守護天使 - Guardian Angels

 

盈珍攝影 - Ying Chen photography 

我們降生此世

需經歷的學習，成長過程

都會有上天的守護神靈，天使，

佛，菩薩給予我們護佑引導，

其發出的意念我們必能收到⋯

或許我們會以為那是自己的想法。

當我們在面臨抉擇的關鍵時刻，

突然腦海會浮現一個指示

（如同手機或電視突然插播快訊 ）

我曾經有這種奇妙的靈感。

善良正直

能感召善良正面的守護天使指引。

不善的惡念惡行

則會感召負面惡靈的誤導。

When we incarnate into this world, 

our journey of learning and growth

is always blessed and guided by spiritual guardians, angels, 

Buddhas, and Bodhisattvas.

We will definitely receive the thoughts 

they emit... 

we might even think they are our own.

At critical moments of decision-making,

a directive suddenly flashes through 

our mind, 

just like a breaking news alert interrupting 

a program on a phone or TV. 

I have experienced this kind of wondrous inspiration before.

A kind and upright heart summons the guidance of benevolent guardian angels.

Conversely, wicked thoughts and evil deeds invoke the misdirection of malevolent spirits.

父親與金剛經 - My father and The Diamond Sutra

 

盈珍攝影 - Ying Chen photography

 

當我看到金剛經

總會憶起父親。

因為金剛經是他最喜閱讀的經書。

之前的他沒有任何宗教信仰。

只信倫理、儒學。

仰不愧於天，俯不怍於人，

這是他做人處事的原則。

尤其看到不少人在教堂或道場之外的行為

南轅北轍，

令個性剛直的父親無法認同。

直到七十歲退休後

生活平靜悠閑。

回首檢視人生，

閱讀許多書籍。

也向我借了一些佛書。

其中「金剛經」

令他頗有必得。

看透人生，無欲則剛，

學佛心志更堅定。

看到父親時時刻刻

都在唸「阿彌陀佛」

虔誠謙和、行善助人的日常

令我感動萬分。

感謝佛恩。

Whenever I see the Diamond Sutra, 

I am always reminded of my father. 

It was his favorite scripture to read.

Previously, he did not hold any religious beliefs; he believed only in ethics and Confucianism. 

His guiding principle in life was to live 

with a clear conscience, 

with nothing to be ashamed of before heaven or earth.

These were his principles of conduct. 

He especially couldn't stand how many people behaved in ways that were completely contradictory outside of the church or temple, 

which his upright and straightforward nature simply wouldn't let him accept.

Upon retiring at age of seventy,

a peaceful and leisurely life began.

In reflecting on the journey of life, 

many books were read, 

and some Buddhist texts were even borrowed from me.

Among them, The Diamond Sutra 

gave him a lot of insights.

He realized 

the impermanence of life,

and “ A person without selfish desires has an upright and unwavering stance. “

His determination to study Buddhism became even firmer.

I saw my father was reciting "Amitabha" 

all the time. 

His daily life of piety, humility, 

and helping others through good deeds

moved me immensely. 

Deeply grateful for the Buddha's grace.

 

金剛經 - The Diamond Sutra（Vajracchedikā Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra）

 

盈珍筆記 - Ying Chen notes

淨空法師講金剛經

提示我們 -

「 逆境現前、被人傷害、毀謗⋯

不要怨恨，

要唸阿彌陀佛，

（ 轉念 - 傷我的人在為我消業障 ）

產生嗔恨心是業障現前。

念金剛經、

念阿彌陀佛

可助我們放下，轉念

則消業障，增福慧。」

我理解其實人生在世經歷的苦難、

被傷害，

如果能忍辱、𠄘受、放下，

必能生智慧。

有助於認清事實真象，

也就不再將那些虛假、染汚的人事物

放在心上。

心中將有更多清淨的空間。

金剛經中的「應無所住，而生其心 」

（ 心不執著於任何人事物或情緒，

而生起清淨、慈悲與智慧的本心 ）

讀誦只是修福，

真正受持（持守戒律）

才能有所感應。

金剛經總結的四句偈 -

一切有為法

如夢幻泡影

如露亦如電

應作如是觀 

意涵世間萬物，有如夢境、幻影、

朝露與閃電般無常。

以此智慧看待得失，

我們的心就能獲得真正的

自在與解脫。

The Diamond Sutra -

explaining by Venerable Master Chin Kung -

《 When facing adversity, 

or when harmed and slandered 

by others, 

do not harbor hatred. 

Instead, recite “Amitabha”

Transform your mind with this thought :

the person who harms me is actually helping me eliminate my karmic obstacles. 》

Generating hatred and resentment is a sign that one’s karmic obstacles have menifested.

Chanting the Diamond Sutra and mindfully reciting “Amitabha”

can assist us in letting go. 

Shifting our thoughts dissolves karmic obstacles, 

thereby cultivating blessings and wisdom.

I realize that if we can bear, embrace, 

and let go of the hardships and pain 

inflicted upon us in life,

wisdom will surely blossom.

It helps us see things as they truly are, freeing us from dwelling on deceptive and toxic people or situations. 

In doing so, we create a much cleaner 

and more peaceful space within our hearts.

The core sentence of 

The Diamond Sutra :

"Abiding nowhere, 

the awakened mind arises"

( The mind does not cling to any person, thing, or emotion, and thus gives rise to the original mind of purity, compassion, and wisdom. )

Reading and chanting only cultivates blessings, 

but truly upholding and practicing it (keeping the precepts) brings spiritual response and resonance.

Four sentences for summarizing 

of The Diamond Sutra :

“ All conditioned phenomena -

are like a dream, an illusion, 

a bubble, a shadow.

Like a drop of dew, or a flash of lightning.

One should contemplate them in this way. “

It implies that all things in this world 

are as impermanent as dreams, 

illusions, morning dew, and flashes of lightning.

By viewing gain and loss through this lens 

of wisdom, 

our minds can attain true freedom and liberation.