決疑品第三
一日，
One day,
韋刺史為師設大會齋。
Prefect Wei hosted
a large vegetarian feast
on behalf of the Master.
齋訖，
After the meal,
刺史請師陞座，
the Prefect asked the Master to ascend the dais
[take the formal lecture seat].
同官像士庶肅容再拜，問曰：
Along with the officials, scholars,and assembled people,he respectfully bowed and asked,
弟子聞和尚說法，
"Your disciple has listened to the Master's explanation of the Dharma.
實不可思議。
It is truly inconceivable,
今有少疑，
but I now have a few doubts,
願大慈悲，
and hope you will be compassionate
特為解說。
and resolve them for me."
師曰：有疑即問，吾當為說。
The Master said,
"If you have any doubts, then ask,and I will explain them for you."
韋公曰：
Prefect Wei said,
和尚所說，
"Isn't what you lectured to us
可不是達磨大師宗旨乎？
the same teaching as Bodhidharma's?"
師曰：是。
The Master replied, "It is."
公曰：
The Prefect said,
弟子聞，達磨初化梁武帝，
"I have heard that when Bodhidharma
first taught the Emperor Wu of the Liang,
帝問雲，朕一生造寺度僧，佈施設齋，
the emperor asked,
'All my life I have built temples,sponsored monastic ordinations,
made donations, and arranged vegetarian feasts.
有何功德？
What merit and virtue have I gained?'
達磨言，實無功德。
Bodhidharma said,
'In fact, there was no merit and virtue. '
弟子未達此理，
Your disciple does not
understand the principle here;
願和尚為說。
please Master, explain it for us."
師曰：
The Master answered:
實無功德，
There truly was no merit and virtue;
勿疑先聖之言。
do not doubt the words
of the ancient sage.
武帝心邪，
Emperor Wu's attitude was wrong;
不知正法。
he did not understand the correct Dharma.
造寺度僧，
Building temples, sponsoring Sangha ordinations,
佈施設齋，
making donations, hosting vegetarian feasts
名為求福，
— all of this is called "seeking blessings."
不可將福便為功德。
But blessings should not
be mistaken for merit and virtue.
功德在法身中，
Merit and virtue are to be
found in the Dharma body,
不在修福。
not in cultivating blessings.
朗诵：合门
校对：日清
地 址：江西省抚州市宜黄曹山宝积寺
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曹洞佛学院电话：18970423011
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