To Be a Bodhisattva
菩薩不是一個榮譽的職位而已，代表著無窮的磨勵與苦難。永恆無邊際的慈悲願心，對一切生命行無緣大慈，堅其志、蘊藏無盡大悲。
做了菩薩恆在娑婆中大行施，慈悲不是一種觀念，而是一種行願。菩薩選擇了菩薩的生活，就是要當娑婆一盞燈的燈芯，去燃燒照亮。
觀世音菩薩，以觀世人苦難而尋聲救度。應緣而度，在自利、利人，都能大自在故名觀自在。
如何學習觀世音菩薩的自在？
一、時自在…………命自在
二、處自在…………心自在
三、物自在…………捨自在
四、周遍自在…………業自在
五、大小自在…………生自在
六、有無自在…………心自在
七、動靜自在…………信自在
八、深淺自在…………願自在
九、無礙自在…………法自在
十、不自在亦自在…………智自在
諸位大眾：向觀世音菩薩學習，做菩薩行願，履行誓願諾言，忘掉一切舊怨。世出世間要能圓融，就要學習觀世音菩薩，菩薩應化大眾，應以何身得度者，即現何身而為說法。要完備這樣的性德，是從實際生活中鍛鍊出來的。
資料來源：心靈甘露(三)，隆門圓通法師著。英文翻譯：張惠平。
To Be a Bodhisattva
A Bodhisattva is not just an honorary position. Rather, it represents countless training and sufferings. With eternal and boundless compassionate vows, he is merciful to all living beings. He has a firm intention that contains endless great compassion.
When one has become a Bodhisattva, he always does good deeds in the Saha World. Compassion is not a concept but a practice. A Bodhisattva chooses to live a Bodhisattva life because he wants to be the wick of a lamp that burns and shines.
Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva observes the sufferings of people and rescues them by tracing their voices. He rescues them in accordance with affinities and is greatly unrestrained whether he is benefitting himself or others. Thus he is also called “Observing Without Restraint.”
How do you learn Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva’s unrestraint?
1. Be unrestrained with time, and you will have an unrestrained life.
2. Be unrestrained with places, and you will have an unrestrained mind.
3. Be unrestrained with things, and you will be able to abandon them freely.
4. Be unrestrained everywhere, and you will feel unrestrained with your karmas.
5. Be unrestrained with both big and small things, and you will live an unrestrained life.
6. Be unrestrained with both existence and non-existence, and you will have an unrestrained mind.
7. Be unrestrained with both actions and non-actions, and you will have an unrestrained confidence.
8. Be unrestrained with both deep and shallow, and you will be unrestrained when making a vow.
9. Be unrestrained with non-hindrance, and you will feel unrestrained about Dharmas.
10. Be unrestrained with uneasiness, and you will have unrestrained wisdom.
Everyone! Let’s learn from Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva to make Bodhisattva vows, fulfill our vows and promises, and forget all the old grudges. To be consummate in the mundane world, we should learn from Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva who responds to and rescues sentient beings and appears as the form of the one who needs transformation and lectures on the Dharma for him. To be replete with such merits, we have to train in the real life.
Source: Sweet Dew for the Soul (Vol. III), Written by Master Shih Longmen Yuantong. Translated by Huei Ping Chang.