觀音菩薩的出家成道

　　THE RENUNCIATION OF GUAN YIN BODHISATTVA

　　講者﹕菩提比丘

　　譯者﹕心承比丘尼

　　Lecturer : Bhikkhu Bodhi

　　Recorded by Syinchen

　　今天，我們聚集在這裏，紀念觀音菩薩的出家成道。大家都知道，觀音是大乘佛教的主要菩薩之一。在印度觀音菩薩是現男相，梵文稱作「Avalokiteśvara」。但在中國，他被轉換成現女相。「觀音」這詞，或具體的稱「觀世音」，意指「觀世間音聲」。

　　Today we have gathered here to commemorate the renunciation of the bodhisattva Guan Yin. As you all know, Guan Yin is one of the major bodhisattvas in Mahayana Buddhism. In India, Guan Yin was a male bodhisattva, called in Sanskrit Avalokitesvara. But in China he was transformed into a female. The word Guan Yin, or more fully, Guan Shi Yin, means “the One Who Contemplates the Sounds of the World.”

　　觀音被尊崇爲大悲菩薩，因此我們說「南無大悲觀世音菩薩」。但觀音也修出離行，這出離行是基于對人生之苦的深思，爲什麼我們說人生是苦？

　　Guan Yin is honored as the bodhisattva of great compassion. Thus we say, “Namo Da Bei Guan Shi Yin Pusa.” But Guan Yin also makes the act of renunciation. The act of renunciation is motivated by reflecting on the sufferings of life. Why do we say that life involves suffering

　　這理由是因爲生命中的一切都是無常。我們出生，我們成長，享受著我們的生活，因此生命裏確實包含著喜樂。但是之後，我們逐漸衰老，承受病痛，最終不免一死。佛教教導出生和死亡不只發生一次，確切地說，我們生、老、死很多次，也就是無數次，這是輪回的意思，也就是生死的輪回。我們無數次的在六道輪回裏出生，凡是有我們的出生，終必有我們的消逝，然後我們接續到下一個新的生命。在生死輪回裏是不安穩的，即使我們變得富有，權力很大，享有盛名，我們終不免老、病、死。當我們清楚和深刻地領悟到這一點時，我們的心趨向于出離。

　　The reason is because everything in life is impermanent. We are born, we grow up, and we enjoy our lives; thus life does include happiness. But then we grow old, we fall sick, and we die. Buddhism teaches that birth and death do not occur only once. Rather, we are born, grow old, and die many times—countless times. This is the meaning of samsara, the cycle of birth and death. We are born countless times into the six realms of existence, and wherever we are born, we have to die. Then we pass on to a new existence. There is no safety in samsara. Even if we become rich, powerful, and famous, we cannot avoid old age, sickness, and death. When we understand this clearly and deeply, then our mind inclines to renunciation.

　　佛陀本人曾是王子，居住在皇宮裹。但他認清老、病、死的真相，因此他放棄了奢華的生活，爲他自己和這個世界尋求解脫之道。千百年來，佛弟子效法佛陀的典範，而「走向出家」成爲比丘和比丘尼。我們成爲比丘和比丘尼，並不是要過安逸的生活，而是爲了培養聖道，也就是學習佛法和禅修，以增上我們的出世智慧。藉由出世的智慧，我們可以斷除所有的煩惱，從生死裏獲得解脫。

　　The Buddha himself had been a prince living in the palace, but he recognized the truth of old age, sickness, and death. Therefore he renounced his life of luxury to seek the path to liberation for himself and for the world. For thousands of years, Buddhist disciples have imitated the Buddha”s example and have “gone forth into homelessness” by becoming monks and nuns. We become monks and nuns, not to live an easy life, but in order to cultivate the path: to study the Dharma and practice meditation to deepen our wisdom. It is through wisdom that we can cut off all defilements and win liberation from birth and death.

　　觀音，一個偉大的菩薩，也遵循佛陀的典範，遠離在家的生活，培養聖道。經由觀世間的音聲，她獲得了證悟。在獲得了出世智慧後，觀音立下大誓願，要利益世間的衆生。這些誓願，完美地呈現于《法華經‧普門品》。

　　Guan Yin, a great bodhisattva, also followed the Buddha”s example. She left the home life to cultivate the way. She gained enlightenment by contemplating the sounds of the world. But after gaining wisdom, Guan Yin made great vows to help the world. These vows are beautifully expressed in the Universal Door chapter of the Lotus Sutra.

　　由于觀音的慈悲願力，虔誠的佛教徒在遭遇困難時，都會稱念觀音的聖號。當病苦折磨時，在面對危險時，在需要幫助時，我們稱念「南無觀世音菩薩」。但重要的不僅是稱念觀音聖號，而是法隨法行的遵從觀音的實例來修學，也就是經由實踐出離與慈悲，來效法觀音的典範。

　　Because of Guan Yin”s compassionate vows, Buddhist devotees call on Guan Yin in times of trouble. When sick, when facing danger, when needing help, we recite “Namo Guan Shi Yin Pusa.” But it is important not only to call on Guan Yin, but also to follow the example of Guan Yin. Follow Guan Yin”s example through renunciation and compassion.

　　即使你不能離家過出家的生活，當你在家時，你應當學習舍離世俗樂， 盡量過簡樸的生活，少欲知足。明智的運用你的時間，不再以自我爲中心，學習謙虛和樂于助人。嘗試投入更多的時間來修行佛法，認清佛法的修證，是唯一永久的離苦之道。

　　Even if you can”t leave home for the homeless life, you should learn to renounce worldly pleasures while living at home. Try to live a simple life, to be content with little. Use your time wisely. Give up egotism. Be humble and helpful to others. Try to devote more time to Dharma practice. Recognize that Dharma practice is the only way to permanently eliminate suffering.

　　追隨觀音的典範，可經由實踐各種慈悲的善行。我們與許多遭受貧窮、饑餓、和病苦的人共有這個世間，我們應該盡最大努力去幫助他們遠離苦厄。我們也許不能像觀音那樣實踐大悲願力，但我們可以是小觀音，小觀音可以從我們的收入裏捐款給慈善事業，去與饑餓、貧困、和疾病作戰，我們可以伸出援助之手給朋友、親戚、和鄰居。我們可以先發小的慈悲願，在將來時機成熟時，將轉變成大悲願力，這是最佳禮敬觀音的方式。成爲一個善良，並且親切待人，樂于助人，和富有慈悲心的人，這就是我們遵循觀音的典範。

　　Also, follow Guan Yin”s example by practicing deeds of compassion. We share this world with many people who are afflicted with poverty, hunger, and illness. We should do our best to rescue them from suffering. We might not be able to fulfill great vows like Guan Yin, but we can be little Guan Yins: he can give from our earnings to worthy causes, to fight hunger, poverty, and disease. We can extend a helping hand to friends, relatives, and neighbors. We can form little vows of compassion, which in time will turn into great vows of compassion. This is the best way to worship Guan Yin. This is how you can follow Guan Yin”s example: by becoming a good, kind, helpful, and compassionate person.

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