千句大悲咒的法義淺釋及功德利益
Brief introduction for Thousand Phrases Great Compassion Mantra and its profound virtue and merit
<一>前言:千句大悲咒被發現於”房山石經”中,一千三百多年前,中國隋朝大業年間,天台宗二祖岳慧思禪師的弟子靜琬法師,為了保存佛經免於天災人禍之厄運法難,令如來正法能久住世間利樂有情,所以廣發護法刻經於石之善心,是房山石經最早的發起雕刻者,靜琬法師圓寂後,由弟子繼承師志刻經不断,佛門四眾弟子亦隨喜護法刻經,歷經千年至清朝初年,完成石經一萬四千二百七十八塊,佛經一千一百二十二部,三千四百多卷,全部存放於中國北京房山縣雲居寺山上九處山洞,及雲居寺地宮中,中國佛教協會於1956年為了慶祝佛陀示現涅槃年,曾以發掘拓印房山石經作為紀念之献禮,並於1980年發行房山石經之影印本,流通於世以利人天大眾,這是佛菩薩之慈悲護念,令石經得以重現於世,福佑群生,有法緣見聞者,應至誠禮敬感恩諸佛之垂愍.
<I> Preface: Thousand Phrases Great Compassion Mantra was discovered in “Fangshan Stone Buddhist Scriptures” or as in “Stone Canon of Fangshan”. About one thousand three hundred years ago during the Daye era of China’s Sui Dynasty (605-617), the disciple of Tien Tai Sect Second Patriarch Hui-Si Yueh – Master Jing -Wan vowed to protect Buddhist sutras from the destruction which might be caused by natural or man-made disasters in the future. Moreover, he aspired to preserve the true dharma (Buddha’s teaching) in order to offer great benefits and happiness to all living beings. Therefore, Master Jing-Wan brought forth to the Bodhi resolve to begin a project to engrave the entire Buddhist sutras in stone at Fangshan. He was known as the initiator for the project of “Fangshan Stone Buddhist Scriptures”. After he passed away (enter Parinirvana圓寂), not only did his disciples carry on his will of carving sutras but also the Buddhism devotees who considered themselves as the Dharma protectors from ten directions rejoiced and continued carving sutras. After years until the early Qing Dynasty, a total of 14278 tablets, 1122 sutras and more than 3400 volumes were completed and sealed in nine caves cut in the cliff high above Yungju temple and buried in a chamber beneath its pagoda. In 1956, to celebrate Buddha’s manifestation of Nirvana for 2500 years, the Buddhist Association of China took a complete set of rubbings of these inscriptions as the memorial tribute to Buddha. In 1980, the copy of “Fangshan Stone Buddhist Scriptures” was officially published, widely distributed and offered great benefits to all living beings in the unlimited worlds. Upon Buddha and Bodhisattva’s mercy and mindfulness to all living-beings, “Fangshan Stone Buddhist Scriptures” was able to be discovered and published. Therefore, all living-beings received the merit and compassion from Buddhas and bodhisattvas’ teaching. People who have this great opportunity to witness the engraved sutras ought to sincerely respect and be grateful to Buddha’s mercy and mindfulness.
<二>千句大悲咒之發現:
於石經中,有一部名為”釋教最上乘秘密藏陀羅尼集”千句大悲咒被收錄其中,名為”聖觀自在菩薩蓮花三摩地Samadhi青頸大悲心陀羅尼924句,及聖觀自在菩薩廣大圓滿無礙大悲心大陀羅尼76句,共計一千句.
<II> The discovery of “Thousand Phrases Great Compassion Mantra”
In the complete set of “Fangshan Stone Buddhist Scriptures”, “Thousand Phrases Great Compassion Mantra” was collected in “Shijiao Superior Secret Dharani collection” and combined with “Sacred Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva Lotus Samadhi Nilakantha Great compassion Dharani 924 Phrases” and “Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva’s Vast, Perfect, Unimpeded, Great-Compassionate Heart Dharani Sutra 76 phrases”. So, it has a total of 1000 phrases.
Note: Shijiao is the original saying of Buddhism in ancient China
<三>千句大悲咒之流傳及隱沒:
千句大悲咒曾流通於唐朝天寶年間<西元746-774>至1068年以前,隨後即失傳隱沒於世,迄今約一千年,今日人天大眾能見聞此咒,是何等的福報所致,乃因大悲咒可以消除無量業障病苦,圓滿眾願,帶業往生淨土,成就佛道故.
<III> Propagation and vanishment of “Thousand Phrases Great Compassion Mantra”
“Thousand Phrases Great Compassion Mantra” was popular in Tianbao era of Tang Dynasty (746-774) until A.C 1068 and then vanished since 1000 years ago. It is truly fortunate that all living-beings are able to learn and witness this mantra because “Great Compassion Mantra” is able to break hindrance of evil karmas, fulfill living-beings’ wishes and takes living beings to be reborn in Buddha’s pure land and helps living beings achieve the path to Buddhahood (the state of upmost enlightenment).
<四>法義淺釋及功德利益:
<1>”聖觀自在菩薩廣大圓滿無礙大悲心大陀羅尼章句”可分為”前段”<a>.歸敬文即歸依三寶,禮敬觀自在菩薩<b>讚頌文:即讚歎觀自在菩薩是大悲心救護者施無畏者<c>誓願文:觀自在菩薩所發之誓願.能圓滿眾生一切事成就,現世所行無礙,”中段咒文”:<1>讚頌觀自在菩薩之光明超越世間<2>精進勇猛作諸事業,憶念觀自在菩薩之功德力<3>奉請祈願清淨無垢離垢無相之觀自在菩薩,能除滅眾生內心之三毒貪瞋痴<4>祈望大徹大悟覺悟無量之青頸觀音大菩薩,能令眾生具足正知正見,起歡喜心,於道業上成就圓滿.<5>祈願觀自在菩薩之應化身於十方界,法施,財施,無畏施,一切成就無礙.”最後段結尾文”<一>再度歸依三寶,禮敬聖觀自在菩薩<二>祈望所求一切成就.
<IV> Brief introduction for the mantra and its profound virtue and merit
<1>“Sacred Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva Vast, Perfect, Unimpeded, Great-Compassionate Heart Dharani” is divided into
Foreward:
<a> Reverence prefatory: to take refuge under three treasures (1) the Buddha 佛; (2) the Dharma 法 and (3) the Sangha 僧; and sincerely respect and prostrate Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva,
<b> Praise: to praise Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva who has a compassionate heart protects all living beings and performs fearless-giving to them
<c> Vows: Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva vowed to achieve whatever sentient beings seek to accomplish in their present life without obstruction.
Middle part of the mantra:
<1> to praise that the bright light (a symbol of the wisdom of a Buddha or bodhisattva) emitted from Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva transcends the secular world
<2> to praise that Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva is zealous and courageous in progressing of the good and eliminating of the evil; in remembrance of the power of merit of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva
<3> to respectfully pray to Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva who always holds a pure, undefiled and characteristic-transcending heart to eliminate three poisons (greed, hatred and ignorance) in all living-beings’ mind
<4> to respectfully pray to Nilakantha Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva who remains at the state of perfect awakening and has upmost wisdom to help all living beings to fulfill the correct dharma wisdom/enlightenment, rejoice and have perfect accomplishment on dharma way
<5> to respectfully pray to Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva to manifest his dharma body in ten directions, perform actions of dharma giving, wealth giving and fearless giving and fulfill all living-beings’ wishes without obstructions
Last part of the mantra:
<1> to take refuge under three treasures again and sincerely prostrate Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva
<2> to pray that we will achieve perfect accomplishment on dharma way
<二>”聖觀自在菩薩蓮花三摩地青頸大悲心大陀羅尼”可分為”前段”<1>歸依禮敬文:即歸依十方三寶,禮敬聖觀自在菩薩<2>讚頌禮敬觀世音菩薩是大悲心者,生死大海中之救渡者,利樂一切眾生者,能令眾生離一切苦厄者<3>讚頌觀世音菩蕯是証得畢竟解脫者<4>讚頌觀世音菩薩之應化身,能宣揚妙法覺悟有情,威德自在渡眾無礙.
“中段咒文”<1>讚頌觀自在菩薩証得解脫清淨如蓮,吉祥無垢,法相莊嚴<2>讚頌觀自在菩薩成就忍辱行,能破除眾生內心之熱惱無明而獲得殊妙之解脫<3>至誠一心憶想稱唸觀自在菩薩,即能迅速解脫一切苦厄<4>祈求青頸觀自在菩薩,能救護饒益一切眾生,如水映月即時現<5>祈求龍天護持,令一切惡鬼等調伏平息惡心不造惡<6>祈求觀自在菩薩能圓滿眾生的願望<7>祈求觀自在菩薩能消除眾生之束縛不幸,而安住於菩提道上,令內心達到平靜柔善,遠離愚痴情執而解脫自在<8>祈求佛陀慈悲救護攝受我及一切眾生,令入正思惟,並破除一切惡鬼之毒害,及一切病苦之消除<9>祈求世尊青頸觀自在菩薩護念救渡令我遠離一切怨家仇敵之毒害,及除去一切世間之苦難災禍,並解脫生死輪迴之恐佈危難<10>世尊青頸觀音菩薩化身具大威神力,能除去一切眾生內心之惡念,祈望慈悲令我遠離消除一切不善之心念,惡報,犯戒等過失<11>祈望世尊能成就我的精進福德法相莊嚴,吉祥殊勝,並消除內心之妄想及恐佈<12>祈願觀自在菩薩及一切天龍八部等護法神之利眾善行皆能成就”結尾歸敬文”:再度禮敬世尊青頸觀自世菩薩,大慈悲大智慧大威神力,能令誦持大悲咒者,一切圓滿成就.
<2> “Sacred Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva Lotus Samadhi Nilakantha Great compassion Dharani” is divided into
Foreward:
<1> Reverence prefatory: to take refuge under three treasures (1) the Buddha; (2) the Dharma and (3) the Sangha in ten directions; sincerely prostrate Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva
<2> to praise Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva who ferries living beings from the coast of birth-and-death to the coast of complete liberation (pure clear self- nature), comforts and pleases all living beings and relieves sufferings upon them
<3> to praise Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva who has achieved the state of perfect awakening and liberation
<4> to praise Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva’s dharma body in ten directions which propagates Buddha’s teachings, awakens and rescues all living beings with his superb power and virtue without obstructions
Middle part of the mantra:
<1> to praise Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva who has achieved the state of perfect awakening and liberation and his dharma body resembling the purity of lotus and demonstrating auspicious, undefiled and sublime dharma-character
<2> to praise Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva who has accomplished the practices of forbearance and is able to eliminate all living beings’ passionate anxieties and ignorance to achieve extraordinarily wonders of liberation
<3> those who sincerely conjecture the form and chant the name of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva will achieve perfect liberation and be freed from all suffering
<4> to pray to Nilakantha Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva to protect, rescue, and give great benefits to all living beings. The ways that he conducts resemble the moon manifests of its image on the surface of the water whenever the moon emerges in the sky
<5> to pray to dragons and gods to protect all living beings; command and tame the ghost spirits not to conduct evil deeds
<6> to pray to Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva to satisfy and achieve all living beings’ wishes
<7> to pray to Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva to eliminate all living beings’ manacle and misfortune and pacify them to remain thoroughly stable when they are practicing Buddhism. Moreover, to make all living beings to achieve peaceful and virtue state and meanwhile, to help them escape from ignorance and attachment of mundane emotional feelings in order to achieve perfect liberation
<8> to pray to Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva through great compassion to rescue all living beings and enlighten them to receive correct dharma. Moreover, to break away harms from evil ghosts and eliminate all kinds of evil illness
<9> to pray to Nilakantha Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva to rescue me, to help me get away from harms by hostile enemies, to eliminate the secular suffering and disasters so that I will transcend the misfortune transmigration of births and deaths
<10> Nilakantha Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva’s response and transformed body which possesses the mighty holy power is able to eliminate all living beings’ evil thoughts and, through his great compassion, to help me get away from all evil thoughts, bad karma and conducting evil deeds such as breaking precepts, etc..
<11> to pray to Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva to help me to achieve the state of vigor (the fourth Paramita), virtue, sublime and auspiciousness and moreover, to eliminate discrimination and fear which covered the original pure mind
<12>> to pray to Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva and eight divisions of gods and dragons’ morally good actions will be perfectly accomplished
An invocation turns in reverence of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, which is the last part of the mantra:
Again, to sincerely prostrate and pray to Nilakantha Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva through his great compassion, vast wisdom and mighty holy power to help all living beings who recite and hold the Great Compassionate Heart Mantra will achieve the perfect accomplishment of Buddhahood (the state of upmost enlightenment)
