法音传遍三千界——释迦牟尼佛圣诞午斋开示｜诸佛圆光菩提海，沐浴众生早成佛

We have come together this day to commemorate the anniversary of the Buddha’s sacred descending to this world. Buddha is actually birthless. Since the fundamental nature of the Buddha is birthless, where then, does the Buddha come from? Buddha arises from the affinity of blessings and virtues of us sentient beings; Buddha is born from the power of his great compassionate vow. 

这就像文殊菩萨起座一样，文殊菩萨本来是如如不动的，祂为什么要起座呢？文殊菩萨因大悲心故，从金刚菩提宝座而起，虽然起却如如不动，不动道场。佛陀也是这样，本自无生，因悲悯众生之苦、悲悯众生之迷惑颠倒，所以佛陀才降诞于此娑婆世界。

This is likened to Manjushri Bodhisattva arising from his seat. Manjushri Bodhisattva is supposedly unmoving, yet, why does he arise from his seat? Because of a great compassionate heart, Manjushri Bodhisattva arises from the vajra bodhi seat, but remains unmoving at the unwavering bodhimanda. The Buddha is as such too, basically birthless, yet descended upon this Saha world out of his sympathy with the sufferings, confusion and fallacies of sentient beings. 

While the Buddha has descended here, we will not meet the Buddha if we do not give ourselves a chance. So, how can we then get to meet the Buddha? Repent of our karma and build up our blessings. While we often emphasize on the importance of precepts, samadhi and wisdom, in actual fact, wisdom does not arise if there is no blessing within practice, without blessings, wisdom does not sprout. Hence, in Samadhi, besides the mundane meditation and supra-mundane meditation, we have to practice samadhi within goodness. We need to accumulate our resources from the good karmas, and to be diligent. We should remain steadfast to do any deeds that are good, that are good karma. As long as we persevere, our blessings will grow and wisdom will then sprout. With wisdom, we will get to meet the Buddha. 

The same applies to our arrival at Mount Wu-tai. Should there be no wisdom, we do not get to meet Manjushri Bodhisattva. With wisdom, Manjushri Bodhisattva is omnipresent, every leaf is Bodhi. Every grain of sand, every piece of stone, every blade of grass or every stalk of flower – they refract the Prajna light of Manjushri.  

Since we have taken refuge in the Triple Gem, we should seek to understand and know the Buddha within the foundations of us taking refuge in the Buddha, put dharma into practice within the foundations of taking refuge in the dharma and respect the Sangha within the foundations of taking refuge in the Sangha. As we have arrived at Mount Wu-tai, these are what we should seek for. 

Now that the affinity of all good is adequate, as all of our (presently seated) monks, laypersons, dharma protectors and Bodhisattvas have come together, this is a gathering of magnificent blessings and virtues. Today, so many of us are gathering here at Mount Wu-tai. With each of our blessings, virtues and piousness and with the resources we have accumulated, we present them as the fragrant water to bathe the Buddha.

As we bathe the Buddha, we are actually empowered by the Buddha. What we give to this world, this world shall repay us in kind. We give all that is good to the Buddha, in return, we too, get all that is good, a perfect effect. When we have the Buddha as a magnificent destination, we will obtain a perfect and liberated life. 

So, while today is the day of the Buddha’s sacred descending, it also marks as the sacred day of our own practice. Each time I dine here, they will serve me a big jujube. What does this imply? To accelerate birth of the Buddha’s descendants. 

An abundance of posterity beneath the seat of the Dharma King, this is the significance of the Buddha’s descending upon the mortal world. 

Final Wish: The halo of all Buddhas, a sea of Bodhi, showers upon sentient beings, advancing their attainment of Buddha-hood. 

文字来源：三参法师癸卯年四月初八

浴佛节午斋开示

英文翻译：妙莲

校对：慧凤老师

英文读诵：谷韵文

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