南无本师释迦牟尼佛（三称） Namo Fundamental Teacher Shakyamuni Buddha !(three times)
南无大愿地藏王菩萨（三称） Namo Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva! (three times)
Chapter 10: The Conditions and Comparative Merit and Virtue of Giving (校量布施功德缘品) English sound recording with captions, Online Chinese Earth Store Sutra text; English Earth Store Sutra text; A Commentary by Master Hsuan Hua at City of Ten Thousand Buddhas;
This chapter talks about the cause and effect of the merit and virtue of giving. Buddhism teaches us the true nature of ourselves as well as the true nature of the universe. When we are awakening to the illusory nature of our human experience, we can then adjust our value system and then can put our energy into positive usage that benefits the world and eventually benefits ourselves. Dharma help us to establish a good understanding of what is good, and what is evil, many times we can be confusing about the blurring lines. ultimately Buddhism lend us the wisdom to transcend duality and pursuit the ultimate good. 学佛法就是了解自己，认识自己生活真实环境的实相。从而顺应自然规律，创造积极的正面的人生。我们今天能听到佛法都是过去辈子有结过缘，种下善根。 你數一數這世界上，不明白佛法，沒有聽見大乘經典的人有多少？甚至有的人來此一聽就跑了，為什麼？就是因為沒有這種善根。
Buddha once said: “What you think you create, what you feel you attract, what you imagine you become.” …….. “All that we are is the result of what we have thought: it is based on our thoughts and made up of our thoughts. If a man speaks or acts with an evil thought, suffering follows him as the wheel follows the hoof of the beast that draws the wagon. If a man speaks or acts with a good thought, happiness follows him like a shadow that never leaves him”. That is why Buddha of past, present and future of all ten directions, all emphasis the Buddha’s Discourse on the Ten Wholesome Ways of Action as the foundation of Buddhism practices. All schools of Buddhism teaching are build on the foundation of these practices. (佛说十善业道经). 「佛说十善业道经」，不是一尊佛说，是所有的佛都说，说这十种善法的业道。 是十方三世一切诸佛都说。帮助我们，无论修学哪一个法门，哪一个宗派，在这个基础上用功夫，你决定成就。
Although at extreme high levels, Buddha teaches the Oneness, but at our level, we should strictly only follow the Right ways. The mantra of “Om Ah Hum” as its most basic means to perfect our Action, Speech and Mind. Although it also has many other layers of meaning – 唵阿吽.
There are three forms of giving: giving of wealth, giving of Dharma, and giving of fearlessness. The gift of fearlessness is when a person has a kind of disaster and feels fearful, you comfort the person with soothing words making them not afraid giving of fearlessness. Of the three kinds of giving, the giving of Dharma is the most valuable, because it help them become aware of wrongdoing, and eventually lead people to their right path for crossover. 而「諸供養中，法供養最」，你要是以法供養人，這功德是最大的。「無畏施」，是人有什麼災難，飛災橫禍，有一種恐懼的事情，給他說幾句好話，安慰他，令他不生恐懼心，這叫無畏施。
净空法师讲解《佛说十善业道经》中谈到什么人是有福的人？「施者比受者更有福」； 这些话，回教《古兰经》里头都说，我们替别人服务比别人接受我服务更有福。 为众生服务的人是有福的了。 这在《新旧约》里头也有。 佛说，为一切众生服务，但把我忘掉。 于是这个福报就更大了。 这个福报超越六道，超越十法界。 我没有忘掉，决定在六道轮回。 我们要问自己，这一生想不想脱离轮回。 我们为什么会在六道轮回，就是因为我们的自私自利的心太重了。 你执著有个”我”， 有“我”你就脱离不了六道轮回。 我们必须清楚这一点。 《佛说十善业道经》佛法教我们要破我执；必须四相、四见断尽了，就超越十法界。 净空法师在「体解大道」- 佛法的基本法、圆满法中说，乘着我们还有体力，还要智慧，有这个能力，要多为一切众生， 为社会，为世界服务。 我们不是希求福报而服务，我们是希求佛果， 希求无上菩提。
The giver more blessed than the receiver. The Qur’an has over 50 verses about charity making it one of the most talked-about subjects in the Holy Book. Islam encourages Muslims to adopt charity as a way of life as opposed to it being a random or one-off act. Indeed some charity like Zakat is mandatory whilst there is a general instruction to give charity as regularly as possible.
Tzeddakah is a Hebrew word meaning “righteousness”, but commonly used to signify charity. Many think of themselves as helping others when they give of their hard earned money to those less fortunate than they are – or perhaps to those who may not work as hard as they do. Is charity truly only one-sided?! Is it possible that more than one benefits when charity is given?! Can giving actually be done with a smile? Is the receiver any less important because he receives?! Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon, known as Maimonides – authority on Jewish law, states the following in his “Laws of Gifts to the Poor” Chapter 10, Law 1 :
We are obligated to be careful with the commandment of charity more so than with all the positive commandments. For charity is a sign of the righteous person – of the children of Abraham our father. As it says, ‘For I have (known) loved him because he commands his children… to do righteousness (Tzedakkah, charity.)’ And the throne of Israel will not be established, and the religion of truth will not stand except through Tzeddakah. As it says, ‘Establish yourself through Tzeddakah.’ And the Jewish people will not be redeemed except through Tzeddakah – as it says, ‘Zion will be redeemed through justice and those who return to her through Tzedakkah.’”
Some people do evil, but still is blessed this life because his previous lives had earned profoundly merits. If he doesn’t do evil, the blessing is even greater! 有些人我们看来好像他并没有行什么善，甚至于还做很多恶事，这是什么原因？善是他前生修的，前生修的因，这一生得果报，这一生当中很可惜，他没有遇到善知识，没有遇到明白人教他，于是他迷惑了，迷惑才造业，才造这个不善的业，由于造不善的业，过去生中修的福报，很容易消失。 到来生福报就没有了。 他所造的恶业果报就现前了。
All the spiritual teachings points to a same directions. Dogmatic understanding of religion often result in a limited range of interest, purpose, or scope, or to be devoted to a particularly narrow definition. Sectarianism among the religions can cause misunderstanding and unnecessary division, sometimes lead to physical violence. This is very tragic because fundamentally all religions are about teaching love – love people, love nature and love universe. Singapore is an excellent example of cohesion of all regions. Home to 10 religions – Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity/Catholic are the primary religions of Singapore, while Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Sikhism, Jainism, and others form the minority cluster, the Lion City is the ultimate melting pot, with the locals celebrating all festivals pompously, irrespective of the religion they follow. And it does not have a state-regulated religion which the citizens are supposed to follow.
To be continued …..
Dedicate Merits:
May the precious bodhicitta That has not yet arisen, arise and grow, And may that which has already arisen not diminish, But increase more and more. 回向偈： 愿以此功德，庄严佛净土。 上报四重恩，下济三涂苦。 若有见闻者，悉发菩提心。 尽此一报身，同生极乐国。
