萬善同歸集 2.62

2.62

「至於寶炬、蘇燈，續命供佛，遂乃恒增智焰、常曜身光；因正果圓，行成業就。故賊人偶挑殘焰，天眼長明；貧女因獻微燈，佛階遙記。《華嚴經》云：『又放光明名照曜，映蔽一切諸天光；所有暗障靡不除，普為眾生作饒益。此光覺悟一切眾，令執燈明供養佛；以燈供養諸佛故，得成世中無上燈。然諸油燈及蘇燈，亦然種種諸明炬；眾香妙藥上寶燭，以是供養獲此光。』《普廣經》云：『然燈供養，照諸幽冥；苦痛眾生，蒙此光明，得互相見。緣此福德，拔彼眾生，悉得休息。』《施燈功德經》云：『佛告舍利弗：「若人於塔廟施燈明已，臨命終時，得見四種光明：一者、臨終見於日輪圓滿涌出。二者、見淨月輪圓滿涌出。三者、見諸天眾一處而坐。四者、見於如來正遍知，坐菩提樹，垂得菩提；自見己身尊重如來，合十指掌恭敬而住。」』

"As for precious torches and ghee lamps, which prolong life and make offerings to the Buddha, they consequently constantly increase the flame of wisdom and ever illumine the bodily light; the causes being correct and the fruits complete, the practice is accomplished and the karma fulfilled. Therefore, a thief by chance trimmed a dying flame, and his divine eye was ever clear; a poor woman offered a tiny lamp, and was prophesied from afar to attain the stages of Buddhahood. The Avataṃsaka Sūtra says: 'Further, emitting a radiant light called Illumination, which outshines all the lights of the devas; all obscurities and hindrances are completely eliminated, universally benefiting sentient beings. This light awakens all beings, leading them to hold lamps and make offerings to the Buddha; because they offer lamps to the Buddhas, they succeed in becoming the unexcelled lamp in the world. Lighting oil lamps and ghee lamps, as well as various bright torches, exquisite incense, marvelous medicine, and supreme precious candles—making offerings with these, they obtain this light.' The Puguang Sūtra says: 'Lighting lamps and making offerings illuminates all the dark realms; suffering sentient beings, receiving this light, are able to see one another. Relying on this merit, those sentient beings are pulled out and all find rest.' The Sūtra on the Merits of Offering Lamps says: 'The Buddha told Śāriputra: "If a person has offered lamps in a stūpa or temple, when his life is about to end, he will see four kinds of light: First, at the verge of death, he sees the solar disc rising full. Second, he sees the pure lunar disc rising full. Third, he sees the celestial host sitting together in one place. Fourth, he sees the Tathāgata, the Fully Enlightened One, sitting under the Bodhi tree about to attain bodhi; and he sees his own body respecting the Tathāgata, placing his ten fingers together in reverence."'"}, kindness, and reverently remaining so.'"