9月24日

為老人祈願文
佛光星雲 ( 1927~ )

慈悲偉大的佛陀！
您明白地告訴我們：
    「有生苦，必然會有老苦；
    有老苦，必然會有病苦。」
    老病實在是非常地辛苦。
慈悲偉大的佛陀！
您知道老人們的願望嗎？
老人們最希望的是家庭團聚，
    最歡喜的是含飴弄孫；
老人們最盼望的是身無病苦，
    最快樂的是自由自在。
請您要保佑老人們：
    從此沒有流離失所的悲哀，
    從此沒有纏綿病榻的不幸，
    從此沒有兒女不孝的怨嘆，
    從此沒有老病死生的憂懼。
讓老人們知道：
人生的意義不在色身的長久，
    而在功德慧命的無限。
慈悲偉大的佛陀！
請您垂愛普天之下的老人，
有一個平安快樂的晚年，
有一個心開意解的人生。

──選自《佛光祈願文》

September 24

A Prayer for Senior Citizens
Venerable Master Hsing Yun (1927 - , Fo Guang Shan)
English Translation: Tom Manzo and Shujan Cheng

Oh great, compassionate Buddha!
Thank you for your appearance in this world.
You clearly told us:

With the suffering of birth,
    The suffering of old age is inevitable;
    With the suffering of old age,
    The suffering of sickness is inevitable.

    Old age and sickness are indeed painful.

Oh great, compassionate Buddha!
Do you know what senior citizens wish for?
Their greatest wish is to be with their families;
Their greatest joy is to lead a peaceful life in their old age;
Their greatest happiness is to be carefree and at ease.

Please bless these senior citizens:
From now on, may they not have the sadness
Of wandering from place to place;
From now on, may they not have the misfortune
Of being bedridden with any lingering illness;
From now on may they not have the grievance of undevoted children;
From now on, may they not have the anxiety and fear
Of old age, sickness, death, and rebirth.
May they understand:
That the meaning of life is not about the longevity of the physical body.
But the timelessness of virtues and wisdom;
Oh great, compassionate Buddha!
Please show your gracious concern for the senior citizens of the world:
Every senior citizen wishes,
To have peace and happy twilight years
And to have a meaningful and receptive life.

── from Pearls of Wisdom: Prayers for Engaged Living