我们一丝一毫的进步，都离不开佛陀愿力的加被

据《悲华经》记载：往昔过恒河沙等阿僧祇劫，有佛世界名删提岚，是时大劫名曰善持，有宝藏佛住世，时本师释迦牟尼佛为宝海梵志，因大悲不舍、为欲救度我等娑婆世界众生故，于宝藏佛前发五百大愿，发愿在娑婆世界、人寿百岁、诸佛菩萨鲜少来此之时，来此方国土救度众生。这五百大愿，是佛陀的对我们娑婆世界众生的大慈大悲，是对我们格外的深恩厚德。

These five hundred great vows represent the Buddha's infinite 

compassion and mercy towards all sentient beings in our Saha world, bestowing upon us extraordinary grace and blessing.

此时此刻，乃至每时每刻，我们都活在释迦牟尼佛的愿力里。世尊于过去因地之中，所作种种难行、苦行，乃至降兜率、入胎、出家、成道、转法轮、入涅槃等，皆基于其往昔所发之本愿。

At this moment, and indeed at every moment, we live within the power of Shakyamuni Buddha's vows. All the arduous practices and ascetic disciplines that the World-Honored One undertook in his past lives, including his descent from Tusita Heaven, entering the womb, renouncing secular life, attaining enlightenment, turning the Dharma wheel, and entering nirvana, were all stemmed from the fundamental vows he made in the past.

“时阿难陀白佛言。世尊。我于静处作如是念。善知识者是半梵行。诸修行者由善友力方能成办。得善友故远离恶友。以是义故方知善友是半梵行。佛言。阿难陀勿作是语。善知识者是半梵行。何以故善知识者是全梵行。由此便能离恶知识。不造诸恶常修众善。纯一清白具足圆满梵行之相。由是因缘若得善伴与其同住。乃至涅船事无不办。故名全梵行。何以故阿难陀我由善知识故。令诸有情于生老病死忧悲苦恼皆得解脱。若离善友无如是事。阿难陀于我所说应勤修学。”

——《根本说一切有部毗奈耶杂事》

佛陀曾讲到，有一次，阿难尊者在寂静处思维了很多法义，然后对佛陀说：“我在修行的过程当中有一种感悟：其实佛教的道理一大半都是依靠善知识而获得的。我觉得善知识是很重要的。”而佛陀说：“你这样的说法是不对的，学习和行持佛法并非‘一半’依靠善知识，而是全部都要仰仗善知识。”

"Your statement is incorrect. Learning and practicing the Dharma does not rely 'halfway' on virtuous teachers, but depends entirely on them."

The beautiful spring 

is waiting for us

The good life begins

由此可知，我们此生生而为人，有因缘学佛，能够精进修行，乃至我们现在来到圣地，都是善知识——佛陀的愿力加被。在这个过程当中，佛陀给予了我们无量的福德，为我们制造了诸多的因缘。我们每个人仔细回想一下自己的学佛历程，或许我们自己都无法言说其中的奥妙。我们这一世善根的成熟，是佛陀无尽悲悯，累劫接引的结果啊。

Thus we understand that being born human in this life, having the karmic conditions to study Buddhism, being able to practice diligently, and even arriving at this sacred places - all these are blessings from our virtuous teacher, the Buddha. Throughout this journey, the Buddha has bestowed upon us immeasurable merit and created numerous favorable conditions. When each of us reflects on our Buddhist practice journey, we might find ourselves unable to express its profound mysteries. The maturation of our virtuous roots in this life is the result of the Buddha's endless compassion and his guidance across countless kalpas.

所以，我们佛弟子，每天都要忆念本师释迦牟尼佛，即使我们念阿弥陀佛圣号，求愿往生极乐世界，但是我们依然要感恩释迦佛陀，没有佛陀，我们怎么会知道极乐世界、知道阿弥陀佛？

Therefore, we Buddhist disciples should remember fundamental teacher Shakyamuni Buddha every day. Even when we chant Amitabha Buddha's holy name and aspire for rebirth in the Pure Land, we must still be grateful to Shakyamuni Buddha - for without him, how would we know about the Pure Land and Amitabha Buddha?

感恩的同时，我们要倍加珍惜，否则即使有殊胜的因缘，我们依然会与解脱擦肩而过。如果我们不珍惜、不努力，不仅释迦佛陀无能为力，即使阿弥陀佛成佛十劫也没办法。只有我们由衷地珍惜了，并且身体力行地付诸行动了，才能从轮回的漫漫长路里、从娑婆的无边苦海中逐步地回头，才能寂灭诸苦，才能打开无尽快乐的大门。

While being grateful, we must also deeply cherish our opportunities, or else even with such precious affinities, we might still miss the path to liberation. If we don't cherish and make efforts, not only will Shakyamuni Buddha be powerless to help, but even Amitabha Buddha, despite his ten kalpas since attaining Buddhahood, cannot assist us. Only when we sincerely cherish these opportunities and put them into practice can we gradually turn away from the endless path of samsara and the boundless ocean of suffering in the Saha world, extinguish all suffering, and open the door to endless happiness.

但是，不论我们修行到多高的果位，我们永远都要记得，我们所有的一切都是佛陀的愿力加被。我们能够学佛、念佛是因为佛陀的教导；能念佛成就往生极乐世界是源于佛陀的加被；我们能够灭罪、增福，乃至我们修行路上一丝一毫的进步，都在佛陀的愿力之中。

However, no matter how high a level of attainment we reach in our practice, we must always remember that all our progress arises from the blessing of the Buddha's vows. Our ability to learn Buddhism and practice mindfulness of the Buddha is because of the Buddha's teachings and guidance; our ability to achieve rebirth in the Pure Land through Buddha-recitation stems from the Buddha's blessing; our ability to eliminate sins and increase merit, and indeed every slightest progress on our path of practice, all exist within the Buddha's vows.