佛誕節,我們都知道有太子的像,我們也要到寺院用淨水去浴佛。只要到寺院拜拜就好,為什麼還要浴佛呢?過去有人誤解,我的身上衣服不乾淨,我不敢去浴佛;我的手沒有洗,我不敢去浴佛。其實佛不需要我們浴,也不是要我們洗手、洗衣服。
佛本來就是清淨的,哪裡需要凡夫洗滌?這只不過是一番象徵。浴佛,主要目的是要我們清洗自心,是要我們有一顆清淨的心。我們在浴佛時,是否把我們的心洗清淨?
在讚頌偈裡有這一段文:「我今灌沐諸如來,淨智莊嚴功德海」。當浴佛時,我們要用虔誠清淨的心,用清淨水來灌浴。我們要觀想,以清淨的水沐浴佛身,清淨的智慧則如海。
我們在浴佛身,實際是在淨化我們的身。當我們手持淨水向悉達多太子像沐浴時,內心應當誠懇祝禱:願我祛除貪欲、瞋恨、愚痴的污垢,讓自己身行、語言、心意都能保持潔淨;希望社會清淨安寧,沒有暴力、詐欺、邪惡等事件。也期望藉著浴佛的功德,淨化自己的煩惱塵垢,美化我們的社會國土,轉五濁惡世為清淨的淨土。導邪曲正人心為善良菩提,這就是浴佛的真正意義。
When we come together to celebrate the “Buddha’s Day”, we are celebrating the timeless and universality of Buddha’s teachings. Teachings that foster compassion and joyfulness, encourage freedom of thought and recognize the dignity and potential of the human mind, which are as relevant today as they were 2,500 years ago.
As we bathe the statue of Prince Siddhartha with this scoop of holy water in our hands, we shall pray sincerely to be rid of the defilements of greed, hatred and ignorance, so that our body, speech and mind may remain pure. Furthermore, we shall wish for a peaceful and harmonious society that is free from violence, dishonesty or evil.
With the merit gained from bathing of the Buddha, may we rid our minds of defilements, and at the same time cleanse and beautify our society and country, transform this land of suffering into one of bliss, and guide the stray and evil minds onto the path of virtue. This is the true meaning of "Bathing of the Buddha".