护法

Dharma Protectors

今天是五明佛学院一年一度供护法的日子。据说，一百多年前，一世敦珠法王与西山的土地护法木天女护法神产生了纠葛，并将护法女神赶到了炉霍，最后经当地大成就者从中调解，双方最终达成协议：敦珠法王的传承弟子于每年藏历六月二十六日(也即双方和解后，天女返回喇荣的日子)供养以天女为主的护法，天女也不得再兴风作浪。此风近20年来一直未曾间断。

Today marks the annual Protector’s Day at Larung Gar Five Sciences Buddhist Academy. According to the legend, H.H. the 1st Dudjom Rinpoche once had a dispute with the local guardian of the western mountain, Goddess Mutian, and drove her out to Luhuo area. Through the mediation of a great master in the area, the two parties reached an agreement: Every year, on June 26 of the Tibetan calendar (i.e., the day Goddess Mutian returns to Larung after the settlement), the disciples of H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche’s lineage are to make an offering ceremony to the protectors. The Goddess is to be placed at the head of the protectors and no more troublemaking is allowed from her. This tradition has thus been carried on without interruption for nearly 20 years.

早上八点，几千僧众手持各色旌旗，根据自己房屋所在区域，分别登上了学院的五台山。学院的五台山，是几年前法王以特殊因缘迎请藏地的五大神山、汉地的五台山诸佛菩萨降临的圣地，具有不可思议的加持力，被人们称为藏地的五台山。

At eight in the morning, thousands of Sangha members holding colorful banners climbed Larung Gar’s Wutai Mountain in each area corresponding to the location of individual residence. H.H. Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche consecrated Larung’s Wutai Mountain when he invoked the presence of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of Tibet’s five sacred mountains and those of Han China’s Wutai Mountain, and is thus endowed with inconceivable power of blessing. The place has been called the Wutai Mountain of Tibet.

我所属的摩尼宝洲是以东台为供养对境，我向来对供护法兴趣浓厚，今天也同样不顾背痛，兴致勃勃地登上了山顶。

The eastern region, Dongtai, was the offering area designated by my residence Mani Jewel Land. As I have always been interested in offering to the protectors, I made the trip today to the mountaintop in high spirits, despite my lingering back pain.

九点，五个台的僧众们开始分别念诵仪轨，熏烧柏枝，五条哈达般的桑烟在空中汇聚，如同一朵美丽的白云漂浮在广袤无垠的蓝天，为虚空美女的脸上嵌上了绚丽的妆饰。红色的僧衣在绿草中游动，仿佛飘动的红色珊瑚；各色风马在空中飞旋，宛如天女散出的花雨；远处四周的雪峰，发出宝石般的光芒……我恍若置身于巨大的曼茶盘上，与僧众一起以身语意供养十方圣尊。以此方法可消除一切恶缘，成就世出世间之一切功德事业。

At nine O’clock, Sangha members on five peaks started their individual sadhana recitation and the burning of pine branches. Five streams of smoke like five khatas spiraled upward and joined in the sky to form a beautiful white cloud sailing in the vast blue sky. The expansive space, like the face of a beauty, was now made even prettier by gorgeous adornments. The flowing red robes of the Sangha looked like red coral floating among the green fields; prayer flags fluttering in the wind appeared like flower petals scattered by heavenly maidens, and the snow peaks of the surrounding mountains sparkled like jewels. I felt like I had been transported onto a huge mandala, and I made offerings in unison with the Sangha members of our body, speech, and mind to the sacred deities in 10 directions. This practice will help to pacify unfavorable forces and accomplish all positive qualities and activities, both worldly and spiritual.

今天也成了僧众们难得轻松的日子，下午，大家三三两两聚集在草地上，感受和煦的阳光，迎接柔风的吹拂，亲近花草的芬芳，倾听小虫的呢喃，人人脸上都挂着灿烂的笑。我想，此时的护法神也一定很开心吧！

Today turned out to be a rare occasion for the Sangha members to relax and take a break. In the afternoon they sat in small groups on the lawn and enjoyed the warm sunshine. While the breeze gently caressed them, they took in fully the fragrance of flowers and listened to the whispers of worms. Everyone’s face beamed with a radiant smile. The entire troop of Protectors, I think, must also be very pleased at this moment!

壬午年六月二十六日　
2002年8月4日　

26th of June, Year of RenWu
August 4, 2002