【元宵節供燈】照亮幸福人生
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關於元宵節的起源，佛門裡有這樣的記載。東漢永平年間，漢明帝派人到天竺求取佛法，標誌著佛教正式傳入中國，這就是著名的「永平求法」。漢明帝聽說正月十五僧人有瞻佛舍利、點燈供佛的傳統，於是這一天在皇宮和寺廟裡供燈敬佛，民間也紛紛效仿，逐漸形成了元宵賞燈的風俗。
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佛法猶如明燈，照破世間黑暗。我們觀想佛燈大如須彌山，光亮遍照四野八荒，光芒所照之處，一切陰暗消失，眾生的煩惱痛苦悉皆消除，能辨善惡，智慧通達，身心光明。感恩歷代佛教祖師大德，以他們的慈悲和智慧，如傳燈般，一代代傳給我們解脫的希望，帶給世間無限光明、溫暖、安寧和吉祥。
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佛經中記載了佛前供燈，能夠得到健康長壽、智慧光明、消災滅難、快速開悟、所求皆得等等無量的功德利益。在菩提禪堂點燈有很多受益的見證故事，不管是求學業、求生子、求工作、求健康、求超度，都有大量所求皆得的案例。
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正月十五，是一年中第一個月亮圓滿之夜，為我們最愛、最牽掛的人，在佛前點上一盞明燈，讓供燈借助佛光，照亮至親的人生道路，給他啟發、給他佛菩薩的力量和加持，遇到一切煩惱，都能快速消除，獲得健康、快樂、完美、吉祥。
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祝福永遠光明，永遠幸福。
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#元宵、#供燈、#佛光
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【Light Offering during Lantern Festival】 Illuminating a Blessed Life
In Buddhism, there is documentation on the origins of the Lantern Festival. During the Yong Ping years of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the Han Emperor sent his men to Tian Zhu to seek Dharma, marking the formal introduction of Buddhism to China. This is known as the famous “Yong Ping Seeking Dharma”. Han Ming Emperor learnt that, on the fifteenth of the first month of the lunar calendar, there were traditions of monks paying homage to the Buddha relics and offering light to the Buddha. Hence, on this day too, light offerings took place in the palace and in temples to worship the Buddha. The ordinary folks followed suit and gradually formed the custom of admiring lanterns during the Lantern Festival.
Dharma is like a beacon of light eradicating the darkness of the world. We visualize the light of Buddha to be as great as Mount Meru, shining in all directions. Where there is light, all darkness dissipates. All the pains and sufferings of sentient beings are eliminated. Sentient beings are able to discern good from evil; they possess great wisdom and have an illuminated body and mind. Gratitude to the great virtues of the Buddhist patriarchs! Their compassion and wisdom are like lights, passing from generation to generation, giving us the hope of liberation and bringing the world unlimited brilliance, warmth, tranquility and auspiciousness.
The Buddhist scriptures detail that by offering light before the Buddha, one can gain health and longevity, great wisdom, eliminate disaster, obtain rapid enlightenment and gain other immeasurable merits and benefits. In Bodhi Meditation, there are many testimonies that illustrate the benefits of making light offerings before the Buddha. Whether it is praying for good grades for one’s study, having a child, career, health, or for the deceased, there are a large number of cases where the prayers are answered.
The fifteenth of the first lunar month is the first full moon of the year. It is the perfect day to offer lights before the Buddha for our most beloved and cared for persons in our life. Let the light we offer, together with Buddha’s light, shine and illuminate the paths ahead for them. May it give them inspiration and the power and blessings of the Buddha and Bodhisattvas. Whenever they encounter troubles, they will be able to eliminate them quickly, gain health, happiness, perfection and auspiciousness.
Be blessed with eternal brilliance and blissfulness.
#LanternFestival, #LightOffering, #BuddhaLight