The Ocean of Life and Death
因果不昧勤慚悔
即使小過亦莫為
菩薩畏因成正果
凡夫造惡終墮落
今日下午一場豪雨，使得悶熱的初夏裡，在法輪禪寺有了清涼。夜闌人靜，驚覺生命之短暫、無常，人命在呼吸間，怎能不及時把握，努力充實呢？
《華嚴經》中云：菩薩因善知識，常能增長一切善根。
譬如雪山生長藥草，因善知識成功德處。
譬如大海出生眾寶，因善知識淨菩提心。
譬如猛火能煉真金，因善知識不染世法。
譬如蓮華不著塵水，因善知識不受諸惡。
譬如大海不宿死屍，因善知識照明法界。
譬如盛日照四天下，因善知識增長大願。
內在的苦難增長智慧，外在的苦難增長福報。
要悟無常生死大海
要悟煩惱如空華水月
要超脫沉淪
亮起智慧心燈
道風無二種 心光互交融
一地無相印 萬類皈源宗
資料來源：心靈甘露(三)，隆門圓通法師著。英文翻譯：張惠平。
The Ocean of Life and Death
Causes and effects are clear, so we should repent often.
Do not do an evil deed, even if it is a small one.
Bodhisattvas are afraid of causes, so they can get enlightened.
Ordinary people do evil deeds, so they will finally fall into evil paths.
A heavy rain this afternoon brought a refreshing feeling to the Dharma Wheel Monastery in the hot and stuffy early summer. During the silent night, I suddenly feel that life is short and impermanent. Life is as short as a breath, so how can we not seize the day and enrich our life with great efforts?
The Mahāvaipulya Buddhāvataṃsaka Sūtra says:
Because of virtuous partners, Bodhisattvas can often increase all good roots.
For example, the Snow Mountain nurtures herbal medicines and achieves merits due to virtuous partners. The ocean engenders jewels and purifies the Bodhi mind due to virtuous partners. The raging inferno can refine real gold and is not contaminated by the mundane affairs due to virtuous partners. The lotus flower does not touch the mundane water and does not suffer all evil things due to virtuous partners. The ocean does not accommodate dead bodies but illuminates the dharma realm due to virtuous partners. The blazing sun shines on the whole world and increases great vows due to virtuous partners. The internal sufferings can help increase wisdom, while the external ones can help increase blessings.
We should realize that the sea of life and death is impermanent and that afflictions are illusory. We should transcend depravity and light up the lamp of wisdom.
The style of principles is unique. The mind and the light blend. The realm of True Suchness is formless. All will return to their origin.
Source: Sweet Dew for the Soul (Vol. III), Written by Master Shih Longmen Yuantong. Translated by Huei Ping Chang.