Venerable Masters, Monastics
尊敬的大德 法师
Hello , fellow practitioners
各位同參道友 大家好
Welcome to Jing Ya Buddhist Voice, I am Jingya, Namo Amitabha
歡迎来到静雅佛音 我是静雅 南無阿弥陀佛
Whenever it comes to festivals like tomb-sweeping Festival, Ghost Festival, New Year
每当到这种清明节 中元节 新年
and other Buddhist commemorative days
还有这些佛的纪念日
temples are usually very busy because many parishioners
通常寺院都很忙 因为有很多信众
go there to burn incense and pray to Buddha and Bodhisattvas for blessings
会去烧香拜佛 祈求佛菩萨加持
In hope of being the first to offer incense
能烧一柱头香
but now the price of the first to offer incense is very expensive.
现在这个頭香 并且价钱都很贵
As a result, people have misunderstood the purpose of burning incense.
所以大家 就把这个上香 意思给搞错了
What is the purpose of burning incense
我们上香的目的到底是什么
and how should we go about it?
我们進香到底应该怎么进
There is an ancient saying "One stick of incense for a thousand Buddhas and Bodhisattvas."
古語云千佛菩萨一柱香
In fact, the purpose of visiting a temple and burning incense for blessings
其实前往寺院進香祈福
does not depend on the quantity of incense or the amount of money spent
并不在于香燭的多寡 也不在於他钱的多少
but rather on the sincerity of our hearts.
而是在于要有一颗至誠的心
Incense is a supporting condition for practice
香 是修道的助緣
Its purpose is to calm our minds, enlighten our consciousness
其目的是让人心定神静 圆满觉性的
and awaken the incense of our wisdom.
能升起智慧之香
Using incense as an offering in Buddhist practices
以众香而作佛事
is still aimed at helping sentient beings to realize their true nature.
其宗旨依然是让众生悟入本心
Master XingYun once said
星云大師曾言
Burning incense and prostrating are not necessary.
烧香 磕头没必要
What is most important is to practice compassion towards others.
行慈悲最重要
We should ignite the flame of compassion in our hearts for society
所以要为社会点燃自己的慈悲心香
rather than simply performing external rituals such as burning incense.
而不是外在的这个形式上的烧香
In fact, in Buddhism, apart from physical incense
其实在佛教中 除了有形的香之外
the offering of a "mindful incense" is also mentioned in the sutras
經中也以心香供佛
as a metaphor for sincere offering
来比喻至誠的供养
This "mindful incense" is referred to as a single petal in the Buddhist teachings.
佛门中称为心香一瓣
"The Chronicle of Qingliang Mountain" records that
《清凉山志》记载
during the Sui Dynasty, the Ven. Jietuo of Wutai Mountain
隋代五台山的解脫和尚
entered the monastic order and devoted himself to diligent practice with one mind
出家后 制心一处 精進修持
Once, he went to Daizhou to give precepts
有一次到代州傳戒
and on his way back
回来的路上
he suddenly wanted to burn incense and make offerings to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.
突然想要焚香 供养诸佛菩萨
However, he had no offerings with him at the time.
但是当时身上并没有带任何的供品
At that moment, a voice from the sky said
此时 空中传来了声音
"Put your palms together as flowers and your body as a tool for offerings.
“合掌以為華 身為供養具
Your pure and compassionate heart is the true incense
善心真實香
and the fragrant clouds are singing your praises."
讚歎香雲布”
Ven. Jietuo knew this was a discourse from the Bodhisattvas and followed their guidance.
解脫和尚知道这是菩萨的開示 就依此实行
Then another voice from the sky said
空中再传声音
"When the Buddhas smell this incense, they will come and save you.
“諸佛聞此香 時復來相度
With diligent practice, there will be no doubt in realization."
眾等勤精進 終不相疑悟”
This story illustrates that burning incense
可見上香
It's not how much money you paid for the first to offer incense
不是花了多少钱 抢了个头香
or how big the incense sticks are
香燭有多大
but about the sincerity of your heart.
而是你的至誠心
As the saying goes, "Heart arises is known by Buddha."
所谓心到佛知
Next, here is a fascinating story from Rev. ZhuYun's
下面呢 给大家讲一个煮雲法师
book "The Legends and Miracles of Mount Putuo in the Southern Sea"
在《南海普陀山傳奇異聞錄》中
A wonderful story described in the book.
记载的一个精彩故事
"The Insincere Offering was Returned '
《来意不誠 退回原处》
The Story of Pilgrims Offering Incense and Bodhisattva Manifesting Sanctity
香客進香 菩萨显圣的故事
This is a wonderful and very interesting story.
这个是很精彩的 非常有意思
During a large-scale temple fair
那个时候大香会期间
many pilgrims came to offer incense and candles.
前寺的香客 进香獻燭很多很多
Although there were many candle stands before the altar
虽然佛前的燭台不少
There were still insufficient to accommodate the overwhelming number of visitors.
可是大批的香客涌进来的时候 还是无法应付的
New candles were brought in before the previous ones had even been burnt
这枝燭才刚插上 那枝燭又送进来了
creating a continuous cycle of swapping out the unburnt candles
只有把未点完的燭香 拿下来 换上新的燭香
continuously
如此不断的
The swapped unburnt candles piled up and weighed several hundred catties each day.
调换下来的剩燭每天就有好几百斤重
Especially, the pilgrims from Hangzhou and Shanghai
尤其是杭州的香客 上海的香客
they brought in 100-catties pair of candles
佛前的供燭都是100斤一对的
or 50-catties pair of candles
或者50斤一对的送进来
If the incense boat arrives, it comes in with couple loads of large wax candles.
如果香船一到 都有好几台是大蜡烛
Those who could let go
放得下的人
saw the candle master put out some of his offerings
看见香燈师把他的貢燭熄灭了
It doesn't bother him, he knows it is an unavoidable situation.
倒也无所谓 知道这是不得已的事情
There is also a saying
同时还有一句俗语
"Heart knows the way to Buddha."
所谓心到佛知
"Money enters the temple, blessings return to the donor."
" 錢進山門 福歸施主“
As long as one has paid and made a sincere wish
只要出了钱 发了心
one hands over his incense and candles to the temple
我的香燭交给了殿主師
It is up to the temple to burn them or not.
随他烧香 不烧香 点燃不点燃
In any case, one's wish has been fulfilled.
总之 我的心愿已了了
However, there are some people who don't understand the meaning of pilgrimage
可是有一种不知進香意义的人
and can't let go of their hearts.
他的心就放不下来了
When they see that their incense and candles have not been completely burned.
看见人家把他拿来的香烛没有点完 没有点光
They become unhappy.
他就心里不开心了
There was a pilgrim who came from a distant place to visit the mountain temple.
有一个远道而来朝山的香客
He was rich, and bought large candles
因为他很有钱 所以买来的供燭相当的大
that weighed around fifty to sixty catties a pair
差不多有五六十斤一对
When he arrived at the temple
他到前寺進香時
it was crowded with many people coming to worship
正是进香的人最多的时候
and the candle master was busy lighting candles for the pilgrims.
香燈師忙着为香客点蜡烛 真是忙得不亦乐乎啊
The pilgrim asked the candle master to light his pair of large candles
这位香客把他的一对大蜡烛
but soon after
请香灯师点起来 刚插在燭台不久
other pilgrims arrived and the candle master had to light their candles
又有其他的香客将燭送来 叫香燈師去点
so the pair of large candles were extinguished
所以就把这位香客的一对大蜡烛熄下来了
and left unlit.
擱放著没点
and continue lighting the candles of the other pilgrims
再点其他的香客的燭
The pilgrim was very dissatisfied and accused the monks
因此 这位施主就大大的不满意寺中的和尚
of being greedy
就说 和尚贪心
intentionally not lighting his candles and keeping them to sell for money
有意把他这一对大燭不肯点 存下来卖钱
In anger, he took his young son and left the temple.
一怒之下 就带着随来的小儿子回去了
Unexpectedly
哪知这个爱子
the beloved son fell ill and died on the way home.
不幸在半途得病死了
The man had no choice but to buy a coffin
这位先生也就无可奈何的买了一口棺材
put his son inside, and bring him home for burial
把他的爱子装进去 带回家中埋葬
But when he arrived home he was surprised to see
哪知一到家中看见
his supposedly deceased child come out to greet him
这个已死的小孩子出来接他
He was stunned by this strange turn of events.
这一来把他愣住了
The child had clearly died on the way back from the pilgrimage
明明这个孩子同我去进香 在半途死去了呀
so how could he be alive and well now?
为什么又活在人世 仍然未死呢
This was truly an extraordinary story.
这真可说是千古奇闻了
The man mustered up his courage and asked
因此大着胆子问道
"Didn't you follow me to Mount Putuo for pilgrimage?
你不是随我去普陀山进香了吗
Why are you here at home now?"
为什么现在又在家里呢
His son replied, "That day
儿子回答他说 那天随爸爸回来
when we left the mountain gate, I didn't know where you went
一走出山门外 就不知道爸爸去哪了
I searched for you for a long time but couldn't find you.
我寻了好久 还是找不到你
Then, I met an old man who brought me back home.
正好遇见了一个老人 承他把我送回来了
I have been back for several days now."
我回来已经好几天了呢
His father was at a loss
他的爸爸如同雲裡霧裡的摸不到头脑了
obviously his son had died
明明这个孩子已经死了
as he had personally put the child into the coffin.
是我亲手把他放进棺中的
He couldn't believe that his son had come back to life and return earlier
不知他从什么时候活转过来的呢 还在我前面到家
He can't quite believe it
有点不太相信了
and suspected that he had turned into a ghost to haunt him.
恐怕这小孩是变成小鬼来作祟我的
Without much thought, he decided to open the coffin
不管三七二十一 先把带回来的棺材
that way, he can get to the conclusion
打开来看看 那时便見分曉了
He asked someone to open the coffin in front of him
当面叫人把棺材
Open it up and have a look
打开来一看
and to his surprise, instead of the child's corpse
哪知棺材里已经不是放孩子的死尸了
there were two large candles in it.
竟变成了一对大蜡烛
It was as if it was a magic trick
这好像變戲法一样的有趣
and on the pair of candles, there were eight big characters that read
在那对蜡烛上 还現出八个大字
"You came with insincere intentions, and so it has been returned to its original place."
”来意不誠 退回原处“
This incident made the gentleman feel ashamed and guilty.
这一来可把这位先生弄得既慚又愧
He knelt down and prayed insuppressible
跪下来就拜禱不止
It was the manifestation of Guanyin Bodhisattva
原来这是观音菩萨顯聖
Since then, every year
从此以后 每年
He bought big candles and went to Mount Putuo to offer incense.
都买很大的蜡烛到普陀山去进香了
He would no longer argue with the monks about whether to light candles or not.
再也不和香燈师们争论 要点蜡烛不点蜡烛了
The true purpose of offering incense is
真正的進香
to awaken our dormant wisdom
是要唤醒自己沉睡的觉性
generate bodhicitta, and dedicate ourselves to benefiting others.
发菩提心 奉献大众
Wisdom and the fragrance of our heart blend together
觉性与心香相融
Just as the Chapter on Great Power Bodhisattva's Perfect Liberation of
正像大勢至菩萨念佛圓通章
Chanting Buddha name
所云
"Like a person who dyes fragrance, his body exudes fragrance
”如染香人 身有香气
and this is called the adornment of incense light."
此则名曰香光庄严“
This story tells us the true purpose of offering incense
这个故事就告诉我们 我们上香的目的到底是什么
It is not about how much money we spend
并不是我们花了多少钱
or whether we get to be the first to offer incense
是否抢了头香
Those things are not important.
这些都不重要
The most important thing is to light the incense of our heart
其实最重要的 点燃我们的心香
offer incense with a sincere heart, and pay respects to the Buddha
至誠心去上香 礼拜敬佛
This generates the greatest blessings.
这个福报是最大
I hope everyone can benefit from this
希望大家都能从中受益
and know how to offer incense properly in the future
知道我们今后怎样進香了
That's all for today's video
好了 今天的视频就分享到这里
Thank you for watching.
感恩大家的收看
Forward to promote dharma transmission and alms
看后转发 弘扬法布施
If you like, please click praise at thumb up and subscribe
喜欢 请点赞订阅
We will see you next time, Namo Amitabha
我们下期再见 南無阿弥陀佛
