201.皈依供眾名剎僧 Accepting a collective offering made by those taking refuge for the Sangha and for the preservation of ancie

皈依供眾名剎僧

法會皈依者。四萬余人。有全國各省縣。千里之外者。分設十席報名登記。分班給牒。所收果敬。儘交法會當局。自己分文不受。概撥與四大名山供眾。計有普陀山。五台山。九華山。峨嵋山。八名剎。天童。育王。高旻。靈岩。湧泉。觀宗七塔地藏等古道場。

宣化偈曰：

博施能濟眾。孔曰惟聖當。 供養古名剎。功德永流芳。

Accepting a collective offering made by those taking refuge for the Sangha and for the preservation of ancient shrines

More than forty thousand people took refuge during the Dharma Assembly, coming thousands of miles from every province all over the country. Ten divisions were formed so that people could register and subscriptions be entered. The Master refused to accept any offerings himself, and all the donations were turned over to the leaders of the Dharma Assembly, who in turn allocated the funds to the four famous shrines for the benefit of all, namely: P’u T’ou Mountain, Wu T’ai Mountain, Chiu Hua (Nine Flower) Mountain, and O-Mei Mountain, in addition to eight well-known holy sites: T’ien T’ung (Heavenly Youth), Yu Wang (King Ashoka), Kao Mm, Ling Yen (Magic Grotto), Yung Ch’uan (Bubbling Spring), Kuan Tsung (School of Contemplation), Ch’i T’a (Seven Stupas), and Ti Tsang (Earth Store), among other ancient Bodhimandas.

The gatha says: Liberal gifts can help relieve the masses. Confucius said that only a Sage could make that happen. Making offerings to ancient holy shrines, Creates merit that flows ever-fresh.