就是淙淙聲，就不能領略其中的妙處了。所以，我們應真實地念，而且在念的時候，不要摻入其他的妄念，這樣才能夠獲得其中的法益。

　　If you have not reached that level of being single-minded and unconfused, then everything will be jumbled together. When the wind blows, you just hear a whooshing sound; when the water flows, you just hear the roaring sound. You cannot perceive the wonder in it. So we should honestly recite and not let any idle thoughts mingle in our recitation. Only then can we derive the benefits of the Dharma.

　　其次，在打七時，應該重視打七的規矩，所謂「無規矩不能成方圓」。至于西樂園一向的規矩，就是不得喧嘩吵鬧，以免障礙他人的修行。

　　This time when we hold the session, we should pay attention to the rules for the session. As it is said, without a compass and a ruler, you can”t draw circles and squares. The traditional rule of this temple is to avoid causing a disturbance, so that you won”t hinder others from cultivating.

　　在這七天的期間，我們又念〈大悲咒〉。這個〈大悲咒〉的功德，是不可思議的，如果沒有相當善根，就連「大悲咒」這叁個字，也不能輕易聽到，現在大家不但能聞其名，而且更能受持讀誦，足見各位具大善根，曾于諸佛所種諸善根了，既然有大善根，那麼大家便不可輕易空過此生。

　　During these seven days, we will also recite the Great Compassion Mantra. The merit and virtue of the Great Compassion Mantra is inconceivable. Without considerable good roots, it”s not easy to even hear the three words “Great Compassion Mantra.” Now everyone can not only hear the name, but also uphold and recite it. That proves that you all have tremendous good roots, which you planted when the…

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