慈悲道場懺法 8.45

8.45

今日道場同業大眾！相與已為父母親緣禮佛竟，次復應念師長恩德虔誠禮佛。何以故爾？父母雖復生育我等，不能令我速離惡趣。師長於我恩德無量，大慈獎諭恒使修善，願出生死到於彼岸，每事利益令得見佛，除煩惱結永處無為。如此至德誰能上報？若能終身行道，正可自利非報師恩。故佛言：善知識者莫過師長，既能自度亦復度人。相與今日稟得出家、受具足戒，此之重恩從師長得，豈不人人追念此恩。相與至心等一痛切五體投地，奉為和上、阿闍梨、同壇尊證、上中下座各及眷屬，歸依世間大慈悲父。

Today, members of the assembly sharing this karmic endeavor in the bodhimaṇḍa! Together we have already paid homage to the Buddhas on behalf of our parents and relatives; next, we should again remember the benevolence and virtue of teachers and elders and devoutly pay homage to the Buddhas. Why is this? Though parents give birth to and raise us, they cannot cause us to swiftly leave the evil destinies. Our teachers and elders have measureless kindness toward us, using great compassion to encourage and instruct us, constantly causing us to cultivate goodness, wishing that we transcend birth and death to reach the other shore, benefiting us in every matter so that we may see the Buddha, eradicate the bonds of affliction, and forever abide in the unconditioned. Who could fully repay such supreme virtue? Even if one were to practice the Way for one's whole life, that would merely be of benefit to oneself and not the repayment of the teacher's kindness. Therefore, the Buddha said: 'Among kalyāṇamitras, none surpasses a teacher or elder; they can both save themselves and also save others.' Today we have received permission to leave household life and have received the full precepts; such heavy kindness was obtained from our teachers and elders. How could each of us not remember this kindness? Together, with utmost sincerity and an equal sense of poignant urgency, casting our five limbs to the ground, on behalf of our upādhyāyas, ācāryas, fellow-platform certifying witnesses, and elder, middle, and junior monks, along with their respective retinues, let us take refuge in the Great Compassionate Father of the World.