..續本文上一頁n of Buddhahood involves turning away from delusion and returning to enlightenment; awakening to Bodhi and achieving a state of great wisdom. All living beings will sooner or later realize Buddhahood, regardless of whether they are human beings in this life and whether or not they believe in Buddhism.

　　嚴格說來，佛教其實不能算是一種宗教；宗教是有門戶之分的，而佛教超越一切宗派，是一種智慧的教育。所以說佛教是佛陀的教育，亦即是衆生對智慧的追求。而這種大智慧，衆生本具種子，若要它開華結果，必須以慈悲水來灌溉。

　　Strictly speaking, Buddhism cannot be considered a religion. Whereas religions are usually partisan, Buddhism transcends all par- ties and factions. It is the teaching of wisdom. That”s why we say that Buddhism is the teachings of the Buddha, and it is also the pursuit of wisdom by living beings. The seed of this great wisdom is inherent in all living beings. In order for it to bloom and bear fruit, it must be watered with the water of kindness and compassion.

　　什麼叫做「慈悲」

　　簡單地說，慈是愛護衆生，給衆生喜樂；悲是體恤衆生，爲衆生去苦。《法華經‧觀世音菩薩普門品》中，贊誦觀世音菩薩：

　　衆生被困厄，無量苦逼身；

　　觀音妙智力，能救世間苦。

　　所以觀世音菩薩，又被尊稱爲「大悲菩薩」。而那大肚能容，笑口常開的彌勒菩薩，穿的是《法華經》所說的「柔和忍辱衣」，修的是令衆生歡喜的法門，則是「大慈菩薩」。

　　What is meant by kindness and compassion

　　 In simple terms, kindness means cherishing living beings and making them happy; compassion means sympathizing with living beings and eliminating their suffering. "Guanshiyin Bodhisattva”s Universal Door Chapter" in the Lotus Sutra praises Guanshiyin Bodhisattva in this way:

　　Living beings are beset with hardships and

　　oppressed by limitless sufferings.

　　The power of Guanyin ”s wondrous wisdom can rescue the world from suffering.

　　Guanshiyin Bodhisattva is also known as the Bodhisattva of Great Compassion. And Maitreya Bodhisattva, with his big belly that holds everything and his ever-laughing mouth, wears what the Lotus Sutra calls "the clothing of gentleness and patience" and cultivates the Dharma door of making living beings happy; he is the Bodhisattva of Great Kindness.

　　《華嚴經‧普賢行願品》說﹕「一切衆生而爲樹根，諸佛菩薩而爲華果；以大悲水饒益衆生，則能成就諸佛菩薩智慧華果。」衆生好比樹根，菩薩是花果；沒有樹根或有樹根而缺乏灌溉，樹如何茁壯？又如何開花結果？這就是爲什麼修學菩薩道者，不但能慈心愛護衆生，更能犧牲自己，用悲心去攝受衆生之故。

　　上宣下化老和尚發了十八大願，其中第十叁願，願代一切衆生受苦，不也就是大悲菩薩的化身？

　　The "Chapter of Universal Worthy”s Conduct and Vows" in the Avatamsaka Sutra says, "The Bodhisattva takes living beings as his roots. By benefiting all beings with the water of great compassion, the Bodhisattva can realize the flowers and fruit of wisdom." Living beings are like the roots of a tree; Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are its flowers and fruit. If there are no roots, or if the roots are there but they do not get watered, how can the tree grow tall and strong

　　 How can it blossom and bear fruit

　　 That is why those who study and practice the Bodhisattva Path are able not only to cherish living beings with a kind heart, but to sacrifice themselves and compassionately gather in living beings. The Venerable Master Hua made Eighteen Great Vows. Doesn”t his third vow, "to undergo suffering on behalf of all living beings," make him a transformation of the Bodhisattva of Great Compassion

　　根據《法句經》，佛說常行慈悲的人，生生世世可以獲得十二種利益﹕一、褔常隨身。二、臥安。叁、覺安。四、不見惡夢。五、天護。六、人愛。七、不毒。八、不兵。九、水不喪。十、火不喪。十一、在所得利。十二、死升梵天。

　　According to the Dhammapada, the Buddha said that people who al- ways practice kindness and compassion will obtain twelve kinds of benefits in life after life: (1) They are always blessed. (2) They sleep peacefully. (3) They are peaceful when awake. (4) They have no nightmares. (5) They are protected by gods, (6) They are loved by people. (7) They will not be poisoned. (8) They will not be involved in the military .(9) They will not be killed by water. (10) They will not be killed by fire. (11) They will obtain benefit wherever they are. (12) They will ascend to the Brahma Heaven after death.

　　所以不管是不是佛教徒，常行慈悲，于人于己都好，何苦而不爲呢？美國第十六任總統林肯先生，就是個很慈悲的人。當他還住在伊利諾州的春田小鎮時，有一個女孩約了朋友去旅行，事先請好人來幫忙搬行李；誰知到時請的人沒來，那女孩又連火車站在哪都搞不清，急得站在門口哭了起來。恰好林肯經過，問明情形，看看表還來得及，就扛起行李，教她在後頭跟著。

　　Therefore, whether one is a Buddhist or not, to practice kindness and compassion is beneficial to others as well as oneself. Thus, is there any reason not to practice

　　 The Sixteenth President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, was a very kind and compassionate man. When he was still living in Springfield, Illinois, there was a girl who had planned a trip with her friend. However, the person she had asked to help her carry her luggage did not show up, and she herself did not even know where the train station was. She was so worried that she stood by the door and started crying. Lincoln happened to pass by and asked what the matter was. Seeing that there was still time to catch the train, he picked up her luggage and told her to follow him.

　　女孩連走帶跑地跟這位長腿先生到了車站，火車還沒開呢！林肯幫她把行李放下，一文錢也不拿就走了。又有一回，他還是律師時，和幾個同事騎馬到外地去辦事，路經一座森林。當大家看見小河，要牽馬去飲水時，才發現林肯不見了。跟林肯同行的就說﹕「林肯拾了一只被風刮下來的小鳥，他一定是找鳥窩去了！」不久，林肯趕上同伴，告訴他們﹕「總算找著鳥窩了！雖然很不容易找，但是我一定要找到。假如不能讓這可憐的小鳥回到母親身邊，今晚我就要睡不著覺了！」。

　　The girl raced to keep up with the long-legged gentleman, following him to the station. The train had not left yet! Lincoln helped put her bags on the car and then left without taking a cent. Another time, when he was still a lawyer, he and several colleagues made a trip on horseback to take care of some business. On their way, they passed by a forest. The group spotted a stream and went to water their horses. At that time, they discovered that Lincoln was no longer with them. One of his companions said, "Lincoln found a baby bird that had been blown down by the wind. He must be looking for its nest!" Soon afterwards, Lincoln caught up with his companions and told them, "I found the nest! It was difficult, but I was determined to find it. If I didn”t return that poor little bird to its mother, I wouldn”t be able to sleep tonight."

《弟子規淺釋 Standards for Students 第六章﹕泛愛衆 Chapter Six: ON CHERISHING ALL LIVING BEINGS - 1》全文閱讀結束。