掬水
A Palmful of Water
《賢愚經》中記載了一宗公案，一位五戒居士，率領五百商人至海中取寶。海神施展各種神變進行阻撓，商主隨機應變，曆數地獄、餓鬼之苦，以及世間善者之行迹竭力進行勸誡。
The following story is told in The Sutra of the Wise and the Foolish: A lay practitioner who observed the laity”s five precepts once led 500 merchants on a journey in search of precious gems in the ocean. A sea-god tried to impede them by exercising his magic power. The captain took the chance to teach the sea-god intently by enumerating the sufferings of hell and preta realms as well as the noble deeds of virtuous people in the world.
最後，氣焰有所收斂的海神以手掬水並發問，一掬水與海水相比，何者多？商主回答說，一掬水多而不是海水多。海神再次重問，你確定嗎？商主說，千真萬確！絕非虛妄。海水雖多，末劫七日出時，須彌崩塌，七大海水終將窮盡。而以一掬之水，供養佛或僧衆，孝敬父母、布施貧窮與飛禽走獸，此之功德，曆經數劫也不會幹涸，所以一掬水多于海水。海神聽聞後，歡喜異常，取出珍寶，贈送商主，並寄送奇妙寶物供養佛與僧衆。
When the sea-god”s arrogance finally simmered down, he filled his palm with water and said: “Lay-disciple, tell me, which is greater, the water in my palm or the water in the sea
” The captain answered: “The water in your palm is greater.” The sea-god asked again, “Are you sure
” The captain replied, “What I say is true and I do not err. Although the ocean water is vast, as the present eon draws closer to the time of destruction, seven suns will arise in the sky, whence Mount Meru itself will burn up and none of the water in the seven oceans will remain. On the other hand, whoever makes an offering of even a palmful of water to the Buddha, to the Honorable Sangha, to one”s father or mother, to the poor, or to the animals will, because of this, have indestructible virtue throughout the eon. It is for this reason that the water in your palm is greater than all the water in the sea.” Hearing this, the sea-god was overjoyed. He took out precious jewels and gave them to the captain, and entrusted many other exquisite treasures as gifts to the Buddha and the Sangha.
平時，每當我們面對浩淼無垠的大海，總是感慨它的寬廣遼闊、無邊無際，何曾想到海水也有窮盡之時？這宗一掬水多于海水的公案提醒我們，若以智慧和方便攝持，即會産生不可思議的結果。即使一掬水，其功德也遠遠會超勝于海水。
Normally, when we look at the boundless ocean, we always marvel at its vast and limitless expanse. It has never occurred to us that the sea will also dry up one day. This story about one palmful of water reminds us that actions performed with wisdom and skillful means result in unimaginable outcomes. Even a palmful of water, in terms of the vast merits it creates, surpasses by far the whole ocean.
每天早上，當您從沈睡中蘇醒，洗漱完畢，在佛堂前，以清淨心，供上一杯淨水，其功德遠遠勝過七大海水，何樂而不爲？
Every morning, after waking up and washing up, remember to offer with a pure mind a cup of clean water at the shrine. Through the power of pure offering, this little cup of water surpasses the seven oceans in bringing about merit. Why not do it with great pleasure
壬午年六月叁十日
2002年8月8日
30th of June, Year of RenWu
August 8, 2002