菩薩愿行 (十條大愿)The Vows and practices of Bodhisattva (The Ten Great Vows)

菩薩愿行 (十條大愿)

The Vows and practices of Bodhisattva (The Ten Great Vows)

 

何謂「愿」？就其定義上來說，「愿」是一個嚴正、莊重的承諾，象徵個人的決心。一對夫妻誓願同甘共苦、白頭偕老、從一而終、永不改變。一位浪子、猛然回首，痛改前非，洗心革面，終身不怠。一國元首誓言，讓百姓安居樂業，使國

家富強康莊。一位修行者，己欲立而立人、己欲達而達人，不但獨善其身，更要兼善天下。當人在立愿時，他們是全心全意地，因為立愿的當下是非常莊重、神聖的。這些都是願，各有所願，目標不一，成就當然有所不同。

What is a vow?  By definition, vow is a solemn promise, declaration, pledge or personal commitment.  Couples in love vow to get married; they promise to love, share, help each other and to grow together.  A misbehaved person vows to pursue good thoughts and deeds after paying the price for his wrongdoings.  A president vows to serve and lead the nation to a safe, happy and prosperous future.  Also, a cultivator vows to develop one’s innate wisdom and natural abilities until perfection is achieved, and further help others achieve as well.  When people make a vow, they do it sincerely and wholeheartedly because they know it is a solemn and sacred moment.  Their achievement varies with the vow they fulfill.

 

在求道那一天，當我們跪在佛前求道時，隨著執禮唸了十條大愿。當您隨口唸完這十條大愿之時，您的內心就種下了一顆善良、潔淨與智慧的種子。愿即原心。當求道人立此十條大愿時，即是將此清淨正直的原心，種在自己的意識裡。在修行路上，此原心將成長茁壯，影響個人的品格與行為。此愿乃是一個人終其一生對上天及師尊、師母之承諾。在求道儀式中，立完十條大愿後即傳合同，此乃上天與求道人之間的契約。

During the Dao Transmitting Ceremony, Dao receivers repeat after the Ritual Conductor the Ten Great Vows.  Those who clearly understand these vows will see that these vows are nothing more than a promise to be a decent human being.  They are guidelines for being a righteous person.  By making these vows one pledges to conscientiously live a conscious and peaceful life.  It’s like sowing a seed ready to grow.  Vow in Chinese is a combination of “original” and “heart.”  When a person takes the Ten Great Vows, he is pledging to sow in himself the original pure and just heart.  Nurtured with patience and effort, this original heart will grow and change a person’s deeds; it builds characters.  This is the person’s lifelong commitment to God and our Holy Teachers.  In the Dao Receiving Ceremony right after the Dao receiver pledges the Ten Great Vows, he is transmitted with the Heavenly Hand Sign, which is the Holy Covenant between Heaven and this Dao receiver.

我們要知道，佛有三不渡，即無緣者不渡、無信者不渡與無愿者不渡。佛陀那麼慈悲，濟世渡眾，怎麼會有三不渡呢？如果仔細想想，不難發現，的確，這三種人是難以救渡的。就以我們求道來說，若不是我們累世因緣、行善積德，這輩子怎能生逢三期，得遇師尊、師母奉天承運普渡三曹之機緣呢？所以佛家常說：「天雨雖大，不潤無根之草；佛門雖廣，難渡無緣之人。」又說：「有緣遇上佛出世，無緣遇上佛涅盤。」可見佛緣是多麼重要。再者，無信者不渡，又如何說呢？縱然與佛有緣遇上明師，可是沒有信心，這些不信道，不信仙佛之人，也是難以渡化的。還有，無愿者不渡。有緣遇佛得明師指點，也相信聖神仙佛，但是卻貪戀紅塵，不願學佛修行，不願成仙作佛，這樣的人也是難以渡化的。所以，愿乃修行之動力、是修道人的目標與方向，指引修道人邁向目的地。若無愿，在修行路上，將喪失目標與動力，墮回人生的亂流。

Please understand there are three kinds of people that Buddhas cannot enlighten, namely, those who do not have affinity, faith, or vows.  Buddhas are all merciful; how come they do not enlighten these people?  In fact, without our ancestral virtues and good deeds accumulated over the past generations, we cannot have the affinity to meet with the heavenly mandated Holy Teachers.  Well goes the saying, “Even the torrential rains cannot nourish the vegetation that does not take root.  Even the broad paths of cultivation cannot lead the people who do not vow to enlightenment.”  Another saying goes, “With affinity, one meets with the Buddhas.  Without affinity, one passes by the Buddhas.”  That is why affinity is so important!  Besides, even though one meets with the Buddhas, if he is lacking in faith, still he does not believe.  Meanwhile, equally important is making holy vows, which serve as a driving force on the path of cultivation, because one would find it difficult to persevere in the building of a virtuous character without vows serving as the forthcoming driving force.  These vows function as a goal for the cultivator to attain.  Without vows one tends to lose focus on the path of cultivation and one is very likely to concede in this chaotic flow of life.

    所以，我們能夠求道，是具備了緣、信、愿三要素，當然還要感謝引保師的立愿擔保，引師保證我們身家清白、品行端正；保師保證道真、理真、天命真。然後，點傳師才將大道，性理心法，傳授給我們。否則，就算手捧萬兩黃金，想求真道，也是難以如願的。所以，我們要感謝引保師之為我們立愿擔保。

Therefore, with affinity, faith, and vows, we were able to receive Dao.  Another thing we should keep in mind is what our Introducers and Guarantors have done that makes us able to receive Dao.  Introducers assure God and Holy Teachers that we are righteous and noble people and that we are qualified to receive Dao.  Guarantors guarantee that Dao is true, the principles are true, and the Heavenly Decree is true.  Without their vows, even if we offer millions of dollars, we could not receive the great Dao.  So we should be grateful to them.

    大家雖然立了十條大愿，只是在求道當天，隨口而立，不知道各位還記得否？現在就針對這十條大愿，與大家共同研究，了解其意義及其重要性。

Of course, still another thing is that, in the Dao receiving ceremony, we made the Ten Great Vows in front of God and our Holy Teachers. Do you still remember The Ten Great Vows? In the following we are to explore this topic, “The Ten Great Vows”. 

 

﹝一﹞   誠心抱守

誠心，是專心一致、真實無妄、純真無邪之心。抱守，是守住良知良能、抱道奉行。現今社會問題，皆源自於人們不夠真誠，甚至撒謊來掩飾之前不誠實的言行。誠心抱守，即是用上天賦予我們的這顆天真無妄之心，好好護守著，無令其外放。道是支配宇宙萬事萬物的法則，修道即是要了解自然法則，回復自然，找到真實的自我本心本性。了解自己的本心本性、良知良能，就會真誠守住，勿令外在環境之聲色干擾而放縱慾念。因此，誠心是修行的第一步。

1.     Be Sincere And Dedicated To Dao

Sincerity means loyalty, truthfulness, and concentration, whereas dedication means conscience, devotion, and sacrifice.  It is undeniable that most social problems today result from people who are not truthful and sincere.  They are not faithful when interacting with each other; they would not say things in accordance with their true intention; they even tell lies time after time because they must fabricate more lies to cover up past fictions and unfaithful acts.  Dao is the cosmic law that governs everything in the universe.  Dao is for one to recover True Self.  Dedication to Dao makes us follow this universal law, return to Nature, and realize what and who we truly are.  As we stay aware of our conscience, we will discover the universal Truth in everything we interact with, being honest to them, hence making truthful and sincere people.  Dedication to Dao also makes us conscientious about our behavior and thought.  It is the initiation of all creative energies and the prerequisite of righteousness.  Therefore, being sincere is essential in Dao cultivation endeavor. 

 

﹝二﹞   實心懺悔〈乾〉

人們難免犯錯，只要實心懺悔，懺前愆，悔後過，即能另作新民。然而寬恕不是遺忘，人們如果實心懺悔就不會忘記自己所犯的過失，在過失中增長智慧，但是必須行功補過，以消弭罪業。

而一般人卻很少自我反省，一有過錯，總是把責任推給別人。修道之人，則須時常自我檢討與懺悔。一件事情，如一體之兩面，有的人指責別人，有的自我悔改。因為乾道比較容易造過，社會事件大半都是男士做得多，故更要實心懺悔。

 

2.  Be Truthful In My Repentance (Gentlemen)

To err is human.  As long as one truthfully repents, one can always be forgiven and start anew.  However, forgiven is not forgotten.  For those who truly repent, they never forget their wrongdoings, because in these wrongdoings they reflect and recover wisdom, and with more wisdom uncovered, they are closer to the universal Truth.  Yet, we still need to accumulate merits to offset these wrongdoings in order to balance the cosmic law.

People often impeach and criticize others, while they seldom examine and introspect themselves.  Cultivation requires self-evaluation and constant repentance.  The former points out the faults and errors we make, and the later arouses our determination to rectify and make a change.  They are both sides of a coin indispensable to our cultivation.  In the modern society, we can see more male criminals than female, so gentlemen should make more efforts to repent truthfully.

 

實心修煉〈坤〉

    自古至今，修道之人少有坤道，五教聖人之弟子中，幾乎都沒有坤道。世尊本來不收女弟子，經過阿難尊者，再三請求，才勉強答應。

    然而，自從民國十九年師尊、師母同領天命，上天慈憫大開普渡，廣開宏恩，乾坤齊渡。事實上，實心修煉，乾坤皆須遵守。然而值此末劫，理天仙真菩薩，皆下凡塵，倒裝轉世坤道者較多，故身為坤道者，要把握此一良機，真心修煉。

Be Truthful In My Cultivation  (Ladies)

As we trace back the history, few cultivators were female.  Buddha did not have female disciples until he finally accepted his male disciple Ananda’s suggestion. But now, since 1930, when Patriarch and Matriarch were ordained Holy Teachers to complete the last salvation, male and female have gained equal access to Dao cultivation.  In fact, cultivate truthfully is the first step of being righteous and both men and women need to abide by the above two principles.  However, it seems all the Buddhas, saints, and sages have descended to help accomplish the last salvation, and many of them appear in female incarnations.  So ladies, you should make more efforts to cultivate truthfully! 

 

﹝三﹞   如有虛心假意

求道者的動機或許不太相同，有的是真心誠意為道而來、有的是虛應人情世故而來、有的是為某種因由而來，不管怎麼來的都沒關係。求道當時，老師將我們的玄關竅打開，啟發了我們內在的良知良能，隨時能察覺任何起心動念，如果我們放任這些不好之念頭來矇蔽自己，那終究會是自欺欺人，藉道為名，做表面功夫。而受害最多的，也是自己！

 

3.  If I Am Deceitful And Have Any Pretentious Thought

Whatever the motive that drives you to receive Dao, when one is truly sincere, no pretentious thought or deceitful actions can exist.  In fact, receiving Dao is the most precious and important moment in life; it is life’s turning point.  After receiving Dao, the Enlightening Master unlocks our Heavenly Portal – the Main Gate, and awakens our inherent conscience.  Whenever a pretentious thought arises, we will be aware of it.  And if we allow it to develop into deceitful deeds, we are only cheating ourselves and in fact we would the ones who get hurt the most.

 

﹝四﹞   退縮不前

困難是因不明白事物的本性而起。不僅在修行時，或在人生道路上，無疑的會經歷困難與挫折。比如說，兒童在成長路上學習、講話、行走、攀爬、使用自己的身體，並不容易。學生在學校學習新的科目、交朋友、會面等也不容易。如果一個人碰上這些困難就退縮不前，那會有什麼後果？修行或許簡單，但是並不容易。人們若違反宇宙法則，忘記如何自然的生活，勢必將無法掌握自己，產生許多困難。如果一個人因此而退縮不前，那我們如何渡化眾生呢？ 

4.  If I Retreat From Difficulties

Difficulty results from the ignorance of the nature and the principle of things.  In life, one is bound to encounter difficulties, and this applies to our path of cultivation too.  As a child grows, learning to speak, to walk, climb, use the physical body, playing with toys and so on are not easy.  As a student in school, learning new subjects, making friends and dating can also be difficult.  Can anyone imagine if a person retreated from any of these difficulties, what could have become of him?  Cultivation may appear simple, but it’s not easy.  The majority of the human race have lived against or violated the universal Truth for such a long time, they do not remember what it’s like to live naturally, nor do they allow their True-Nature to steer their lives.  Living against what the population is accustomed to is difficult, for people may ridicule you for being righteous instead of following the “norm”, keeping your integrity instead of following the trend, coming to Temple instead of going out to party, studying scriptures and Dao books instead of playing video games.  But if we retreated from such difficulties, how could we propagate Dao to sentient beings?

﹝五﹞   欺師滅祖

每人在一生中，會有很多的老師。孔老夫子說：「三人行，必有我師。」教我們最多的老師就如同是父母一般。自出生起，父母不但用言教，更以身教影響我們。然而，在我們一生中，影響最多的卻是當代明師，我們當代明師是濟公老師與月慧菩薩。倘若沒有濟公老師與月慧菩薩兩位當代明師承擔三曹普渡重任，現今的修行人就沒有機會聞道。得道之人，應體師之心，遵師之訓，效師之行，繼師之志，承擔使命。修道之人，受師之恩，怎可以不思回報呢？

5.  If I Deceive Or Renounce Teachers Or Patriarchs

Everyone has constantly been surrounded by teachers throughout his or her life.  Confucius said, “ Among a group of three, one must be my teacher.”  The teachers who teach us most are like our parents.  Ever since birth, parents teach not only through words but deeds and behaviors.  However, the teacher who is the most influential in a cultivator’s life must be the Enlightening Master.  Our Holy Teachers, Ji-Gong Living Buddha and Yue-Hui Bodhisattva, are the Enlightening Masters.  Without them, today’s cultivators would not have the chance to have their Heavenly Portal unlocked.  We must be grateful for what our Holy Teachers have done for us, comprehend their hearts, abide by their teachings, follow in their footsteps, help accomplish the holy missions.  How can anyone deceive our Holy Teachers as they have given selflessly to us?

 

〈六〉  藐視前人

    今天我們能得此大道，身在如此成熟的道場。我們除了要感謝天恩師德之外，還要感謝老前人、前人將道帶來台灣救渡眾生，尤其在初期，開荒闡道，歷經種種困難煎熬，多少風霜雪雨，多少毀言謗語，前人們仍然苦口婆心，為了成全後學，費盡了多少心血！這麼大的恩德，我們怎麼可以不思回報！怎麼可以藐視前人們呢？﹝這裡之前人，廣義而言，是指引導成全我們學道修道之人，甚至比我們早求道者亦是。﹞

6.  If I Am Disrespectful Or Despise The Dao Seniors

Today’s Dao cultivator is very fortunate to be in such a well-established Dao society with abundant resources.  Without the sacrifice of these Dao seniors, how can we have the opportunity to enjoy these priceless treasures?  So we should be grateful to them, especially our Lao Qian Ren (Grand Senior Elder) and Qian Ren (Senior Elder).  In the beginning, when Dao was introduced to Taiwan, they experienced a lot of pains and sufferings.  Yet, they persevered to brave all those storms and slanders, only for the purpose of saving and enlightening the sentient beings.  To these Dao seniors, we owe more than gratitude.  How can we be disrespectful or despise them? 

〈七〉  不遵佛規

    佛規不是外加的約束，而是幫助我們成道的指導方針。現今世界混亂充滿誘惑，人無規矩，就如同車無軌，無法行駛。修道人的身心言行，要小心謹慎。佛規不是要讓我們不自由，而是要引導我們，在修道的過程中，端正我們的行為，收回外放之心，守住六根回復清靜，使我們身心安頓。就如一個人在家必須遵守家規，學生在學校必須遵守校規，國民必須遵守國法。不但尊重他人，同時也得到保護。修道也是一樣，我們要學聖賢仙佛，就要依循這一佛規準繩。不但可以得到仙佛之護佑，將來也可成就聖賢仙佛。

7.  If I Do Not Follow The Rules And Regulations Of Dao

The rules and regulations of Dao are not outside forces to confine and restrict us. They are simply guidelines that lead us to ultimate realization and enlightenment.  The world as it is today is chaotic and full of temptations.  Without rules and regulations, we are like trains without rails.  Hence, the rules and regulations of Dao are made to help us guard our six senses, hence settling our heart in a peaceful and tranquil state.  Whether at home, in school, or in the society, we obey rules and regulations to show our respect for others and in turn it means protection for ourselves.  Cultivators take rules and regulations of Dao as guidelines to attain Buddhahood.

〈八〉  洩漏天機

大道本是天地宇宙之玄秘，自古至今，非有心有緣之學道者難以得之，真機奧妙本不可輕降紅塵，若非時逢三期，天降隆恩，大開普渡，又有奉天承運之明師，我們怎會有如此殊勝之因緣，得受大道及三寶心法。三寶即是天機，如果對親朋好友透露，不但是違犯佛規，也剝奪了他們悟道的機會．如果他們的時機還未成熟，便無法體悟三寶的珍貴，因此，洩露天機於人於己，一點好處也沒有。還是須經領有天命之傳道師才可領受這上天之秘寶。

8.     If I Disclose The Heavenly Secrets

The teachings of the Three Treasures are of the utmost value and mystery.  They are passed on by the heavenly mandated Enlightening Masters and are consecrated with the infinite Buddha power.  These Three Treasures are the heavenly secrets.  The reason for not disclosing these treasures is not violating the Temple regulations.  If we disclose and share with loved ones, we are not only violating the regulations, also we are depriving them of the opportunity of enlightenment.  If their time is not ripe for discovering these heavenly secrets, they would never comprehend and know the preciousness of the Three Treasures.  They need to go through the Dao Receiving Ceremony to be enlightened.

〈九〉  匿道不現

    如果我們了解也珍惜道之寶貴，我們將會不由自主的想要將此法喜分享給眾親朋好友，這乃是自性使然，是一種自然的表現。我們的心靈、良知是最高的覺者，它知道甚麼是法喜、甚麼是自然。再怎麼樣我們也不能將此寶貴之大道藏諸於己，因匿道不現並不是一種自性之流露及一個充滿法喜之人所當為。

9.  If I Conceal The Message Of Dao Or Do Not Manifest Dao.

As we begin to understand and cherish the preciousness of Dao, we cannot help but want to share this enormous joy with others, because it is absolutely natural for our true nature to do so.  Our soul or conscience is the highest consciousness; it knows joys and what is natural.  We simply cannot conceal or fail to manifest this Truth, because concealing is totally against what is natural and it is something that a person who is in the joys of Dao should do.

 

（十）  不量力而為者（乾）

    大道無私，佛性本同，修道不分貧富貴賤。但每個人因緣各有不同，環境各異，所以各當量力而為。中庸云：「君子素其位而行，不願乎其外。素富貴行乎富貴，素貧賤行乎貧賤，素夷狄行乎夷狄，素患難行乎患難，故君子無入而不自得焉！」中庸之道，是要做到恰到好處。量力而為，上天和仙佛是慈悲的，他們不會期盼任何人做超出他能力的事，就如同一個能舉５０公斤的人，沒有人會要求他舉55公斤，但是請不要只舉40公斤，因為普渡眾生需要每個人的努力。

天生我材必有用，每人應好好發揮潛能，莫讓生命空開花。

10.  If I Do Not Perform According To My Own Ability. (Gentlemen)

All things in their being are good for something.  To perform in accordance with one’s own ability is to explore one’s potential in a natural way.  According to The Doctrine of the Mean, “A man of high morality acts in accordance with his status and seeks nothing beyond.  If he is ordinarily wealthy and ranking, he does what a man of wealth and rank should do; if he is ordinarily straitened and humble, he does what a man of straits and humbleness should do; if he is ordinarily in the minority areas, he does what a minority should do; if he is ordinarily in adversity, he does what a man in adversity should do.  A man of high morality knows and rests content with his place, whatever it may be.”  God and all Saints and Sages are merciful.  They never expect anyone to perform anything beyond their ability.  If a person can lift 50 kilograms, no one will force him to lift 55 kilograms, but please do not lift just 40 kilograms, because salvaging the sentient beings from this chaotic world requires everyone’s effort.  Everyone has his or her unique abilities.  Therefore, we must find a way to let our potential show, rather than live our lives in vain.   

 

不誠心修煉者（坤）

    修行如逆水行舟，如果人們不誠心實修，就很容易受慾望和誘惑左右，失去智慧的光芒，淪為名利的奴隸。白陽修士，是入世法，人人可在家修道，個個在工作崗位行道。但在家又恐情枷愛鎖綁得緊，在工作上功名利祿放不下，所以，老師告誡我們，要誠心修道。雖處紅塵，要看淡世間一切之恩愛名利，夫妻為朋，子為伴，齊家修道，將來共證品蓮。

If I Do Not Sincerely And Diligently Cultivate (Ladies)

Cultivation is like sailing a boat against the head winds.  Strive forward, or you’ll be swept backward.  If we do not cultivate diligently and sincerely, it would be easy for us to fall for temptations and desires.  We would lose the brightness of our inherent wisdom and become slaves of fame and fortunes.  However, if we cultivate sincerely and diligently, self-realization will surely be achieved.  A seat in the Kingdom of God will be reserved for sure.

 

願受天人共鑑

  此為對自我承諾的一個負責認之表白。發愿照上述之指導方針去行，必會引導大家至光明之大道，也為大同世界之實現貢獻一己之力。

I Am Willing To Be Observed By Heaven, My Conscience And All Humans.

This is a statement of self-promise, of being responsible to oneself.  Pledging to practice these guidelines will lead one to a bright and happy future, which I am sure will help to build a peaceful and harmonious world.