Today is the first day of the first lunar month in the Chinese calendar and the birthday of Bodhisattva Maitreya, who will be the immediate successor to Śākyamuni Buddha to teach and transform sentient beings in this Saha World.
《中阿含經》記載，佛陀告訴各位比丘，未來會有一尊佛名號彌勒如來。當時彌勒菩薩正在會中，便起立啟白佛陀：世尊！我將在未來人壽八萬歲時成佛，名號彌勒如來。“彌勒”是音譯，意譯為“慈氏”。菩薩還有一個名字是“阿逸多”，意思是“無能勝”。彌勒菩薩從最初發心，就一直修行慈心三昧，大慈之心無人能及，因而得名。
As recorded in the Madhyama Āgama (Middle-Length Discourses), the Buddha told the bhiksus that a Buddha named Maitreya Tathāgata will appear on Earth in the future. Hearing this, Bodhisattva Maitreya rose from the assembly and addressed the Buddha, "World Honored One! I will become a Buddha with the name of Maitreya Tathāgata when humans will live to an age of eighty-four thousand years." The name "Maitreya", transliterated as Mi Le in Chinese, means "the Compassionate One". The bodhisattva is also called "Ajita", which means "invincible". Ever since he brought forth his resolve at the beginning, the bodhisattva has been practicing the samadhi of loving-kindness and therefore has a loving heart beyond comparison. It is for this reason that he is known as Maitreya, the Loving One.
彌勒菩薩和我們有著甚深的緣分。不僅佛陀囑託彌勒菩薩接替自己繼續在娑婆世界說法，菩薩也發願即使到了刀兵劫也要守護娑婆眾生，直到眾生的貪嗔痴煩惱微少，成就了十善業，方證無上正等正覺。
Bodhisattva Maitreya has deep affinities with us. Not only that he was entrusted by the Buddha to continue to teach the Dharma in the Saha world, the bodhisattva himself has also vowed that he would protect sentient beings even when the śastrāntara-kalpa (the calamity of war) comes and that he would not attain the supreme perfect enlightenment until sentient beings have diminished their afflictions of greed, hatred, and ignorance to the minimum and accomplished the ten wholesome actions.
因此未來人類壽命減短到只有十歲，釋迦教法隱沒，饑饉、瘟疫、刀兵鬥爭漸次而來，極度苦難之時，彌勒菩薩將會化現世間，教導大家不要互相傷害，應該行持善法。從此人們福報漸長，壽命漸增。人壽增長至八萬四千歲時，此方國土殊勝美妙，無有塵垢瑕疵，大地平坦，綠茵細軟，香稻自生，花果芬芳，天雨甘露，泉水清淨，人身高大香潔，受用如同天界，遠離惡行，行十善業，安享幸福快樂的果報，人間有如淨土。那時彌勒菩薩才會示現龍華樹下，成等正覺，三會說法，度盡釋迦牟尼佛教法下已結善緣、早植善根的眾生。
In the future, human lifespan will shorten to only ten years, the teachings of Śākyamuni Buddha will have been forgotten, and famine, plague, and wars will occur one after another. At that point of extreme suffering, Bodhisattva Maitreya will manifest himself in this world and teach humans to stop hurting each other and practice and uphold virtuous actions. As a result, humans will enjoy more merits and live longer. When their lifespan grows to eighty thousand years, this world will become excellent and splendid, with no dust or flaw. The land will be level, covered with soft grass. Fragrant rice will grow naturally (from the soil). Fine fragrance will issue forth from flowers and fruits. Sweet dews will fall from the heavens. Springs will be crystal clear. Humans will have big, tall bodies that emanate pleasant odour, and enjoy resources as plentiful as those in the Realm of Heaven. By staying away from unwholesome deeds and practicing the ten wholesome deeds, they will enjoy the karmic fruits of joy and happiness, and the world will be like a pure land. It is at that point that Bodhisattva Maitreya will manifest himself and realize proper enlightenment under the Mesua ferrea tree and expound the Dharma in the three great assemblies, so as to liberate sentient beings who have developed affinities and planted the roots of virtue under the teachings of Śākyamuni Buddha.
彌勒菩薩大願的啟示是，從當下開始、從自己做起，點滴行持善法，是未來整個世界美好圓滿的重要因緣。當每一個人都在減少內心的煩惱，努力做好十善業，這個世界就會成為人間淨土。
The message from Maitreya's great vow is that we should practice wholesome deeds bit by bit right at the moment and starting with ourselves. This constitutes an important condition for building a wonderful world in the future. When everyone strives to lessen his or her afflictions and practice the ten wholesome deeds , the world will become a pure land.
菩薩當來，法身常在，新的一年祈願慈光注照，讓我們更有力量斷惡行善，內心越來越光明，越來越清淨！
Bodhisattva Maitreya will descend to our world in the future, and the Dharma body will perpetuate. In this new year, may we immerse ourselves in the light of his loving-kindness, be more energetic in renouncing bad and doing good, and become brighter and purer in our hearts!
翻譯：北京龍泉寺翻譯中心
Translated by: Beijing Longquan Monastery Translation Center
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