月光

Bright Moonlight

夕阳收尽了西边的最后一抹余晖。四下沉寂，我等待着“林竹翳如”的夜幕降临，使我得以在黑暗中独享南方春夜的悠然。然而，我徒劳了。一轮皓月悬挂虚空，清幽的月色给房屋、树林、花园，镀上了一层银白。真是“千江有水千江月，万里无云万里天。”

The last twilight in the western sky vanished with the setting sun. With silence all around, I waited for the evening curtain to roll out so that I could enjoy by myself a peaceful night in spring. This, it turned out, was just my wishful thinking. Suspended in the high void was a bright full moon that sprinkled a fine layer of silver dust over houses, trees, and the garden. It was exactly as described in the poem:

So long as there is water in the rivers,
Even if there are thousands of them，
The moon will be reflected in each.
So long as the sky is unobstructed by clouds,
No matter how many thousands of miles it spans,
It is all clear sky.

池塘中、脸盆里、甚至下雨积下的水坑中，都无一例外地盛着那圆圆的、光亮的脸，仿佛捞之可得。难怪世人有“猴子捞月”的传说了。

In the pond, washbasin, or even puddles from the rain, there appeared this round bright face, as if screaming to be picked up. No wonder the folklore of “Moon-Capturing by the Monkeys” came into existence.

的确，无论地上有多少水器，只要水面平静，水质清净，皆能显现皎洁月影。同样，无论多少人，若能以净心观想佛陀，佛也会立即来至彼前，为其加持，排其苦恼，令其安乐。

Indeed, regardless of how many water containers there are on the ground, all will reflect the same beautiful moon as long as the water surfaces are clean and calm. Similarly, regardless of how many people there are on earth, as long as they visualize the Buddha with a pure mind, the Buddha will appear in front of them to bestow blessing, dispel suffering, and bring happiness.

《宝积经》云：“何人作意佛，能仁住彼前，恒时赐加持，解脱一切罪。”可见如此做法有很大功德。《三摩地王经》曰：“散步安住站立卧，何人忆念能仁尊，本师恒时住彼前，彼者将获广大果。”也许有人会疑惑，为何佛陀会在转瞬之间来至我们面前呢？其原因是因为自己的心无丝毫垢染，加上智悲尊者的大悲力显现而致。《大圆满心性休息》云：“观想彼临极应理，此为自心清净力，智悲尊主大悲力，佛说如意成所愿。”

The Jewel Heap Sutra (Ratnakuṭa Sutra) says: “Should anyone think of the Buddha with faith, the Buddha is there, right in front of them, constantly granting his blessings and freedom from all harm.” Hence to think of the Buddha is very meritorious. The King of Concentration Sutra also says: “Whoever recollects the Buddha while walking, standing, sitting, or sleeping will always be in Buddha’s presence, and will attain vast accomplishment.” People may wonder: How could the Buddha come to us the moment we think about him? Such manifestation is made possible by our minds being absolutely pure and by the power of Buddha’s great compassion. A Treatise on Finding Comfort and Ease in the Nature of Mind says: “Due to the power of our innate purity and the power of Buddha’s great compassion, the Buddha will approach us and grant whatever is desired just as we visualize him.”

如果一个佛教徒，每天一次也不观想释迦牟尼佛，应该感到惭愧。我们应思维经典中的金刚语，这样对我们消除魔障、获得信心、增加智慧，均有无边利益。当然，如果信心的器皿倒扣，则永远也不会显现佛光月影。

As Buddhists, if we let a day go by without thinking of at least once of Buddha Shakyamuni, we should feel ashamed. We should constantly reflect on the adamantine words of the scriptures, which will bring us vast benefit in dispelling obstacles, establishing faith, and enhancing wisdom. On the other hand, if the vessels of our faith were turned upside down, then neither the moon reflection nor any form of the Buddha would ever appear to us.

壬午年二月十五日 　
2002年3月28日

15th of February, Year of RenWu
March 28, 2002