人天共欽的聖誕A Holy Birthday Celebrated by Mankind & the Heavens

 

吾曾說過在這世上根本不應該慶祝生日，因爲我們的生日其實是我們母親的痛苦日。但也有例外的時候，比如説這個人是為社會、為國家、為人類而貢獻，這樣的人慶祝生日便特別有意義。但更加例外的是，那個人是修行人，修成正果，而再再為一切衆生謀取福利。而吾所指的這一類的人當中，有一位是吾本身非常非常敬重而學習的榜樣，祂就是所有佛教徒都認識，鼎鼎大名的南無地藏王菩薩是也。

地藏王菩薩的宏願

這尊菩薩跟南無觀世音菩薩，和世間的衆生非常非常有緣。有讀過祂經典《地藏王菩薩本願經》 的人都知道，祂再再地提倡孝道，也告訴我們因果不昧的事情。那你可知道祂爲了我們而寧願處在一個非常濁臭的地方來渡化衆生嗎？祂發的願是「地獄不空，誓不成佛」。你想想看，地獄如何能空呢？如果地獄一天不空，祂永遠就處在那裏，永遠不願成佛。這種願我們稱之爲宏願。你會發這種願嗎？

見聞地藏王菩薩的八种利益

因此這尊菩薩跟南無大慈大悲觀世音菩薩是完全一樣的，祂們的願都是一樣的。所以，在這來臨的農曆七月三十日（陽曆2015年9月12日），就是南無大願地藏王菩薩的聖誕。你可知道嗎？連祂的佛辰都不是每年都有，而是隔兩三年才有。祂依然把自己放在最後，在七月的最後一天。經中有記載，如果妳這一世已經很厭倦女兒身，來世不願再受女兒身的苦如生育的苦，生理的苦，社會身份地位的苦，妳可以供養祂、瞻禮祂、持祂的聖號心咒，來世就一定能得男兒身。而在這一世，你所生的子女，都會是大智慧，在人間，都是大學生、高學歷者等，而且很聰慧。瞻禮祂、持祂的佛號和心咒，在經中都有清楚說明能得十大利益。吾就擧幾個例子，有 ：

一，氣宇昂轩，

二，夜夢安甜，

三，官訟牽纏能夠立解，

四，非人遠離，

五，衣食豐足，

六，體力充沛，等等等。

菩薩聖誕持咒念聖號功德增倍！

因此，在這來臨的星期五，南無大願地藏王的聖誕，如果在家中有祂的法相卡，你們可以請出來，沐浴齋戒，或者最起碼，洗手漱口洗臉淨身，然後恭唸祂的聖號，「南無地藏王菩薩」，1080遍或最少108遍，迴向給妳你的歷代先祖、過世的親人、你自己，又或者你的親朋慼友目前不幸在醫院或在病中療養。這些都可以一一迴向，能夠病情轉輕，能夠出院，又或者病情立解。

不要忘了這難得的佳日。它不是每一年都有。也請你們多多去了解南無大願地藏王菩薩的宏願。大家都一樣地發出你内心最懇切的菩提心，為你自己也好，為你的子女後代也好，為你的祖先也好，每一個人都能夠蒙到這福利。祝福大家早日有所成就，早日離苦得樂。南無阿彌陀佛。

I have said before that in this mortal world, birthdays should not be celebrated because that is the day our own mothers suffered greatly to give birth to us. But there are exceptions to this. For example, we should celebrate people who contributed positively to their society, country or mankind on the whole. There is an even more special exception to be made, and that is for spiritual cultivators who have achieved Enlightenment, and continuously bring benefits to all sentient beings. Among this group of extraordinary individuals, there is One whom I have immense respect for and who is my role model. He is One whom all Buddhists are familiar with: the famed Namo Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva.

The Great Vow

Along with Namo Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva (or more commonly known as Guan Yin Bodhisattva), Namo Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva has a very deep affinity with the sentient beings. Those who read His Sutra would know that He advocates the virtue of filial piety, and emphasizes that no one is spared from the long arms of Karma. And do you know that He chose to deliver salvation to sentient beings in the most filthy of places, and made the Great Vow of “not attaining Buddhahood unless Hell is completely emptied of suffering beings”! Think about it, how can the Hell ever be empty? If there are still suffering beings in Hell, this great Bodhisattva will forever be there and not attain Buddhahood. We would name such a vow as a Great Vow. Would you make such a vow?

8 Benefits of Paying Homage to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva 

Thus both Namo Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva and Namo Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva are exactly the same, with similar Great Vows. Come the 30th Day of the 7th Lunar Month (12 September 2015), we celebrate the birthday of Namo Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. Are you aware that His Birthday only occur once every 2 or 3 years? He always put Himself at the last, on the last day of the 7th Lunar Month. It is recorded in the Sutra that if you are tired of being a female in this lifetime, and do not want to go through again the sufferings associated with it, like child birth, monthly physiological pain, unequal society standing, etc, you can make an offering to Namo Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, pay homage to Him, and recite His name or mantra. You will achieve rebirth as a male in your next life. Furthermore, in this lifetime, your descendants shall have great wisdom and intellect, achieving high academic standing. His Sutra also states clearly the Ten Benefits of paying homage and respect to Him, as well as reciting His name and mantra.

I shall list down a few of these benefits:

1. Aristocratic appearance
2. Sound and undisturbed sleep.
3. Quick resolution of legal troubles
4. Protection from the non-humans
5. Abundance of food and clothing
6. Physical vitality, etc.

Multiply Your Merits When You Recite His Name or Mantra on His Birthday!

Thus, in this upcoming birthday of Namo Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, you can do this at home: Take out the pictorial card of the Bodhisattva (if you have one), cleanse yourself in a bath and observe the vegetarian precept, or at least wash your face and gargle your mouth. After which you can respectfully recite the name of Namo Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, “南無地藏王菩薩 (Namo Ti Zang Wang Pu Sa)”, for a total of 1080 times or at least 108 times, and dedicate the merits to your ancestors, deceased relatives, yourself, or your friends or relatives who are ill or hospitalized. The merits will enable them to recover from the illnesses and be discharged from the hospital.

Do not miss out on this auspicious day as it is hard to come by. It does not occur every year. I also invite you to have a greater understanding on the Great Vows of Namo Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. Everyone can radiate the most sincere bodhicitta from your hearts, for your own benefits, as well as those of your descendants and ancestors. Everyone can attain this benefits. I wish everyone to achieve Enlightenment as soon as possible, be liberated from all sufferings and enjoy eternal bliss. Namo Amithaba.