4月4日

為新生兒祈願文
佛光星雲 ( 1927~ )

慈悲偉大的佛陀！
一個新的生命誕生了！
祈求在您的加被之下，
    孩子無災無難，身心健康；
    孩子晝夜吉祥，平安長大。
請您賜給孩子幸福的果實，
    但也可以給他少許的挫折和磨練；
請您賜給孩子快樂的花園，
    但也可以給他少許的荊棘和草叢。
請讓孩子懂得感恩他人的付出，
    擁有回饋奉獻的美德，
    讓孩子不被虛榮矇混，
    讓孩子不被聲色迷惑。
當孩子在挫敗的時候，
請您給他信心和勇敢，不要讓他傷心和嘆息；
當孩子在困頓的時候，
請您給他智慧和力量，不要讓他悲哀和失望。
這一點心，希望能遍及三千大千世界；
這一個願，希望能達於無量際的未來。
這個幼小的生命啊！
    千萬不能讓他失落天真的本性，
這個幼小的生命啊！
    千萬不能讓他失落善美的真情。
慈悲偉大的佛陀！
請您垂慈納受弟子真摯的祈求。

──選自《佛光祈願文》

April 4th

A Prayer for a Newborn
Venerable Master Hsing Yun (1927 - , Fo Guang Shan)
English translation: Shujan Cheng and Tom Manzo

Oh great, compassionate Buddha,
A new life has arrived!
I pray that, with your blessings and protection,
The child may suffer no calamity,
And may be healthy in both mind and body;
May the child have good luck every moment,
And grow up safely.

Please grant the child not only the fruits of happiness,
But also a few setbacks and some forging of character;
Not only the garden of joy,
But also a few brambles and underbrush;

May the child have the gift of being grateful to others
May the child have the virtue of cultivating repayment;
May the child not be blinded and confused by vanity,
May the child not be misled by the temptations of the senses.

Oh great, compassionate Buddha,
I pray for your blessings and protection;
Please give the child confidence and courage
When he/she is defeated,
And not let him or her be heartbroken and sad;
Please give him or her wisdom and strength
When he/she despairs,
And not let him or her be woeful and disappointed.

Oh great, compassionate Buddha,
I hope that this humble heart
Can spread throughout the entire universe;
I hope that this vow
Can teach the unlimited, unbounded future;
May this young and tender life
Never lose his/her innocent nature;
May this young and tender life
Never lose his/her benevolent and beautiful true feelings.

Oh great, compassionate Buddha,
This is your disciple’s pious prayer;
Please kindly accept it!

── from Pearls of Wisdom: Prayers for Engaged Living