..续本文上一页n of Buddhahood involves turning away from delusion and returning to enlightenment; awakening to Bodhi and achieving a state of great wisdom. All living beings will sooner or later realize Buddhahood, regardless of whether they are human beings in this life and whether or not they believe in Buddhism.
严格说来，佛教其实不能算是一种宗教；宗教是有门户之分的，而佛教超越一切宗派，是一种智慧的教育。所以说佛教是佛陀的教育，亦即是众生对智慧的追求。而这种大智慧，众生本具种子，若要它开华结果，必须以慈悲水来灌溉。
Strictly speaking, Buddhism cannot be considered a religion. Whereas religions are usually partisan, Buddhism transcends all par- ties and factions. It is the teaching of wisdom. That”s why we say that Buddhism is the teachings of the Buddha, and it is also the pursuit of wisdom by living beings. The seed of this great wisdom is inherent in all living beings. In order for it to bloom and bear fruit, it must be watered with the water of kindness and compassion.
什么叫做「慈悲」
简单地说，慈是爱护众生，给众生喜乐；悲是体恤众生，为众生去苦。《法华经‧观世音菩萨普门品》中，赞诵观世音菩萨：
众生被困厄，无量苦逼身；
观音妙智力，能救世间苦。
所以观世音菩萨，又被尊称为「大悲菩萨」。而那大肚能容，笑口常开的弥勒菩萨，穿的是《法华经》所说的「柔和忍辱衣」，修的是令众生欢喜的法门，则是「大慈菩萨」。
What is meant by kindness and compassion
In simple terms, kindness means cherishing living beings and making them happy; compassion means sympathizing with living beings and eliminating their suffering. "Guanshiyin Bodhisattva”s Universal Door Chapter" in the Lotus Sutra praises Guanshiyin Bodhisattva in this way:
Living beings are beset with hardships and
oppressed by limitless sufferings.
The power of Guanyin ”s wondrous wisdom can rescue the world from suffering.
Guanshiyin Bodhisattva is also known as the Bodhisattva of Great Compassion. And Maitreya Bodhisattva, with his big belly that holds everything and his ever-laughing mouth, wears what the Lotus Sutra calls "the clothing of gentleness and patience" and cultivates the Dharma door of making living beings happy; he is the Bodhisattva of Great Kindness.
《华严经‧普贤行愿品》说﹕「一切众生而为树根，诸佛菩萨而为华果；以大悲水饶益众生，则能成就诸佛菩萨智慧华果。」众生好比树根，菩萨是花果；没有树根或有树根而缺乏灌溉，树如何茁壮？又如何开花结果？这就是为什么修学菩萨道者，不但能慈心爱护众生，更能牺牲自己，用悲心去摄受众生之故。
上宣下化老和尚发了十八大愿，其中第十三愿，愿代一切众生受苦，不也就是大悲菩萨的化身？
The "Chapter of Universal Worthy”s Conduct and Vows" in the Avatamsaka Sutra says, "The Bodhisattva takes living beings as his roots. By benefiting all beings with the water of great compassion, the Bodhisattva can realize the flowers and fruit of wisdom." Living beings are like the roots of a tree; Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are its flowers and fruit. If there are no roots, or if the roots are there but they do not get watered, how can the tree grow tall and strong
How can it blossom and bear fruit
That is why those who study and practice the Bodhisattva Path are able not only to cherish living beings with a kind heart, but to sacrifice themselves and compassionately gather in living beings. The Venerable Master Hua made Eighteen Great Vows. Doesn”t his third vow, "to undergo suffering on behalf of all living beings," make him a transformation of the Bodhisattva of Great Compassion
根据《法句经》，佛说常行慈悲的人，生生世世可以获得十二种利益﹕一、褔常随身。二、卧安。三、觉安。四、不见恶梦。五、天护。六、人爱。七、不毒。八、不兵。九、水不丧。十、火不丧。十一、在所得利。十二、死升梵天。
According to the Dhammapada, the Buddha said that people who al- ways practice kindness and compassion will obtain twelve kinds of benefits in life after life: (1) They are always blessed. (2) They sleep peacefully. (3) They are peaceful when awake. (4) They have no nightmares. (5) They are protected by gods, (6) They are loved by people. (7) They will not be poisoned. (8) They will not be involved in the military .(9) They will not be killed by water. (10) They will not be killed by fire. (11) They will obtain benefit wherever they are. (12) They will ascend to the Brahma Heaven after death.
所以不管是不是佛教徒，常行慈悲，于人于己都好，何苦而不为呢？美国第十六任总统林肯先生，就是个很慈悲的人。当他还住在伊利诺州的春田小镇时，有一个女孩约了朋友去旅行，事先请好人来帮忙搬行李；谁知到时请的人没来，那女孩又连火车站在哪都搞不清，急得站在门口哭了起来。恰好林肯经过，问明情形，看看表还来得及，就扛起行李，教她在后头跟着。
Therefore, whether one is a Buddhist or not, to practice kindness and compassion is beneficial to others as well as oneself. Thus, is there any reason not to practice
The Sixteenth President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, was a very kind and compassionate man. When he was still living in Springfield, Illinois, there was a girl who had planned a trip with her friend. However, the person she had asked to help her carry her luggage did not show up, and she herself did not even know where the train station was. She was so worried that she stood by the door and started crying. Lincoln happened to pass by and asked what the matter was. Seeing that there was still time to catch the train, he picked up her luggage and told her to follow him.
女孩连走带跑地跟这位长腿先生到了车站，火车还没开呢！林肯帮她把行李放下，一文钱也不拿就走了。又有一回，他还是律师时，和几个同事骑马到外地去办事，路经一座森林。当大家看见小河，要牵马去饮水时，才发现林肯不见了。跟林肯同行的就说﹕「林肯拾了一只被风刮下来的小鸟，他一定是找鸟窝去了！」不久，林肯赶上同伴，告诉他们﹕「总算找着鸟窝了！虽然很不容易找，但是我一定要找到。假如不能让这可怜的小鸟回到母亲身边，今晚我就要睡不着觉了！」。
The girl raced to keep up with the long-legged gentleman, following him to the station. The train had not left yet! Lincoln helped put her bags on the car and then left without taking a cent. Another time, when he was still a lawyer, he and several colleagues made a trip on horseback to take care of some business. On their way, they passed by a forest. The group spotted a stream and went to water their horses. At that time, they discovered that Lincoln was no longer with them. One of his companions said, "Lincoln found a baby bird that had been blown down by the wind. He must be looking for its nest!" Soon afterwards, Lincoln caught up with his companions and told them, "I found the nest! It was difficult, but I was determined to find it. If I didn”t return that poor little bird to its mother, I wouldn”t be able to sleep tonight."
《弟子规浅释 Standards for Students 第六章﹕泛爱众 Chapter Six: ON CHERISHING ALL LIVING BEINGS - 1》全文阅读结束。