The Special Benefits For Cleaning
Source: “Liberation In Our Hand” by Pabongka Rinpoche, Translated by Sermey Khensur Lobsang Tharchin with Artemus B. Engle
The reason for cleaning: is to show respect for the gurus and the conquerors, along with their spiritual sons, whom we are inviting to our meditation place.
The motivation for cleaning: should be with desire to serve and honor the merit field in preparation for meditating on the topics of the Lamrim teaching, and with the ultimate aim of achieving Buddhahood for the sake of all sentient begins.
Arya Pantaka was able to become an arhat through this practice of cleaning one’s dwelling.
A scripture mentions FIVE specific benefits for cleaning:
- One’s own mind becomes clear;
- The minds of others become clear;
- The gods are pleased;
- One accumulates beautiful karma;
- After the body’s disintegration, one is born in a divine realm.
The method is: having generated correct motivation, and imagine that we are sweeping away the impurities that obscure both our own mind and the minds of others. We should recite aloud, “I am removing dust. I am removing dirt.”
This dust is not particles of dirt, but desire’s dust.
“Dust” is a term for desire, not granules.
The wise rid themselves of this impurity
And are attentive to the Sugata’s teaching.
Dear Dharma Brothers,
If you would like to participate as a volunteer to clean our temple, please kindly contact Michael Wong to sign up.
Cleaning assignment could be flexible according to your availability. It could be a long-term volunteer schedule, or a single fixed date plan. After cleaning, please fill out “The Volunteer Form for Cleaning”.
At year end, based on your accumulated services (offerings), you will be issued a Certificate of Appreciation as recognition of your effort.
功德頌 — 灑掃篇
下文摘自：《掌中解脱-菩提道次第二十四天教授 – 加行篇》
灑掃的原因：是為了向我們住處的上師，佛，菩薩等表達我們的敬意。
灑掃的動機：應發心為了利益有情，獲得佛位，對修“道次第”引導所緣的加行資糧田恭敬服侍，以此為發心動機，就會產生極大功德。
經典中記載 ，聖周利槃陀迦就是靠灑掃住處而證得阿羅漢果的。佛經裏邊告訴我們，灑掃有五種功德：
第一種功德，令自心清凈；
第二種功德，令他心清凈；
第三種功德，眾天神歡喜；
第四種功德，造就猛利的業；
第五種功德，死後往生凈土。
具体做法：发起动机，然后观想：我们正在扫除的尘垢，就是自他相续中的障碍。
口诵：“扫尘，除垢，
或诵佛偈：
“塵者非土是貪塵，塵乃貪名非塵埃，諸智者眾除彼塵，如來教中不放逸。”此外配合嗔与痴，边做念诵边打扫。在我们主修“依师法”时，“貪塵”可改为“塵者非土是不信”，主修空性时，可改作“塵者非土是相执”，心做观想，与当前多修的内容保持一致。
各位同修，如發心希望參加灑掃寺廟，做義工供養。可以聯系 Michael 師兄，報名安排時間。
同修可以根據自己的時間，安排長期的義工時間計劃，也可以做單次或幾次的報名。灑掃的地點，可以是整個寺廟，或某處。
- 只要發心供養，寺廟都會盡心安排。
- 灑掃後，請將清掃時間，及所清掃的地點，寫在“灑掃功德供養”的表格中，以便其他義工師兄工作。
- 寺廟每年年底會根據“灑掃功德供養”表格中的記錄，累計各位義工的功德次數，以茲鼓勵，贊嘆功德！隨喜發心供養！
