v062qjjq@ubvmsc.cc.buffalo.edu (David T Wei) (02/06/91)
THE ORATICE OF BODHISATTVA DHARMA
(SUTRA TRANSLATION COMMITTEE OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA, SERIES#.4)
PREFACE
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Buddha-Dharma is the wisdom of all people and the light of
the world. If people possess wisdom, then civilization is able to
expand and go forward. If one has light, then even he, as an
individual, can help to disperse the darkness of ignorance. Thus,
wisdom and civilization are the right way for everyone to follow,
and Buddhadharma illuminates the world.
Just what is Buddhadharma? It is a method to enable all
being to become Buddha. "Buddha" means "enlightened One",
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but the term can be extended to mean enlightening oneself and
others as well as enlightenling all people and all sentient beings.
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Because everybody in reality, possesses the Original nature of
Enlightenment, everybody can, therefore, become a Buddha.
However, people in the world, in their daily lives, are strongly
bound by feelings of love and hate,etc.;and they are, also, deeply
confused by their own Original Wisdom and cloud their
own Buddha Nature and are ultimately overcome by all sorts
of obstacles and delusions.
Therefore, the great Dharma Master Tai-Hsu recommended
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that Buddhism should be promoted and spread everywhere.
Thus, all people should be encouraged to understand the Dharma,
increase their wisdom, purify their own minds, and be directed
onto the open, wide and comfortable Path, that from numerous
and various beginning point arrives at last, at the Supreme Bodhi.
For this reason, Dharma Master Tai-Hsu wrote The Pratice
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of Bodhisattva Dharma, which recommends accepting the Three
Refuges to link up with Triple Jewel, practicing goodness
and generosity, observing the Five precepts and the Ten Virtues,
and diligently performing the Six paramitas and the Four All-
Embracing Virtues. So practitioners, whether following Mahayana
or Hinayana, whether monks or laymen, and people of every
degree -- with either shallow or deep understanding and ability -
will see, if they pratice regularly, responsibly and sincerely,
the Fruits of Bodhi gradually increasing day by day.
I fervently hope and desire that all people and friends in the
Dharma, after reading this work and following its recommendations,
will discover that their blessing and wisdom are constantly
on hte increase.
Dharma Master Lok To
Young Men's Buddhist Association of America
Bronx, New York
July, 1985