14/07/2026
拜忏之前，要明白拜忏的意义：
“忏”是忏前愆，对于过去所作的错事感到惭愧、羞耻；而“悔”是发誓以后不再犯，即“不二过”的意思。所以拜忏的真正意涵，就是要我们借着拜忏的仪式，当着佛菩萨的面前披露自己的过失并发愿改过，重新做人永不再犯，所以这也叫做“发露忏悔”，也就是借着法会的仪式，在佛菩萨面前虔诚地忏悔、礼拜、诵经、念佛，祈求佛菩萨慈悲的宽恕、护佑与加持，因而得以影响旁边的人共同生起觉悟的心，也能加入忏悔、改过的行列。
而礼忏的意义，可以两个字来贯串，那就是“因果”，宇宙万有之中，谁也逃不过因果。就比如我们慈悲伟大的佛陀在因地修行的时候，也曾经历无数的考验与磨难，他与提婆达多多生多世的恶缘，而屡屡被加害、被障碍，这些都是过去世的种种因缘，而不得不承受的果报。因此，身为佛弟子，对于“因果”、“因缘”必须要重视。
另外，“净土三福”中的“第一福”里就说了：“孝养父母，奉待师长；慈心不杀，修十善业。”可见孝养父母是我们学佛、修行的根本；而我们现在法会中所拜的《梁皇宝忏》其主要的宗旨，亦无非警勉我们要忏悔罪障，修十善业；而且还要深信因果，慈心不杀，广修供养，孝顺父母，如此才会有功德。
所以，大家来拜《梁皇宝忏》，一方面是消自己的业障，另一方面，是帮我们的父母：现世的父母、过去的父母消业障，令他都能够离苦得乐。而我们给他什么供养?也就是法供养。藉此拜忏的功德，令他们都得到超生。我们经常说：“上报四重恩。”“四重恩”也就是佛恩、国土恩、众生恩和父母恩，可见报父母恩是非常重要的。
Before performing repentance rituals, one must understand their meaning:
"Repent" means repenting past faults, feeling shame and remorse for wrong deeds already done; while "regret" means vowing never to commit them again, which is the meaning of “not repeating the same mistake.” Therefore, the true significance of repentance is that, through the ritual, we disclose our faults before the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, make vows to correct ourselves, start anew, and never repeat them. This is also called “open confession and repentance.” It means that, through the Dharma assembly ritual, we sincerely repent, bow, recite sutras, and chant the Buddha’s name before the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, praying for their compassionate forgiveness, protection, and blessings. In this way, we can also inspire those around us to awaken, join in repentance, and reform themselves.
The meaning of repentance can be summed up in two words: “cause and effect.” Within all existence in the universe, no one can escape cause and effect. For example, our compassionate and great Buddha, during his past practice on the causal stage, also underwent countless trials and hardships. Because of adverse karmic ties with Devadatta over many lifetimes, he was repeatedly harmed and obstructed. These were all the inevitable results of causes and conditions from past lives. Therefore, as disciples of the Buddha, we must give importance to “cause and effect” and “causes and conditions.”
In addition, the “first blessing” in the Three Blessings of the Pure Land says: “Filial support of parents, respectful service to teachers and elders; with a compassionate heart do not kill, and cultivate the ten wholesome deeds.” From this it is clear that filial support of parents is the foundation of our learning the Dharma and engaging in practice. The main goal of our worship of "Liang Emperor Repentance" during the Dharma assembly, is also to advise us to repent our sins, build good karma, believe deeply in cause and effect, having mercy, diligently cultivate our spiritual practice, and being filial to our parents. This way, we can accumulate merit.
So, when we worship the "Liang Emperor Repentance", on one hand we're eliminating our karmic obstacles, on the other hand we're helping our parents: The karmic obstacles of our present and past parents will be extinguished, and they will depart suffering for happiness. What are we offering them in turn? The offering of the Dharma, that is, through the repentance ceremony, we're able to transcend all of them. We often say: “Repay the Fourfold Gratitude.” The “Fourfold Gratitude” refers to the gratitude to the Buddha, the homeland, all sentient beings, and one’s parents. It is clear that repaying the gratitude to one’s parents is extremely important.
甘露亭 KIM LOO TING
