..续本文上一页still do not know that they need to reflect within. No matter how devotedly the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas work to teach us, setting before us the Tripitaka (“Three Stores”) and the Twelve Divisions of the Buddha-dharma, we simply pay no attention. They have bestowed these innumerable Dharma treasures upon us, yet we feel no sense of gratitude; thus the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas feel very tired. Why

　　 Living beings are truly difficult to liberate! The Buddhas and Bodhisattvas exhaust their efforts to save us, yet we remain unmoved; we still go about doing our own things, not cultivating, not upholding precepts. Nevertheless, the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are not discouraged. No matter how difficult it is to liberate living beings, they still want to do it. They want to compassionately liberate all living beings. How can we repay their kindness

　　 For instance, consider the vows of Earth Store Bodhisattva, who said,

　　地狱未空，誓不成佛；

　　众生度尽，方证菩提。

　　As long as the hells are not empty,

　　I will not become a Buddha.

　　Only when all living beings are liberated

　　Will I become a Buddha.

　　我们细嚼其味，这两句愿文多么伟大！你不必说看经典，单单听这样的愿文，我们就应该痛哭流涕感谢地藏菩萨的恩德，感谢诸佛菩萨对我们众生这种的关怀爱护。

　　Everyone should deeply ponder the meaning of these words. Consider how magnificent and great these vows are! Without even reading the Sutra, just by listening to this vow, we should feel deeply indebted to Earth Store Bodhisattva and to all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas for their compassionate and mindful protection of us.

　　我们在世界上一切的一切，都是诸佛菩萨在无量劫中，舍身命而培养的。我们一定要发大菩提心，上求佛道，下化众生，这样才能上报诸佛恩、菩萨恩、父母恩、师长恩，以及天地恩。我们要作佛的使者，慈悲代佛宣化，正义救国救民，无论在什么时候，要有慈悲心，要有正义感，尽自己微薄之力，弘扬佛法，宣扬佛的本怀。

　　From beginningless time, the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas have been giving up their very bodies and lives in order to nurture us. And so we must bring forth the resolve for Bodhi in order to repay their kindness, as well as the kindness of our parents and teachers and that of heaven and earth. We should seek Buddhahood and vow to liberate all living beings. We should be the Buddhas” compassionate representatives in proclaiming the Dharma and transforming beings, serving society and the country with a sense of righteousness. Let us always be compassionate and righteous, propagating the Buddhadharma and carrying out the Buddha”s original intent with our humble effort.

　　为什么佛成了佛，还不忘众生，发愿度众生？因为众生皆有佛性，皆堪作佛。

　　不过众生自己不知道而已，因为被贪瞋痴、无明、烦恼、妄想等遮覆，真正的智慧不现前，所以诸佛菩萨来指示众生开悟的方法，若能依法修持，一定能得到智慧。我们应该念兹在兹，感激诸佛恩，感激菩萨恩，感激父母恩，感激师长恩。我们人在宇宙间，与天、地并列，是三才之一，我们不要浪费生命的价值，我们要体会诸佛菩萨的本怀，要深深明了诸佛菩萨的愿力，才没有白做人一场！

　　Why is it that after the Buddhas have become Buddhas, they still do not forget living beings and they vow to liberate us

　　 It”s because all living beings have the Buddha-nature and can become Buddhas. However, living beings do not realize this. Covered up by greed, hatred, stupidity, ignorance, afflictions, and idle thinking, their true wisdom cannot manifest. Therefore, the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas come to show us the way to become enlightened. If we can cultivate accordingly, we will surely attain wisdom. We should remember and be grateful to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, as well as our parents and teachers. Human beings are ranked equally with heaven and earth. We should not waste our precious lives. We should clearly recognize the Buddhas” and Bodhisattvas” intent and the power of their vows, so that we don”t live our human lives in vain.

　　一九八三年七月九日开示

　　于万佛圣城

　　A talk given on July 9, 1983,

　　at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas

《感激诸佛菩萨恩 How to Repay the Kindness of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas》全文阅读结束。