..續本文上一頁still do not know that they need to reflect within. No matter how devotedly the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas work to teach us, setting before us the Tripitaka (“Three Stores”) and the Twelve Divisions of the Buddha-dharma, we simply pay no attention. They have bestowed these innumerable Dharma treasures upon us, yet we feel no sense of gratitude; thus the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas feel very tired. Why

　　 Living beings are truly difficult to liberate! The Buddhas and Bodhisattvas exhaust their efforts to save us, yet we remain unmoved; we still go about doing our own things, not cultivating, not upholding precepts. Nevertheless, the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are not discouraged. No matter how difficult it is to liberate living beings, they still want to do it. They want to compassionately liberate all living beings. How can we repay their kindness

　　 For instance, consider the vows of Earth Store Bodhisattva, who said,

　　地獄未空，誓不成佛；

　　衆生度盡，方證菩提。

　　As long as the hells are not empty,

　　I will not become a Buddha.

　　Only when all living beings are liberated

　　Will I become a Buddha.

　　我們細嚼其味，這兩句願文多麼偉大！你不必說看經典，單單聽這樣的願文，我們就應該痛哭流涕感謝地藏菩薩的恩德，感謝諸佛菩薩對我們衆生這種的關懷愛護。

　　Everyone should deeply ponder the meaning of these words. Consider how magnificent and great these vows are! Without even reading the Sutra, just by listening to this vow, we should feel deeply indebted to Earth Store Bodhisattva and to all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas for their compassionate and mindful protection of us.

　　我們在世界上一切的一切，都是諸佛菩薩在無量劫中，舍身命而培養的。我們一定要發大菩提心，上求佛道，下化衆生，這樣才能上報諸佛恩、菩薩恩、父母恩、師長恩，以及天地恩。我們要作佛的使者，慈悲代佛宣化，正義救國救民，無論在什麼時候，要有慈悲心，要有正義感，盡自己微薄之力，弘揚佛法，宣揚佛的本懷。

　　From beginningless time, the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas have been giving up their very bodies and lives in order to nurture us. And so we must bring forth the resolve for Bodhi in order to repay their kindness, as well as the kindness of our parents and teachers and that of heaven and earth. We should seek Buddhahood and vow to liberate all living beings. We should be the Buddhas” compassionate representatives in proclaiming the Dharma and transforming beings, serving society and the country with a sense of righteousness. Let us always be compassionate and righteous, propagating the Buddhadharma and carrying out the Buddha”s original intent with our humble effort.

　　爲什麼佛成了佛，還不忘衆生，發願度衆生？因爲衆生皆有佛性，皆堪作佛。

　　不過衆生自己不知道而已，因爲被貪瞋癡、無明、煩惱、妄想等遮覆，真正的智慧不現前，所以諸佛菩薩來指示衆生開悟的方法，若能依法修持，一定能得到智慧。我們應該念茲在茲，感激諸佛恩，感激菩薩恩，感激父母恩，感激師長恩。我們人在宇宙間，與天、地並列，是叁才之一，我們不要浪費生命的價值，我們要體會諸佛菩薩的本懷，要深深明了諸佛菩薩的願力，才沒有白做人一場！

　　Why is it that after the Buddhas have become Buddhas, they still do not forget living beings and they vow to liberate us

　　 It”s because all living beings have the Buddha-nature and can become Buddhas. However, living beings do not realize this. Covered up by greed, hatred, stupidity, ignorance, afflictions, and idle thinking, their true wisdom cannot manifest. Therefore, the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas come to show us the way to become enlightened. If we can cultivate accordingly, we will surely attain wisdom. We should remember and be grateful to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, as well as our parents and teachers. Human beings are ranked equally with heaven and earth. We should not waste our precious lives. We should clearly recognize the Buddhas” and Bodhisattvas” intent and the power of their vows, so that we don”t live our human lives in vain.

　　一九八叁年七月九日開示

　　于萬佛聖城

　　A talk given on July 9, 1983,

　　at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas

《感激諸佛菩薩恩 How to Repay the Kindness of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas》全文閱讀結束。