文／蓮生活佛 盧勝彥
在「三昧」中——
我發覺自己到了深水海中，雖在深海中呼吸，一點問題也沒有，如走在平地是一模一樣的。
原來經典中說的境界是指三昧的境界。
火不能燒。
水不能溺。
刀不能傷。
土不能埋。
【觀音救生經】的十句是「觀世音，南無佛，與佛有因，與佛有緣，佛法僧緣，常樂有淨，朝念觀世音，暮念觀世音，念念從心起，念念不離心。」
這念念不離心，就是「一心」，就是「三昧」了！
我在深海中，看見一景，大為恐怖，原來一架載客的飛機，不知何因，掉入深水海中，機上人員全部罹難，這是人生的一大慘劇，人生危機處處，如風中之燭，人在什麼處境，才算安全？
我自見海神，收容孤魂。
我對海神合十。
海神說：「有一孤魂，我們不能收，所以請你來，你來收這位孤魂吧！」
「為什麼是我收？」我很驚訝。
「是你遙灌頂的弟子。」
「遙灌頂的弟子在飛機中，為何不能獲得佛菩薩護佑？」我心中哀痛。
海神答：「共業。」
我心大慟，將遙灌弟子引出水域，回到摩訶雙蓮池，暫時放於蓮苞中，為何是蓮苞中，因為這位弟子雖遙灌頂，尚未正式修法，業障深重，尚不能花開見佛。我教他蓮苞中就念【觀音救生經】，其他不用多修，要等他念念不離心，自入三昧，就能花開見佛了。
我出了禪定之後，想到四念處之一，「觀受是苦」，是的，人生果然是苦，快樂很短暫，痛苦比較多，這人生驚恐愴惶，我真的看太多了。
Crisis
Written by Living Buddha Lian-sheng, Sheng-yen Lu
Translated by Cheng Yew Chung
Edited by Jason Yu
Proofread by Lufang Hsiung
www.tbtts.org
In my samadhi, I found myself in the deep ocean. Despite being in the sea, breathing was never an issue, as it was similar to walking on land.
It appears that the descriptions in the sutras of the respective situations refer to the conditions experienced [by the practitioner] within the samadhi states, such as: fire cannot burn him, water cannot drown him, knives cannot hurt him, and the earth cannot bury him.
Recorded in The Sutra of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva’s Salvation of the Living are these ten phrases: “Avalokitesvara. Homage to the Buddha. There is a causal link with the Buddha. There is an affinity with the Buddha. Affinity with the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. Experience eternity, bliss, true self, and purity. Think of the name of Avalokitesvara during the day. Think of the name of Avalokitesvara at night. Every thought arises from the heart. Every thought never leaves the heart.”The meaning of “every thought does not leave the heart” is one-pointedness of the mind, which is samadhi itself！
When I was in the deep sea, I saw something which was appalling. I saw a plane with its passengers crashing into the deep ocean, killing everyone on board. It was a great tragedy indeed. You can find a crisis everywhere in life, and like a candle in the wind, what place or situation is safe for people?
I saw the god of the sea taking care of the wondering spirits. I placed my palms together in respect to the god of the sea.The god of the sea said, “There is one spirit for whom we cannot give shelter. Thus we invite your presence so that you may take care of this spirit!”
“Why me?” I was surprised.
“The spirit is one of your disciples who took refuge via remote empowerment.”
“Why is it that a disciple who had received my remote empowerment cannot receive the protection from the buddhas and bodhisattvas?” I was saddened by this news.
The god of sea said, “Collective karma.”
My heart ached in grief. I led the disciple who had received my remote empowerment out of the ocean and brought him to the Maha Twin Lotus Ponds where I placed him temporary within the lotus buds. Why did I do that? The reason was that this disciple had not begun any practice despite receiving his remote empowerment. His karma is also heavy and had prevented the lotus from blossoming, which meant he could not see the Buddha. I taught him to recite only The Sutra of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva’s Salvation of the Living while he stayed within the lotus bud, and to do so until his every thought remains focused, thus entering into the samadhi where he shall experience the opening of the lotus flower and seeing the Buddha.
After I emerged from my meditation, I thought of this contemplation from the Four Foundations of Mindfulness: contemplate on the impurity of the body, contemplate on the suffering of emotions. Indeed, life is filled with suffering, for any joy is short lived, as anguish and pain are overbearing. I have seen too much of the panic and sorrow that exist in life.
