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恒實法師：
各位佛友，我們現在在桃園妙法寺舉行一個「護國息災大悲觀音法會」。護國息災有外邊的災難；有裏邊的災難。怎麼樣護國呢？怎麼樣息災呢？就是依賴觀世音菩薩的大悲威神力。方才念的一部《普門品》裏，有一句是：「具足神通力，廣修智方便。十方諸國土，無剎不現身。」觀世音菩薩知道眾生會有災難、橫禍；國家也需要保護，所以現出種種不同的身。現出哪一種身呢？這要看情形，看機緣。所謂「法不孤起仗境方生」，看是哪一個境界就知道是用哪一個身。
怎麼樣具足神通力呢？觀世音菩薩過去已經成佛，知道以一個佛的身體接近眾生是不容易的。因為佛那報身具足三十二相八十種隨形好，有威德，令眾生覺得太光亮，不容易接近，所以現一個菩薩身一一觀世音菩薩的身。觀世音菩薩是法身大士，所以有三十二應；種種不同的應身，看什麼時候就現什麼身。好像我們知道聖母瑪利亞一一天主教徒、基督教徒，很多人對她都有信心的一一也是觀世音菩薩現出來教化眾生的。那麼還有種種不同的身體，有大有小就看情形。
記得一九七三年在空中忽然現出來一
個掃把星，大家大約記得很多的預言家、天文家都說這個掃把星來了。有的人說很吉祥，其實現掃把星是很不吉祥，很凶惡的一件事，所以三藩市有兩個出家人就發心朝拜，每行三步就頂禮一拜，這是法界佛教總會行第一次三步一拜苦行。他們從三藩市出發拜到西雅圖，就為祈求世界和平。經一年多的苦行到了西雅圖，我們在那兒一個大公園舉行了世界和平大會，很像現在我們在桃園這兒的這個隆重的法會
。有很多人來參加，就為了世界和平祈求觀世音菩薩現身。
那時，忽然間在空中一一沒有人能解釋為什麼一一這個掃把星不接近地球了。很多人很驚奇，這個掃把星退了！不在那兒，看不見了！天文家們也莫名奇妙。過一會，在那法會上上人就解釋他說你們都不知道了，觀世音菩薩就現一個像虛空那麼大一個身體，用一隻手把那個掃把星就像個乒乓球似的給打走了，沒有了。那個時候因為很多人很誠心，感應道交就會現這麼一個護國息災的感應。我相信如果大家勇猛精進，參加現在臺灣的護國息災大悲觀音法會，也同樣會有大感應的。
恒持法師：
「慈觀悲觀喜捨觀，普度眾生化大千；有緣無緣同攝受，離苦得樂返本原。」這首偈誦是講「南無喝囉怛那哆囉夜耶」，今天我們已經念了兩百十六遍的大悲咒了。
第一句說「慈觀悲觀喜捨觀」，這是說觀音菩薩具足四無量心。這種「普度眾生化大千」，觀音菩薩用慈悲喜捨普度我們
，不過我們也要盡我們的能力。這是說觀音菩薩會令大災難變小，小災難變無，不過大家要有信心；如果本來應該有大的災難，而觀音菩薩把它變成小了，可是你心裏不信那還是不認識觀世音，所以第一我們都要具足信心。
第三句就說「有緣無緣同攝受」：有緣
的眾生就是跟觀音菩薩已經結過緣。你自己想一想，我是一個有緣的，還是一個無緣的眾生？如果是有緣，那我要增加我的緣。怎麼樣增加？就是發願；發願生生世世都要有機會禮拜恭敬供養觀世音菩薩。
如果你說：「唉！我是無緣，因為我連佛教還沒有皈依。」你也有責任；如果你要變成一個有緣的眾生，你就要發願：願我今生趕快要皈依三寶，跟觀音菩薩開始有緣。
「離苦得樂返本原」：這最後一句是最重要的。雖然我們可以祈求觀音菩薩令我們離苦得樂，我們自己要去行，才可以有感應。「行」，我們知道多少要行多少；我們知道念佛就念佛，知道拜佛就拜佛，甚至於背會全部的《華嚴經》。總而言之
我們佛教徒要有信心，要發願而去行。
恒順法師：
目前的世界問題很多，各處都有戰爭
，或者是空氣染污、水染污，大地這個土也染污了。現在各國的社會一點比一點衰落，道德倫理不行於世界。我們各處看見電視所引起的一些個問題，還有男人女人不守規矩，種種的問題都出現。我們應該迴光返照問問自己，這些個問題的來源是在什麼地方？為什麼現在那麼多的戰爭？為什麼現在道德倫理那麼低落？現在為什麼各處都染污了？總而言之，可以說所有
的這些個問題都是在每一個人的心裏，由不乾淨的思想而發作的。我們應該把它弄乾淨了。
怎麼做呢？就要修行觀音菩薩大悲的法門，或者念觀世音菩薩聖號，或者念觀音菩薩的大悲神咒，或者背誦《普門品》也好，種種不同的方法都是為了令我們的心清淨，同時也能夠與觀音菩薩有感應。因此，本人很歡喜有機會參加這次到亞洲來的訪問團，跟各位一起念〈大悲咒〉的這個法會。如果各位能努力勇猛精進清淨自己的心，相信必能令這個世界一點比一點恢復正常，恢復太平。
待續
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Dharma Master Heng Sure:
All Buddhist friends, we are now here at the Wonderful
Dharma Monastery, Taoyuan, for a Guanyin Dharma Assembly to
Protect the Nation and Quell Disasters. These disasters
include inner disasters and outer disasters. How do we
protect the nation? How do we quell disasters? We rely on
the great awesome spiritual power of Guanshiyin Bodhisattva.
One of the lines in the "Universal Door Chapter" that we
have just recited says, "Replete with the powers of
spiritual penetration, he cultivates every possible
expedient. He appears in each and every land throughout the
ten directions." Guanshiyin Bodhisattva knows that sentient
beings encounter disasters and accidents, and that nations
require protection; therefore he manifests various bodies.
What kind of a body? This depends on the situation and the
conditions. As it is said, "The Dharma doesn't emerge on its
own; it only occurs because of the circumstance." He knows
which body to use depending on the situation.
How is he replete with the powers of
spiritual penetration? Guanshiyin Bodhisattva already became
a Buddha in the past. He knows that it's difficult for
sentient beings to be close to the physical presence of a
Buddha because the Buddha's retribution body is complete
with the thirty-two hallmarks and eighty subsidiary
characteristics. His virtue is so awesome and bright that
sentient beings find it difficult to approach him. Hence, he
physically appears as a Bodhisattva- Guanshiyin Bodhisattva.
Guanshiyin Bodhisattva is a great sage with a Dharma body,
that is why he has thirty-two completely distinct response
bodies. Depending on the circumstance, he might use any one
of the response bodies. For instance, we know that the Holy
Mother Mary, in whom the Catholics and Christians have
tremendous faith, is a manifestation of Guanshiyin
Bodhisattva. She came to teach and transform sentient
beings. Guanshiyin Bodhisatttva has a number of bodies that
he can manifest. He may be big or small depending on the
situation.
I remember that the comet Kohutec had
appeared in space in 1973. Many of you might remember that
many diviners and astronomers had prophesized the coming of
this comet. Some declared that the coming of the comet was
auspicious. Actually, comets are inauspicious and
cataclysmic. Consequently, two monks from the Dharma Realm
Buddhist Association (then known as the Sino-American
Buddhist Association) made the resolve to do the first
bowing pilgrimage from San Francisco to Seattle. They bowed
once every three steps to pray for world peace. They arrived
at Seattle after more than a year's worth of hardship. We
had a World Peace Gathering at a large park there, quite
similar to this impressive and dignified Dharma Assembly at
Taoyuan now. For the sake of world peace, many people joined
together to pray for an appearance by Guanshiyin
Bodhisattva. Just as the comet was shooting toward and
getting close to earth, it suddenly reversed its course as
if it was shy. No one is able to explain the reason for
this.
Many people were surprised, "The comet
turned back! It's no longer on its way. It disappeared!" The
astronomers were dumbfounded too. After a while, the
Venerable Master explained, "You don't realize this, but
Guanshiyin Bodhisattva appeared in a body as large as space,
and with one hand, he knocked the comet away as if it were a
ping-pong ball. That's why the comet went away." Since many
people were sincere at that time, the Way and response
intertwined to protect the country and quell disasters. I
believe that if everyone is courageous and vigorous during
this Guanyin Great Compassion Dharma Assembly to Protect the
Nation and Quell Disasters here in Taiwan, there will be
similar miracles.
Dharma Master Heng Chih:
He contemplates kindly, compassionately, and with joy
and giving.
He universally saves all beings and transforms the great
universe.
He gathers in and accepts those with whom he has affinities
or no affinities.
So that everyone forsakes suffering, attains bliss, and
returns to the source.
This verse explains the line "Namo he la
dan na duo la ye ye" from the Great Compassion Mantra, which
we have recited 216 times today.
The first line says: He contemplates
kindly, compassionately, and with joy and giving.
Guanyin Bodhisattva is replete with these four
qualities of the mind. He universally saves all
beings and transforms the great universe. Guanyin
Bodhisattva saves absolutely every one of us by using
kindness, compassion, joy, and giving. Despite that, we must
try our best. This means that Guanyin Bodhisattva will turn
major disasters into minor disasters and minor disasters
will disappear. Everyone must have faith though. If Guanyin
Bodhisattva were to have changed a major calamity into a
minor one for us, and yet we do not believe it, then we
still don't know Guanshiyin. Therefore, faith is first and
foremost.
The third line: He gathers in and
accepts those with whom he has affinities or no affinities.
Those who have affinities with Guanyin Bodhisattva have had
ties with him from the past. Think about it for yourself,
"Am I someone with whom he has affinities or not?" If I have
affinities with the Bodhisattva, then I must add to my vows.
How do I add to them? I simply make vows. I must make the
vow to bow, pay respects, and make offerings to Guanshiyin
Bodhisattva in life after life. If you sigh, "I really have
no affinities. I haven't even taken refuge with Buddhism.”
In that case, you are still responsible. If you want to be
someone with whom the Bodhisattva has affinities, you must
make the vow: I vow to take refuge with the Triple Jewel
soon and in this lifetime, and start creating affinities
with Guanyin Bodhisattva.
So that everyone forsakes
suffering, attains bliss, and returns to the source.
This last line is the most important. Although we know that
we will leave suffering and attain bliss by praying to
Guanyin Bodhisattva, we must act to receive any answer to
our prayers. Practice means that we do however much we know.
If we know how to recite the Buddha's name, then we recite
the Buddha's name. If we know how to bow to the Buddhas,
then we bow to the Buddhas. If we are capable of memorizing
the entire Avatamsaka Sutra, then we should memorize the
entire Avatamsaka Sutra. In short,
Buddhists must have faith, make vows, and practice according
to their vows.
Dharma Master Heng Shun:
Today in the world, there are many, many problems. In every
part of the earth, there are wars. Our earth is polluted;
our water is polluted; and our atmosphere is polluted. Many
societies throughout the world now are succumbing to a moral
degeneration because of the advent of television,
promiscuous sex and these kinds of problems. All of us
should ask, what is the ultimate cause of the problems of
the world? Why are there wars? Why is there moral
degeneration? Why is there pollution?
Ultimately, we could say that the origin
of all these problems begins with the impurities of our
minds.
How can we make our minds pure? We can
cultivate Guanshiyin Bodhisattva's practice of great
compassion. We can recite the Great Compassion Mantra and
Guanshiyin Bodhisattva's name. We can, on the one hand,
purify our minds; and on the other, also invoke a response
from the great compassionate Bodhisattva who has great
powers to help the world.
I am very happy to be a part of this
delegation to participate in this ceremony, propagating
Guanyin Bodhisattva's name and reciting the Great Compassion
Mantra. If we really work hard together to purify our own
minds, we can truly contribute to making this world a better
place and to make this world free from all these problems.
~ To be continued
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