【莫忘初發心】(English writing below)
還有兩個鐘頭，就是「南無大慈大悲觀世音菩薩」的聖誕。
這是我2015年和我家師兄爲師父製作的影片。
當時，覺得師父持咒念佛的聲音很好聽、很莊嚴，想把這能療癒人心的聲音帶給更多眾生。
現場就用了「愛瘋」6錄製，再用同個手機做後製。
我已忘了照片是從哪來，音樂從哪取，更忘了自己如何懵懂的摸索到天明，才剪出這支片。
但那股想利益他人的傻勁，那死都要做出這影片的狠勁，到現在還記得。
以前，祇會有事沒事都往廟裡跑向菩薩求。修密後才知道，菩薩擺在桌上，不是給我們一直求籤，一直扑杯，而是啟發我們要提昇自己的心靈，洗滌自己的罪業，由凡入聖，相應菩薩的精神，和祂一樣的自在快樂。
別錯把觀世音菩薩，當搖錢樹來膜拜，那是「大財小用」。
凡夫有煩惱，就會去菩薩面前求。但你可曾想過如何讓自己無煩無惱？還是你已認命，就這樣一世又一世凡（煩）下去？
要到幾時，你才甘願停？今天的你，和十年前的你相比，有比較不煩不凡嗎？
觀世音菩薩慈悲無量，所以千處祈求千處應。祂的慈悲，沒有界線。
我們渴求菩薩慈悲於我們時，不要忘了，自己也應該學習菩薩的悲智雙運，自度度他。這樣的善男信女，最得菩薩歡心。
在觀世音菩薩聖誕，唸祂洪名持祂咒語修祂法門，最是殊勝吉祥。
修行有時需帶幾分傻勁，不知道幾時會成就，不知如何解釋自己為何要修行，但就是一直去做。
走般若行更要有些「狠」，要逼自己使點勁，才會達到目標。
祝願大家都能平穩的走在修行路，直至成就。
我想，這應該也是我們能夠給予菩薩最棒的賀壽禮了。
⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯
In 2 more hours, it would be the holy birthday of Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva.
The Husband and I made this video for Shifu in 2015.
At the time, I liked Shifu's regal and captivating voice when he chanted the Buddha's name and recited the mantra, and wanted to showcase this healing quality of his voice.
I recorded his chants with my iPhone 6, and edited it on the same device.
I have forgotten where I took the pictures and accompanying background melodies, not to mention how I figured my way around from dusk till dawn to finally complete this video.
What I remember is the silly drive to help others, and the never-say-die resolve to figure out how to edit this video till daybreak.
In the past, I used to frequent the temple and pray to the Bodhisattva for all trivial and major matters. After practicing the Varjayana Buddhism, I realized that the Bodhisattva statue on the table is not for us to pray fervently to, with divination sticks and the wooden claps.
The real purpose is to inspire us to elevate our spiritual nature, repent our sins and move from this mortal body to the realm of sages. When we are in yogic union with the nature of the Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, we will naturally achieve His state of bliss and ease.
Do not pray to the Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva just because you need a money tree to shake. That would be wasting a great Dharma talent.
Mortals with sufferings and afflictions would go to the Bodhisattva and pray for help. But have you ever thought about how you can cease your woes and worries? Or have you already resigned to being troubled, mortal lifetime after lifetime?
When would you finally be willing to stop? Are your present self better, with less sufferings, than the one 10 years ago?
Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva has immeasurable amount of compassion, thus His manifestation is omnipresent with every prayer heard. His compassion knows no boundary.
In the midst of our fervent pleas to the Bodhisattva, do not forget that we should emulate the qualities of the Bodhisattva, to exercise both Compassion and Wisdom, to help ourselves as well as deliver all sentient beings. A sincere and virtuous devotee like that will surely win the heart of the Bodhisattva most.
On the Holy Birthday of Guan Yin Bodhisattva, it is most auspicious to recite His Name, chant His Mantra and perform His practice.
To walk this spiritual path requires some form of silliness. Despite not knowing when you will attain any accomplishment, not being able to explain why you wish to cultivate, you still do it nonetheless.
To take this Prajna route also calls for some "ruthlessness" to yourself. When our monkey mind says otherwise, when our sloth or greed overwhelm us, we need to force our minds to conform, so that we can reach our targets in the soonest time.
May all of us be able to walk this path of Dharma cultivation steadily, and eventually reach attainment.
I figure, this will be the best birthday present we can ever give to Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva.
