⊙摩訶菩提薩埵：摩訶譯作「大」，菩提譯作「道」，薩埵譯作「心」，即大道心。
⊙發菩薩心者，求廣博大道，又成熟眾生。
⊙「隨順行大道，具六波羅密，今見釋師子，其後當作佛，號名曰彌勒，廣度諸眾生，其數無有量。」《法華經序品第一》
⊙釋師子：釋尊的德號。因佛在三界之中無畏自在，好像獸中的師子王。
⊙彌勒菩薩：華譯為慈氏，現住在兜率天內院，是一生補處菩薩。
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【證嚴上人開示】
學佛，希望我們能發大心、立大願，自利、利他、自覺、覺他，這是我們修行者應該人人所擁有一念的道心。
說「大道心」，我們常常在唸「摩訶菩提薩埵」，叫做大道心。摩訶譯作「大」，菩提就是「道」，薩埵就是「心」。我們將(它)翻譯為我們的中文，那個意思就是大道心。
摩訶菩提薩埵：
摩訶譯作「大」
菩提譯作「道」
薩埵譯作「心」
即大道心
尤其是發菩薩心的人，我們一定要有「求廣博大道，又成熟眾生」。這叫做自利，也同時利他。
發菩薩心者
求廣博大道
又成熟眾生
在修行的過程，就是求廣博的大道。就如我們在開路，從無路開到有路，明知起點到終點，這個路的方向，我們就要開始用功來開路。
光開自己能過的(路)，這樣也是要付出一番功夫，不如同時把它開大一點，我們前面走過，我們鋪過的路，後面還能讓更多人，同時來走這條路，能走得安全又迅速，能到達我們所期求佛的覺道，這個目標。
所以我們修行者，就好像開路的人，所以發菩薩心者，求廣博大道，所要追求的是很廣、很深，這廣博深遠的大道，我們就是要發大心、立大願才做得到。不只是我們自己能到達那個終點，同時也能成就別人。所以成就，能成熟眾生，自己成就，同時也能讓別人成就。
就如我們說過，雖然修行中路途遙遠，有時候，道心若是沒照顧好，懈怠，「棄捨所習誦，廢忘不通利」。修行，我們若沒有好好用心，自然道業就會荒廢掉，若荒廢掉，道理我們就無法通達。
所以因為這樣，在妙光菩薩八百弟子中，有一位名字叫做求名，就只是在求名，多遊族姓家，就是棄捨所習誦，這就是懈怠者。但是他就是「亦行眾善業，得見無數佛」。也就是要說，這一念心還是善，對人還是很廣結善緣，也是同樣「供養無數佛」，供養很多佛，對佛、對菩薩、對法，還是很恭敬。也是懂得與人隨喜，隨喜叫做功德。「隨順行大道」，大道就是發菩提心，也就是大道心。
即使是過去的修行者，難免也有這樣的，棄捨所習誦的人，這種廢忘不通利的人。但是，他就是有這分堅定的道心。不知道大家能夠了解嗎？有的人會覺得，他就是懈怠，也就是貪求利養，怎麼還有這個因緣能這樣，見那麼多佛呢？這應該就是，本性人人本具，這念道心、本性還是在，從久以來就是這麼尊重、這麼恭敬，而且還是隨順，隨順佛陀的教法，他聽進去、他認同、他相信，只是那個習氣就是懈怠。
這是要教育我們，修行者要時時提高警覺，不要有一點點的散失，讓我們的習氣又浮現出來。在大菩薩是現相人間，在做教示、警惕的形象。所以我們有說過了，若是凡夫，初修行的人，若是要發心修行，道心若不堅固，懈怠，或者是貪求，這在末法中是一種污行。污染，污染修行的團體。
我們要修的行就是清淨行，不要認為經文裡都有這樣的菩薩了，為什麼還有機會能在這麼大的團體中呢？向大家說，這位菩薩他來扮演的(角色)，就是要向大家說，不要懈怠。修行團體中，大家都這麼精進，其中只要有一位，這種的懈怠、貪著，情、戒等等不清淨，也就是污穢行，這是一種警惕大家。人生舞臺，菩薩也是在人生舞臺來扮演人生的形態，所以這是一種現形教化。
在這段經文，很擔心有的人，慈悲，凡事都要包容。對，包容就是我們學佛中，「慈無量」，有很大無量。但是，在人間法裡要有規則，所以佛陀就開規戒。有了犯，犯錯就是要「懺摩」，要懂得懺悔，僧團中叫做懺摩，要叫他要及時回頭，要叫他趕緊懺悔，改過自新，這才是叫做慈悲。
人人真的要自我警惕，將自己的道心照顧好，不要這樣不守戒、不守規。這種犯戒、犯規，就是一種污穢行。發菩提心就是大菩提道，就是大覺道，這條大路，我們要好好用心向前開(路)，用心向前走。不要開了岔路，這樣會迷失掉，一念差，就是事事錯。所以這念心很重要。
所以我們大家要好好，犯錯要及時改過，這樣才真的能「隨順行大道，具六波羅蜜」，「今見釋師子，其後當作佛，號名曰彌勒，廣度諸眾生，其數無有量。」
隨順行大道
具六波羅密
今見釋師子
其後當作佛
號名曰彌勒
廣度諸眾生
其數無有量
《法華經序品第一》
這段經文就說，因為過去那位求名菩薩，後來他也是能隨順大家的修行，他的善根也是具足，同時他也懂得行六波羅蜜，那就是行菩薩道。具足六波羅蜜之後，「今見釋師子」。「釋師子」，這就是佛陀，釋迦牟尼佛的德號。佛在三界之中無畏自在，好像獸中之獅子。
釋師子：
釋尊的德號
因佛在三界之中
無畏自在
好像獸中的師子王
獅子就是眾獸之王。在森林中，大樹林裡，各種各種飛禽走獸都有。所以在這麼大的叢林裡，所有的生物都在裡面，但是唯有獅子就是最被尊重，也是所有的動物，若聽到獅子吼的時候，大家都很畏懼。因為獅子在森林中的威力強大，所以將釋迦佛比喻為在山林中眾獸之王，所以叫做「釋師子」，是一種比喻。
(佛陀)在人群中智慧之上，(獅子)在叢林中是眾獸之王。三界之中是智慧之上，三界導師、四生慈父，所以釋迦牟尼佛的尊稱、德號，簡稱叫做「釋師子」，是一種尊重的意思。
尤其是這位求名菩薩，最後一定會作佛。所以，那時候的妙光菩薩弟子中的這位弟子，是現在釋迦佛弟子中即將接受釋迦佛授記。文殊菩薩是這樣說的。所以，「其後當作佛，號名曰彌勒，廣度諸眾生」。未來他也能成佛，名字叫做彌勒，將來也能度很多眾生，其數是無有量。
彌勒菩薩，我們大家都知道，「當來下生彌勒尊佛」，這也是佛教徒都了解的。現在彌勒菩薩在哪裡呢？現在就是在兜率天宮。彌勒菩薩，將它翻作慈氏，就是他的心量很大很大，那個慈悲的心很大。我們剛才有說，他廣結很多好緣，做很多善事，這是這位菩薩的特別(處)。
記得我們過去曾經說過，二尊菩薩之中，一人是專修智慧，另外一尊是專修慈悲。專修智慧的，那就是彌勒菩薩，專修慈悲，那就是釋迦牟尼佛。一位是專門為自己求智慧， 一位是不顧自己，完全用愛心在付出。所以，一位因緣已成熟，所以他能提早成佛；一位只是自己，為自己，所以他修行，他成佛的時間，眾生緣還不夠，所以還要再等，再等未來才能成佛。這就是要眾生緣具足才能成佛。
這個時候，彌勒菩薩開始補(修)慈，所以在兜率天宮，叫做兜率天的內院，那就是菩薩的道場，很多菩薩在那裡和彌勒菩薩共修，如何能完成這個慈。
大家會想，天堂不是很快樂？在那麼快樂的地方，要如何修慈心呢？雖然，現在他是在兜率天宮彌勒內院，其實時時在人間在度化眾生，所以來人間就是他的功課，現在他是在彌勒內院。
彌勒菩薩：
華譯為慈氏
現住在兜率天內院
是一生補處菩薩
可見彌勒菩薩，現在他是在兜率天宮。兜率天宮的意思是，內心完全發菩薩心，現在都是在菩薩的道場中，這樣在修行，所以專修慈悲行。
我們若再想想，兜率天宮又另外一個地方，向你們說，兜率天宮就是菩薩的道場。人人都有個兜率天，人人都有菩薩的道場。你顯出了慈悲，那就是未來成佛的補處的菩薩。(也)就是說，你愈是慈悲，機會愈多。這位彌勒菩薩同樣來到人間，同樣投入在苦難中的人群中，在做救濟的工作。所以他的名字叫做彌勒，彌勒翻譯是「慈」。
我們學佛，四無量心，慈字為第一，慈、悲、喜、捨，所以在培養這個慈悲心，眾生緣要具足。常常說，未成佛前，先結好人緣。若要結好人緣，就是這個慈，這個慈心。
「亦行眾善業」，才能「得見無數佛」。用佛心看人，人人都是佛。我們若能時時培養慈心，慈心就是「無緣大慈」，和誰，跟我們無關無係，我們就是要讓他歡喜，我們就是要如何，和他結一分好緣，這就是菩薩。人人心中都有菩薩心，菩薩要啟開無緣大慈，任何一個人，我們都要和他結好緣，這叫做慈，慈氏。兜率天宮是在我們的內心裡。是一生補處菩薩，再來，接下來就是彌勒菩薩成為彌勒佛。這是文殊菩薩他佛陀，在釋迦牟尼佛入定的期間來敘述，敍述在日月燈明佛的時代，有這樣的菩薩。這種菩薩，他就是在這種環境中也曾經過了很長的時間，有失念過，但是很快又和大家結很多好緣，所以他未來能成佛，所度的是無量眾。因為結很多的好緣，人人看了歡喜，聽到接受。
所以，和人結好緣，每一句話都是法；結不好緣，每一句話都是是非。這是我常常向大家說的話。沒有度眾生，沒有好因緣，絕對無法成佛。所以大家要時時多用心。
Explanations by Master Cheng-Yan
Subject: Extensively Create Good Karmic Connections (廣結善緣 行菩薩道)
Date: November. 21. 2013
As we learn the Buddha’s Way, I hope we can make great aspirations and vows, benefit ourselves and others, and awaken ourselves and others. These are the spiritual aspirations that we, as spiritual practitioners, must have. We often chant the word “Mahabodhisattva,” which means “mind of great enlightenment”. Maha means “big”. Bodhi means “enlightenment”. Sattva means “mind”. So, this word means “mind of great enlightenment”. In particular, those who develop Bodhicitta must “seek a wide and great path and help bring sentient beings to maturity.”
This is how we benefit the self and others simultaneously. In the process of spiritual cultivation, we seek a wide and great path. This is like building a road from nothing. We clearly know its beginning and end, and its course, then we work hard to build it. Just building the road for one person already requires a lot of effort, so why not make it wider at the same time? Then the road that we have walked and paved, can also be taken by many other people. The journey will be safe and swift, and it will lead us to our goad of attaining the Buddha’s enlightenment.
Therefore, we spiritual practitioners are like trailblazers. Those who make Bodhisattva-aspirations seek a wide path, which can be very broad and profound. We can only achieve this by making great aspirations and vows. Not only can we arrive at the finish line ourselves, we can also help others accomplish this. Thus, we help bring sentient beings to maturity. We achieve success while helping others do the same.
As I have mentioned, the path of spiritual cultivation is long. Sometimes, if we do not take good care of our hearts and become lax, we will “cast aside recitations, neglect, forget and fail to comprehend them.” If we do not make an effort to practice, our Dharma-cultivation will decay. Then we will be unable to clearly understand the principles.
Because of this, among Wondrous Light Bodhisattva’s 800 disciples, the one called Seeker of Fame only looked for recognition. He often visited the heads of great clans and cast aside the recitations. Thus he was lax. “Yet he also practiced many good deeds so he could meet countless Buddhas.” This tells us that as long as a person has a good heart and extensively creates good karmic connections, he can still “make offerings to countless Buddhas.”He still showed great respect to the Buddha, Bodhisattvas and the Dharma.He also knew to rejoice in others’ good deeds, which is a merit.“Accordingly, he walked the great path.”The great path leads to developing Bodhicitta, the mind of great enlightenment.Even among spiritual practitioners in the past, inevitably were there who cast off their recitations and neglected, forgot and failed to comprehend them.But he still had a firm spiritual aspiration.
Do you all understand this?Some people may wonder how, if he was lax and craved fame and wealth, he could still have the karmic conditions to meet all these Buddhas.
This is because of the intrinsic nature in us all.His spiritual aspiration, his intrinsic nature, was still there.For a very long time, he had been very respectful and had been following the Buddha’s teachings.He listened, identified with and believed, but his habitual tendency was laziness.This teaches us that we spiritual practitioners must always heighten our vigilance.We cannot make any tiny missteps that will enable our habitual tendencies to resurface.
Great Bodhisattvas manifest in this world as guides and reminders.So as I have said before, as ordinary people, when we first resolve to begin spiritual practice, if we are not firm in our spiritual aspiration and become lazy or greedy, that is defiled conduct in the Era of Dharma-degeneration.This taints our spiritual community.
What we are cultivation are purifying practices.[Look at] this Bodhisattva in the sutras.
Why did he still have the opportunity to be part of this group?Let me tell you, this Bodhisattva’s role was to teach us that we cannot be lax.If everyone in this group was diligent and only one person was lax, greedy and [behaved improperly], this defiled conduct served as a warning to everyone.Human life is played out on a stage.
Bodhisattvas are playing roles on this stage.So, this is how they teach through manifestations.
Based on this passage.I worry that some people are so compassionate that they allow everything.It is true that as we learn Buddha’s Way, we learn to have infinite compassion and be very accommodating.But there are still rules for living in this world.
So, the Buddha developed precepts.When we violate them, we must practice “ksama,” which means repentance.We must ask others to immediately turn around.By asking them to swiftly repent, they can correct their mistakes and start anew.This is truly showing compassion.We must all be self-vigilant and take care of our spiritual aspirations.We must uphold precepts and follow the rules.If we violate precepts and rules, those are acts of defilement.
Developing Bodhicitta is walking the great Bodhi-path, the path to great enlightenment.
We must make an effort to forge this great road.By walking mindfully, we will not create side roads that lead us to become lost.One deviate thought will lead us far astray, so our mindset is very importantSo after we make mistakes, we must promptly change our way.
Then we cantruly “[walk] the great path and perfect the Six Paramitas” Next, “now that he has met the Sakyan Lion, he will become a Buddha later. His name will be Maitreya, and he will widely transform sentient beings in numbers beyond calculation”.
This passage of the sutra states that because Seeker of Fame Bodhisattva had followed everyone in spiritual cultivation, he was replete with roots of goodness and practiced the Six Paramitas. That is walking the Bodhisattva-path. After perfecting the Six Paramitas, “now he has met the Sakyan Lion”. The Sakyan Lion is the Buddha and is an epithet of virtue for Sakyamuni Buddha. The Buddha is fearless and at east in the Three Realms. So, He was like a lion, the king of all beasts.
A lion is the king of all beasts.In the forests, there are many different animals. A big jungle may contain all kinds of living beings. The lion is the most respected. So when the animals hear the lion's roar, they are very fearful. Because the lion is most powerful in the jungle, we describe Sakyamuni Buddha as the king of beasts. So, He is called “the Sakyan Lion”, which is a metaphor. Among people, His wisdom is above all, like the king of all beasts in the forest. In the Three Realms, His wisdom is above all. He is Guiding Teacher of the Three Realms and Compassionate Father of the Four Forms of Birth.
So, one of Sakyamuni Buddha's virtuous epithets is “the Sakyan Lion”. This shows respect. In particular, Seeker of Fame Bodhisattva will eventually become a Buddha. So, this disciple of Wondrous Light Bodhisattva is now among the disciples of Sakyamuni Buddha and will receive a prediction of attaining Buddhahood. This is what Manjusri Bodhisattva said. So, “he will become a Buddha later. His name will be Maitreya, and he will widely transform all sentient beings”. In the future, he will become a Buddha named Maitreya, and he will be able to transform many sentient beings in numbers beyond calculation. We all know that “Maitreya Buddha will be the next Buddha”. This is what Buddhist disciples know. Where is Maitreya Bodhisattva now? He currently lives in Tusita Heaven.
Maitreya Bodhisattva is called the Loving One, meaning he has great loving-kindness. We have just mentioned that he extensively formed good karmic relationships and did many good deeds. This is what is special about this Bodhisattva. Remember what we said before? There were two Bodhisattvas, one devoted to cultivating wisdom, the other devoted to loving-kindness. The one devoted to wisdom was Maitreya, while Sakyamuni was devoted loving-kindness. One sought wisdom for himself, the other disregarded himself and gave fully out of love. So the causes and conditions for one matured first and He became a Buddha ahead of the other. The one who practiced for himself lacked karmic affinities with sentient beings, so he had to wait for his time. In the future, he will become a Buddha when he is replete with karmic affinities with sentient beings.
At this time, he began cultivating loving-kindness. So in the inner court of the Tusita Heaven, a spiritual training ground for Bodhisattvas, many Bodhisattvas are cultivating themselves there, along with Maitreya Bodhisattva, and [learning] to become replete with compassion.
Everyone may think, “Isn’t heaven a joyful place? In such joyful place, how can they cultivate living-kindness?” Although he currently lives in the inner court of Tusita Heaven, he often comes into the world to transform sentient beings. So, coming here is part of his studies, but he still resides in the Tusita inner court.
Maitreya is called the Loving One and currently resides in the inner court of Tusita Heaven. This Bodhisattva will be Buddha in his next life.
Maitreya Bodhisattva currently abides in Tusita Heaven. Tusita Heaven is a spiritual training ground for Bodhisattvas, for those who made Bodhisattva-aspirations to focus on practicing loving-kindness and compassion. If we think about this, Tusita Heaven can be anywhere. I have told you that Tusita Heaven is a Bodhisattva training ground. There is a Heaven in everyone, a Bodhisattva training ground. When we express compassion, we will be a Bodhisattva who will be a future Buddha. This is to say that the more compassionate we are, the more likely we are [to become a Buddha].
Maitreya Bodhisattva comes into the world to work on relieving the suffering of sentient beings. So, his name is Maitreya, which means “loving-kindness.” When we learn the Buddha’s Way, loving-kindness is the first of the Four Infinite Minds, followed by compassion joy and equanimity. So as we develop loving-kindness, karmic affinities with sentient beings. I often say, “Before attaining Buddhahood, first create good karmic affinities.” If we want to create good affinities, we must have loving-kindness he also did many good deeds, so he could meet countless Buddhas.”
When we look at people with a Buddha-mind, everyone is a Buddha. If we constantly nurture our unconditional loving-kindness, we will bring joy to a person even if we are not connected to that person at all.we just need to find a way to create a good karmic affinities. This is what a Bodhisattva does. Everyone has a Bodhisattva-mind. Bodhisattvas must unlock their unconditional loving-kindness and create good karmic affinities with everyone. By doing this, we ae “the loving ones.” Tusita Heaven is within our hearts, and we will be Buddhas in our next life.
Next, Maitreya Bodhisattva will be Maitreya Buddha. This was described by Manjusri Bodhisattva while Sakyamuni Buddha was in Samadhi He recalled a Bodhisattva during the time of Sun-Moon-Radiant Buddha who lived in that environment for a very long time and had lost focus for a while. But he quickly created good affinities with people so he could become a Buddha in the future. He was able to transform countless sentient beings because he had created many good affinities, so everyone became joyful when they saw him and accepted (his teachings) when they heard him.
So when we create good affinities with others, every word [we say] is the Dharma. Without create good affinities, every word we speak creates dispute. This is what I always tell everyone. Without transdorming sentient beings, we will not have good karmic affinities, and will have absolutely no way to attain Buddhahood. So, we must always be mindful.
(Source: Da Ai TV - Wisdom at Dawn program – Explanation by Master Chen-Yen)
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