By Venerable Master Hsing Yun
Founder of Fo Guang Shan
Oh great, compassionate Buddha!
Please accept this offering of light from my mind;
In ancient times,
The discovery of fire brought humans out darkness;
A thousand-year room is instantly brightened by lighting a lamp
Ships travelling at night can identify directions by following signals from a lighthouse
Pedestrians can walk without fear by the illumination of street lights.
Indeed, light is very important!
However, the millions of lights in this world
Cannot compare to even a small fraction of yours!
For only the Buddha’s light can brighten this gloomy world,
Only the light of the Dharma can illuminate ignorant minds.
Your appearance in this world
Have brought the light of Truth.
From that moment on,
All beings in the sea of suffering have the hope of being rescued;
All sentient beings in the world could be liberated.
Many have freed themselves from the prison of sorrow;
Many have escaped the flaming house of torment.
Oh great, compassionate Buddha!
The offering of light in my mind that I now offer to you
Has no form or image;
It is the fire illuminated from my Dharma body;
It is the fire ignited by my intrinsic nature.
I pray for your blessings, Buddha;
May this light offering illuminate numerous worlds;
May this light bless and protect all sentient beings:
For this light is my Dharma body,
For this light is my intrinsic nature.
Oh great, compassionate Buddha!
I would like to express this clearly to you,
This light offering is not for myself,
But for the hope that everyone will have a bright, glorious future,
For the hope that everyone will attain buddhahood together.
May this light be transformed
Into endless lights that shines inexhaustibly,
To bring a light of hope for a better tomorrow for humankind.
Oh great, compassionate Buddha!
In this world,
There are some who need you to grant them the light to turn over a new leaf;
There are some who need you to grant them the light to self-examine and reflect;
There are some who need you to grant them the light of honesty and trust;
There are some who need you to grant them the light of faith and fortitude.
They are all praying for the blessing of your light of compassion.
May all ignite the light in their minds;
May all discover their true buddha nature;
May all shine upon and benefit each other;
May all illuminate the boundless future.
Oh great, compassionate Buddha,
Please accept our sincerest prayer!
Oh great, compassionate Buddha,
Please accept our sincerest prayer!
(Excerpted from “A Prayer for the Offering of Light (獻燈祈願文)” from Pearls of Wisdom: Prayers for Engaged Living I by Venerable Master Hsing Yun)