發願

　　Making Vows

　　我們應該時刻發清淨誓願，尤其是生生世世不離正法的誓願。

　　We ought to make pure vows at all times, especially the vows to never be separated from the Dharma in all of our lives.

　　《吉祥鬘天女獅吼經》雲：“吉祥鬘天女于世尊前發叁大願，何爲叁願？“世尊，以我真谛加持力利益無邊衆生所積之善根，世尊，願我生生世世獲得佛法之證悟。世尊，此乃我之第一大願。世尊，我獲得佛法證悟後，不顧勞累、不生厭煩而爲衆生宣說佛法。世尊，此乃我之第二大願。世尊，我宣說佛法後，不顧自己身體生命而護持、受持正法。世尊，此乃我之第叁大願。世尊，我已發此叁大願。”

　　It says in The Sutra on Lion”s Roar of Queen Srimala: “Then Queen Srimala in the presence of the Lord formed three great aspirations. What are the three aspirations

　　 “Lord, by the merit I have accumulated from benefiting limitless beings through the blessings of the power of Truth, may I comprehend the Illustrious Doctrine in all my lives. Lord, this is my first vow. Lord, having obtained the comprehension of the Illustrious Doctrine, may I teach the Doctrine to sentient beings ever tirelessly and patiently. This is my second great aspiration. Lord, while teaching the Illustrious Doctrine, then, without regard to my body, life force, or possessions, may I seek to protect and uphold the Illustrious Doctrine. This is my third great aspiration.”

　　世尊于吉祥鬘天女所發之願作此授記：“天女，如同所有之色法均可容納于虛空，天女，如此恒河沙諸菩薩之願亦均可包括于此叁大願中，此叁大願行境極爲廣大。”吉祥鬘天女白世尊言：“世尊，發此願乃如來之加持力所致。”世尊曰：“天女，如是。” 吉祥鬘天女曰：“世尊，恒河沙數所有之願均可包括于受持妙法之大願中，世尊，受持佛法之行境如此廣大。””

　　Then the Lord elucidated the great scope of Queen Srimala”s three great aspirations and prophesied: “Queen, for example, if all forms were to be collected together in the realm of space, it would hold them all and extend beyond. In the same way, when the aspirations of all the Bodhisattvas as numerous as the sands of the Ganges are taken together within the three great aspirations, those three great aspirations include them and extend beyond. The scope of these three vows is vast indeed.” Queen Srimala replied: “It is due to the Tathagatha”s blessings that the aspirations come into existence.” The Lord said: “Queen, just so.” Queen Srimala said: “Lord, the aspirations as numerous as the sands of the Ganges are all collected and included in one great aspiration, namely, to embrace all the Illustrious Doctrine. Thus the scope of embracing Dharma is immensely great.””

　　如果想發大願的人，都能認真思維佛經的意義該多好啊！但願我能生生世世受持佛法。

　　Anyone who wishes to make extraordinary aspirations should ponder deeply the meaning of Buddhist scriptures. It would be wonderful indeed. May I also uphold the Illustrious Doctrine in all my lives, come what may.

　　壬午年五月十一日于紅旗橋側

　　2002年6月21日 　

　　11th of May, Year of RenWu, by the Red Flag Bridge

　　June 21, 2002