Dharma Master Cheng Yen was born in 1937 in a small town in Taichung County, Taiwan. When she was twenty-three years old, she left home to become a Buddhist nun, and was instructed by her mentor, Venerable Master Yin Shun, to work “for Buddha’s teachings, for sentient beings.” In 1966, she founded a charity, which later turned into the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, to “help the poor and educate the rich”—to give material aid to the needy and inspire love and humanity in both givers and recipients.

 

In recent years, Master Cheng Yen’s contributions have been increasingly recognized by the global community. In 2011, she was recognized with the Roosevelt Institute’s FDR Distinguished Public Service Award and was named to the 2011 TIME 100 list of the world’s most influential people. In 2014, she was presented with Rotary International’s Award of Honor in recognition of her humanitarian efforts and contributions to world peace.

Lying between the twin sala trees, the Buddha was about to enter Parinirvana. It was the middle of the night, quiet and without a sound, as he summarized the essence of the Dharma for his disciples.

 

The Sutra of the Buddha’s Bequeathed Teachings was originally called “Teachings and Precepts Given by the Buddha as He Was About to Enter Parinirvana.” Its teachings form a foundation for all Buddhist practitioners, and can lead to the attainment of the ultimate goal of Buddhahood.

 

In this sutra, the Buddha reminded his disciples one final time how to take care of their own hearts and how to maintain their spiritual practice after he was gone; he again reminded his disciples to have correct thoughts, to diligently practice precepts, Samadhi, and wisdom, and to eliminate greed, anger and ignorance.

 

In her explanation, Dharma Master Cheng Yen relates this key teaching in the Buddhist tradition to our modern lives. By applying these teachings in our lives, we can improve ourselves and grow in our spiritual practice.

證嚴上人於一九三七年，出生於臺灣臺中清水。上人服膺上印下順導師「為佛教、為眾生」之慈示奉持不懈。一九六六年創辦佛教克難慈濟功德會，自此展開「濟貧教富」的工作。慈濟世界在法師慈悲呵護下，數十年來，一步一步地堅實茁壯；發展為慈善、醫療、教育、人文四大志業，以及國際賑災、環境保護、社區志工、骨髓捐贈八大腳印，透過親手拔除眾生的苦痛，以善與大愛膚慰人間。

 

近年來，證嚴上人的貢獻獲得國際間一致推崇；於2011年獲美國羅斯福基金會頒贈「傑出公共服務獎」， 並被時代雜誌列為2011年全球百大最具影響力人物。2014年獲頒國際扶輪社「最高榮譽獎」，肯定證嚴上人對於人道主義精神與世界和平的貢獻。

「於娑羅雙樹間，將入涅槃。是時中夜，寂然無聲，為諸弟子略說法要。」

 

《佛遺教經》原名是《佛垂般涅槃略說教誡經》，是學佛者修學佛法的基礎，依此修行可達到最終理想的目標。

本經是佛陀最後一次對弟子的殷殷叮囑，在他入滅之後他們要如何修持內心並繼續勤修佛法。他並再次教誡弟子要端正心念，勤修戒定慧，息滅貪嗔癡。

 

證嚴上人將本部經典的中心思想融合在現代人的生活中，期許我們將佛理應用在日常生活中修學佛法及持續精進。