During Chinese New Year, a lot of Chinese like to go monasteries to make their offerings, be it rice, cooking oil, flowers, incenses, lamps, money, etc.
What are the rewards of offering lamps ?
Lamps within the Buddha dharma symbolize brightness and wisdom. Lighting lamps also represent the giving of light, thus planting on the field of blessings. When the Buddha was in the world, He often exhorted people to light lamps as offerings to the Buddha and spoke the Sutra of the Merit and Virtue of Giving Light. There it’s said: If one constantly practises the offerings of light to the Buddha within Buddhist Stupas and Monasteries with utmost sincerity, one would then obtain the rewards as follows:
1. Both your eyes and four limbs would always be perfect and free of deformities.
2. Your body would be free of pain and sickness, your throat would be soft and supple, and your voice would be attractive.
3. Your mind would be calm, clear, and intelligent and posses wisdom therefore you will not be turned by stupidity and ignorance.
4. Your vision would be exceptional as a Mani pearl that can reveal even very small objects.
5. Your eyeball and cornea would always remain well and free from damage or decay.
6. Your livelihood would always be stable with abundant food and clothing with a mind that is free from anxiety.
7. You will obtain self mastery of body and mind, wholesome wealth and treasures would of its own accord accumulated for you.
8. You may obtain beautiful necklaces and majestic forests and orchards.
9. You will have a healthy body, strong and full of energies of life.
10. You will not encounter arguments or physical conflicts or be mired in other undesirable situations.
11. Traveling to the ends of the world where the heavens meet the sea whether in the directions of east, west, south or north, you will not suffer the afflictions of ignorance.
The Buddha dharma is not apart from our daily lives, the act of lighting lamps has the inherent meaning of the giving of light and it brings about boundless merit and virtue; for mankind need bright lights to shine a luminous path for it, bringing warmth, hope and a loving mind to all corners of the world. Those would make offering of light also benefit from its brightness; obtaining a blessed, peaceful and healthy life. Disciples of the Buddha who diligently plant blessings in these fields of blessings would naturally obtain a bright future and always achieve and attain their wishes.
(Source: Dharma Realm Guan Yin Monastery, Kuala Lumpur)
灯在佛教是光明和智慧的表征，点灯即施灯，种福田。佛在丗时，劝人燃灯供佛，开示了[施灯功德经]。经中说：如果我们常在佛塔，寺庙中虔诚地燃灯供佛，当会有下列的果报：
1. 双目，四肢永远完好不生缺陷。
2. 身无病痛，嗓门柔软，声音妙好。
3. 心地清明聪慧，不为愚痴所转。
4. 视力良好如摩尼珠能照微细物。
5. 眼球，角膜永好不坏。
6. 生活安稳，衣食丰足，心无所惧。
7. 心身自在，善财善宝滚滚而来。
8. 可以获得美丽的璎珞及优美的林园。
9. 身体健康，强壮，充满生命的活力。
10. 不会与人发生口角，打斗等事。
11. 走遍东南西北天涯海角都不会生无明烦恼。
佛教不离生活，点灯含有布施光明的意义，具有无量的功德，因为人间需要光明的照亮，才会处处有温暖，有希望，有爱心。燃灯者在布施的光明照耀下，才会幸福安康，信徒能多种福田，则前途光明，所求顺遂。
（取材自吉隆坡法界观音圣寺）
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