慈悲道場懺法 5.20

5.20

Today, members of the assembly sharing this karmic endeavor in the bodhimaṇḍa! Enmities and adversaries pursuing one another all stem from the three karmic actions, which adorn the practitioner with all manner of bitter retributions. Since we already know that these are the root of all sufferings, we should vigorously thwart and extinguish them. The essential method for extinguishing suffering is none other than repentance; therefore the sūtras praise two types of vigorous people in the world: the first is one who does not commit sins; the second is one who can repent. Today, when the great assembly wishes to repent, they must purify their minds and adjust their deportment, harbor shame and remorse within and express sorrow outwardly. If one gives rise to two kinds of mind, then there is no sin that will not be extinguished. What are the two kinds of mind? First, shame; second, remorse. Shame is shame before heaven; remorse is remorse before human beings. One with shame can repent for oneself and extinguish all enmities and adversaries; one with remorse can instruct others to untie all fetters. One with shame can perform all wholesome deeds; one with remorse can see [the wholesome] and rejoice along with it. One with shame is internally ashamed; one with remorse discloses before others. Through these two dharmas, the practitioner can be made to attain unobstructed joy. Together today, let us give rise to great shame and remorse, perform great repentance, and with utmost sincerity seek mercy for those in the four modes of birth and six destinies. Why is this? The sūtras say: 'All sentient beings are our relatives, having at times been our parents, or having at times been our teachers and elders, and even brothers and sisters; this is true of all.' Truly because we fell into the net of ignorance, we no longer recognize one another. Since we do not recognize one another, we often give rise to offense and vexation; because of offense and vexation, enmities and adversaries are endless. As the great assembly awakens to this meaning today, with utmost sincerity, earnestness, and a painfully sharp focus of mind, let us make sure that a single thought moves the Buddhas of the ten directions, and a single prostration cuts off immeasurable enmities and adversaries. With equal poignancy, prostrating with the five limbs touching the ground, we take refuge again in the worldly Father of Great Compassion and Loving-kindness.