祈禱有方 林鈺堂 簡繁轉換 - 繁體

需求難免得失苦,種植辛勤望收成;
祈禱迴向普利眾,祥和瀰漫安寧深。

常代眾祈禱。或問,當如何祈禱?

法界之中,因果不壞。欲求得瓜,當先種瓜。若欲求離苦得樂,當反思有何福德因緣足以化解、承受。若罔顧事理,徒然以熾盛私心祈禱於教導「無我」之佛,豈能招致感應?

因此,祈禱之先,必先發菩提心,繼以行善或修習佛課,而後以功德迴向。首先迴向一切眾生早日離苦得樂,徹證圓覺。而後就目前見聞所及一切事情,平等祈求早得圓滿解決,咸成佛道上長進之助緣。

如此,方可免陷入私心糾纏,患得患失之貪求祈請中,而得以經由祈禱,開闊心胸、視野,進而感得佛、菩薩、護法聖眾之加被,而產生自利利他之感應事蹟。


                     二○○○年八月三十日
                     養和齋    於加州


Praying Rightly Yutang Lin

Desiring could not help but suffer from gains and losses.
Cultivate diligently despite hardship to expect harvest.
Praying for and dedicating merits to all beings equally,
Harmony permeates and tranquility profound prevails.

Comment:

I often pray for others as requested. Some asked, "How should one pray?"

In the Dharmadhatu the law of causes and consequences prevails. In order to harvest melons, one should first cultivate melon plants. If one desires end of suffering and enjoyment of happiness, one should first reflect on what meritorious deeds one has accomplished that would entitle oneself to such good fortune. If, despite reason and the law of causes and consequences, one blindly beseeches help out of self-centered considerations and greed, then how could such prayers inspire favorable responses from Buddhas who teach selflessness?

Therefore, right before praying one should first develop Bodhicitta, i.e., to maintain the pure intention of wishing all sentient beings to ultimately leave suffering and attain full enlightenment. Then, one should engage in charitable activities or perform some Dharma practices in order to cultivate merits. Then, one dedicates the merits to all sentient being, wishing all of them soon to escape from suffering and attain ultimate enlightenment. Finally, one prays equally for all the matters that come to mind or have been noticed, wishing that all such matters be resolved fairly and harmoniously, and that through such experiences everyone involved would grow toward enlightenment.

Thus one would be spared from falling into the trap of self-centered entanglements and greedy begging. Instead, one would become open-minded through such prayers. Consequently, such selfless prayers for the benefit of all beings would eventually inspire blessings from Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and holy protectors to yield inspirational events that would help oneself and others in miraculous ways.


Written in Chinese on August 30, 2000
Translated on August 31, 2000
El Cerrito, California


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