發心

　　Generating Bodhichitta

　　無論做任何事，以菩提心攝持極爲重要。

　　Whatever we do, it is most important that we do it with the bodhichitta intention.

　　《彌勒請問經》雲：“彌勒，流入大海所有之水，縱經數劫難以滅盡。彌勒，若爲菩提心所攝之善法，乃至成就無上正等覺菩提之間永不耗盡。”

　　The Sutra Requested by Maitreya says: “Maitreya, the water that flows into the ocean will not dry up even after many kalpas. Maitreya, any positive actions done with the bodhichitta intention will never be exhausted until the attainment of the highest and utmost realization.”

　　如果我們在相續中真正生起菩提心，哪怕做無記之事，也會增上功德。《華嚴經》雲：“發殊勝菩提心之散亂者，彼身所作、語所言、心所思，皆具意義，恒時唯成善法。”並以250種比喻恰如其分地描述了菩提心的功德。

　　If we have genuinely aroused bodhichitta in our mental continuum, even neutral activities bring forth merit. The Avatamsaka Sutra says: “Having developed the supreme bodhichitta, even for a distracted person, the activities of body, speech, and mind become meaningful, they will always be virtuous.” The sutra also lists 250 examples to describe aptly the qualities of bodhichitta.

　　菩提心是聞思修智慧之甘露乳汁提煉而得之醍醐；是滅除衆生熱惱之清涼月光；是驅除無明癡暗之璀璨杲日；是令有情趨入解脫之無上津梁。

　　Bodhichitta is the sublimated cream of the crop of the wisdom milk flowing from studying, contemplating, and meditating on the Dharma; it is the cool moonlight that dispels the heat of sentient beings” confusion; it is the brilliant rising sun that drives away the darkness of ignorance; it is the ultimate vehicle that leads beings toward liberation.

　　具備神通的目犍連也不能滅貧女之油燈，因菩提心所攝持故。

　　Even Maudgalyayana, with his amazing supernatural power, could not extinguish a lamp that had been offered by a poor woman with bodhichitta.

　　無著得以親見彌勒菩薩，也因生起菩提心故。菩提心之利益真是數不勝數！

　　It is also due to the arising of genuine bodhichitta that Asanga was finally blessed with a vision of Bodhisattva Maitreya. Indeed, the benefits of bodhichitta are just too numerous to count!

　　壬午年正月叁十日 　

　　2002年3月13日

　　30th of January, Year of RenWu

　　March 13, 2002