文／蓮生活佛 盧勝彥
很多人持誦密咒，均很想知道密咒含義，因此頻頻問我，這些咒的意義是什麼？
我對弟子說：「密咒因含義廣大，翻譯即不中，所以不翻。」
另外，《涅槃疏》云：「真言是佛心流露祕密語，翻譯者不解，是以不翻。」
《賢首般若疏》云：「咒是諸佛祕密之法，非因位能解，但當通持，不須強釋。」
在【首楞經】云：「諸佛密咒祕密之法，唯佛與佛自相解了，非是餘聖所能通達，但誦持之，能滅大過，速登聖位。」
我簡單舉一個例子：
比如我們生病，去找醫師。
醫師給了我們妙藥，然而醫師並不會告訴我們，這妙藥的化學成分，是多少蛋白質，多少鈣，多少鐵，多少銨基酸……等等，醫師只給我們藥。
我們只是服了藥，自然除病身安。
再說，今天的密教密咒，一切眾生及因位菩薩，雖然不得解，但只要持誦了，就上了法船，身心成了毘盧法身，走在普賢大海之上，自然得離生死，成就十身無礙佛果。
我說，咒是不生不滅的，是無相無不相，是無取捨，復於一切法最勝，於一切法是無因寂靜無住涅槃義，無言說義，無文字義，所以說，不翻譯。
【般若經】云：
總持猶妙藥。
亦如天甘露。
能療眾惑病。
服者常安樂。
Mantra is the Dharma Ship
Written by Lian-shen Linving Buddha Sheng-yen Lu
Translated by Cheng Yew Chung edited by Victor Hazen
True Buddha Foundation Translation Team
Many who recite mantras wish to know the meaning behind the mantras. I am often approached with this question. My reply is: “Mantras are embedded with a wide range of meanings and significance, and any translation would not do them justice. Therefore they are not given any translation.”
The Commentary on the Nirvana Sutra states, “A mantra is a secret language that flows out from the Buddha's heart. It is not translated because the translator is unable to comprehend it.”
The Commentary on the Wisdom of Xianshou states, “A mantra is the secret doctrine of all Buddhas, which cannot be comprehended by practicing Buddhists. One needs only to recite them - not understand them.”
The Suramgama Sutra states, “The secret doctrine of the mantras of all Buddhas is only known and understood between Buddhas, for their meanings cannot be readily penetrated by other sages. By reciting these mantras, one's karmic transgressions are eradicated and one is helped to attain Buddhahood swiftly.”
I shall quote a simple example:
When we are sick, we consult a doctor. The doctor prescribes us an effective medication, but he would not reveal the chemical compound of the medication, like how much protein, zinc, iron, amino acids there are and so forth. The doctor only prescribes us the medicine. And when we take the medicine, we are healed.
Today, the mantras of Vajrayana may not be understood by all sentient beings and all Bodhisattvas in the causal stage of Bodhisattvahood. But as long as you keep to the recitation, you shall board the Dharma ship, and find your body and mind being transformed into the dharmakaya of Vairocana. You shall travel across the Ocean of Samantabhadra, liberated from life and death naturally, and attain the omnipresent fruition of Buddhahood.
Let me say this. Mantra itself is neither arising nor ceasing, form nor formless, taken nor abandoned. It attaches the highest and most supreme meaning to all Dharma, and displays the truth of the tranquility of non-causation, non-abiding nirvana, and the truth of non-verbal and non-written doctrine. Thus the mantra is not to be translated.
The Prajnaparamita Sutra states, “Dharani is like a wonderful medicine, much like the celestial nectar. It can heal all illness, and all who consume this medicine constantly shall receive peace of mind.”
