道場聖刊      經典寶藏

The Mandated Patriarch is respectful and precious

一匹良馬雖能行千里之遙，但是沒有伯樂駕馭引導，發揮不了牠的潛能。一個人雖然涵蘊相當的才氣，懷有沖天志向，如果時運不濟，也是無法成功。同樣的，修道人縱有無比虔誠之心，如果沒有一代祖師為他引證無上正法，那麼終究還是無法明心見性，回歸本然，超生了死。

A strong horse can run as far as thousand miles, it cannot run to its best potential without an expert rider like Bo Le to rein and lead.  A person has superb talent and soaring ambition cannot succeed without the trend or fortune at the right time.  For the same token, a person sincerely devoted to Tao, without the authentication of a Living Patriarch, he or she is unable to attain enlightenment, returns to the original nature, and transcends life and death.

三千年前，一代聖人孔子的德行如此之高，世人尊衪為至聖先師，但衪還是在柱下問禮於天命明師老子才得以證道的。在二千五百年前，釋迦牟尼佛也是要得到燃燈古佛的授記，才能夠開悟見性、成就佛陀。為什麼天命明師為修子證道，修子就能超生了死呢？因為：「無師不說性」，唯有一代明師才能傳予無上正法，為修子證無上菩提，啟開超生門路，因此我們可以知道，一代祖師是芸芸修子成道與否的重要關鍵，衪是修子的生命，所以修行者欲成仙作佛，不可不拜天命明師為師。

Three thousand years ago, Confucius, an eminent saint of His time, was respectively recognized as Supreme Sage and Foremost Teacher, had to seek advice from Lao Zi and attained the authentication.  Buddha Sakyamuni attained the holy seal from Dipamkara Buddha (Ancient Lantern Buddha), became enlightened and achieved the Buddhahood.  Why do we have to get the authentication of a Living Patriarch to transcend life and death?  Because, it is said, “Do not discuss about our original nature in the absence of a Living Teacher.” (Original nature can never be comprehended at our knowledge or six senses level.)  Only a mandated Living Teacher can transmit the true authentic way of spiritual salvation, perform authentication for the disciples, open the door to eternal life.  Therefore, the Living Patriarch is the essential key to return to Tao.  He is the life of disciples.  If we want to free ourselves and become immortal, we must formally acknowledge the mandated Living Patriarch as our teacher for proper guidance.

天命明師憑藉什麼原因可以讓修子往生天堂呢？因為天命明師乃是集：「道真、理真、天命真，三真的尊貴於一身。」因為集此三真於一身，故天、地、人三曹的聖佛菩薩神袛，都要護持天命明師、聽師調遣。

What are the reasons for a Living Patriarch to let the disciples free themselves and elevate to Heaven?  Because the Living Teacher accumulated “Tao is true, Principle is true, Heavenly Mandate is true” all three true qualifications.  Due to this “Three authentic qualifications” in the Living Patriarch, all sages, Buddha, immortals, spirits in the three world (Haven, Earth, and human) devote their efforts to protect and support the mandated Living Patriarch, and follow orders of the Living Patriarch.

什麼是道真？理真？天命真呢？

道　真：大道本來就存在，是生天生地生萬物的總元素，道若不真，天地不能生萬物。

理　真：一代祖師已經透徹天地造化中，有形無形的真理，祂是真理的化身，所以能為修子傳道、授業、解惑，這就是理真。

天命真：大道的珍貴在於「佛佛唯傳本體，師師密付本心」的金線道統，如果不是承天之命、延續正法真宗的金線道統，那麼也不能為修子證道，這就是天命真。

What does it mean by Tao is true? Principle is true? Heavenly Mandate is true?

( 1 ) Tao is true: Great Tao was, is and will always exist.  It is the original essence which created Heaven, Earth, and all things in the Universe.  If Tao is not true, nothing can be created between Heaven and Earth.

( 2 ) Principle is true: The Living Patriarch is aware of the natural truth, both tangible and intangible.  The Living Patriarch is the incarnation of Truth.  Therefore, the Living Patriarch propagates the message of Tao to the world, how to practice according to Tao, and answer people’s questions about the truth.  That is the reason why we say, “Principle is true”.

( 3 ) Heavenly Mandate is true: The precious of Great Tao is its Golden Line Tao Lineage from generation to generation “Only transmit essence of spirit from Buddha to Buddha, Privately pass on the divine nature heart to heart from Patriarch to Patriarch.”  If the Golden Line Tao Lineage is not extended by the Heavenly mandate, he or she cannot execute authentication for disciples.  This is why Heavenly Mandate has to be true.

由此可知，道真、理真、天命真，此三者乃有連帶關係、缺一不可，所傳的道是真的，但若沒有辦法將大道之真理闡述出來，那就是理不真；沒承接到代代真傳的道脈，那就是天命不真，所以三真：道真、理真、天命真，若有一個不真，就無法讓修子超生了死，天命明師的尊貴就在此。

Thus, “Tao is true, Principle is true, Heavenly Mandate is true” all three are inter-related and equally important.  If the Tao delivered is truth, but the Principle of truth cannot be fully explained, then the Principle is not true.  If the Golden Line Tao Lineage is not extended by the Heavenly mandate from generation to generation, the Heavenly Mandate is not true.  Therefore, any one of the “Three Trues” is not true, it is impossible to let disciples transcending life and death.  That is the reason why Mandated Patriarch respectful and precious.

說到天命傳承的金線道統，我們就來了解一下自古迄今的道脈沿革。

To talk about Golden Line Tao Lineage, let us understand the history of Tao Lineage from ancient to present

青陽期遙接道統，自伏羲聖人、黃帝、堯、舜、禹、文、武、周公等一脈金線，    

The Green Era began from Sage Fu Xi, Yellow Emperor, Yao, Shun, Yu, Wen, Wu, Zhou Gong, etc. is known as the Line of Golden Lineage.

繼傳印度釋迦牟尼佛乃為紅陽期開始。釋佛傳摩訶迦葉、阿難，一貫心法，至二十八代達摩祖師知天時轉換，東方應運，故老水還潮，將道傳回中國。達摩祖師在中國傳神光為二祖，繼傳僧燦三祖，道信四祖，弘忍五祖，惠能六祖，直至六祖為止，各代祖師在佛家都有記載。

Red Era began in India with Buddha Sakyamuni, to Mo He Jia She, Ananda, all the way to the 28^th generation Bodidharma, Heavenly times lost the ground in India and turned to the East, the Tao of Lao Zi returned to China.  Bodidharma pass on the Patriarch Lineage to Shen Guan as the 2^nd Patriarch, continued to Shen Can as the 3^rd, Dao Xin as the 4^th, Hong Ren the 5^th, Hui Neng the 6^th.  All of the Patriarchs from Sakyamuni to Hui Neng were recorded in Buddhist history.

六祖惠能以後道降火宅，轉以儒家在家修行方式，平民百姓皆可求道，可在六祖惠能所留之偈中一目了然：

        釋迦從我絕宗風    儒家得我正法通

        三期末後收圓事    正心誠意合中庸  

After the 6^th Patriarch Hui Neng, Tao went to household level.  It turned into a Confucian way to cultivate at home, Tao initiation offered to all ordinary people.  The following libretto by the 6^th Patriarch Hui Neng clearly brought up the point;

“The way of Buddhist preaching ends from me, just follow Confucian teachings for the True Dharma.  To work out the goal of Total Harmony throughout the last Era (White Era); exercise righteous mind and sincerity of the doctrine of mean.”

此偈之意是說，大道從六祖以後已經不在佛家寺院傳了，從今之後儒家應運，唯有在家眾才可以求得大道；欲在三期末後圓滿道果，就必須用正心至誠的智慧才得以成就。

This libretto told us that after the Sixth Patriarch Hui Neng, the Great Tao will not be transmitted in Buddhist temples anymore.  From that time on, the Confucian School emerged and only the people cultivated at home qualify for Tao initiation.  We have to exercise the ultimate sincerity of wisdom to cultivate and maintain a righteous way to accomplish Total Harmony during the Last Era or White Era.  

從六祖以後，道降火宅，在家修行，這祖師脈脈相傳，心心相印，不立文字，教外別傳的一脈金線，傳至第十六代祖劉清虛，紅陽期結束，道轉白陽，第十七代路祖中一，即稱白陽初祖。

 Ever since Sixth Patriarch, Tao lowered to household level, cultivation took place at home.  The Patriarchs passed on from generation to generation.  The True Dharma is transmitted heart-to-heart along the Patriarchs’ Golden Lineage.  It is beyond the comprehension of any form of words or religious scripts.  The 16^th Patriarch, Liu Qing Xu, was the last Patriarch of Red Era.  It turned to White Era and the 17^th Patriarch, Lu Zhong Yi, became the 1^st Patriarch of White Era.

所以現今就是白陽正法應運的時期，一脈心法延續至今，現由白陽第三代祖師  圓普老祖師、  淨蓮祖師繼承，傳授修子們超生了死之道，為修子開啟歸鄉之路。

Therefore we are now in the White Era.  The True Lineage is extended to the Third Patriarchs of White Era, Yuan Pu and Jing Lian, serving the way to transcend life and death, paved the way for all disciples to the homeland.

白陽第三代祖 圓普老祖師、  淨蓮祖師乃集天命、大人、聖人三者於一身，在介紹祂們之前，我們先將白陽期道統傳承作個介紹：

The Third Patriarchs of White Era, Yuan Pu and Jing Lian, maintain the virtues of Heavenly Mandate, Man of Great honor, and Sage.  Before the introduction of the Third Patriarchs, we would like to introduce the Tao Lineage of White Era first;

白陽期乃　彌勒古佛掌天盤，萬八道脈，水火二精子掌道盤，為萬八秋期普度收圓一大主持：

During White Era, Ancient Buddha Maitreya heads the Heavenly Order of the Tao Lineage for 10,800 years.  Buddha of Fire and Water radicals head the order on Earth, they incarnate themselves as two mortals ceaselessly, in order to continue the lineage for 10,800 years at household level, thus accomplishing the Total Harmony of the world.

白陽初祖：路中一，山東人，彌勒古佛化身。

白陽二祖：張天然，山東人，濟公古佛化身，原靈火精古佛。

白陽二祖：孫慧明，山東人，月慧菩薩化身，原靈水精古佛。

白陽三祖：陳圓普，台灣人，圓性古佛化身，原靈火精古佛。

白陽三祖：賴淨蓮，台灣人，子路觀音化身，原靈水精古佛。

White Era, 1st Patriarch: Lu Zhong Yi, born in Shan Dong, incarnate of Maitreya Buddha

White Era, 2nd Patriarch, Zhang Tian Ran, born in Shan Dong, incarnate of Ji Gong Gu Fo, whose original soul is from the Buddha of Fire radical.

White Era, 2nd Patriarch, Sun Hui Ming, born in Shan Dong, incarnate of Ye Hui Bodisattivea, whose original soul is from the Buddha of Water radical. 

 White Era, 3rd Patriarch, Cheng Yuan Pu, Taiwanese, incarnate of Yuan Xin Gu Fo, whose original soul is from the Buddha of Fire radical.

White Era, 3rd Patriarch, Lai Jing Lian, Taiwanese, incarnate of Ze Lu Guan Yin, whose original soul is from the Buddha of Water radical.

正法從六祖後儒家應運，降於火宅，道脈傳至十三祖楊還虛、徐還無二位祖師，替眾生頂劫，十二祖便另選五行祖代掌道盤。五行祖其中的火祖，名叫陳火精，乃赤精古佛的化身，執掌五行火部之盤，後來為眾生頂劫，頭懸漢陽府門上示眾，頂劫前誓願「無世不出、度盡群生」而上證無上正等正覺佛位，佛號  圓性古佛，今世又轉生為白陽三祖，即為  圓普老祖師。

After the 6^th Patriarch, the Confucian School emerged to preach the True Dharma as it went to household level.  13th Patriarchs, Yang Hai Xi and Xu Hai Wu, sacrificed their lives to shoulder all the calamities and catastrophes of all beings.  The 12^th Patriarch had to choose five Patriarchs incarnated from the five element radicals, wood, fire, metal, water, earth radicals.  Patriarch of Fire radical, Chen Huo Jin, incarnate of Che Jin Gu Fo, heading the fire element section. He was executed and they hung His head over the gate of Han Yang City to shoulder all the catastrophes and calamities of the beings.  Before the execution, He pledged and vowed to “reincarnate successively to save all beings”.  He was then authenticated to be the honorable Yuan Xing Gu Fo, currently reincarnate as the White Era 3rd Patriarch, Yuan Pu Senior Patriarch.

  淨蓮祖師則是正法明如來分靈的子路觀音，再分靈化身的。

    由大家最耳熟能詳的一句話：「紫竹林中觀自在，白蓮座上現如來」可以來印證白陽期乃是水火既濟，遞傳將來，毋令斷絕。

    Patriarch Jing Lian is the incarnate of Ze Lu Guan Yin, whose original soul is Zheng Fa Ming Ru Lai.

A couplet we are all familiar states, “Look at our own nature while we are in a violet bamboo forest.  Stay at the white lotus seat the original nature flow.”  This couplet confirms that Patriarch of Water radical and Patriarch of Fire radical will work together in its continuity throughout White Era with no interruption.

這一副對聯乃是在說明白陽祖師應運之讖語禪機，過去不悟者都以為是在形容玄關竅，認為紫竹是形容人的雙眉，白蓮所指是人的嘴齒，其實不只是這樣的。

The couplet clearly testified the predicted allegoric message regarding the Patriarchs of White Era.   In the past, people thought the couplet was describing the Heavenly Portal, violet bamboo represents eye brows and white lotus as white teeth in the mouth.  It really doesn’t mean that.

紫白本為九宮卦數。知道卦數的人就可以知道，紫乃九宮之離宮，方位在南，其氣為火；白者乃是九宮之坎宮，方位在北，其氣為水；紫白之義乃是紫為火、白為水的意思，形容白陽天道乃是水火祖師之運。竹林則叢林也，叢林乃是道場的意思。是故紫竹林中觀自在的意思就是：「領悟火精古佛分靈化身的一代祖師之心法，才能觀到自己的本然自在佛」；

Violet and white in the couplet represent the diagram numbers.  Those who understand the diagrams in Yi Jing (The Book of Changes) know that violet is “Li” house in the Nine House system.  Its direction is South, its Qi (Energy) is fire.  White is “Kan” house in the Nine House system.  Its direction is North, its Qi (Energy) is water.  Violet represents Fire.  White represents Water.  It describes that White Era is the era of Water and Fire Patriarchs.  Bamboo forest represents the places where Tao practice are held.  Therefore, the true meaning of ‘Look at our own nature while we are in a violet bamboo forest’ is, “Intuitively understand the True Dharma from the present Patriarch incarnate of the Buddha of Fire radical, then we can see our own nature.”

白蓮座上現如來：「白者，北方之坎水，指水精古佛化身的祖師（現今則是  淨蓮祖師）在祂的蓮座上，才能看到自己的本然面目，現出如來之心」。

The meaning of ‘Stay at the white lotus seat the original nature flow’ is, “White   represents “Kan” Water at north.  It indicates that only when the Living Patriarch Jing Lian sits on the lotus seat to show us the way, we will be able to let our original nature flow freely.”

所以白陽期初祖以後，道盤祖師代代相傳，皆為水火之運，無令斷絕，千年以前仙佛所留下的讖語，就已暗藏玄機。至於白陽十字真經貫三天，在千經萬典中也早有證明，所以今天我們所求的道、所拜的祖師，的確是一代的天命明師，的確可以使我們超生了死。

Therefore, after the 1^st Patriarch of White Era, all patriarchs are of Water radical and Fire radical, they work together in its continuity throughout White Era without interruption.  Buddha’s prediction couplet left the hidden messages in it thousand years ago.  As far as the Ten Words Divine Mantra of Holy Cross extends through the three worlds has been verified in many sutras.  Thus, the Tao initiation and the Patriarch are truly Heavenly mandated, assured us that we can transcend through life and death.

明師所傳，就是在傳成佛的三寶，唯有集道、理、天命三真於一身的住世祖師，才能傳授三寶、啟開我們超生了死的門戶，所以所謂的得道，也就是得受三寶。

The Living Teacher hands down the three treasures for regaining our original nature.  A Living Teacher must accumulate “Tao, Principle, and Heavenly Mandate” all three are true in Him to hand down the three treasures, open our Heavenly Portal to transcending through life and death.  Therefore, Tao initiation is to acquire the three treasures.

方才傳道給我們的那位，看起來與我們一樣，好像也沒有什麼特別，他不是祖師為什麼卻可以傳給我們三寶呢？其實，雖然他的外表看起來與我們差不多，但是他乃是代表祖師傳道於一方的大德者，是頭戴著天命、身兼師命的人，在道場上我們稱呼他為「道師」。因為他頭戴天命、身兼師命，所以能夠在剛才獻供請壇時請到諸天仙佛護法壇，讓魍魎邪魔不敢擾亂佛堂。

The priest who performed the ritual of Tao initiation looks the same as us, nothing really special.  He is not the Living Teacher.  How can he pass down the three treasures to us?  As a matter of fact, his appearance looks about the same as us, hut he is a great virtuous man represent our Patriarch.  He is Heavenly mandated by the Patriarch.  He also represents the Patriarch accordingly.  We call him “Dao Shi”.  Because he is Heavenly mandated and as a representative for the Patriarch, he can perform the ritual to invite Buddha to the temple.  Thus, all evil spirits dare not to disturb the order in the temple.

唯有真天命祖師的道盤，才能神人合一、人天共辦。剛剛道師已經代理祖師傳授正法一指正竅，把九蓮聖道的三寶傳給了我們，從今以後我們就是  圓普老祖師、淨蓮祖師的弟子，我們都是一師之徒了。

Only the orders of Tao on Earth with the Heavenly mandated Patriarch can join Heaven and man as one, thus joint efforts of Heaven and man are achieved.  Dao Shi just represented the Patriarch and passed down the True Dharma to open the Heavenly Portal.  The three treasures of Nine Lotus Sacred Tao were all passed down to you.  We are all the disciples of Senior Patriarch Yuan Pu and Patriarch Jing Lian from now on.