佛说，我们拉个勾吧｜ Buddha said: Let’s make a pact

过去的知见、业气，这些东西是会障碍我们学佛的。学佛，包括出家，我们有一句话，“昨日种种譬如昨日死”。不只是头发剃除，更要断除烦恼，以佛知见为己知见，从而获得新生。

Cognizance of the past & karmas are stuff that will obstruct us from practicing Buddhism. We have this saying when it comes to practicing Buddhism (including becoming a monk): “All happenings of yesterday should be deemed to have expired yesterday.” Other than shaving the hair, one should be rid of worries, applying the Buddha’s knowledge as one’s knowledge and thus, gain a new lease of life thereafter.

不把自己清空，佛陀在经典里一遍一遍重复的话，有可能一句也记不住，也就不可能成为你生命的一部分。所以我们住在寺庙，就要把之前的知见清零，像一滴水融入僧团，找到自己内心的道场，内心的清凉处。找到了，你也就看见自己的佛性了。

If one does not empty out oneself, one may not be able to remember a single word that has been repeated time & again by the Buddha in the Sutras, and thus, it will not be able to become part of your life. Hence, as we reside in the monastery, we should all zero out our past understandings, like the drop of water that merges into the Sangha community, and discover the bodhimanda that lies within our inner hearts, the refreshing spot of our inner heart. Once it is found, you will see the Buddha-nature of yourself. 

就像眼前这一朵花，你看到的是红色的，我看到的也是红色的，这就是我们的共同性，这共同性就是我们的佛性。那我们之间修行的差别在哪里呢？就是修行人在看到这朵花后会马上回光返照，叫回头如意。一回头，就能找到佛性，找到佛性皈依它，那就是皈依佛。

Just like this flower that lies before our very eyes, you see its colour as red; I see its colour as red, too. This is our common nature, and this common nature is our Buddha-nature. So, where does the difference lie in our practice? A practitioner is able to self-reflect immediately upon the sight of this flower, known as being “auspicious as one turns back.” The moment one turns back, one finds the Buddha-nature. To seek refuge in the Buddha-nature that has been found is to seek refuge in the Buddha. 

如果你一看到它，不提起正念，光是看，那你看是红的，小狗看也是红的，但小狗是修行者吗？不是，因为它不知道回光返照。所以你的佛性天天都在，但你天天都不认识佛性，这就叫背觉合尘。背觉合尘是轮回，转过来背尘合觉才叫念佛。佛是不生不灭，是清净，是平等，是你的皈依处。

If one does not give rise to Samyaksmrti (the right mindfulness) upon seeing it, and is just merely looking at it, then you see the colour as red and the puppy, too, see the colour as red. Does that make the puppy a practitioner? No, because it knows not of self-reflection. Thus, your Buddha-nature is here every day, but every day, you know not of this Buddha-nature – this is known as having one’s back against awakening and blending in with gunas. To have one’s back against awakening and blending in with gunas means Samsara. Conversely, to have one’s back against gunas and blending in with awakening means the recital of Buddha. Buddha does not get born or perish. He is peace, fairness, and the spot of your refuge. 

涅槃会上佛菩萨

Buddhas & Bodhisattvas of the Nirvana Assembly

为什么我们要念“涅槃会上佛菩萨”？佛陀在涅槃会上开显的无边的大般涅槃境界，那是超时空的，你什么时候忆念，都是不增不减的。那就是佛为我们众生量身定做的，你有信心，你祈祷，当下就能连通。

Why do we recite “Buddhas & Bodhisattvas of the Nirvana assembly?” The boundless realm of Maha-pari-nirvana manifested by Buddha at the assembly of Nirvana surpasses time & space. No matter when you mediate upon it, it neither increases nor decreases. That is what the Buddha has customized for us, sentient beings. This connection is instant as long as you pray with faith. 

学习佛教英文词语:

回光返照-self-reflection 

正念- Samyaksmrti (the right mindfulness)

背觉合尘- having one’s back against awakening and blending in with gunas

大般涅槃- Maha-pari-nirvana

戒定慧- Precepts, Samadhi, Wisdom 

功德海– Sea of Merits 

五蕴身– body of five skandhas