月光

　　Bright Moonlight

　　夕陽收盡了西邊的最後一抹余晖。四下沈寂，我等待著“林竹翳如”的夜幕降臨，使我得以在黑暗中獨享南方春夜的悠然。然而，我徒勞了。一輪皓月懸挂虛空，清幽的月色給房屋、樹林、花園，鍍上了一層銀白。真是“千江有水千江月，萬裏無雲萬裏天。”

　　The last twilight in the western sky vanished with the setting sun. With silence all around, I waited for the evening curtain to roll out so that I could enjoy by myself a peaceful night in spring. This, it turned out, was just my wishful thinking. Suspended in the high void was a bright full moon that sprinkled a fine layer of silver dust over houses, trees, and the garden. It was exactly as described in the poem:

　　So long as there is water in the rivers,

　　Even if there are thousands of them，

　　The moon will be reflected in each.

　　So long as the sky is unobstructed by clouds,

　　No matter how many thousands of miles it spans,

　　It is all clear sky.

　　池塘中、臉盆裏、甚至下雨積下的水坑中，都無一例外地盛著那圓圓的、光亮的臉，仿佛撈之可得。難怪世人有“猴子撈月”的傳說了。

　　In the pond, washbasin, or even puddles from the rain, there appeared this round bright face, as if screaming to be picked up. No wonder the folklore of “Moon-Capturing by the Monkeys” came into existence.

　　的確，無論地上有多少水器，只要水面平靜，水質清淨，皆能顯現皎潔月影。同樣，無論多少人，若能以淨心觀想佛陀，佛也會立即來至彼前，爲其加持，排其苦惱，令其安樂。

　　Indeed, regardless of how many water containers there are on the ground, all will reflect the same beautiful moon as long as the water surfaces are clean and calm. Similarly, regardless of how many people there are on earth, as long as they visualize the Buddha with a pure mind, the Buddha will appear in front of them to bestow blessing, dispel suffering, and bring happiness.

　　《寶積經》雲：“何人作意佛，能仁住彼前，恒時賜加持，解脫一切罪。”可見如此做法有很大功德。《叁摩地王經》曰：“散步安住站立臥，何人憶念能仁尊，本師恒時住彼前，彼者將獲廣大果。”也許有人會疑惑，爲何佛陀會在轉瞬之間來至我們面前呢？其原因是因爲自己的心無絲毫垢染，加上智悲尊者的大悲力顯現而致。《大圓滿心性休息》雲：“觀想彼臨極應理，此爲自心清淨力，智悲尊主大悲力，佛說如意成所願。”

　　The Jewel Heap Sutra (Ratnakuṭa Sutra) says: “Should anyone think of the Buddha with faith, the Buddha is there, right in front of them, constantly granting his blessings and freedom from all harm.” Hence to think of the Buddha is very meritorious. The King of Concentration Sutra also says: “Whoever recollects the Buddha while walking, standing, sitting, or sleeping will always be in Buddha”s presence, and will attain vast accomplishment.” People may wonder: How could the Buddha come to us the moment we think about him

　　 Such manifestation is made possible by our minds being absolutely pure and by the power of Buddha”s great compassion. A Treatise on Finding Comfort and Ease in the Nature of Mind says: “Due to the power of our innate purity and the power of Buddha”s great compassion, the Buddha will approach us and grant whatever is desired just as we visualize him.”

　　如果一個佛教徒，每天一次也不觀想釋迦牟尼佛，應該感到慚愧。我們應思維經典中的金剛語，這樣對我們消除魔障、獲得信心、增加智慧，均有無邊利益。當然，如果信心的器皿倒扣，則永遠也不會顯現佛光月影。

　　As Buddhists, if we let a day go by without thinking of at least once of Buddha Shakyamuni, we should feel ashamed. We should constantly reflect on the adamantine words of the scriptures, which will bring us vast benefit in dispelling obstacles, establishing faith, and enhancing wisdom. On the other hand, if the vessels of our faith were turned upside down, then neither the moon reflection nor any form of the Buddha would ever appear to us.

　　壬午年二月十五日 　

　　2002年3月28日

　　15th of February, Year of RenWu

　　March 28, 2002