求道修道的好處

求道修道的好處

2.  Benefits of receiving and cultivation Tao

一、可以變化氣質、可以改惡向善

修道之人時時以效聖法賢為職志，經常研究人生真諦，而瞭解人生之意義與使命。求道後在道中修煉受到正氣薰陶，改變一切氣質，正氣凜然，成為一位善良的人。加上學習禮儀規範，則待人接物謙恭有禮、進退有度。同時修持身心改毛病，去脾氣，在潛移默化中，自然會誠於中形於外而變化氣質。

(1) To change our temperament and get rid of bad habits, behaviors

As Dao cultivators always follow the aspiration of Buddha’s, saints and virtuous persons, and always study the true meaning of life and then understand the real meaning and mission of human life.  After we received Dao, we receive influence from the spiritual strength during our cultivation process, naturally we’ll change our temperament and become awe-inspiring, righteous and become a benevolent person.  In addition, we learn the temple rules and manners, we always treat people with modest and good nature and we understand how to do things in a proper way. At the same time, we cultivate our inner self, we mend our shortcomings, control our temper.  Step by step, our inner sincerity will be put into actions. Thus, the temperament is changed.

二、可以開啟智慧

我們幸得明師指點，傳授三寶心法，開啟通天智慧眼，「一竅通，百竅皆通。」只要依法修持，恢復本性之清靜光明，吾人之先天妙智自然流露。另外，佛堂教育以「聖賢經典」為經，「宇宙真理」為緯，在良師益友薰陶教誨下，必然知識日增、學問日長而智慧大開。

(2) Open our wisdom

We are very fortunate to receive Dao and have our Gate/Heavenly Portal unlocked by our Enlightening Teacher.  We also have received Three Treasures in the Dao receiving ceremony and our “Eye of Wisdom” was hence opened.  When the Heavenly Portal is unlocked, the mysteries have the answers. As long as we cultivate ourselves by following the Dharma to restore our true self as pure and glorious as ever, our wisdom will be naturally revealed.  Furthermore, educations in temples are based on religious scriptures; Chinese classics and universal truth, our wisdom and knowledge will increase day by day from association with beneficial teachers and beneficial friends.

 

三、可以改造命運

在學道、修道、辦道的日常生活中，吾人已默默地克盡本份，善盡職守，並實踐人生之真理。無形中涵養了慈悲之胸懷、大愛無限，樂於助人——利人濟物，廣行方便——幫辦佛事渡化眾生，使得福報日增，命運則因仁心義行而日漸改善，誠所謂：「心好命就好」。俗語說：「智者左右命運」，吾人積極修辦、行功立德，自然由苦命的人生轉向平順的命運，再轉而走向光明的命運。

(3) Change one’s fate

During the daily life of learning, practicing and cultivating Dao, we have put in our best effort and doing what we have to do.  We also put the true meaning of life in practice. Imperceptibly we develop endless love, merciful heart and become happy and sincere in helping others.  We’ll increase our good fortune while we take responsibility in the Dao affairs and help more people to receive Dao.  Your fate will have a positive change because of your love and justice to others.  That is: 「When you are kind-hearted, you will have good fate」. Wise people manage their fate well. We are actively cultivating and propagating Dao and become a man with merits and virtues, naturally, our fate will change from miserable to smooth and bright. 

四、可讓玄祖沾恩

道書云：「一子得道，玄祖沾光。」人間一子孫進入道門學道，其地府中之祖先亡靈得以領受一朵白蓮花，接受地藏古佛之教化，以期超脫輪迴苦海。又依佛規，凡道中有大功德者，可直接超拔父母亡靈出苦，此非祖先沾光而何？實因吾人與祖先血脈相連，我們積德行善，祖先自然同沾光彩。而修道辦道本是成就聖賢仙佛之偉業，將來道成天上與祖先重聚永享極樂，豈不是大大之孝行嗎？

(4) Ancestors and descendants can also benefit from the heavenly mercy.

Scripture says: 「When one receives Dao, his descendants and ancestors will be benefited and glorified.」.  When one in mortal world receives Dao and starts to learn and practice Dao, his/her ancestors’ souls in underworld will get a white lotus flower and they are allowed to receive the enlightening teaching of Di-Zang Buddha (Ksitigarbha Buddha), then cultivate there in order to transcend the cycle of reincarnation.  Per the Dao Temple regulations, those who have   enough merits and virtues can directly help their passed away parents’ souls to receive Dao.  Isn’t this beneficial for your ancestors who can share the benefits and glory of Dao?  This is because you and your ancestors’ blood are related.  Furthermore, cultivating and propagating Dao is a monumental accomplishment for becoming sages or even Buddha’s and eventually we can return to the heaven staying with our ancestors for long lasting joyful time, isn’t this the highest level of duty and honor to any parent?

五、可以躲劫避難

禍劫冤孽本由人自造，因為放失本心，血心用事違背良心，不合天理正道，才會結下多少孽根，造成今生必須承受因果禍殃。聖人曰：「自助助人，必得天助。」吾人求道後，知道以良心本性當家作主，時時誠心懺悔既往之過失，改過自新。同時，在學、修、辦道過程中，吾人已習以為常的廣行方便利人濟物——福慧雙修，平日必得諸天神聖護持。加以求道後，經常與仙佛親近接受佛光普照，並有三寶可以受持，遇有災難自能感加神佛護佑，而得以逢凶化吉、躲劫避難，處處有例證不勝枚舉。

(5) Avoid disaster and escape calamity

We created our own disasters, calamity and misfortune because we have neglected our true self or original nature.  We disobey our conscience and not following the law of nature and Dao.  All these made our selves take the karma in this lifetime.  A Saint said: 「When you help yourself and others, you will get help from God.」 After we received Dao, we understand we have to take control from our true self or conscience.  We also repent our sins and mistakes all the time and to turn over a new leaf of yourself.  At the same time, during the process of learning, cultivating, propagating Dao, we have developed a habit of helping and benefiting others. We are cultivating good fortunes and wisdom at the same time. Because of our cultivation we will get protection of the immortals, divines and saints. In addition, after we received Dao, we are close to Buddha’s and receive the light from their halos/ aureoles. We also have the Three Treasures to cultivate. When we are in an emergency situation or disaster, we’ll get Buddha’s’ help. So we can turn bad luck to good fortunes, and avoid disaster and escape calamity. Though, every one needs to be responsible for his/her own karma, God and Buddha’s are minimizing disaster, calamity to the least.

六、可以超生了死

當年釋迦捨棄皇太子之榮華富貴，是為了脫生死一大事因緣而出家。今生我們幸受明師直指大道，得受「性理真傳」，天榜掛號，地府抽丁，脫離閻君掌管。若能不斷修持，積德感天，自得天命護持、祖師加被，死後肉身會有顏色如生、面帶笑容、冬不挺屍、夏不腐臭之證驗，而靈性脫離生死輪迴、超生了死、達本還源矣！

(6) Transcend the life and death reincarnation

Sakyamuni Buddha gave up all his wealth & position being a prince of the country, only because he knew that he had to find an enlightened teacher to receive Dao and transcend birth & death reincarnation. Today we are so fortunate to have the Enlightening Teacher to pass this true Dao to us, our names are now registered in Heaven and deleted from life & death book in underworld and no longer in the control of the king of Hades(the underworld).  If we can keep cultivating our morality and virtues, we’ll get protection and blessing from and heaven and Mi-Le Patriarch (Master). Eventually one day when we pass away, our physical body will be soft and look alive and having a smile on our face; the body will not easily rotten in summer and harden in winter.  These are evidence of your soul has returned to heaven and avoided the reincarnation. 

七、是最殊勝的法門易證易成

    世上修行法門有千門萬教，可概略分為上、中、下三乘。乘者，運載之義，即運載眾生離苦得樂、解脫生死、究竟涅槃也。古德云：「摸著根的成佛祖，摸不著根的瞎修行。」故修行者當修最上乘的究竟法門，何謂上乘大法？與其它法門有何不同？

(7) Most extraordinary Dharma because it is easy to reach enlightenment

There are many different religions and different ways for cultivation in this mortal world, which could be split into Small Vehicle Doctrine, Medium Vehicle Doctrine and Great Vehicle Doctrine.  Vehicle is to transport human beings from miserable to happiness, free them from reincarnation and finally achieve nirvana.  Ancient saying: ”If you can find the Correct Way for cultivation you’ll become a Buddha, or you are just doing blind cultivation”.  Therefore, the Great Vehicle is the best way for all cultivators. What is the Great Vehicle?  What are the differences from other ways of cultivation?

(一) 下乘法 - 若執形著象，敲打念唱，計較得失，貪圖現世利益或來世福報，不知「凡所有相，皆是虛妄。」以如此有為之心，雖修種種善行，名為下乘。今世修善，來世享福，福盡善盡，仍墜輪迴，此乃循環之理，行此法可成為善人享人天福報。

1. Small Vehicle: Attached to forms, making efforts on chanting scriptures only, without put it in daily life. Always calculate gains and losses, strong desires for benefits in this lifetime or good fortunes in next life. They fail to realize that “everything that has physical form is unreal and fake”.  This type of cultivation belongs to Small Vehicle even though they are doing many good deeds. These goods bring good blessings and fortunes in their next life. However, the end of next life still results in reincarnation. This is the law of circulation.  People who cultivate this Vehicle could become virtuous and enjoy the good fortunes.

(二) 中乘法 - 若執著氣數，沈迷陰陽五行，企圖藉著抽填燒煉、數息吐納，以轉法輪、運週天，雖達到一定效驗，仍難脫生死輪迴，此為中乘法。

2. Medium Vehicle: Attached to the knowledge and practice of Qi – Yin and Yang energy in human body, and the five primary elements (wood, fire, earth, metal and water).  This way of cultivation does bring certain effects though it still cannot avoid the reincarnation.

(三) 上乘法 - 若明萬法不離本心，一切不離自性，但得大善知識直示本來，通達性理真傳，當下一了百了，更無言說，亦無少法可得，是一指直超的上乘法。吾道祖祖相傳師師相授，口傳心印，直指良心，見性成佛，脫氣還理，成道後歸無極理天。

3. Great Vehicle:  If you understand all dharma never apart from original heart and everything stays with true nature/true self.  When initiated by Enlightening Teacher, you will have clear understanding of true transmission of the principle of self-nature. This true nature is within you, not from external.  Dao is passed at one to one basis by all Patriarchs (Masters), directly point out the Gate, passing us the divine Mantra, everyone is potential Buddha since we have the same nature as Buddha’s. We can return to Heaven when the Buddhahood is being reached.

參、結論

3. Conclusion

一、     求道修道的好處無窮盡，只怕你不做，不怕沒有好處，要掘多少寶貝就有多少寶貝，這就是入寶山，不要空手而回，其福德不能用語言可以說盡的。

(1) The benefits of receiving & cultivating Dao are countless, you do it & to be benefited, there is no limit. It is like you found a mountain full of treasures and do not leave with empty handed. All the benefits & blessings are beyond words.

二、中下乘修人天福報，享千百年氣天福，福份享盡再墜輪迴，非永生之計。唯有求修上乘法，一指頓悟，認理實修，道成天上名留人間，九玄七祖同超上界，是故勤修上乘法方為究竟。

(2) People who cultivate Medium and Small Vehicles only benefit from short period of good fortunes in lower levels of heaven or in the next life. They will fall into reincarnation after that, this is not the way once for all.  Cultivate the Great Vehicle by the initiation from the Heavenly mandated Enlightening Teacher and cultivate truly. Eventually you will reach the Buddhahood in Heaven and leave good fame in this mortal world as a good example.  Your seven generations of ancestors and nine generations of descendants can also benefit to return to Heaven. Diligently cultivate the Great Vehicle is the Way of best choice after all.