佛说长寿灭罪护诸童子陀罗尼经(影片)

                                               

  

<被拋棄的生命>

 

                 

 

<佛说长寿灭罪护诸童子陀罗尼经>

     

 【佛说长寿灭罪护诸童子陀罗尼经】是佛陀留给末法时代众生的一部殊胜佛经，为了避免末法时代人们遭受最重、最多的堕胎杀业，佛陀在2500多年前就慈悲地在他那个年代提前开示了堕胎的种种罪过，为末法时代的菩萨如何救护诸童子、胎儿，如何得到长寿灭罪的种种功德，为那些造重杀业的无知父母提供了一盏从地狱走向光明解脱道的指路明灯。

  

The Dharani Sutra Of The Buddha On Longevity.
The Extinction of Offences And The Protection Of Young Children.

[英文翻 ：章玲居士]

Thus I, Ananda, have heard, at one time, The Buddha was at Mount Grdhrakuta, at the City of Royal Palace, together with a thousand two hundred and fifty disciples, who accompanied Him wherever He went.

There were also twelve thousand Bodhisattva Mahasattva, the eight fold divisions of Gods and dragons, ghosts and spirits, humans and non-humans, who came together from different directions to listen to The Buddha Dharma.

At that time, before expounding the Dharma, The Buddha with His Spiritual Power, emitted different colourful lights such as green lights, yellow lights, red lights, white lights and other lights which shone forth from His face. In every ray of the colourful lights, there appeared uncountable Transformation Buddhas.

Every Transformation Buddha was able to carry out inconceivable tasks of the Buddha and transform uncountable and limitless Transformation Bodhisattvas. Everyone of the Transformation Bodhisattva again praised and sang about the merits and virtues of The Buddha.

The lights which were emitted by The Buddha were subtly wonderful and immeasurable. They shone forth pervasively up to the Heavenly Dwelling of Neither Thought Nor Non Thought and down to the Avici Hell.

Those living beings who had encountered the illumination of the Buddha’s Lights would naturally be mindful of the Buddha. Hence they were able to obtain skills-in-means in Zen concentration and attain the fruition position of the First Ground.

At that time, in the assembly there were forty-nine Bodhisattvas who had just brought forth the Bodhi Resolve. They also wished to enquire The Buddha on ways and means to obtain longevity but they did not know how to do so.

At the same time, Manjushri Bodhisattva knew about their wish and so he stood up from His seat, revealed His right shoulder, put His palms together respectfully before The Buddha. On behalf of The forty-nine Bodhisattvas, He asked The Buddha:

“World-Honoured One, I know there are people in this Dharma Assembly who harbour doubts but do not know how to ask about them. So I wish to ask on their behalf and may The World Honoured One grant your permission.” The Buddha said, “Good indeed! Good indeed!Manjushri Bodhisattva. Please do not hesitate but ask on their behalf in order to clear their doubts!”

Manjushri Bodhisattva said, “World Honoured One, all the living beings who are within the sea of birth and death create all kinds of evil karma. From the kalpas of no beginning until now, they revolve constantly on the wheels of six paths without any respite. At times even if they may obtain the human bodies but the retribution of their lifespan is very short.

In what ways can all these living beings obtain longevity and put an end to all evil karma? May The World Honoured One teach them the Dharma on ways to attain longevity and means to extinct all their offences.”

The Buddha answered, “Manjushri! Your kindness and compassion is great and immeasurable. Out of the pity for all sinful beings, you enquire on their behalf the Dharma for longevity and the ways to put an end to all offences. But if I were to talk about them in details, I am afraid that most sentient beings would be unable to believe, accept, practise and uphold this Dharma.”

Again Manjushri Bodhisattva pleaded with The Buddha for His compassion, “World Honoured One! You are endowed with Great Wisdom. You are the Leader and Teacher of the gods and people, the compassionate father for all living beings. You are the Great Dharma King who is able to pronounce all wonderful Dharma with one sound. May the World Honoured One have pity on all living beings and bless them widely with this Dharma!”

Then The Buddha smiled and said to the great assembly, ”Please listen wholeheartedly and carefully. Now I will expound widely to you The Dharma……..”

“In the past, there was a world known as The Pure Land with No-Filth. In that Pure Land, a Buddha by the Name The Thus Come One of Pervasive Lights and Proper Views came into the world.”

He was also known as TheOne who is worthy of offering, or The Equal and Proper EnlightenedOne, or TheOne who is perfect in wisdow (wisdom) and practice, or The One who is skilful in leaving the world through liberation, or The One who understands the world, or The Unsurpassed Teacher, or The Taming Hero, or The Teacher of Gods and people, or The Buddha, or The World Honoured One. The Buddha was surrounded respectfully by uncountable and limitless Great Assemblies of Bodhisattvas.

When The Buddha was in the world, there was a Lay woman by the name Confusion. She was practising the Buddha Dharma in her home life. She begged The Buddha to allow her to leave the home’s life. Sorrowfully she cried to The Buddha, “World Honoured One, I have created deep and evil karma. I am regretful of my evil conduct and seek to repent my offences. I hope to reform in order to lead a life of goodness. I only hope The World Honoured One will bestow kindness upon me and listen to the details!”

“My circumstance is such that my family’s condition does not allow me to bear any child. That is why I used medicine to murder the foetus which was fully eight months old. The foetus that I aborted was fully grown with four healthy limbs and
was complete with a human form.”

“Later I met with a wise man who told me, ‘People who have purposely aborted the foetus will be infected with serious illnesses in the present lifespan and receive the retribution of a short lifespan with very little blessing. After they have passed away, they will fall into the Avici Hell to experience terribly acute sufferings.’ ”

“After listen to that, I was very frightened and I deeply regret what I have done. I only hope that the World Honoured One, with your strength of great kindness and compassion, will save me from falling into the deep pit. Please tell me the ways of liberation. Do allow me to leave the home life so as not to undergo such acute sufferings.”

The Thus Come One of Pervasive Lights and Proper Views said to Confusion, “There are five kinds of Evil Karma which are difficult to extinguish even if one were to repent on them. What are the five kinds of offences? The first one is killing the father, the second one is killing the mother, the third one is abortion, the fourth one is to injure The Buddha, the fifth one is to create disharmony among the Sangha assemblies. These five types of evil and sinful karma are difficult to be
extinguished.”

After listening to that, the woman Confusion wept sorrowfully with tears like falling rain. Sadly she made obeisance to The Buddha. Then she fell down before The Buddha and again she begged, “The World Honoured One is of great kindness and compassion, who is able to save all beings. I beg the World Honoured One will have pity on me and tell me the way to liberation.”

The Thus Come One of Pervasive Lights and Proper Views told her, “You are supposed to fall down into The Avici Hell because of your evil karma and experience the acute suffering without any respite. In the Hell of Heat, the offenders will encounter the severely cold wind and be tortured by the sudden chill. In the feverish cold Hell, the offenders will experience sudden heat wave which is brought about by the hot wind.”

“In the Un-interrupted Hell, there is no alternating sufferings of sudden coldness or sudden heat as experienced here. But there is a great burning fire which plunges from the top to the bottom of the hell. The fire will again shoot up from the bottom to the top. The four walls are made of iron and covered with iron nettings. The four gates on the East, West, South and North are also filled with great burning fire of karma.”

“The length of the offender in the Uninterrupted Hell is eight million Yojanas. Even thought he is alone, his body still covers the whole hell fully. If there are more people, each of their bodies also pervasively fills up the whole hell.”

“The body of the offender is covered with great iron snakes. The suffering thus experienced by him is more severe than the great burning fire. Some of the iron snakes may enter his mouth and then come out from his eyes and ears.”

“Or there are iron snakes which encircle his body fully. Great fire often bursts out from the limbs and joints of the offender. There are also the iron crows that peck and eat his flesh.”

“There are also copper dogs which bite and chew his body. The hellish guards with bulls’ heads hold the weapons and roar like thunder. With a harsh voice full of anger, they scolded……..”

“ ‘You have purposely murdered the foetus, so you have to undergo this great torture from one kalpa to another kalpa without any respite!’ If I were to lie to you about such torturing retribution, then I am not known as The Buddha.”

“When the woman Confusion heard the teaching of The Buddha, she was so sorrowful that she fainted and fell on the floor. After sometimes she gradually recovered and again she asked, “World Honoured One! Is it the case that I alone will experience such torment? Or is this suffering will be experienced by all those women who have purposely aborted the foetus?”

“The Thus Come One Pervasive Light told the woman Confusion. ‘Your foetus is fully grown like a human being. And its dwelling in the womb resembles that of a hell. It also resembles that of a great rock which oppresses one’s body. If the mother has partaken the hot food, the foetus will feel as though it is dwelling in the Heated Hell. If the mother has taken the cold food, the foetus will feel as though it is dwelling in the icy cold and chilling Hell. It is tormented by acute suffering the whole day.”

“You are emotionally unstable because of the fire of delusion which gives rise to evil thoughts. That is why you have purposely taken the poison to abort the foetus.”

“You have created such evil karma, so it is naturally for you to fall into The Avici Hell. The offenders in the Uninterrupted Hells are your partners.“

After hearing that, the woman Confusion cried sorrowfully. Again she said to The Buddha, “Once I heard a wise man said, ‘If we are able to encounter The Buddha or the pure Sangha members, whatever evil offences that we have created will be extinguished if we seek to repent and reform sincerely.’ ”

“Even when such a man has already passed away and entered the hells, but if the relatives who are still alive are able to cultivate goodness and small blessing on his behalf, the dead one will be able to get a rebirth in the heavens!’ Is there really such happening? I beg The World Honoured One will explain to me!”

The Thus Come One Pervasive Lights and Proper Views told the woman Confusion, “It is true. If there is a living being who has committed all kinds of offences but is able to encounter The Buddha and the members of the pure Sangha assembly, to repent sincerely and never to commit any more offences, then his sinful karma will be extinguished.”

“Even if he has passed away, but his family and relatives are able to pay respect and make obeisance to The Buddha,Dharma and Sangha. Within the seven days, they are able to read and chant on behalf of him the Sutra of Great Vehicle,to make offerings to the Triple Jewels with fragrant incense and flowers.”

“The messenger from the Dark Realm will carry the Spiritual Banner of five colors and go to the hall of The King Yama.There are troops of ghosts who stand around the front and back of the Banner. They sing and praise the dead man. With a gently and subtly wonderful voice they report to the King Yama, “The dead man has accumulated lots o merits!”

“When the King Yama sees the arrival of the Banner of five colors, he is greatly happy and says aloud. ‘May my body which is full of offences be like him in order to accumulate all merits.’ ”

“Immediately, the hells are transformed into pure streams. The hills of knives and the trees of swords are transformed into lotuses. All the offenders feel refreshed and blissful.”

“If there is another dead man who does not have faith in the Buddha Dharma, who does not read and chant the Sutra of Great Vehicle, whose mind is lack of filial piety, respectfulness, kindness and compassion, but believe in deviant path and evil views. Within the seven days, there is no next of kin who is alive to perform goodness and blessings on his behalf.”

“Then the messenger from the dark realm will hold the Black Banner, together with innumerable evil ghosts who make the following report to The King Yama, ‘The dead one has accumulated lots of evil deeds.’ “

When The King of Yama sees the Black Banner, he gets angry immediately. All the halls and houses vibrate under his thunder-like harsh voice. The offender is immediately sent down to the eighteen layers of hells.”

“The offender is forced to climb the trees of swords and hills of knives. Or he is forced to lie on the iron bed, to embrace the bronze pillar, or his tongue is being pulled out and ploughed by a bull. Or his body is being beaten by stony rod, his bones and flesh are grind to powder by a stone grinder.”

“In a single day there are millions times of birth and death. And then the offender will repeatedly fall into the Avici Hell, to experience acute suffering from one kalpa to another without respite.”

Before the Thus Come One Pervasive Lights and Proper Views had finished His teaching, suddenly there arose from the empty space a great thunder roar of harsh and evil voice which called out to the woman Confusion, “You have purposely murdered the foetus. You should receive the retribution of a short life, I am the messenger of the ghostly troop. Here I am to catch you to settle the case.”

The woman Confusion was frightened and lost. She caught hold of the feet of The Thus Come One and wept. She begged, “May The World Honoured One widely propound the Great Dharma Store of The Buddhas for me, and the way to extinguish all sinful offences. Only then will I die in peace!”

At that time, The Thus Come One Pervasive Lights and Proper Views with the awesome spiritual strength of The Buddha told the ghost messenger, “The ghastly ghost of impermanence, I am now going to teach the woman Confusion on the Sutra of Longevity and the extinction of offences. Please wait for a while. Naturally there will be a change in circumstances.”

“You also should pay attention and listen carefully. I will also tell you the Secret Dharma Door which was taught by The Buddhas in the past, The Sutra of the extinction of offences and the prolongation of lifespan in order to help you all to stay away from the evil paths.”

The Buddha said, “Confusion, you should know that the ghastly ghost of impermanence does not give any special favour to people. Even if you use innumerable amount of gold, silver, lapis lazuli, beryl, red pearls, carnelian and other jewellery to bribe him in exchange of your life, it will still be in vain.”

“Even people who are at honourable position such as The King, the princes, great officers, respectable elders and others, who, with their awesome spiritual strength, will still be unable to escape the ghastly ghost of impermanence who comes to claim their lives.”

“Confusion, you should know that only the word ‘Buddha” is able to sever the suffering of death. Confusion, there are two types of people who are very rare to be found. They are like the Udumbara Flowers which rarely bloom.”

“The first type refers to those people who never practise any evil dharma nor commit any karmic offences. The second type refers to those who are able to repent, and reform when they realise their offences.”

“People like these are rare and the most precious. As you are able to repent sincerely before me, I will of course teach you The Sutra of Longevity and The Extinction of Offences, in order to free you from the suffering of being chased and caught by the evil ghost of impermanence.”

“Confusion, let me tell you. In the future World of Five Turbidities, if there are people who kill the father, harm the mother, who purposely abort the foetus, who destroy The Buddha’s Pagoda and Temple…”

“Who shed The Buddha’s blood, who create disharmony among The Sangha and others, they have created the five unwholesome deep offences and will surely fall into the Un-interrupted Hell to suffer the acute torments.”

“If these beings who have committed the five unwholesome offences are able to accept, upload this Sutra of Longevity and The Extinction of Offences, to write it down, read and memorize it or copy it down by themselves, or ask other to copy the Sutra, they will be able to put an end to their offences and be born in the Brahman Heaven to enjoy the heavenly blessing.”

“Isn’t that a better chance for you to extinguish your evil karma as you are able to meet me personally presently? Luckily you have already cultivated lots of good roots in innumerable long kalpas ago. In addition you are eloquent in asking question besides repenting and reforming sincerely.”

“So, not long from now, you will be able to turn the Unsurpassed Dharma Wheel and cross over limitless great seas of birth and death. You will be able to fight against the Heavenly Demon Bo-Xun and destroy the Banner of Victory which was erected by him. You should listen wholeheartedly. I will teach you once the Twelve Conditioned Links of Causation which was taught by The Buddhas in the past.”

“All the living beings are originally pure. But because of the arising of a single false thought out of delusion in the past, it leads to the creation of activities. Because of activities, there create karmic forces and hence lead to the arising of consciousness to enter the womb. The consciousness that enters the womb will lead to the formation of a foetus presently. When there is a foetus, it is then complete with the six roots such as eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body and mind.”

“After leaving the womb, the six roots will experience the six senses of touch. The six senses of touch will give rise to six kinds of feelings. When there is feeling, love will arise. When there is love, the feeling of attachment will arise. Once there isattachment, a man will try to fight to passess (possess). When there is fighting for possession, it will give rise to future karmic causes.”

“When there are the future karmic causes, a man will experience birth in future. When there is birth, it will naturally lead to the process of old age and death, and also all the worries, sorrows, sufferings and torments. This is known as the Door which is in accordance to the production of Twelve Conditioned Links of Causation.”

“If there is no false thought because of delusion, then where will activities and karmic deeds arise? If there is no activity and Karmic deeds, where will there be the entering of womb by consciousness? When there is no consciousness to enter the womb, where then will it give rise to a foetus, the form of a body?”

“When there is no form body, the six roots will not exist. When there is no six roots, there will have nobody to experience the six kinds of senses of touch. When there is no senses of touch, there will have no feeling.”

“When there is no feeling, there is no love. Without love, attachment to possession will not arise. When there is no attachment to possession, there is no more karmic causes for future birth…”

“When there is no karmic causes for the future birth, there is no more birth in future. Without birth, there is also no old and death. And the worries, sorrows, sufferings and torments will not follow. This is the Door of Reversal and Extinction of the Twelve Conditioned Links of Causation.”

“Confusion, you should know that all the living beings are unable to contemplate the Dharma of Twelve Conditioned Links of Causation and so they revolve and suffer in the seas of birth and death. If there is a man who is able to contemplate the Dharma of Twelve Conditioned Links of Causation, then he is able to see the Reality Form Dharma. If a man is able to see the Reality of Form Dharma, he indeed sees The Buddha.”

“When a man sees The Buddha, he is able to see The Buddha Nature. Why did I say so? Because all The Buddhas also base on the Twelve Conditioned Links of Causation as The Dharma Nature. Now you are able to listen to the Twelve Conditioned Links of Causation from me, you will obtain the Pure Buddha Nature. You are suitable to be the Dharma Vessel in the Door of The Buddha.”

“Now I will again tell you the only True Path. You should give thought to protect every single mindfulness. The single mindfulness is known as The Bodhi Mind. The Bodhi Mind is also known as The Mind of the Great Vehicle.”

“Because the root nature of the living beings is different, so all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas teach and differentiate the Three Vehicles. You should constantly be mindful and look after the Bodhi Mind. Never should you forget it.”

“Even if your body is burnt by the five skandas of forms, feelings, thoughts, activities and consciousness, is being swallowed and eaten by the four snakes of earth, water, fire and wind, is being attacked by the three poisoning of greed, hatred and delusion, is being invaded by the six thieves of forms, sounds, fragrance, tastes, senses of touch and dharma,and is being harmed and tormented by the devils and demons, you should remain unmoving and never should you change your Bodhi Mind.”

“With the Bodhi Mind, your body will be as hard and firm as the Vajra. Your mind will resemble the empty space where no one can really harm and destroy it.”

“If the Bodhi Mind is firm and solid, it is replete with the four virtues of Nirvana, namely, Permanence, Bliss, True Self and Purity. It will help us to attain The Unsurpassed Proper, Equal and Perfect Enlightenment.”

“When you are replete with the four virtues of Nirvana, you will be liberated from the conditions of birth, old age, sickness and death, and all the realms of hells. Then, the ghastly ghost of Impermanence will naturally have no way to chase and catch hold of you to settle the case.”

After The Buddha had finished His Teaching, the messenger of the ghost who dwelt in the empty space gave rise to the following thought, “The World Honoured One said that even the hells could also be transformed into Pure Lotus Pond. Then why did not I renounce the state of the ghost realm?”

Then he told the woman, Confusion, “After you have certified to the sagely path, please do not forget to cross me over.”

After that, The Thus Come One of Pervasive Lights and Proper Views again taught the woman, Confusion, “I have already taught you the Dharma of Twelve Conditioned Links of Causation. Now I will teach you also The Six Paramitas or The Six Cross-Over, which are also practiced by the Bodhisattvas.”

“What are the Six Paramitas? The first Paramita is to give expansively. Giving helps us to cross over the feelings of greed and stinginess. The second Paramita is to uphold the precepts firmly. By doing so, we will cross over wrong actions and intentions of being heedless in committing offences.”

“The third Paramita is to be patient always. Such practice will cross over the feelings of hatred and anger. The fourth Paramita is to be diligent constantly. A man who is diligent will cross over laxity and heedlessness. The fifth Paramita is to cultivate concentration diligently. Concentration helps to cross over confusion.”

“The sixth Paramita is to clearly penetrate the wisdom. A wise man will cross over his delusion and ignorance. When a man is able to uphold the six paramitas fully and completely, only then will he arrive at the other shore. He should never even neglect any one of the Parmitas. There is also a verse on the accomplishment of Buddhahood by The Buddhas in the past.”

“All activities are impermanent. They are the dharma of birth and death. When there is no more birth and death, a man will enjoy the bliss of quietude and extinction. You should uphold and practise this dharma joyfully.”

At that time, the woman, Confusion was full of happiness after listening to the Buddha Dharma. Her heart opened up and became clear and pure. She understood deeply and had an awakening to the Dharma. With the endowment of the spiritual strength of The Buddha, she rose up to the empty space and reached a height of seven times the height of a Tor- Lo tree. She sat in meditation peacefully in the empty space.

At that time, there was a wealthy Brahman of Great Surname whose wealth was uncomparable by others. One day, he was infected with a serious disease. After checking by the doctor, it was found that his disease could only be cured by partaking a mixture of human eyes and herbs.

 So, the Wealthy Elder ordered a servant to sing out aloud as follows in all roads and lanes…”

“Who can tolerate the pain of digging out the eyes to sell? I will buy them with good price. I will exchange them with gold, silver, pearls and jewels. You can take as much as you wish. I will not be stingy. It is a promise!”

The woman, Confusion heard those words while sitting in the empty space. She was filled with joy and immediately gave rise to the following thought, “Now I have listened to the teaching of The Buddha on The Sutra of Longevity. All my evil and sinful karmas have been extinguished. My mind has clearly awakened to The Buddha Nature. And I am able to stay far away from the ghastly ghost of Impermanence and the acute torments in the hells.”

“I should repay the kindness of The Buddha even if it means to grind down my body and bones into powder.” After thinking like that, she sang out, “I am forty-nine years old now. After listening to The Sutra of Longevity and The Extinction of offences from The Buddha…”

“…I will give up my body and life and vow to write forty-nine copies of the Sutra on Longevity, even if it means to grind my body down into powder. I only hope that all the living beings will be able to accept, uphold, read and memorize this Sutra. I must sell my eyes in order to pay those who help me to write the Sutra. The value of my eyes is not fixed. So you can pay me as you wish.”

At that time, the Heavenly King Shakra transformed himself into forty-nine men who came to the home of the woman, Confusion. They said, “We wish to write the Sutra for you. After you have seen the Sutra only will you sell your eyes. What do you think?”

The woman Confusion was genuinely happy and grateful for their help. Immediately she cut her body and took out a piece of bone. Then she sharpened it to become the shape of a pen. She offered her blood as ink for them to write the Sutra.

After seven days, they managed to finish writing The Sutra. The men who were the transformation bodies of The ShakraHeavenly King told Confusion, “We hope that you will keep your promise. As we have already finished writing The Sutra,you should dig out your eyes for us after you have read them. Then we will sell them to the Brahman.”

Then the woman Confusion ordered a man by the surname Chandera to dig out both her eyes. She also asked the fortynine men to give Chandera a share of the money for selling her eyes.

When Chandera was about to dig out her eyes, the forty-nine men cried together to prevent him from doing so. They praised thus,“Rare indeed! Rare indeed! It is inconceivable! This woman, Confusion who cares not for her body or life, was able to
sharpen her bone as pen, to squeeze cut her blood as ink, and endure great pain and injuries, just for the sake of writing
down this Sutra. How could we have the heart to dig out her eyes?”

So, with kindness and compassion, they told the woman, Confusion, “Now, we do not need to sell your eyes to the Brahman. But we hope that after you have accomplished The Way, please come first to rescue and cross us over!”

“In life after life, wherever you are born, we hope to come together to you, to become good knowing advisers and widely proclaim this Sutra in order to rescue and cross over all sinful living beings.”

At that time, The Dragon King Nanda by using his spiritual penetration power, performed magical transformations, stole the Sutra of the woman Confusion and kept it at the Dragon Palace. He accepted, upheld and made offerings to The Sutra. The woman, Confusion who suddenly lost the Sutra in such a short space of time, was greatly disturbed. She cried tearfully and ran to see The Buddha. She said,

“World Honoured One, I, who care not for body nor lifespan, cut the flesh and dug out the bone to write the Sutra of Longevity, only hope to widely circulate it among all living beings. But now I have lost the Sutra. I feel extremely sad, just as though my body was pierced by the poisonous arrow. Such pain is difficult to bear.”

The Thus Come One Pervasive Lights told Confusion, “Your Sutra was taken by the eight-fold Dragon King, who accepts, upholds and makes offering to it in the Dragon Palace. In fact, you should be happy about it. Don’t be so worried and sorrowful.”

“Confusion, your present deed is very good. After your lifespan is over, you will be born into the Heavenly Realm of Noform. With the merits and virtues thus accumulated, you will enjoy the heavenly blessings and bliss. Never will you be born in the form of a woman.”

At that time, the woman Confusion told The Buddha, “World Honoured One! My wish is not to enjoy heavenly blessings.But I only hope to meet The World Honoured One in every life, to protect the Bodhi Mind and never to retreat from the Bodhi Path. Wherever I go, I will proclaim this Dharma constantly to all sinful living beings.”

The Thus Come One Pervasive Lights said, “Are you telling me the false speech?” The woman, Confusion answered, “If I were to falsely lie to you, may I be again chased and tormented by the ghastly ghost of Impermanence…”“…If what I have said is true with no falsity, before The Buddha may the wounds on my body be even and as smooth as before, immediately!” After she had made the vows, her body recovered immediately just as before.

The Thus Come One Pervasive Lights told Confusion, “If you are able to sincerely be mindful of The Buddha, with one – heart-undivided, then you can travel from one Buddhaland to the next Buddhaland. You will be able to see innumerable and limitless Buddha Worlds. Besides, you can also understand the unspeakable and inconceivable speeches and words of those Buddha Worlds.”

At that time, the woman Confusion in the space of a breath certified to the Dharma Patience of No-Birth, which is also known as the Bodhi Mind of Unsurpassed, Proper, Equal and Perfect Enlightenment.

“Manjushri, you should know that the past Thus Come One Pervasive Lights was my former existence; while the woman Confusion was your former existence. The forty-nine men are the present forty-nine Bodhisattvas who have just brought forth the Bodhi Resolve.”

“Manjushri, from innumerable long kalpas until now, I always proclaim for you all this Sutra and the Dharma to protect the body, in order to help all the sinful living beings to eradicate their offences after listening to the Sutra of Longevity and the Extinction of offences, even if they can only listen to as little as half a verse. How much more the effect would be as I am now again proclaiming it to you!”

At that time, The King Prasenajit was at the palace. At about midnight, he heard a lady crying aloud. She was so sorrowful that her uncontrollable cries almost disturbed the heavens. So he gave rise to the following thought, “My Inner Palace is supposed to be free from all happenings. But why is there such a sorrowful cry? What has happened?”

In the morning, King Prasenajit immediately sent people to all roads and lanes in search of the lady who was griefstricken.The King’s messenger found the lady and brought her back to the palace. The lady was so shocked and startled that she lost her breath and fainted. King Prasenajit ordered people to sprinkle some water on her face. Gradually she recovered.

The Great King asked her, “Last night, someone was crying so sorrowfully and loudly. Could it be you?” The lady answered, “Yes. Indeed it was I who cried so sadly.” The Great King asked, “Why were you crying in such great pain and sorrows? Who has bullied you?”

The lady answered, “I cried in pain as I was grief-stricken with anger and hatred. In fact, no one has bullied me. May the Great King listen to my story. I married when I was fourteen years old. During the thirty years of marriage, I have given birth to thirty children. Everyone of my children was extremely lovely. They were born with reddish lips and jade-like white teeth. Everyone was cute and active. They were like the flowers in Spring.”

“I love them as though they are the pearls on my palm. They are indeed my heart, liver, brain and marrow. I value them more than my own life. But everyone of them left me for they all died at a young age.”

“Now, there remains the last one. He is about one year old. He is indeed my only hope in life. But he is so sick. I am afraid that he too will leave me soon. That is why I could no longer control myself last night and I cried in great pain!”

After listening to her, the Great King was very worried. He was really sorry for the lady. He thought to himself, “All the people rely on me to stay here. They are like my sons and daughters, if I do not save and help her to solve the problems, then I will not be suitable to be called The King.”

So, he immediately gathered in the officers to discuss the problem. Among them were the six great officers whose name were as follow: The first one was known as Seeing Forms, the second was known as Listening To Sound, the third was known as Fragrant Feet, the fourth was known as Great Eloquence, the fifth was known as In Accord To Condition and the sixth was known as Easily Defiled. Together they with respect told the Great King,“When a baby is born, the family should prepare a spiritual altar for the seven stars and twenty-eight constellations to seek blessings and the prolongation of life. Then he will not suffer from dying young. We only hope that the Great King will widely announce this method to all people.”

At that time, there was a wise and intelligent great officer who had cultivated lots of good roots before innumerable Buddhas. His name was Concentrated Wisdom. He came forth and told the Great King respectfully, “May the Great King discern the matter. The method which was suggested by the six great officers will not be able to relieve the suffering of the dying young. Only The Buddha can extinguish the suffering of dying young.”

“Presently, The Buddha is by the surname Gautama. He is known as The Prince Siddhartha. The Prince attains Enlightenment without a teacher. He clearly penetrates and is certified to the truth of the universe. Now he is at Mount Grdhrakuta, teaching the Sutra of Longevity and the Extinction of Offences. I only hope that The Great King will go to listen to his teaching.”

“If a man is able to listen to half a verse of this Sutra, all the offences which were committed by him in hundreds of thousands of lives will be extinguished. All the young children who have heard of the Sutra will gain merits and virtues and they will naturally obtain a long lifespan even if they cannot really understand its meaning.”

The King Prasenajit said, “Once I heard the six teachers who told me about the monk by the Surname Gautama. They said that he practised The Way within a very short period of time. His knowledge is not profound enough but very shallow as he is still young and naïve. According to the Sutra of the six teachers, ‘The youth who can create evil and auspicious transformations is by the Surname Gautama. People who have paid respect to him will mostly lose the Proper Path.’ ”

Upon hearing that, the Great Officer Concentrated Wisdom respectfully presented the following verses to the Great King,“Sakyamuni is The Teacher of Gods and People, For innumerable Kaplas. He has cultivated asceticism. Now He has attained Buddhahood and turned The Dharma Wheel, He based His teaching on the teaching of The Past Buddhas.”

“He never goes against the wishes of all sentient beings. With great strength of kindness and compassion He rescues the lost beings. The chances for one to encounter a Buddha is like a tortoise which has come upon a floating log. And also like the blossom of Udumbara Flower which is the most wonderful. I only hope that The Great King will go to listen to The Dharma. May The King not listen to the words of the six deviant teachers.”

At that time, after speaking the verses, Concentrated Wisdom the Great Officer, by using his spiritual penetration power left the ground and rose to the empty space. He reached a height of seven times the height of a Tor-lo tree. Immediately, before The Great King, he said the Mantra. And in an instant he was able to lead Mount Sumeru and the water of the great seas to enter his heart. But his body still remained calm and relax without obstruction.”

When the King Prasenajit saw such a state, he was filled with awe. He knew that Concentrated Wisdom Great Officer was the genuine Good Knowledge Adviser. So he made obeisance to him and asked, “Who is your Dharma Teacher?”

Concentrated Wisdom Great Officer answered, “My teacher is Sakyamuni Buddha. Now He is dwelling at Mount Grdhrakuta in Rajagrha (The Royal Palace City) and speaking The Sutra of Longevity and The Extinction of Offences.”

After listening to that, the Great King was filled with joy. Immediately he asked Concentrated Wisdom The Great Officer to take over the tasks of settling important issues in his country. The great King gathered in a big retinue of relatives, great officers and Elders. Then the whole procession of jewelled carriages led by four horses travelled all the way to Rajagrha. He also brought the lady and her son along.

When they arrived at Mount Grdhrakuta in Rajagrha, they offered fresh flowers and a hundred Kinds of special offerings to The Buddha. Then they took off the ornaments from their bodies and circumambulated The Buddha for seven times. They put their palms together and made obeisance to The Buddha. They also showered fresh flowers as offerings to The Buddha. Then The King retold the happenings of the lady to The Buddha.

Immediately The Buddha told The King Prasenajit, “This lady was a step-mother in her former life. Out of jealousy she used poison to murder the thirty children of the first wife.”

“Those sons and daughters who were being murdered by her made the following vows, ‘I vow that I will become her son or daughter in every life. After she has given birth to me, I will die soon at a young age to cause extreme misery to her. She will suffer just as though her liver and intestines are being cut into pieces.’ ”

“But now she has come to listen to The Sutra of Longevity and The Extinction of Offences. Even if she can listen to a single verse, all her enemies and creditors will never again come to take revenge on her.

After that, The World Honoured One told the large multitude in the Dharma Assembly, “When the consciousness of a foetus enters the womb, The Mara Bo-Xun immediately releases four great poisonous snakes and six evil thieves of dustmotes into his body. If one of the four snakes or six thieves is not properly taken care of, the root of life for the foetus will immediately be terminated.”

“I have a Dharani Mantra which can help to increase the lifespan of a child. If the child is infected with diseases and undergoes great sufferings, once he has heard the Dharani Mantra, the disease will immediately be cured. This Mantra will chase away all evil ghosts. Then He said the following Mantra.

“Bo-Tou-Mi-Bo, Tou-Mi-Ti-Pi,
Xi-Ni-Xi-Ni, Xi-Mi-Zhu-Li,
Zhu-Luo-Zhu-Li, Hou-Lou-Hou-Lou,
Yu-Li Yu-Luo, Yu-Li-Bo-Lou-Bo-Li-Wen,
Zhi-Zhen-Die, Pin-Die-Ban-Tzi-Mo-Die-Chi-Na-Jia-Li-Su-Bo-He.”

The Buddha said, “If good men and good women are able to accept, uphold, read and memorize the words in this Dharani Mantra, or speak the Mantra for the foetus that dwells in the womb, the babies who leave the wombs, or the sick children for seven days and seven nights, besides make offerings by burning the incenses and showering the flowers.

They must also write down, listen, accept and uphold the Mantra wholeheartedly. Then all the serious diseases and the former offences will be eradicated.”

At that time, the Medicine King Bodhisattva, Qi-Po went forth to The Buddha and said, “World Honoured One! I am known as The Great Medicine King and am able to cure all diseases. The small babies may be infected with nine kinds of diseases which will cause them to die young. What are the nine kinds of diseases? The first is that the parents have coitus at wrong hours.”

“The second is that the place where the baby is being delivered is defiled by the blood. So the earth spirits leave the home and the evil ghosts get the chance to enter the household. The third is that during the delivery, the navel of the baby is infected with bacteria as it is not properly cleansed with antiseptic. The fourth is that during the delivery, cotton wool with no antiseptic is used to wipe the defiled blood from the womb which envelops the baby.”

“The fifth is that animals are killed in the preparation of a feast for relatives and friends. The six is that during the pregnancy and the period for feeding, the mother partakes all kinds of raw and cold fruits and food. The seventh is that when the child is sick, he is fed with all types of meat.”

“The eighth is that during delivery, an evil state appears in the delivery room. And if the umbilical cord is still attached to the mother, the mother will die. If the umbilical cord is already cut off, the baby will die.”

“What is meant by the inauspicious appearance? For examples, people can see all types of dead carcasses and different unusual, strange and unclean appearances. Because the eyes see unclean appearances, so it is known as inauspiciousness. If we grind the Niu Huang, pearls and granulated bright sand into powder and mix it with honey to feed the baby, it will help to stable his mind and spirit. And he will escape from all inauspiciousness.”

“The ninth is that the baby is beaten by the evil ghost when he is brought for a walk at night. All new born babies should be taken care of properly in order to avoid the above situations. Then he will not die young.”

At the same time, in the palace of the Mara, the Heavenly Mara Bo-Xun who had the penetration of others thoughts, knew that the Buddha was teaching The Dharani Mantra of Longevity, The Extinction of Offences and The Protection of Young Children to the multitude. So he was very angry. He scolded harshly and was worried and displeased.

The King of Mara had three daughters. They saw that their father was extremely angry, uneasy and worried. So they went
 orth to enquire him, “May we know why our father, The King is so worried, angry and unhappy?”

The Mara’s King answered, “That Monk by the surname Gautama is now speaking The Sutra of Longevity and The Extinction of Offences to innumerable and limitless living beings at Mount Grdhrakuta in Rajagrha. He intends to widely circulate and proclaim this Sutra to all present and future living beings, so that they will attain the bliss of longevity. By doing so, he has invaded my Mara’s state and brought about great harm. So, how can I not give rise to evil thoughts?”

“Now, I want to lead my retinue of relatives and all the Mara’s soldiers to conquer Him. Even if I cannot stop The Monk Gautama from proclaiming The Sutra of Longevity and The Extinction of Offences, but with my present strength of awesome spiritual penetration, I can close the ears of all heavenly beings and the multitudes in that assembly so that they will be unable to hear The Buddha speaks The Sutra.”

After hearing that, the three daughters of Mara immediately advised their father by using the verses,

“The Heavenly Mara Bo-Xun has three daughters,
Who made obeisance before their father, The King and said, ‘The Monk Gautama is The Teacher of God and People,
The power of the Mara is unable to affect him.
Formerly He dwelt under the Bodhi Tree,
When He first sat on the Auspicious Dharma Seat,
The three of us tried to lure Him with our beauty,
As we are the most beautiful among the Heavenly ladies.’ ”
“ ‘We used hundreds kinds of beautiful dances to capture His attention,
But the Bodhisattva did not even give rise to a thought of indulgence
He contemplated the three of us like the old ladies,
So now He is able to attain The Bodhi of Proper Enlightenment
And becomes The Teacher of all beings.
Father, you with your bow and arrows tried to frighten Him,
With your soldiers and weapons that fully filled up the empty space,
But the Bodhisattva contemplated them like the show for children,
He was not frightened; neither did He retreat from The Bodhi Mind.
So now He is certified to The Bodhi Path and becomes The Dharma King.
We only hope that our father, The King will put to rest the evil thoughts.’ ”

After listening to the verses of his daughters, the Heavenly Mara Bo-Xun renewed his plan and readjusted his retinue of relatives into new groupings. Besides he chose an efficient troop of intelligent soldiers and told them, “I will go with you all to the dwelling of The Buddha. We must pretend that we want to surrender. We must make use of different kinds of skills
in-means so that The Buddha will believe in us.”

“If we are able to get his trust, then we can use the chance to do all kinds of evil deeds, in order to obstruct the propagation of this Sutra.” After saying that, he together with his retinue of Mara went to the dwelling of The Buddha.They circumambulated The Buddha for seven times. After that he said,

“World Honoured One, are you tired after speaking The Dharma? I now bring my retinue of relatives along to listen to the Sutra of Longevity and The Extinction of Offences. We wish to become the disciples of The Buddha. I only hope that The World Honoured One who is kind and compassionate will accept us. May I obtain what I have desired.”

The World Honoured One scolded the King of Mara immediately, “You were already full of anger when you were at your palace. Your plan is to come here and pretend to walk about in my assembly, waiting for chances to commit all evil deeds. In the Buddha Dharma, we do not allow you to deceive others.”

Immediately the King of Mara B-Xun was ashamed of himself. He stopped putting on his deceitful appearance and said to
The Buddha, “World Honoured One! My stupid and deceitful plans can surely be unable to conceal from you. May The Buddha who is greatly kind and compassionate forgive my offences! Now as I have heard The Dharani Mantra on Longevity, The Extinction of offences and The Protection of small children, I vow that,

“ ‘ In the Dharma Ending Age, if there are living beings who accept, uphold, write down, read and recite this Sutra, wherever they may be, I will protect them so that no evil ghosts will have the chance to harm them.’ “

“ ‘If those people who have already fallen into the hells are to remember and be mindful of this sutra for just an instant, I
will use my spiritual power to take the water of the great seas and pour on the offenders so that they will feel refresh with the moisture of water. I will transform the great Hells into lotus ponds too. ‘ ”

At that time, there were many Flying Raksas, with Eating Children Raksa as their leader came together with their retinue of Raksas of the same family. They came down from the empty Space and circumambulated The Buddha for a thousand times. They told The Buddha, “World Honoured One! We for innumerable kalpas have been born as Raksas. Our retinue of relatives are as many as there are sands in the Ganges River.”

“Everyone of us suffers from hunger. Wherever we go, we will look for foetus and new born babies. We then eat their flesh and drink the blood. Our retinues always spy on all living beings and we wait for the time when the husband and wife are having coition in order to eat the sperms. Then, they will have no children. Or at times, we follow them and enter the wombs to destroy the foetus and partake the blood.”

“Or we try to find chance to kill the new born baby within the first seven days. Even for a child who is under ten years old,our retinue will change themselves into all kinds of evil worms and poisonous bacteria to enter the stomach of the child. We consume on his internal organs, sperms and blood. By doing so, the child will vomit the milk and be infected with dysentery. Sometimes he may be infected with intestinal disorders or Malaria.”

“Or at times, we will cause him to be so sick that is eyes become greenish blue in colour. The body will be swollen with water and the belly is inflated. Gradually we are able to take away his life. Now, we have listened to The Buddha’s teaching on Longevity, The Extinction of Offences and The Protection of Young Children, we will uphold the order of The World Honoured One even if it means that our retinue will have to suffer from hunger. We will never again dare to eat the foetus and babies.”

The Buddha told the raksas, “You all should accept and uphold the precepts in The Buddha Dharma. By upholding the precepts, after the passing away of the raksa’s body, you will then be able to attain a rebirth in the heaven to enjoy the blessing and bliss.”

Again, The Buddha told the multitudes in the assembly, “If there is a child who is suffering from all kinds of diseases, you should teach the kind mother to take out a small portion of the breast milk and disperse it into empty space, to give to all the raksas. And with a pure body and mind, she should accept and uphold this Dharani Sutra on Longevity, the Extinction of Offences and the Protection of Young Children. She may write it down, read and recite it. The child will soon recover from the sicknesses.”

When all the raksas heard this, they were extremely happy and told The Buddha, “If we are able to attain a rebirth in the heaven, our retinue will never again harm the children and take their milk. Even if we were to swallow iron pellets, we will never drink the children’s blood.”

“After the Buddha has entered Nirvana, if there is a man who can read, recite, accept and uphold this sutra, wherever he may be, we will carry the Vajra Rod of The Buddha to protect him. We will never let the evil men to get the chance to disturb and harm The Dharma Master, neither do we allow the evil ghosts to cause any harm and misery to the young children.”

At that time, all the great Heavenly Kings and their retinue, all the Dragon Kings, Yaksa Kings, Asura Kings, Garuda Kings, Kinnaras Kings, Mahoragas Kings, Xue-Li-Dou Kings, Pi-She-Zhe Kings, Fu-Dan-Na Kings, Jia-Zha-Fu-Dan-Na Kings and other Kings who each brought along their retinue of followers and relatives.

They made obeisance to The Buddha. Then they brought forth the same mind, put their palms together and said,”World Honoured One! From now onwards, wherever there are Bhikshus, Bhikshunis, Upasaka and Upasika who are able to accept and uphold this Sutra of Longevity, or write it down, I together with my retinue will always protect such a person and the place where he dwells.”

“We Kings are able to chase away all evil ghosts. There are evil ghosts who disturb and harm the living beings and cause them to be infected with diseases. If such a patient who is able to write down, accept, uphold, read and recite this Sutra with a pure body and mind, we Kings will subdue all the evil ghosts so that they will be unable to harm this man. Neither will he die in accidents or experience great pain and torture in his death bed.”

At that time, The Heavenly Spirit of Firm and Solid Earth also left his Seat. Respectfully he said to The Buddha, “World Honoured One! If the disciple of The Buddha accept and uphold this Sutra of Longevity, the Extinction of Offences and The Protection of Young Children, we Heavenly Spirits of Earth will always provide him with abundant food from the earth in order to strengthen him. He will obtain an increase in the blessing of a long lifespan.”

“We will always offer all kinds of gold and silver, wealth, grains and rice to the man who has faith in this Sutra, so that he will never be in lack of anything. He will obtain a healthy and peaceful body with no more worries, suffering and anger.”

“His mind is always blissful for he has obtained the superior fields of blessing. No evil ghosts will be able to take away his life. If there is a new born baby, within the first seven days of his birth, we earth spirits will protect him so that he will not die at a young age.”

After that, The Vajra of Great Strength also said to The Buddha at the assembly, “World Honoured One! After The Thus Come One has spoken This Dharani Mantra of The Sutra of Longevity, The Extinction of Offences and The Protection of Young Children, all the different Heavenly Kings and their retinue, those raksa kings, The Dharma Protectors and the good spirits all brought the vows to protect those who read, recite and write down this Sutra. Besides they also offer them whatever they need so that they will not be in lack of anything.”

“I once asked the Great Virtuous One Bhargavan who spoke the Great Spiritual Strength Mantra of Auspicious words. If there are living beings who are able to hear these words for once, in hundreds of thousands of life-time, they will not experience the suffering of a short life-span. Besides they will be endowed with innumerable blessing and lifespan. Besides their bodies will be free from sicknesses.”

“Even with the four Mara who are still dwelling in the body, they will be under controlled. So such a being will increase in lifespan. He may live up to one hundred and twenty years old. He can even attain state with no aging and no-death. He will obtain the Fruition position of non-retreating.”

“If those disciples of The Buddha who are infected with serious diseases are able to hear this mantra, the evil ghosts will have no way to take away their lives.” Then The Great Strength Vajra said The Mantra:

“ ‘Dou-Ti-Ye-Ta, Zhan-Ta-Li, Zhan-Ta-Luo-Pi-Ti, Zhan-Ta-Luo-Mo-Niu, Zhan-Ta-Luo-Pa-Ti, Zhan-Ta-Luo-Pu-Li, Zhan-Ta-Luo-Men-Yi, Zhan-Ta-Luo-Ti-Li, Zhan-Ta-Fei-Mie, Zhan-Tu-Luo, Zhan-Ta-Luo-Po-Luo-Zi, Zhan-Ta-Luo-Fu-Ta-Li, Zhan-Ta-Luo-Po-Ti-Yi, Zhan-Ta-Luo-Po-Mie, Zhan-Ta-Luo-Fa-Zhi, Zhan-Ta-Luo-Lu-Ji, Su-Po-Ho.’ ”

The Buddha said, “Good indeed! Good indeed! The Great Strength Vajra! Now, as you are able to speak this Auspicious
Spiritual Mantra of Protecting the Young Children, you will soon become The Greatest Leader and Teacher of all sentient
beings.”

The Buddha then turned to speak to Manjushri Bodhisattva, “Manjushri! You should know that this Mantra was proclaimed by all the past Buddhas. It has the awesome strength to protect all cultivators. Besides it helps to increase the lifespan of Gods and People and to eradicate all offences, defilement and evil views. It also helps to protect those who uphold this Sutra so that they will increase in blessings and obtain a prolongation of lifespan.”

Again, The World Honoured One spoke to the Dharma Prince Manjushri, “After my extinction, in the Evil World of Five Turbidities, if there is a Bhikshu who goes against the rules of precepts which are taught by me, who is attached to Bhikshunis and other girls, or who desires the Shramanas and Shramaneras, or who partakes meat and drinks wine……”

“Who has strong and uncontrollable desires for love, or who carries out other impure worldly affairs, but still does not give rise to a sense of shame or remorse. Such a mind resembles that of a piece of hard wood and he is sure to be despised by worldly people. Indeed he will destroy my Dharma. You should know that such a Bhikshu is not my disciple. He belongs to the group of Bhikshus who practises (practices) the five unwholesome deeds. He also belongs to the retinue of Heavenly Mara and is in the group of six teachers of the deviant path.”

Bhikshus like these will presently obtain a short lifespan. Those Bhikshunis who break the precepts will also receive the same retribution. But if they are able to repent and reform sincerely, and never to commit such offences, besides receiving and upholding this Sutra, then they will be free from offences and obtain longevity.”

“Moreover, Manjushri! After my extinction, in the Evil World of Five Turbidities, if there are Bodhisattvas who slander others, who enjoy praising themselves for being full of merits, virtues, goodness and beauty, who are stingy to teach and pass on the Great Vehicle Sutras to others, such Bodhisattvas indeed belong to the retinue of the Mara. They are not true Bodhisattvas.”

“But if such a Bodhisattva is able to sincerely and wholeheartedly receive and uphold this Sutra, to write it down, read and recite it, then he will also obtain an indestructible, permanent Vajra Body just like all the Buddha. Moreover, Manjushri, after my extinction, in the Evil World of Five Turbidities, if there is a king who kills or harms his parents, who kills the relatives without any reasons, who does not carry out his duty in accord to the Proper Dharma…….”

“.…….who invades other countries for no reason at all and who kills the loyal officers if they try to advise him. On top of that, he himself indulges deeply in sexual desires and goes against The Proper Dharma which was set up by his forefathers in the King’s Lineage. Besides he destroys the Buddha’s pagodas and temples, and burns down the Buddha’s images and sutras. The country of such an evil king will face the calamities of flood and drought. The wind and rain will not come at proper time and so that citizens will suffer from thirst and hunger. Many of them will die of plague.”

“As the king is unruly, so he will obtain a short lifespan in this life. After he has passed away, he will fall into the Great Avici Hell. But if he is able to write down this Sutra, to propagate the Sutra widely besides making offering to it, to repent and reform sincerely his offences, and to carry out the tasks and country’s affairs in accordance to the Proper Dharma set up by his forefathers in the King’s Lineage, then he will gain longevity.”

“Moreover, Manjushri! After my extinction, in the Evil World of Five Turbidities, if there are High Officers and those officers appointed by the Royal Palace, who enjoy the salary but do not carry out the duties wholeheartedly. These unfaithful officers are not shameful nor do they feel remorseful in their misdeeds. They are pretentious and deceitful. They praise falsely and are not loyal to the country. They are greedy and corrupted, and go against the law. On top of that they bully the people and kill the innocent beings.”

“With the power, strength and position, they claim others’ wealth and jewels as their own without any consideration. They
also harm the people in their country. In addition, they look down on Sutras and obstruct the propagation of the Great Vehicle Buddha Dharma. People like these will obtain a short lifespan presently. After they have passed away, they will fall into the Avici Hell and never will they obtain a release.”

“But if they are able to sincerely repent and reform, in addition to accept and uphold this Sutra, write in down, read and recite it, then they will obtain longevity and are able to retain their position as High officers and enjoy the wealth. Moreover, Manjushri, after my extinction, in the Evil World of Five Turbidities, if there are Good Men, or Good Women who dwell in the homelife to practise The Buddha’s teaching, but later they change their faith and believe in the confused and evil views of the deviant path for they no longer have faith in the Proper Dharma of The Great Vehicle.”

“People like these are very stingy. They prefer to store up the innumerable amount of hundreds of thousands of gold and silver pieces but refuse to give them away. Their greed is never satiated for they will continue to seek and acquire more wealth and benefit. These rich people do not enjoy giving in order to relieve the poors. Besides, they cannot write down, accept, uphold, read and recite the Twelve Divisions of Sutras. They will never be able to escape the suffering which is brought about by the Ghost of Impermanence.”

“The household of such a person will not be peaceful. Inauspicious events will take place in the most unlikely manners without any reasons at all. For examples, there may have the sudden appearance of sparrows under the stove; the snake will glide into the halls and bedrooms; the dogs may suddenly climb up the house while the rats will produce hundreds of kinds of sounds. Many wild animals and birds will try to push their way into his house.”

“Hundreds of kinds of ghastly ghosts of the forests will appear in his house. Because of seeing the ghosts and strange sights, the man will be afflicted and is extremely frightened. Such a man may die young because he is tortured by these afflictions and frightening appearances. But if he is able to accept, uphold and write down this Sutra, and widely circulate it for people to read and recite, then he will over-power the above strange happenings. He will then obtain a long lifespan.”

“Moreover, Manjushri, after my extinction, in the Evil World of Five Turbidities, there are those living beings who as the parents in the family, will continue to pity and worry about their grown up children. Because of worries and overconcerned their mind is always unsettled. What is the reason behind this?”

“For examples, the boy who has grown up to be a man is forced to enter the military force according to the law of the country. He is not free to go anywhere and his parents will continue to worry about him. Such is called the sickness of the mind. Or may be the grown-up daughter who has already married is being looked down by the husband’s family. The husband and wife never live in harmony. The daughter will be bullied by the mother-in-laws. Because of over concerned over their daughter, the mind is never at ease.”

“Because of an unsettled mind, a man is tortured by worries, suffering and anger throughout the day. This will again cause him to fall sick easily. He will suffer from all kinds of diseases in the present lifespan. Finally he is sure to die young.”

“But if a man is able to write down, accept and uphold this Sutra, then he will obtain longevity. Because of the strength of the Sutra and Mantra, the marriage will be successful and blissful. The-in-laws will live in harmony. The son will return home peacefully and so the sickness of the mind will be eradicated.”

“Moreover, Manjushri! After my extinction, in the Evil World of Five Turbidities, there are living beings who are not replete with a mind of kindness and compassion. They kill and harm the living beings and devour the flesh of all kinds of animals. Manjushri! Such behaviour is the same as killing one’s parents, and it also resembles the eating of our next of kin and friends.”

“Because of killing and harming the living beings, in addition to destroying the foetus, such a man will lead a short lifespan presently. Even when the husband and wife are having coition, the sperms will be eaten by the Evil Raksas and so they will have no children in future.”

“But if he is able to write down, accept, uphold, read and recite this Sutra, then he can escape the evil fruition of a short
life with no children to carry down his surname. Moreover, Manjushiri, after my extinction, in the Evil World of  Five Turbidities, all living beings are born without spiritual penetration of the past lives. So they do not know the rotation of cause and effect. When they temporarily obtain the human forms, they feel that they should fully enjoy themselves presently.”

“Besides, such a man will create all sinful karma with his body. May be he enjoys slandering others, or he may make use
of his powerful, honourable and wealthy disposition to threaten others’ lives. He will give rise to all kinds of evil thoughts. On top of that he will have no faith in the Great Vehicle Sutra for he is arrogant and proud.”

“People like these will not live long presently. But if such a man is able to repent and reform sincerely, and with a subdued, soft and gentle mind, he is able to write down this Sutra. Besides he will accept, uphold, read and recite it. With the strength of such good roots, he may have the chance to prolong his lifespan. Even if he is seriously sick and has to face all calamities and dangers, he will never die in accidents.”

“Moreover, Manjushri! after my extinction, in the Evil World of Five Turbidities, if there is a living being who has to represent the country to go to another country with the order of the King, or who has to seek for treasures and wealth so as to fulfill the wishes and instructions of his parents. He may have to go through dangerous path and cross over the deep sea to carry out the business affairs.”

“And after such a man has obtained lots of wealth and benefits, he becomes proud, arrogant and stubborn. He practises all evil deeds such as playing the chess, gambling and dancing. He will make friends with the evil men and spend his money on prostitutes.”

“As he does not follow the order of the King, neither does he listen to the teaching and advice of the parents, he will lose his life finally for spending too much time in drinking and seeking the companion of beautiful women.”

“Or at times he may be lucky enough to stay alive with a little more treasure and wealth. But because of drinking, his mind gets confused and so he is unable to differentiate the safety of the roads. Finally he will enter the dangerous path and be robbed by the evil robbers. He will then be killed.”

“But if he is able to write down this Sutra, to widely bring forth the deep vows, then wherever he dwells, the evil robbers will not come forth. All evil animals will be unable to harm him. His mind is blissful and so the body is naturally calm at ease. His wealth and jewels will always be with him. With the strength of the Sutra and Mantra, he will obtain a long lifespan.”

“Moreover, Manjushri! After my extinction, in the Evil World of Five Turbidities, there are living beings who have created bad karma and fallen into the hells after passing away. After they have finished undergoing the retribution of the hells, they will be born as animals.”

“Even if such a man is able to obtain a human form, his six roots will be incomplete. May be he is born deaf, blind, dumb and mute. The shape of the body may be hunch backed, deformed, with abnormal curvature of the spine. Or at times such a person is born as a woman who is illiterate and unable to read the Sutras. Even if he is born as a man, he will be deluded, stupid and dull in nature because of the evil karma from past lives. He will not be able to read and recite The Sutra of Longevity.”

“As he is always worried and experiences all kinds of sufferings and anger, his mind is never at ease and so he will die at a young age.”

“But if he is able to invite the Good Knowing Adviser to write the Sutra for him in order to give to others, besides making obeisance respectfully and wholeheartedly to the Sutra. With the innumerable merits and virtues thus accumulated, he will never have to undergo such evil retribution. Presently he will obtain a long lifespan.”

“Moreover, Manjushri! After my extinction, in the Evil World of Five Turbidities, if there is a living being who after his death, his relatives are able to practise good deeds on his behalf so as to create merits and virtues for him within the first seven days or forty-nine days. If the merits and virtues were to divide into seven portions, the dead one can only obtain the benefit of one portion.”

“On the contrary, within forty-nine days, if a man who during his present lifespan is able to stop all household and worldly activities to write this Sutra, to offer incense and flowers to it and to make obeisance to The Buddha. He also specially prepares seven times of Vegetarian Food as Dana to offer to the Sangha in order to cultivate offering widely. The merits and virtues thus accumulated will be as many as there are sands in the Ganges River.”

“By doing so, such a man will obtain a long lifespan presently. He will never fall into the three evil paths to undergo acute sufferings. If he has already passed away, his next of kin can then use, his wealth and property to practise giving widely, to relieve the poors and make offering to the virtuous ones in the ten directions. If they can cultivate such blessings and virtues for him, the dead one will obtain all the seven portions of merits and virtues.”

“Moreover, Manjushri! After my extinction, in the Evil World of Five Turbidities, if there are those living beings who are not filial to their parents, who are unkind and with no compassion. Instead, they create the five unwholesome deeds. Besides, they are not grateful to their parents, neither do they show any love towards their brothers and sisters.”

“But the Heavenly King Who Practises The Path still goes around all worlds under the Heavens, playing all kinds of music. He also sends His retinue of relatives to Jambudvipa, during the Vegetarian Diet Months so as to bring benefit to all living beings. If a man is involved in accidents or falls sick seriously, The Heavenly King Who Practises The Path will still help him to get rid of the evil ghosts. Then he will recover from sickness.”

“But, if the living beings are not filial to their parents, are full of jealousy and create evil deeds, they will fall sick for encountering the Ghost King Who Disperses Diseases. The Ghost King will blow the foul air at them. They will then be infected with diseases of plague, or feel cold and hot alternately. They will be weak because of Malaria, or get confused when they are controlled by evil ghosts. Or the whole body is infected with ringworm and other chronic diseases.”

“But if such a man is able to purify his body and mind, burn incense and shower flowers before writing down this Sutra, on the first day of the first Lunar month, or make obeisance to The Buddha and offer Dana to the Sangha besides upholding the precepts and observing the vegetarian diet before reciting this Sutra for seven days. Then, he will never fall sick forever because of the good merits and virtues. He will gain longevity.”

“Moreover, Manjushri! After my extinction, in the Evil World of Five Turbidities, the root of living beings is gradually deteriorated and the blessing is getting less. At the end of the kalpa, there will appear in the sky the seven suns which shine at the same time. Even if there are not as many as seven, but due to the King who is lack of virtue, the land will face drought, with the air resembles that of burning fire.”

“All the grass, herbs, wood and forests, the hundred kinds of grains and sugar cane, the rice, hemp, flowers, fruits and others on the earth will wither and die.”

“But if the King and all living beings are able to read and recite, accept and uphold this Sutra, the Dragon King Nanda, Prananda and others will show pity on living beings. They will lift the water from great seas to moisturize all woodland, forests, grains, herbs, flowers, fruits, sugar cane and others. The rain like sweet dew, will moisturize all beings. Everyone will gain longevity because of the strength of the Sutra and Mantra.”

“Moreover, Manjushri! After my extinction, in the Evil World of Five Turbidities, if there are living beings who without righteousness are greedy for wealth while carrying out the business affair. They cheat the customers by adjusting the weighing machines and giving wrong measurements. Such sinful karma will bring them down to Hells after death.

“After the retribution in the Hells, they will be born as animals like cows, horses, goats, donkeys, pigs, elephants, birds and other wild lives, worms and mosquitoes, ants and other insects.”

“If there is a great Bodhisattva who is replete with kindness and compassion is to recite this Sutra repeatedly before all animals, birds, wild lives, snakes, worms, rats, ants and others, so that they will hear this Sutra in their original consciousness, then these beings will each attain liberation from their groups and kinds with the strength of Sutra and Mantra.”

“These animals and minute beings will leave their present life forms and be born in the Heavens to enjoy bliss. But if there is a Bodhisattva who is not replete with kindness and compassion, who does not have pity on living beings, and is unable to widely proclaim this Sutra, then he is not the disciple of The Buddha. He belongs to the retinue of Mara.”

“Moreover, Manjushri! After my extinction, in the Evil World of Five Turbidities, if there are living beings who are arrogant and have no faith in the Sutra of Buddha Dharma, besides they slander my Dharma.”

“Or when there is a man who speaks The Buddha Dharma but the audience is not attentive, then with the above offences, they will obtain a short lifespan. After passing away, they will be born in the Hells.”

“If there is a Way-Place which lectures on this Sutra of Longevity, and all living beings are able to go and listen to the Sutra, or exhort others to do so besides sharing the seats with them.”

“Such people are the great Dharma Protectors in Buddhism. They will obtain longevity and never fall into the three Evil Paths. If there is a man who wishes to speak this Sutra, then he can simply arrange a pure Way-Place in accordance to the size of the room.”

“Moreover, Manjushri! After my extinction, in the Evil World of Five Turbidities, all those pregnant women who kill and devour the flesh of living beings or eat the eggs so as to strengthen their bodies.”

“Such a woman who is lacking in kindness and compassion will get the retribution of a short lifespan presently. She will face a difficult delivery and might even die from it.”

“Even if she can deliver the child safely, he is indeed the creditor or enemy who comes to seek a repayment of debts. He can never be the good knowing adviser who is beneficial to the family.”

“But if this woman is able to bring forth good vows besides writing down this Sutra, accept, uphold, read and recite it, then she will not have to face a difficult delivery. Safely she will deliver the child without any hindrance. Mother and child will both be blissful. She will get what she has vowed for, either a son or a daughter.”

“Again, The Buddha spoke to Manjushri Bodhisattva, “This Sutra on Buddha’s Nature of Longevity, The Extinction of offences and The Twelve Conditioned Links of Causation that I am now speaking was also spoken by all Past Buddhas. If living beings are able to accept, uphold, read and recite this Sutra, they will obtain great blessings and benefits. Their present lifespan will be more than one hundred and twenty years.”

“When they are to pass away, torturing such as the cutting of bodies with the knives of wind will not be experienced by them. In fact they will be free from all sufferings. They will obtain The Buddha’s Vajra, Permanent and Indestructible body for reading the Sutra of Buddha’s Nature. Such a body is naturally clear and pure, with firm and solid mindfulness in every thought. Wherever they are, they will constantly be protected and illuminated by all Bodhisattvas.”

“The Bodhisattva Who Contemplates The Sound of The World and The Great Strength Bodhisattva will come to welcome the man who is mindful of Buddha. They ride on white elephants with six tusks and travel on clouds of five colours. They brought along a Lotus Flower dias to lead him to attain rebirth in the Non-Moving Buddhaland. He will naturally be blissful and does not have to undergo eight sufferings.”

“Manjushri, you should know that all deluded living beings do not realize that their lifespan with little blessing is as short as the sparks from rubbing stones or the lightning. The lifespan also resembles the foam on water surface. So they are not frightened nor worried while soaking in the seas of birth and death.”

“As these livings do not realize their danger which resembles that of burning eye-brows, so they greedily indulge in the benefits from wealth, love and sensual desires. Or they consume so much wine that their lifespan is at stake. There are also those who are jealous, deluded and arrogant. Most of them will sink in the seas of suffering with no chance for liberation.”

“Only the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are able to cross over the seas of birth and death. The common sentient beings are sure to sink into them. The ghastly ghosts of Impermanence comes at unpredictable time. Even if we wish to bribe him with innumerable and limitless amount of gold, silver, money and precious jewels, and seek to lengthen our life, it will still be in vain.”

“All living beings should know and contemplate constantly that the body is just like the four great poisonous snakes with innumerable worms that feed on it throughout days and nights. They should contemplate that the body is full of evil. It is like a dead dog which is not to be desired. And the body is impure, with the nine apertures that produce the smelly dirt, wax and sweat constantly. And it is also like a city’s pond which becomes the dwelling place for Raksas Ghosts.”

“Living beings should also contemplate that the body is like the morning dew which cannot dwell long. It will be eaten by birds and hungry dogs, so we should renounce the foul and smelly body to seek the mind of enlightenment. We should contemplate the time of death, when a man suffers acute pain just as though millions of arrows are penetrating his heart, with the two empty hands open widely.”

“When the root of life is completely cut off, the body swells and is covered with greenish bruises, within the first five days. Blood, pus and foul liquid will be oozed out. Even our beloved parents, wives and sons will not desire to take a look at it.”

“Even if it is buried in the earth, the flesh and bones will all be separated. The bones of the skeleton such as the tibia, scapula, ribs, spine and others will be at different position. The flesh, intestines, stomach, liver, kidney, lung, heart and others will all be the feeding place of abundant worms and bacteria.”

“If we are able to contemplate thus, then we will realize that there is no one who is really in existent. Then even if we were to be born in the world, all the gold, silver, pearls, carnelian, money and the treasury are none of our business. Then such a man will know how to renounce the foul, smelling body in search of Bodhisattva Path.”

“If there are living beings who seek to escape from these sufferings, then they should sacrifice all exterior possessions,even to the point of sacrificing their heads, eyes, brains and marrow in order to write down this sutra besides accepting,upholding, reading and reciting it.”

“This Sutra on The Buddha’s Nature of Twelve Conditioned Links of Causation is the secret store of all Buddhas. If a man is able to make the offering to it, circulate it and be mindful of it wholeheartedly, then he will be certified to The Unsurpassed Proper, Equal and Perfect Enlightenment. He will not die at a young age, neither will he suffer death accidentally.”

After The Buddha had spoken the Dharma of Buddha’s Nature of Twelve Conditioned Links of Causation in the Great Assembly, all The Bhikshus, Bhishunis, Upasaka, Upasika, Heavenly Dragons and the Eight-Fold Division, the Humans and Non-Humans and others, The King Prasenajit and His retinue of relatives, and other beings as many as the sands in the Ganges River, all obtained The Unsurpassed, Proper, Equal and Perfect Enlightenment. They were certified to The Dharma Patient of No-Birth.

They praised that they had never learnt such blissful Dharma. The multitude made obeisance wholeheartedly before The Buddha, accepted and upheld it joyfully.

淨空老法師解答’堕胎’/影片

    

净空法师谈堕胎

 

 净空法师谈化解堕胎的罪恶

 

 净空法师谈自杀与堕胎的后果

 

<不可以墮胎>

(以下內容均為直接節錄自 淨空法師的講演文字內容，尚未經過潤飾修改，敬請廣為流傳，普勸周邊的親朋好友，為這群無聲無辜的小生命請命，功德無量！感謝！)

殺生裡面，尤其是墮胎，墮胎的罪過比什麼都重，墮胎是殺人。冤冤相報麻煩可大了。母親懷孕，懷的這個小孩，這個小孩為什麼會到你家來？跟你家都有因果關係。佛在經上講，小孩跟父母的關係：報恩、報怨、討債、還債，四種關係，沒有這個關係他不來。如果他來報恩的，你把他殺掉，將來下一生結了冤仇，下一次來報仇；如果是來報仇的，你把他殺掉，好了，仇恨更深。這個事情麻煩大了，所以決定不可以墮胎，這是學佛人不能不知道的。

（節錄自 淨空法師「學佛問答」21-90-10）

 

問：「弟子現在懷有五個月的身孕，但是羊膜穿刺的結果卻得知嬰兒染色體異常。這樣的小孩除了低智能外，最糟的是有精神異常的可能。另外，在他長成或發展性的特徵時，可能會有性攻擊或者性別混亂的現象發生。我身邊的人，沒有人願意我留下這個嬰兒，所以決定在兩天後，也就是十九日做小產的催生。我個人知道這是很重的罪，亦不想和嬰兒結下惡緣，卻不知應該怎麼辦。請師父在我引產前教導我應該怎麼做，怎麼彌補我將犯下的重罪？求淨空法師快快幫助我，無限的感激！」

答：這是從台灣傳來的。這個問題在現在的社會，幾乎每一個地方、地區都有這樣同類的事情發生。從佛法的觀點上來看，這是眾生的共業，也是累劫不善業造成的結果。所以我們現在看到這些情況，我們看了也很難過。可是兒女跟父母是有直接而密切緣分而來的。世間人多少人想求兒女求不到，那是跟兒女沒有緣分。有人不想要的偏偏來。什麼原因？佛跟我們講，兒女跟父母有四種因緣，所謂是報恩、報怨、討債、還債。而實際上說，人與一切眾生都有這四種緣。如果個小孩是來報恩的，妳要把他殺掉，墮胎就是殺他，恩就變成仇了；如果是來報怨的，那個仇恨上就更加仇恨了，麻煩可大了。討債、還債再加上命債，我們知道因果通三世，冤冤相報，沒完沒了。我們這一世，所遭遇種種不幸，過去生中造的不善業；這一生當中能夠過得很安穩、很自在、很快樂，一切都能夠稱心如意，那是過去生中累積的善因。善因必得善果，惡因一定得惡報。

在這種情形、狀況之下，實在講，醫生的判斷未必正確。但是我們說的話沒有人相信，他們相信醫生的話，醫生是屬於科學，我們這個宗教是屬於迷信的，他就不能接受，這就沒有法子了。在這樣情況之下，在中國確實有不少好的中醫大夫，我相信中醫診斷、治療，有些地方確實是西醫所不能夠比的，不妨多看看、多參考參考。但是她這個時間來不及了，她說是十九號。今天幾號？今天十八，那是明天。

做彌補的方法，這是不得已挽救的方法，為小孩修福。修福的方法很多，最殊勝的方法是教育。這個事情不難做，在中國大陸要建一所小學，費用不多，大概新加坡的錢，在比較偏遠地區五、六萬塊錢就夠了，比較接近都市的地區建一個小學大概要十萬塊錢。這個事情可以拜託李會長去做。我們在大陸，現在已經建了十幾所學校。以這個功德迴向給這個小孩，我想這個小孩一定會很歡喜。然後再是誦經、念佛迴向給他，這是很好的一種超度、修福的方法。因為他是個嬰兒，建小學一般兒童是最歡喜的。我給她提供這個建議，她可以回去仔細去想想。如果願意做，我相信李會長一定肯幫這個忙。

（節錄自 淨空法師「學佛問答」21-90-31）

 

問：墮胎，誦《地藏經》怎麼迴向？

答：墮胎這個問題非常嚴重！佛在經上告訴我們，兒女跟父母這個緣非常深 ，如果沒有緣不會到你家裡來，到你家裡面來的是很深的緣分。緣裡面有四種：有報恩來的，過去你對他有恩惠，這一生來的時候就是孝子賢孫。他本來報恩的，你墮胎，把他殺掉，不但恩沒有了，還結了冤仇。下一次再遇到的時候，他來報仇，你說麻煩不麻煩！如果是報怨的，你把他殺掉，怨上又加了冤仇，冤仇愈結愈深，生生世世冤冤相報沒完沒了。一般社會人他不相信，那沒法子！不是說不信就沒有，不信沒有，我也就不信它了，不信還是有；不管你信不信，這事實決定存在。

這個事情不能不謹慎，要解這個冤結是很費事的。能不能解得開？能解得開，就要看你怎麼去做。《地藏經》裡面作法，非常有效果。不是念幾部《地藏經》就行了，那不管用。你看看婆羅門女、光目女怎樣度她的親屬，她們的家親死後墮在地獄、墮在惡道，她怎麼樣去幫助他、怎樣去超度他，你能夠學習婆羅門女、光目女，那樣勇猛精進的修學，這冤結解開了。我講《地藏經》的時候說得很清楚、很明白，婆羅門女念佛念到一心不亂，以這個功德迴向給他，行！你要沒有這個功夫，你怎麼超度他？光目女念佛念到功夫成片。

我們怎麼知道他到這個境界？婆羅門女在定中到地獄，地獄裡面只有兩種人能見得到，我們一般人見都見不到。一種是造作地獄罪業，要墮到地獄裡面去受果報，他見到地獄。第二種是菩薩，凡人見不到，菩薩可以到地獄裡面去參觀，去度化眾生。只有這兩種人。婆羅門女去參觀地獄，鬼王見到她，稱她菩薩。念到事一心不亂，就有能力去參觀地獄，去教化眾生，那是人家一日一夜的功夫，證了果。不是說《地藏經》念念就行了，沒那麼輕鬆、沒那麼容易。真正依照經典的道理方法去修行，把自己境界從凡夫提升到菩薩，你的冤家債主就統統得度了。光目女是在夢中的境界，次一等，沒有到一心不亂，我們可以說她那個應當是功夫成片，是很淺的念佛三昧，也得到殊勝的感應。

由此可知，經典裡面說的理論方法都沒有錯，我們粗心大意往往把經典看錯。「受持讀誦、為人演說」，什麼叫「受持」？每天念一遍就叫受持？不是這個意思。兩個字的意思都錯會了。「受」是把經典裡面講的理論方法我完全接受；依教奉行，這叫受持。經上講的道理、講的方法，不能落實在自己日常生活當中，不叫受持。平常你每天念一部經、念兩部經，只是讀誦，沒有受持。受持是自利，演說是利他，自行化他。我們不在這上做真功夫，以為多念幾聲佛號、多念幾部經給他迴向，那是什麼？小事情，鬼神求你幫忙，行，這辦法行。這種大的冤仇，你這是小恩小惠，人家不接受的，這個道理我們要懂得。所以遇到人家要墮胎要勸她，決定不造這個罪業，這個罪業非常非常麻煩！

（節錄自 淨空法師「學佛問答」21-90-37）

 

問：「有助人流產的，是誦《地藏經》或哪一部經為好？需誦多少遍或多長時間？請法師開示。」

答：墮胎的，這個問題嚴重了。墮胎是跟人家結非常深重的冤仇。這一個神識來投胎，他跟你過去生中有緣分！這是佛在經上講的，四種緣才到你家裡來投胎，這四種緣：報恩的、報怨的、討債的、還債的。如果沒有這個關係，他不會到你家來。你想想看，如果是報恩來的，你墮胎，把他殺了，恩變成仇，下一次再來，他是來報仇來的，他就不是報恩的。如果是報怨而來的，你殺了他，仇恨上再加仇恨，這怎麼得了？所以這樁事情，非常非常可怕，愈想愈恐怖。為什麼今天社會這麼動亂，天災人禍這麼多？這是一個主要因素，眾生共業所造的，我們一定要知道。

為了要解除這個冤仇，你念《地藏經》、念《金剛經》、念《無量壽經》都好，給他迴向；誠心誠意的念，希望能化解。要念多少部，那就是你自己決定。你覺得念多少部才能化解這個冤仇？我們一般想的，總是一千部到三千部，看人家答應不答應？人家不答應，還是沒有辦法。所以這看對方答不答應。但是我們想，能夠到一千部到三千部，這個冤仇應該是可以化解。誠心誠意念！如果一天念一部，三千部差不多要十年；一天念三部，三千部大概三年可以完成。這個事情我們要好好的去想想。

（節錄自 淨空法師「學佛問答」21-90-54）

 

問：「關於曾經墮胎的人，知錯之後，要怎樣做才如法？」

答：這個問題在現前社會，無論是在外國、中國，都非常普遍。我們也曾經在講席裡頭說過多次，這個罪過非常重。佛在經上常常告訴我們，一家人過去的緣分都很深，佛說有四種深厚的因緣，才會成為一家人。這四種，第一種是報恩來的，過去生中於他有恩德，所以這一類大概是我們一般所講的孝子賢孫，稟性非常純厚。如果墮胎殺他，這個恩德就變成仇恨，仇恨很難化解，確實是冤冤相報，沒完沒了。如果不接觸佛法，這個事情確實是麻煩，這個結解不開。我們接觸佛法之後，才知道這個問題嚴重；如果不接觸，我們也不知道。這是在沒有接觸佛法之前，我們做錯這個事情，現在學佛知道了。知道，就要想辦法化解。

化解最有效果的方法，是依照佛教導我們的方法修行，我們將修行真實的功德迴向給他。單單念迴向偈，沒有什麼多大用處。你說「願以此功德，莊嚴佛淨土」，你的功德在哪裡？你拿什麼功德去莊嚴佛淨土？你一定要修積功德，將這個功德迴向，那才管用。我們依照佛的教誨，認真修行，斷惡修善，破迷開悟，這個功德迴向給他就有用處。

無論是報恩也好報怨也好，報怨是報仇的，你把他殺掉，仇恨更深，所謂是「冤家宜解不宜結」，我們跟這些人要把冤解開，不能夠再結。如果是討債的，我們把他殺掉，債還是欠在那裡，又加上命債，這個麻煩就大了，不但欠錢，還欠他命。他是還債的倒還好，他是來還債的，但是你把他殺掉，又跟他欠上命債，這個事情一定要知道。

我們修積一切功德，平常做一些修善事，都可以給他迴向，而且把不可以墮胎、墮胎所遭的嚴重後果要告訴別人，幫助別人千萬不要犯這個過失，這是很大的功德。勸一個人把墮胎的念頭打消，就是救人一命，佛家講「救人一命，勝造七級浮屠」，這功德很大，所以要多勸人，多把這個道理說給人聽。冤冤相報這個事情麻

煩，不可以做這個事情。依照佛法修學，這就如法。

（節錄自 淨空法師「學佛問答」21-90-55）

 

問：「我墮胎兩次，流產一次，罪能消嗎？」

答：這個罪很重很重！當然能消，要看你用什麼樣的方法，真心懺悔、斷惡修善、改過自新，罪業才能消除。否則的話很難，這是很重的罪，因為兒女到你家來投胎不是隨便來的，多少人求兒求女，一生求不到，為什麼原因？過去生中跟這些眾生沒有緣；凡是到你家裡來的，跟你的緣很厚。佛講有四種緣，有報恩的，如果這個小孩是來報你恩的，你墮胎把他殺掉了，恩就變成仇了，這很可怕！下一次再來的時候，不是報恩是來報仇的。如果這個小孩是來報仇的，你把他殺掉，仇上再加仇恨，這怎麼得了？冤冤相報沒完沒了，這個結怎麼解開？自己真正覺悟了，真正懺悔，斷惡修善、積功累德，念念給他迴向，希望把冤結解除。

現在這種事情，可以說在世界上任何一個地區，任何一個角落都非常普遍，這個道理世間人不知道，事實真相更是無知，所以他造下這些罪業，跟眾生結了深仇大恨，果報是沒完沒了，很可怕、很悽慘。所以自己決定要念佛求生淨土，把自己修行功德迴向給他，給自己的冤親債主。真誠心能感動鬼神，所謂是誠則靈；不誠就沒有辦法了。依照佛法修學是會有效應的，一定要如理如法好好去修學。

（節錄自 淨空法師「學佛問答」21-90-86）

 

問：「請問師父就護生觀如何看待目前自殺、墮胎問題日漸嚴重的社會現象？」

答：這社會現象，說實在的話，「末日現象」，很可怕。我到達一個地區，我想了解社會狀況，社會的興衰、存亡，最明顯的觀察什麼？觀察這個社會裡面的家庭，因為家庭是社會最小的一分子，你觀察這個家庭健全不健全，家庭健全這個社會就更健康；家庭出了問題，這個社會肯定有嚴重問題。家庭裡面第一個我們看他的婚姻，如果離婚率很高，我們就曉得這個社會有嚴重問題，這個社會充滿危機，家庭破碎了，家不家則國不國。夫妻離婚，他們生下的兒女將來都是社會問題人物；單親，沒有母愛、沒有父愛，他缺少一邊，他的心理就不平衡，他長大了之後，就是社會動亂的種子，這怎麼辦？沒法子補救。社會的安危，決定權在家庭；家庭裡面的安危，決定權在夫婦，現在人哪懂得這個道理？

這些事情印光大師就講得很多，《文鈔》裡頭，他老人家非常關心。夫妻有好

的結合，就有好的家庭；有好的家庭，就有好的社會；有好的社會，天下就太平，人人享福。所以輕易離婚罪過極重，不是他自己兩個人的事情，他要曉得影響之所及。你影響社會、影響國家、影響到整個世界的安危，你的罪不重嗎？我最反對人離婚，有人提這事情，我一定勸他，你背的因果責任太重了，絕對不是開玩笑的。修行在哪裡修？人與人之間怎麼相處，這就是修行。你為什麼會結成夫妻？原因是當初相愛；為什麼現在不愛？當初在結婚之前，夫妻兩個都看到對方的優點，看不到對方缺點，都覺得非常可愛；結婚之後，生活在一起了，專看對方的缺點，把對方優點忘得一乾二淨，變得不能相處，原因在這裡。明瞭這個原因，應該怎麼做？一生當中只記對方的好處，不要記對方的缺點，夫妻好合。

像許哲居士一樣，她一生我們問她，她的心純善，善的心怎麼培養？專門記一切眾生的好處，一切眾生不好處，她不聽、她不聞、她不放在心上。李木源居士問她，「有時你也看到人家不善，你也聽到人家講不善，你怎麼辦？」她舉的例子很好，「就像我每天上街，街上看到有好多人，我也看到他們，我也聽到他們說話，你要問我，我什麼都不知道」，沒有記在心裡，這就對了！不管什麼人來說人家的長與短，不要放在心上，只把別人的善放在自己心上，成就自己的善心。如果把別人的惡業放在自己心上，不就把自己的善心變壞了嗎？這是最愚痴的作法，這個人沒有智慧，這個人上了人的大當，我們決定不這麼作法。即使別人毀謗我、侮辱我、陷害我，在我背後造謠生事，有別人來告訴我了，我都不聽，我都不接受，為什麼？我始終記得那個人的好處，決定不記那些謠言，不記！久而久之，造謠生事的人他也會受感動，他也會轉惡為善，這叫做普度眾生。中國古人常講：「成人之美，不成人之惡」，就是這麼個道理。別人為什麼造謠生事？為什麼說我這些壞話？我自己一定天天反省檢點，大概自己有哪些地方做錯，錯在我不在他。孟夫子教我們「反求諸己」，這是有道理的。佛菩薩教給我們，一切眾生決定沒有過失，過失在哪裡？過失在我們自己沒做好，沒學好，讓別人生煩惱，我們明白這個道理，就懂得做人。

自殺在佛法裡面講是絕大的錯誤，自殺不能解決問題，自殺的人很可憐。為什麼？譬如講上吊，佛在經上講，上吊後，中陰身不能投胎，他要找替身，找不到替身他不能投胎；不能投胎，每七天他又要去吊一次，鬼魂每七天又要去吊一次，很苦！不是說問題解決了，增加問題！解決不了問題。服毒自殺的，每七天他又要服毒一次，苦不堪言，最傻瓜人幹的事情，這不可以的。墮胎問題更嚴重，佛給我們講，兒女到你家裡來四種緣，報恩、報怨、討債、還債。如果小孩是來報恩的，你

墮胎把他殺掉了，就變成冤仇，你是恩將仇報，來生再碰到的時候，他就不是報恩，他是來報仇的，你說麻煩不麻煩？如果是報仇而來的，你把他殺掉了，仇上再加仇，仇恨加好多倍，不得了！

人不是一生的事情，一生就好辦，他有來生、他有後世，你要是想到來生後世，那就非常可怕了。如果已經做了這事情怎麼辦？你一定要知道懺悔，你要想辦法補救，怎麼補救？一定要斷惡修善，積功累德，把你所修的功德迴向給他，希望把怨結能夠化解。這事情要自己做，別人沒有辦法代替，佛菩薩也無可奈何，一定要自己真心去做。可是不學佛的人不懂得，不知道這樁事情的利害，不曉得將來還會有果報，這些事情佛在經上講得很清楚、很明白。所以佛的教育、佛家的經典講的是什麼東西？實在講全是講我們日常生活，在日常生活當中怎樣趨吉避凶，怎樣獲得這一生、來生、生生世世幸福美滿，佛教給我們生活教育，所以它是教育它不是宗教，我們一定要把它認識清楚，要認真努力去學習。

（節錄自 淨空法師「學佛問答」21-90-87）

 

問：『弟子在沒有學佛之前，曾經墮胎四次。學佛後，就讀《地藏經》迴向給他們。有一次在夢中見到他們，但是知道其中一個對我一直不諒解。後來聽了師父上人講經，就轉讀《無量壽經》，但是我心中還是苦，要將這個餘怨化解掉，應該再如何去做？請師父給弟子指引。她問了兩個問題，這是一個，我們先給你解答這個。』

答：這個事情很難，化解怨結真的不容易，有些冤親債主聽了佛法勸導，他就算了，不再找麻煩，這就是了了。有些很執著，非報不可，報仇，這種怨恨在阿賴耶裡面就變成種子，生生世世跟著你。佛家常講，因果通三世，所謂不是不報，時辰未到。而在佛經裡面講法，它講得更合理，更是合情合理，「假使百千劫，因緣相會時，果報還自受」，這個說法合情合理。所以，這個怨結可以推到無量劫之後，你說這個事情麻煩不麻煩！我們這些年來參與世界上許多學者專家，包括聯合國的和平活動，我們的目標就是希望化解社會上一些衝突，促進社會的安定和平。做了幾十年，有沒有效果？看不到效果，好像動亂一年比一年增加，災害一次比一次嚴重。這什麼原因？

使我們想到老子講的一句話，老子說「和大怨」，殺人的怨是最大的怨結。大怨，古人在註解裡面講有兩種，一種是殺父之仇，這是大怨，何況你殺他。你殺他，他不是甘心情願被你殺，他有怨恨，這個事情麻煩。所以墮胎是大怨，這是結大冤

仇，縱然調和了，「必有餘怨」，這老子說的。表面上平息了，內裡頭那個恨的意思沒有化解掉，這個東西很麻煩。什麼時候才能化解？覺悟就化解，在佛法裡面講，像今天經上講的貪瞋痴斷了，永遠斷了，那就化解了；煩惱都斷了，他不再有瞋恚心。哪個修行人到這個境界？所以真正這個餘怨，生生世世的餘怨統統化解掉，是圓教初住菩薩，破一品無明，證一分法身，那真正進入永久和平。永久和平，西方極樂世界永久和平，華藏世界永久和平，諸佛報土永久和平，這裡頭決定沒有絲毫餘怨。

所以我常常教人，我們用功，功夫要知道用在什麼地方，用在化解自己內心對一切人事物的對立；要把內心這個矛盾化解掉，你的身心平和，中國人常講心平氣和。你有貪瞋痴慢、有自私自利，你的心永遠不清淨，永遠不平；換句話說，和平這兩個字，你永遠做不到，心平氣和，那只是一句成語，你沒有分。我們學佛初步的功夫，就要從這裡下手，在生活當中、工作當中、處事待人接物學心平氣和。勉強學學不到，要真正用功夫，功夫就是把自己的怨結，看不順眼的人、討厭的人，都能看成歡喜，都能看成平等，這是修行真正的功夫。

這就轉境界，轉惡為善，轉怨為親，轉迷為悟，轉凡成聖。你要會轉，不會轉不行，這樣子才能夠化解餘怨。他雖然有怨恨，我沒有，他縱然來害我，我也很樂意接受。為什麼？帳清了，欠命的要還命，欠錢的要還錢，這個帳就了了，是好事，不是壞事。但是你到這個境界，如果再發心幫助別人覺悟，就是一般講的弘法利生，你的這些冤親債主有餘怨的，見到你也不忍心害你。為什麼？你現在在做好事，這時候不是害你的時候，甚至於他隨喜。你常常把這些功德迴向給他，他都得利益，那個餘怨才能化解，我們要真幹。

（節錄自 淨空法師「學佛問答」21-227）

 

我們也在台灣做一個調查，我們發現真正有佛教的，我們就是問年輕人的態度（這個就是態度的問題），就是你對這些比方說婚前性行為、墮胎、賭博等等，你有什麼態度？你可以說最正確的是佛教的青年人，比較說我不會有婚前性行為，不會墮胎。我們發現天主教跟基督教反對墮胎還是清楚，但是婚前性行為現在不清楚。這給我們自己有一個反省的部分。不過，有宗教的力量很大，也有很實際的一個好的成果。

主持人：不過剛剛艾神父點到一個很重要的重點。的確從前比較傳統的社會當中，很多誘惑我們犯罪、或是犯錯的誘因的確很少。起碼在以前的社會裡面沒有網咖，不可能說年輕人不回家都去逛網咖，也比較沒有電影或者是媒體上的一些催化。剛剛艾神父講到因為媒體的一些力量，常常會讓年輕人忽略了宗教本身教導他的一個本質。就是說讓他的心態，就像您剛剛講的，奇怪了，為什麼應該是最反對所有婚前性行為、墮胎行為的天主教或是基督教，反而在這個部分的教育力量，不如佛教的力量來得大，我想可能也是受到電影的影響。

在我自己沒嫁給我先生之前，我總覺得看起來像外國人的應該都很開明，都很開放，實際上不是的，其實他們都是非常保守的家庭。我們再繼續下去就是說，您剛剛講到，不管是艾神父所提到要尊重一切有生命的，要尊重一切的眾生；或者是法師所提到的，一樣，也就是要把所有的眾生當成是我們自己父親、母親，然後用佛陀的教育來延續自己在現在所活的立場上面。

我接下就要問到了，既然家庭的力量如此的重要，可是我們現在看到有很多的社會問題，就像是因為由婚前性行為所引發的，因為沒有避孕的觀念，於是可能在一個不小心的狀態之下，有了小生命。然後我們看到很多令人覺得很難過的一些新聞，比方說是廁所當中產子，或是自己懷孕不知道。於是墮胎似乎變成一個在法律規範之外的一件合法的事情。像我們現在年輕人大概到了情人節之後，中秋節之後，長期的假期之後就會有所謂的墮胎潮。然後也有很多的傷及她們的生命，甚至生育的能力。我想就這個問題，我們來聽聽看法師您的意見，對於墮胎這個事情站在佛教的立場上，您是怎麼看的？

淨空法師：子女的關係，兄弟的關係，人與人的關係，佛在經典裡面告訴我們，歸納起來不外乎四大類：第一類報恩的，第二類是報怨的，第三類是討債的，第四類是還債的。

如果在生產的過程當中，影響到了母親的生命；或者是兩個生命可能都會消失；或者是說已經判定，因為先進的科學判定說，這個胎兒出來的確會有問題，會造成這個家庭可能破裂，經濟無法負擔，可能他們會選擇把小孩丟掉；或者是因為真的有非常嚴重的遺傳病學這個部分問題的話，怎麼辦？這叫我們一般的凡人怎麼辦？

艾神父：普通我們答覆這個問題，我們會問，比方說這個孩子，有基因病的孩子，如果已經生了，他已經出生了，你現在知道他是智障的，因為那個基因病，你會不會殺他？

主持人：我不會。

對，多半的老百姓也不會。或是如果這個孩子（他現在是三歲），我告訴你他的母親本來是被強暴懷孕的。你說母親現在心裡很不舒服，每天看這個孩子不舒服，現在他媽媽要殺他，你說可不可以？多半的人還是說不可以。所以我覺得在任何的情況，母親的身體現在不好，那是不是因為母親的身體不好，因為這個孩子給她負擔（現在這些話就是這樣，因為有負擔，因為你的身體不好、有疾病等等），你可以殺這個孩子。多半的人都會說一定不可以。

所以是你怎麼看這個孩子，我現在給你一個，因為我的領域是倫理，我一直講的是「直接的墮胎」，我們說也不可以直接的殺無辜的。為什麼一直說「直接的」？你剛剛提了一個情況，我們這樣說，一個婦女她得了癌症，就是子宮的癌症，在任何的情況，如果醫生告訴她，我現在要拿掉你的子宮，要不然你快死了。這是普通的直接的行為，就是拿掉這個子宮，這是她直接的行為，我們倫理說。我們會認為當然可以。萬一她那個時候也懷孕，我們說這不是所謂直接的墮胎，因為你直接的行為，在任何情況，是拿掉子宮，墮胎的事是一個後果。這個比較複雜，我不知道，多半的人可以懂，這是不一樣的。

所以在這個情況，如果兩個要死了，也真正的是一個，我剛剛說的，在普通的情況就是會做這個開刀，沒有別的辦法，你不能等。但是這樣的情況幾乎沒有。如果有，是間接的，我剛剛講的，不是直接的，那我想天主教會接受，跟佛教。因為這不是墮胎，那是開刀為拿掉子宮，這一類的治療。不過我說的這個幾乎沒有。我今天談的幾乎就是變成：我知道我的孩子會是智障的，我知道他可能會是殘障者，遺傳的，就是現在兔唇、唇顎裂的。現在你告訴父母是這樣的孩子，這個孩子沒有真正的問題，還會拿掉。

現在也有很多人就因為是女生要拿掉，我是碰到很多。最近一個例子，媽媽是天主教，醫生告訴她，你的孩是畸形的。她說對不起，沒有關係。那個醫生罵她，說你一定要拿掉。她到另外一個醫生也這樣告訴她。到最後第三個才說好，你可以生這個孩子。為什麼醫生現在是這樣？因為台灣的法律說，如果有畸形的，你一定要告訴母親他有問題。這時候很多醫生現在很怕，法國不是有一個案子說，有母親生下孩子以後，孩子是智障的，她要告那個醫生沒有事先告知。所以現在整個的法律是反道德的。

我再給你一個例子，最近台灣的媒體報導，一個九歲的女孩在南美被強暴，在媒體變成很大的事情，就是師父剛剛講的。媒體會播這個變成很大。這是在天主教的國家，天主教不幫她，說真的這個國家是不可以因為強暴而墮胎的，所以有人偷偷的偷了這個孩子，以後不知道什麼事情發生了。不過告訴你過了一個月，又在這個國家另外一個女孩也是九歲被強暴，但是她生下這個孩子。這個你不知道，因為媒體沒有播。那個九歲的孩子，她對她的孩子有什麼態度？她很快樂，她就是很喜樂，因為她可以看到這個孩子。按照我們所了解，就是那些研究，雖然有困難的女性、婦女，如果本來有困難，她考慮墮胎，以後她不墮胎，她沒有什麼後悔，沒有後悔的。但是墮胎的很多後悔，那個機率非常非常大。為什麼在台灣那麼多人去廟裡，就是所謂嬰靈，就是她們後悔這個，幾乎每個人都後悔。這是為什麼需要你所問的宗教的智慧，我們知道人最先不是被這樣（我們天主教的說法）不是這樣被創造做這樣的事情。你做這樣的事情當然你不舒服，當然你要懺悔，你要想辦法彌補，就是做善事等等。

神父有提到在台灣或是在中國大陸，中國人的地方，或是日本，的確很流行，也不能說流行，我這樣講好像太危言聳聽了。的確是有樣的習俗就是說在墮胎之後，人家就說沒關係你去供一個嬰靈，這樣子你就不會有事了。所以您會不會也贊同，其實像艾神父講的，這是一種罪惡感的延伸，還是真的他是有所謂的靈在那裡，我們要供養他，說你不要來找我麻煩，我是不得已的。

淨空法師：艾神父講得很正確，確實她受到良心的責備，換句話說，她還有良心，還不容易。至於供這個嬰靈，這就是佛家講的超度的事情。我也常常說，超度裡頭常講的是「願以此功德」超度，你有什麼功德？真的，你拿什麼功德去超度！你說經念幾句，念幾卷經，念幾聲佛號，磕幾個頭這就算功德了嗎？這不是功德！功德是真正自己的修行，所以超度有沒有效果，那是看你自己修行的功夫。我講經時候也曾經提到過，像我們看《地藏菩薩本願經》，婆羅門女超度她的母親，她的母親墮地獄，覺華定如來教給她的方法，教她念佛，念佛，用念佛的功德來超度。功是功夫，德是她自己的成就，這個一定要搞清楚。

她念佛是一天一夜，這一天一夜她是一心一意，換句話說，她這個念佛的功夫是沒有懷疑、沒有夾雜、沒有間斷，一天一夜她就能夠念到一心不亂，一心不亂就是德。到一心不亂這種功夫，這是我們一般佛門就稱菩薩，超凡入聖。一般人心是亂的，胡思亂想，她能夠達到不亂，在《彌陀經》上講這「一心不亂」，她這是一種功夫。最低限度（我們佛家講的菩薩層次很多）她已經入權教菩薩這個地位。所以她能夠在定中，那不是夢中，定中她去遊覽地獄。地獄，佛經講只有兩種人能去，一種是受地獄果報的人，他一定墮地獄。另外一種就是菩薩，菩薩可以參觀地獄，可以到地獄裡去教化眾生。不是這兩種人，地獄在你面前你看不到，不同維次空間見不到的。所以她能夠參觀地獄，地獄的鬼王見到她，合掌稱她菩薩：你來到這裡幹什麼？所以這是她真有功德。我們平常拿什麼功德來超度？所以這個要清楚，要搞明白。

換句話說，這個嬰靈你已經得罪他了，他來報恩的，你也是恩將仇報，這個事情很麻煩。問題就是他同不同意化解，如果他要是不同意，他的仇恨很深，你供嬰靈還是枉然。所以一定要了解後果的嚴重，這個事情做不得！你要曉得佛經上講得很清楚，邪淫的罪過很重。你貪圖只是片刻之歡，可是你後頭要受無量劫的罪報。你如果是把這個帳算一算，你就不會幹這個事情。

主持人：現代人要明白投資報酬率。

對！是的，你要是好好算算這個帳，這個帳划不來，不可以做。所以聖賢人教我們要做個明白人，無論對人對事對物要清清楚楚、明明白白，這是智慧。自己心地清淨，絕不輕舉妄動，這就是定功，這就是功夫。

主持人：所以現代人不管是說我們在讀《聖經》的時候，或者是在讀佛經的時候，如果沒有把這些上帝、或是基督，或者是菩薩、或者是佛陀所說的這些教育，讀到心裡面去，我們光是靠嘴巴嘰哩咕嚕講了很多，然後就把所謂功德回向出去的話，其實都是枉然的。有何功德可以回向給任何人？再來回到就是今天講到倫理這個大的話題。

（節錄自 淨空法師講述的「倫理道德與宗教對談」21-174-01、02）

 

問：『請教老和尚，阿彌陀佛。因為我妹妹已經懷孕五個月，她因為已經跟對方分開了，然後家裡只剩下我母親，父親已經出家，我母親有點煩惱說將來生下來這是小男生，沒有男眾可以教育，不知道老和尚有沒有什麼方法可以開示指點一下。』

答：既然來了，都有因緣的，一定要好好的去照顧他、去教導他。佛在經上告訴我們，兒女緣分有四種，報恩、報怨、討債、還債這四種緣，沒有這四種緣不會到你家裡來。如果你要是拒絕，現在就是說墮胎，墮胎就是把他殺掉了，他要是報恩來的就會變成冤仇，如果是報怨來的，那個怨恨就加一倍，這個都很麻煩，所以一定要好好的把他扶養成人，這才是正確的，這是要多多的照顧，好好的教導他。如果是報恩，恩上再加恩，他將來一定是孝子賢孫；如果是報怨，那個怨可以化解，也不至於對家庭有嚴重的傷害，這個道理要懂。

（節錄自 淨空法師「學佛問答」21-250）

 

問：『我曾經墮胎三次，自知罪業深重，必墮地獄，現遇清淨僧人，請慈悲救拔像我一樣的女人，如何滅罪修行？』

答：這個事情要真正懺悔，每天把你自己修行的功德，給這個嬰兒迴向。佛在經上告訴我們，父子（母子也一樣），四種緣到你家來的，這四種緣是報恩、報怨、討債、還債，不是這四種緣，不會到你家裡來。如果是報恩的，你要是墮胎，你就把他殺掉了，恩變成仇，他再來的時候是報怨，不是報恩的。如果是報怨的，那好了，怨上再加怨，你的麻煩大了。所以墮胎這樁事情，佛法裡頭不許可，天主教也不許可，宗教裡面都肯定這是很重的罪業。但是再重的罪業都能救，不是不能救，你一心向佛，你就能救，求生淨土。將來生到西方極樂世界，自己成就了，倒駕慈航再來度這些眾生。在現前，我們念念不忘，時時刻刻幫助別人，時時刻刻把佛法介紹給別人，都是功德，都是好事情。

（節錄自 淨空法師講述的「信守和睦相處 即是拯救世界」21-215-02）

 

如果就事實真相，佛經上字字句句都是講的真相。兒女到你家來，是什麼關係？我在二十多年前，一九七七年在香港講經，住在藍塘道的「光明講堂」，講堂大殿上有一副對聯，壽冶和尚寫的，寫得很有趣味。上聯是「夫妻是緣，有善緣，有惡緣，冤冤相報」；下聯寫的是「兒女是債，有討債，有還債，無債不來」。你要是真正懂得這個道理，曉得事實真相，這個小孩到你家來投胎，換句話就是來討債的。佛家講的報恩、報怨、討債、還債四種關係，他才會到你家裡來跟你做父子這個關係。

假如這個小孩是到你家來報恩的，你把他墮胎殺掉了，恩變成仇；如果他是來報仇的，你把他殺掉了，仇上又加仇，你來生沒好日子過，這還得了！所以，墮胎這個事情不得了！墮胎是把你的冤親債主殺掉，統統變成仇人，統統變成敵人，他必定來報復你。來生或者投生做你的孫子，或者投胎做你兄弟的兒子，長大了絕對會找麻煩，會搞得你家破人亡，冤冤相報！我們相信佛的話，懂得佛的話，我們對於這樁事情的處理就會小心謹慎。小孩來了，報恩的，要好好教他；報怨的，也要好好教他，那個怨恨他會解開。為什麼？他慢慢明白道理，所以冤變成親。在佛法裡面講，把家親眷屬轉變成法眷屬，是最高明的。我自己得度，他們也統統都得度，總是以真誠、善心、愛心去教導他，幫助他將來在社會上做個善人，做個有利於社會人群的人。

主持人：再從這個話題又講到，現在有很多人會拿墮胎的話題衍生另外一種想法，就是說，當然原來的目的可能是希望人家不要去戕害這個小生命，可是到後來其實滿迷信，就是你傷害了一個就有一個嬰靈背在背後。

淨空法師：對！

主持人：所以這件事情是真實的，被證實的？

淨空法師：真的，確確實實，一點都不假。

主持人：所以它不是迷信。

淨空法師：我們在國外的時候看到很多，很多這些靈鬼附身，擾亂她精神失常，我們都遇到過，這是真的。

主持人：就像師父剛剛開示的，這個小生命來一定有他的目的。

淨空法師：不錯！不錯！

主持人：不過我們卻扼殺了他的將來。

淨空法師：不錯！這就變成了冤仇。

主持人：冤親債主就更多了。

淨空法師：冤親債主就更多，不錯！那個麻煩事就很大，你在寺廟裡怎麼樣求超度，都收不到什麼效果，他仇恨太深。超度是什麼？超度是跟他化解，化解他不答應的時候，你就沒辦法。這個化解要他答應，對方要同意，這個冤結就解開了；對方不同意，這個事情很麻煩。

主持人：走錯了第一步，即便在後面做很多的彌補，不管是燒香、哭泣、供養，花很多的錢都沒有用。

淨空法師：對！很難把這個事情平服。

主持人：除非這個靈體本身也有大智慧，他就放掉了。這是我們不可知的一個狀況，所以錯誤的第一步不要走出來，就不會有後續的這些。再講到說，法師剛才說的，很多人對佛教的誤解，就是在於他不了解這是一個佛陀教育，反而會從很多的形式上去看它。

（節錄自 淨空法師「專題訪問」21-111-04）

 

我在國內、國外常常遇到同修來問我：「墮胎有沒有罪？」有罪，不但有罪，這個罪業非常重。佛在經上跟我們講，父子關係是四種緣，所謂「報恩、報怨、討債、還債」。你過去生中與他結緣，這一生中遇到了，如果是惡緣，他就來討債、來報怨，你把他殺害了，這個怨恨結得更深，以後再來的時候，報復的力量不曉得強多少倍！如果他是來報恩的、來還債的，你把他殺害了，好事就變成了怨仇。這一點，不學佛的人不明白事理，不知道厲害。學佛的人一定要知道，這個殺生比殺一般動物，甚至比殺一個其他的人，怨仇結得還要深，將來果報還要慘烈，這是非常可怕的一椿事情，萬萬不可以！

(節錄自《大佛頂首楞嚴經清淨明誨章》7-4-04)

 

有一位同修來問我超度（墮胎）嬰靈，問我有沒有效？我就告訴他沒效。你以為超度就沒事了？他說那萬一這小孩生下來是個殘障，那不是很痛苦？不如就叫他不生。我們要曉得，生一個小孩殘障，那是來討債的。你欠他的債，還不讓他來討，還要殺他一條命。換句話說，你過去欠他的債，現在再加上命債，以後更不得了！現在科學家只看到眼前這一段，不知道後世的因果。因果通三世，這決定是大罪。他說小孩還沒有成形，只懷一、兩星期。我說不行，神識一投胎他就來了，成形不成形沒有關係。他一投胎，他就找上你了，你跟他過去世就有瓜葛了。所謂報恩、報怨，討債、還債。如果他是來報恩的，你把他殺害，恩將仇報，以後變成仇人。明明是孝子賢孫來報恩的，你殺害了他就變成仇人了，冤家了。這還得了？不得了！你做一點功德，花幾個錢，安個牌位就能超度？沒這種事！那是騙自己，安慰自己。不是事實！

（節錄自 淨空法師講述的「改造命運–心想事成」1990年1月台灣景美華藏圖書館）

 

現前世間之種種災難，日趨嚴重，這是眾生共業所感。共業是如何形成的？中國古聖先賢所謂的「失教」，就是失去了教育，眾生皆隨順煩惱、私欲，念念自私自利，造無量無邊的罪業。

此尤以墮胎最為普遍。台灣墮胎人數之高甚為可怕，去年是三十二萬人，今年是四十萬人。以佛法而言，墮胎決定墮地獄，這是殺人罪。這些冤魂在社會上擾亂，社會怎麼會太平安定？

現在的教育是傳授技術能力，古代的教育重視人文教育，教導如何做人處世，如何過幸福美滿的生活。不但今生享福，來生還享福，生生世世不失福報，這是古人的教育。現代教育只圖眼前小利，不要說來生，來年的利益都沒有顧及到。這樣

的人生有何意思？每天造作極重的罪業，將來的前途在三惡道。

（節錄自 淨空法師講述的「太上感應篇」講於1999/5/11新加坡淨宗學會）

 

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残蚀的理性-Eclipse of Reason（影片）

   

残蚀的理性-Eclipse of Reason（影片）

一部美国关于堕胎的得奖写实记录片

能唤醒生命底层最深悸动的影片—一部关于女人子宫内生与死的得奖纪录片—协助您了解堕胎—胎儿是如何被残杀与妇女所受的伤害。

(内有残酷画面,请小心观看!)

片名：残蚀的理性

原名：Eclipse of Reason

类型：记录片

音轨：国语

 
残蚀的理性-Eclipse of Reason（影片）

 

这是一部由美国Bernard N. Nathanson医师制作的得奖写实记录片。这名医生后来皈依天主教，不再做堕胎。本片以置于子宫内的微摄影机，记录了一个五个月大胎儿在母体内的短暂生命，赤裸地呈现了晚期堕胎的实况，

社会在进步，人性却在堕落，当各种无痛人流等先进的堕胎手段层出不穷的时候，来自流产网的消息说全国每年有1000万余例的堕胎个案，1000万个小生命带给我们的不仅仅是唏嘘！堕胎对胎儿构成的伤害、对母体构成的伤害、甚至对于家庭、对于社会构成的祸害已经不容小觑。

　　自己一不小心受到皮肉之苦，尚且痛彻心髓，况且以钳、夹等支解一个刚刚成形不久、在一分钟以前尚微动双唇吸食羊水的小生命——连一只被宰的鸡、猪等都可假以哀嚎、悲泣之声以希人心，而腹中的小儿连喊痛的权利都被抹杀了……

　　我们希望此片能被更多的人们所看到。希望医生、父母、倘佯在爱中的男女、社会的各界人士，希望每个人看完此片后都能唤起内心深处的爱和责任，希望我们一起去关注那些弱小的生命。

                                                                                     

堕胎须知

  -Bernard N. Nathanson

<堕胎须知>《应有的认识》

现代科技如超音波与各项先进仪器的发达,让我们可以看见、听见…..

在受精之后30个小时,细胞开始分裂,

第三天进入子宫著床…..

安静地在母亲的子宫内开始驚人的成长!

 

<胎儿的成长>

约在15—16天

受精卵的三板胚盤形成…..，

外胚层

将产生中樞神经系统(即脑与脊髓)及其周边的眼、耳、鼻与感觉系统及附屬物如毛发、指甲、乳腺、牙齿等。

 

中胚层

将形成心脏、血管、淋巴系统、腎脏、脾脏、性腺（卵巢和罩丸）等。

 

内胚层

将形成肠胃、呼吸道的内襯上皮组织、扁桃腺的實体、甲状腺、副甲状腺、胸腺、肝脏、胰脏、膀胱及大部份的尿道等。

 

第三週早期

脊索（notochord）以位於外胚层及内胚层之間的细胞桿方式向顱侧延伸，形成了早期的脊柱。

 

第三週结束前

心内膜心管（endocardial heart tubes）先行发育出来成为原始的心脏系统(primitive heart system)。

到了第三週末，这一对心管与胚体内各相关组织的血管相連構成心脏血管系统。

 

他/她若能來到这个世界…….

他/她若能说话……..

他/她将说什么呢?

【我也希望有未來……】

【请给我一次机会】

堕胎后遗症 （PAS-Post Abortion Syndrome）

<堕胎后遗症 （PAS-Post Abortion Syndrome）>

 

这些数據訴说著她的悲慟~~

(一) 多数婦女因外在压力而堕胎

53% 的堕胎婦女是在他人强迫之下接受堕胎。

65%的婦女出於外在环境的压力之下进行堕胎，如：经济因素、未婚、因怀孕所带來的社会問题困擾等压力。

将近83%施行堕胎的婦女表示：

如果当时有一个至多个旁人从旁鼓励，她们将願意继续接受怀孕与生产的过程。

84%施行堕胎的婦女也肯定：

如果当时是在【经济与情况较好】的情形下，她们将继续【为人母】的怀胎階段。

 

资料來源：Reardon，David C.《Women at Risk of Post-Abortion Trauma》

Reardon，Aborter Women-Silent No More，（Chicago：Loyola University Press，1987）

Zimmerman，Passage Through Abortion (New York :  Praeger Publishers，1977)

htpp://www.afterabortion.org/

 

 

(二)将近70%堕胎婦女於堕胎后八週，会经历从挣扎抗拒到退缩生病的歷程

在一段很长的抗拒求助心理挣扎后，堕胎婦女才会开始寻求心理卫生机構或精神科的協肋。

44%的婦女有过度焦慮与失序的問题。

36%的婦女有睡眠障礙的問题。

11%的婦女则需要医师处方治療。

另一项來自加拿大两个省，长达五年的追蹤研究显示：

25%堕胎婦女需前往精神科就診。

这个数字远远高於选择继续怀孕婦女的数字，她们只有3%需前往精神科就诊。

 

资料來源：Reardon，David C.《Women at Risk of Post-Abortion Trauma》

Ashton，” The Psychosocial Outcome of Induced Abortion”，British Journal of Ob&Gyn. ，87：

1115—1122，(1980).《A List of Major Psychological Sequelae of Abortion》

htpp://www.afterabortion.org/

 

 

(三)堕胎对少女的伤害更为明显

一项美国明尼蘇達州的研究显示：

少女堕胎在半年内自殺的比例是未堕胎少女的十倍。

其它相關研究也指出，有多次堕胎记錄的少女，

在堕胎半年内，自殺的危险性与精神上失序的危险性更为提高。

值得父母与老师注意与深思。

按医学研究：

十八岁以前怀孕生产第一胎的少女罹患乳癌的比率，

比年纪大的婦女怀孕生产第一胎罹患乳癌的比率低很多，

也就是说：把孩子生下來，事实上将对少女的健康更为有益。

 

资料來源：Age at First Bith and Breast Cancer Risk，MacMahon edal，Bullretin of the World

Health Organization 43:209 1970

 

 

(四)堕胎会增加罹患乳癌的危险性

美国一项研究报告指出：

全程怀孕不但降低婦女罹患疾病的比率，

特别是乳癌（breast cancer）的危险性，

並且能增进婦女的健康。

美国每年将近有八分之一的婦女罹患乳癌，

即约有十七萬五千名婦女被诊断出罹患乳癌，

四萬两千五百名婦女因乳癌而过世。

医療界与媒体对乳癌的防治宣導，常提出乳癌早期自我检查，卻很少指出全程怀孕与罹患乳癌之危险性的關聯。

 

资料來源：T.Strahan，” Childbirth as Protective of the Health of Women in Contrast to Induced Abortion – I.Breast ，Ovarian and Endometrial Cancer，”

Assoc. of Interdisciplinary Research Bulletin，12(2):1，Jan./Feb. 1998.

 

 

 

(五)堕胎会增加死亡的危险性

堕胎婦女於堕胎一年内死亡的比例

是怀孕生产婦女的三倍。

堕胎婦女於堕胎一年内自殺的比例

是怀孕生产婦女的六倍。

堕胎婦女於堕胎一年内遭遇致死性意外的比例

是怀孕生产婦女的三倍。

堕胎婦女於堕胎一年内遭遇他殺过世的比例

是怀孕生产婦女的十三倍。

 

资料來源：芬蘭政府国家财政与健康发展研究中心（簡称为STAKES）於一九九七年出版的研究報告。藉追蹤研究自一九八七至一九九四年間，正值生育期（十五岁至四十九岁）在怀孕后一年内死亡，有医療给付證明记錄的九千一百九十二位婦女资料。这个生产与堕胎死亡之間的相關性研究，使我们对於生产与堕胎死亡間的关係，獲得一个较准確的面貌。

美国研究堕胎学者，以類似方式，研究加州政府十七萬三千二百七十九低收入戶，申请生产与堕胎医療福利给付的记錄（California Medicaid records），也獲得類似的发现。

 

资料來源：David C .Reardon，Ph.D. Abortion Is Four Times Deadlier Than Childbirth，

Gissler，M.，et.al.，” Pregnancy-associated deaths in Finland 1987-1994-definition problems

and benefis of record linkage ，” Acta Obsetricia et Gynecolgica Scandinavica 76:651-657

(1997) Mika Gissler，Elina Hemminki ，Jouko Lonnqvist，” Suicides after pregnancy in Finland:

1987-94: register linkage study” British Medical Journal 3131:1431-4，1996.

 

 

如果没有外力干擾……

受精卵将於母胎中成功著床、成长……

但是谁關心怀孕婦女与胎儿的真正需要？

自民国73年（一九八四）台湾施行優生保健法以來，我们的社会正经歷著一连串擴及於家庭、学校与社会的重大改变，

如：媒体因刺激消費，充满了对女性的不尊重与对性的隨意；

两性对婚姻態度趨向疏離与不忠貞；

父母親因忙碌於家计，疏於親子相处；

这些改变，使得原來在家庭中，最能獲得親子与两性的基本学习關係破裂。

 

如果没有外力干擾……

受精卵将於母胎中成功著床、成长……

但是谁關心怀孕婦女与胎儿的真正需要？

自民国73年（一九八四）台湾施行優生保健法以來，我们的社会正经歷著一连串擴及於家庭、学校与社会的重大改变，

如：媒体因刺激消費，充满了对女性的不尊重与对性的隨意；

两性对婚姻態度趨向疏離与不忠貞；

父母親因忙碌於家计，疏於親子相处；

这些改变，使得原來在家庭中，最能獲得親子与两性的基本学习關係破裂。

这些衝擊造成性氾濫、婚外情、離婚率上升、親子关係薄弱、单亲家庭持续增加等现象，

以至於青少年性知识不足，性行为卻大胆开放。

九月堕胎潮只是其中的一个偏差现象。

 

一方面，社会不重视家庭与胎儿的生命；

另一方面，讽刺的是，政府卻憂慮内政部统计：

出生率在民国89年是百分之一 . 三八，

至民国90年降至百分之一 . 一七，

憂心未來将因人口不足而出现勞动力不足，及人口老化等社会与经济問题。

 

堕胎手術的真相

<堕胎手術的真相>

查爾顿.哈斯顿（美国 发现频道名记者）说：

美国每年所进行的开心手術，大約超过十五萬次，您知道吗？可能您知道，因为电视上总有完整的记錄片播出，我们也都知道心脏动脉繞道手術確實挽救了不少生命，这是件好事。但是，在美国最常进行的外科手術，则是堕胎。那並不是为了挽救生命。

在美国，我们每年进行的堕胎手術大约有一百五十萬次！数目是开心手術的十倍。堕胎手術平均只需要五、六分钟，但卻没有任何电视频道曾经播出完整的堕胎實况，这是不对的。电视存在的主要目的，就是探索我们所關心的公眾問题，而堕胎就是一个例子。

【堕胎】引起的感受，它的安全性、道德性，以及长远影响所造成的辯论等等，形成危害公众良知的程度，远远超过任何一项外科手術。

政治候選人不需要表明对心脏动脉繞道手術的立场，最高法院也不需要裁决心脏移植手術是否合乎憲法，人们也不会成群结队走上街头，只为了表达他们对人造心脏的意见，然而，媒体有關【开心手術】的报道卻远多於【堕胎手術】。

媒体自称给予大众资訊是他们的责任，但我认为他们在堕胎这件事上，卻完全没看告知最后作抉擇的大众。

如果你们此刻在电视上看到我，那就表示媒体终於负起责任，说出实话。

你们将要看到的影片非常写實，有些人还会觉得它太写實了，充满了血腥和死亡。

还记得歐洲集中營记錄片中，令人髮指的殘忍鏡头，以及廣岛原子彈爆炸后支離破碎的屍体影像。我也曾参与过伊索比亞的报導，我们傳送回來，餓得奄奄一息的婴儿画面，令人惨不忍睹。

但是，在这部影片中的婴儿，並非挨餓受凍，正如其他恐怖的影像，他们也有權让大众知道，他们都是受害者。

 

<必须停止沈默>

艾勒越伊作在接受諾貝爾奖时曾说过：

【我发誓，不论何时何地，只要有人类遭受苦难和屈辱，我绝不会保持缄默，我们必须選擇立场，中立只是帮助迫害者，绝不是受害者；沈默向來只是鼓励了劊子手，而不是牺牲者。】

从來没有人能代表受害者說出比这更有力的言辭。

自从一九七三年以來，堕胎已夺去美国两千萬無声又無辜的小生命，这部影片就是替他们发言，必须停止沈默！

 

 

-摘写殘蝕的理性

科技显明胎儿確实具有人性,堕胎医师改变了对堕胎合宜性看法

 

<科技显明胎儿確实具有人性,堕胎医师改变了对堕胎合宜性看法>

 -Bernard N. Nathanson波那多.那桑森

波那多.那桑森医师说：

【我曾经是美国堕胎權利行动聯盟的发起人之一，

而且曾经有两年之久，我是全球最大堕胎诊所的负责人，

我要为七萬五千件的堕胎手術负起最大的責任！

但是，在过去的十年以來，由於科技在产科学，以及胚胎学上面的长足进步，

使我对堕胎的合宜性改变了看法，

像是：超音波顯影、胎儿心跳監视器、还有胎儿内视鏡，

这样的高科技儀器，使我们能够確实感知未出生婴孩的人性。】

 

<认识三种階段的堕胎>

在这里，我们将特别讨论怀孕第二階段以及第三階段的堕胎。

所谓第一階段指的就是怀孕的前三个月，

        第二階段是接下來的三个月，

        第三階段是指第七个月到第九个月结束。

通常在怀孕的第二階段和第三階段中所进行的堕胎，我们称为【晚期堕胎】。

在美国一九七三年的ROEv.WADE法案中，最高法院判定：堕胎合法。

这个法案指出：在怀孕的前六个月中，不需要任何理由就可以堕胎，而在第三个階段（也就是第七个月到第九个月），可以为了母体的健康而进行堕胎，不管【健康】指的是什么。

 

<麥米蘭医师的觉悟>

比佛利.麥米蘭医师在密西西比州开了第一家堕胎诊所，她平均每星期做五十到六十次的堕胎手術，並且负责这个诊所有两年半的时間。

比佛利.麥米蘭医师说:

堕胎管在哪一階段进行（第一、第二、或第三階段），都跟屠殺婴儿没有任何差别！因为那都是处在不同发展階段的同一个人类！

到最后我不能再忍受每天处理那些小屍体了！

我心中非常確定，我再也不会施行任何堕胎手術了！

我们原本投身的是一项高贵的职业，为了救人，

但我们卻转身成为殺手，忘记了我们原本的天职。

认识堕胎手術的真相/堕胎手術的程序

 

          <认识堕胎手術的真相>

在美国，每年约有一百五十萬次的堕胎手術，其中，百分之八（十二萬次）是晚期堕胎【也就是在怀孕第二或第三階段才进行堕胎】，平均‘每天’有四百次。

在加拿大，每年有六萬五千次的堕胎手術，其中百分之十一（大约七千次）是晚期堕胎。

在英国，每年有十七萬次的堕胎手術，其中有三萬次是晚期堕胎。

晚期的堕胎手術程序已经是如此常見，实际上，有關於它的教科书已经很清楚地列出了细节。

此外，也有许多關於这个主题的文章，这里就有一篇，文章中指出本文作者曾经研究过至少七百名，在怀孕第三階段（也就是在怀孕七到九个月时）堕胎的婦女。

而这篇文章是这样说的：【对於在怀孕第三階段寻求堕胎的婦女，所提供的治疗方法是扩张以及吸引手術】。

 

<堕胎手術的程序>

我们下面就來讨论这项程序：

它是一项手術程序，用來完成晚期堕胎（也就是在怀孕第二階段或第三階段的堕胎）。

这项手術程序是这样的：

在正式进行堕胎手術的前一天晚上，

一个叫做laminarium的东西，会被放入子宫颈中，laminarium是一种海草，它遇到水分，会在晚上膨胀起來，隨著它膨胀的同时将子宫颈撑开。

当第二天早上，这个婦女被送入手術室，並且在全身麻醉的时候，她的子宫颈已经张开了一部份。

接著，会用一种器械放入子宫颈部份，把子宫颈撑得更开，然后，再使用这种器械，让子宫颈完全张开來，它会刺破羊膜，使羊水流出來。

接下來，堕胎医师会使用大嘴的鉗子伸进入子宫內來支解胎儿，四肢先被一块块地扯下來，然后是背的部份，脊椎、躯幹、胸腔的一部份和腹腔壁也依序被夾碎，並且拉出來。

 

有谁能够怀疑这个孩子，经历了一场無法想像的苦难呢？

躯幹的碎片从子宫里取出來，再堆放在桌子，之后，堕胎医师会把这些碎片拼凑起來，以確定堕胎手術是否完成。

鉗子找到胎儿的头，就会牢牢地夾住，再用力夾碎！

之后，再把碎片一片片取出來，

你可以看见破碎的头，还有溢出的白色脑浆。

在完成这个程序之后，刮尺会伸进入子宫去，它的功用是刮除子宫内壁殘餘的附著物，还有胎儿剩餘的部份，手術到此完全结束。

 

两位医师的对谈 ～～ 绝不做晚期堕胎手術!

 

波那多.那桑森医师: 在你作为堕胎医师的生涯中，做过多少次堕胎手術？

傑.凱樂森医师: 大约做了一萬次以上吧?! 记得有时一天要做上三十到三十五次手術。

波那多.那桑森医师: 你会不会做怀孕第二階段的晚期堕胎手術？即使是为了医学上的理由呢？

傑.凱樂森医师: 不！我绝对、绝对不会！我大概是我所知道最可怕的手術程序了。我想绝没有任何理由让我做那手術！

 

<蓝岛医师的内疚>

喬斯福.蓝岛医师，曾经是亞特蘭大一間堕胎诊所的负責人，每天曾做过五十到六十次堕胎手術。

喬斯福.蓝岛医师：“我第一次了解到，原來我做的事情並不正確，原來我是在殺害婴儿，而不是在服務婦女！后來我再也做不下去了，感觉十分的痛苦，我心中的内疚是如此之深，我甚至有自殺的念头！我宁願放弃自己的生命，也不願再做一次堕胎的手術！

<哈本医师的悔改>

阿爾諾德.哈本医师，曾经是一家計畫生育堕胎诊所的负责人。

阿爾諾德.哈本医师：【从前我会做堕胎手術，是因为我误认为：胚胎要到二十週大，当你可以听到他的心跳，怀孕的婦女可以感觉到他在动的时候，才算是真正的婴儿。

我不清楚我是从何处得到这个观念，但从前我误以为，在胚胎尚未长成让母体能感觉到他会动之前，都不算是具体的人类。

而从一九八二年到一九八六年，一直到八O年代末期，所发展出的超音波及胚胎探測的现代科技，让我们了解到胎儿的確是个小孩，他真的在动！而且他也真的有心跳！

有一天，我走進堕胎诊所，大约已经有十二名婦女坐在那里候诊，我突然觉得我没有办法再做堕胎手術了，我觉得很不安，又觉得厌恶至拯！

之前，我开始在做第二階段的堕胎手術时，我不只是看到一点点组织被刮除而已，我看到的是胚胎的部份和整个的婴儿！

我觉得心里的不安，已经到了一个我无法再继续的程度，於是我那天没有做任何堕胎手術，就离开了那家诊所，我再也没有回去过！】

早产儿也能存活

现代医学科技，正在急遽地改变我们对新生儿存活率的概念，

早产的胎儿仍然能够存活。

 

今天，六个月就出生的早产儿，

有百分之六十五的存活率，

而且这些婴儿，

百分之八十会完全健康！

现在新生儿专家，已经能够使越來越小的早产儿存活了。

未出生的胎儿並不是唯一的受害者，婦女也是受害者！