救苦天尊说经缘起The Origin of the Heavenly Worthy's Teaching
尔时，救苦天尊遍满十方界，常以威神力，
救拔诸众生。离诸苦难，得离苦难已。
长夜安隐，大慈大悲，大喜大舍。
福田无边，度人无量。千真拱护，万圣护持。
一切天人，皆得安稳。
救拔诸众生。离诸苦难，得离苦难已。
长夜安隐，大慈大悲，大喜大舍。
福田无边，度人无量。千真拱护，万圣护持。
一切天人，皆得安稳。
At that time, the Heavenly Worthy Who Rescues from Suffering
pervaded the ten directions,
ever using the power of majestic spirit
to rescue and save all living beings.
Separating them from all sufferings and hardships —
having left suffering and hardship behind,
in the long night they find peace and stability.
Great compassion, great mercy; great joy, great equanimity.
The field of blessings is boundless; saving beings is measureless.
A thousand true ones guard and protect; ten thousand sages support and uphold.
All celestials and humans find peace and stability.
pervaded the ten directions,
ever using the power of majestic spirit
to rescue and save all living beings.
Separating them from all sufferings and hardships —
having left suffering and hardship behind,
in the long night they find peace and stability.
Great compassion, great mercy; great joy, great equanimity.
The field of blessings is boundless; saving beings is measureless.
A thousand true ones guard and protect; ten thousand sages support and uphold.
All celestials and humans find peace and stability.
救苦天尊即太乙救苦天尊，又称东极青华大帝，是道教专门救度亡魂、拔除苦难的大神。"十方界"指无量世界。"四无量心"（大慈、大悲、大喜、大舍）借用佛教菩萨道的四种广大心量。此经为晚坛功课的核心经典，以超度亡魂、救拔罪苦为主要功能。
The Heavenly Worthy Who Rescues from Suffering (Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun) is also known as the Great Emperor of Eastern Ultimate Green Radiance, the primary Daoist deity for saving souls and relieving suffering. The "Four Immeasurable Minds" (great compassion, loving-kindness, joy, equanimity) are borrowed from the Buddhist Bodhisattva path. This is the core scripture of the evening liturgy, primarily serving to liberate souls from suffering.
The Heavenly Worthy Who Rescues from Suffering (Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun) is also known as the Great Emperor of Eastern Ultimate Green Radiance, the primary Daoist deity for saving souls and relieving suffering. The "Four Immeasurable Minds" (great compassion, loving-kindness, joy, equanimity) are borrowed from the Buddhist Bodhisattva path. This is the core scripture of the evening liturgy, primarily serving to liberate souls from suffering.
救苦偈Gatha of Rescuing from Suffering
若人欲了知，三世一切佛。
应观法界性，一切唯心造。
譬如工画师，分布诸彩色。
虚妄取异相，大种无差别。
又如大海水，无有分别相。
随诸众生心，各各见不同。
天尊说经竟，诸天仙众，
咸皆叹仰，作礼而退。
应观法界性，一切唯心造。
譬如工画师，分布诸彩色。
虚妄取异相，大种无差别。
又如大海水，无有分别相。
随诸众生心，各各见不同。
天尊说经竟，诸天仙众，
咸皆叹仰，作礼而退。
If one wishes to understand
all Buddhas of the three times,
one should observe the nature of the Dharma-realm —
all is created by the mind alone.
Like a skilled painter, distributing various colors,
falsely grasping different appearances,
while the great elements have no distinction.
It is also like the great ocean —
there is no distinguishing characteristic.
According to each being's mind,
each sees differently.
When the Heavenly Worthy finished expounding the sutra,
all the celestial immortals and assemblies
together sighed in admiration,
bowed, and withdrew.
all Buddhas of the three times,
one should observe the nature of the Dharma-realm —
all is created by the mind alone.
Like a skilled painter, distributing various colors,
falsely grasping different appearances,
while the great elements have no distinction.
It is also like the great ocean —
there is no distinguishing characteristic.
According to each being's mind,
each sees differently.
When the Heavenly Worthy finished expounding the sutra,
all the celestial immortals and assemblies
together sighed in admiration,
bowed, and withdrew.
"一切唯心造"为佛教核心思想，出自《华严经》偈语，被道教经典所吸收。"工画师"的比喻同样出自《华严经》。此段体现了佛道深度交融的经典特征：道教引用佛教义理来阐述宇宙万物皆由心造的道理。"大种"即地水火风四大元素。
"All is created by mind alone" is a core Buddhist teaching from the Avatamsaka Sutra, absorbed into Daoist scripture. The "skilled painter" metaphor also comes from the Avatamsaka. This passage reflects deep Buddhist-Daoist synthesis: Daoism borrowing Buddhist philosophy to explain that all phenomena are mind-created. "Great elements" refers to earth, water, fire, and wind.
"All is created by mind alone" is a core Buddhist teaching from the Avatamsaka Sutra, absorbed into Daoist scripture. The "skilled painter" metaphor also comes from the Avatamsaka. This passage reflects deep Buddhist-Daoist synthesis: Daoism borrowing Buddhist philosophy to explain that all phenomena are mind-created. "Great elements" refers to earth, water, fire, and wind.
救苦天尊颂Hymn to the Heavenly Worthy Who Rescues from Suffering
青华长乐界，东极妙严宫。
七宝芳骞林，九色莲花座。
万真环拱内，百亿瑞光中。
玉清灵宝尊，应化玄元始。
浩劫垂慈济，大千甘露门。
妙道真身，紫金瑞相。
随机赴感，誓愿无边。
大圣大慈，大悲大愿。
十方化号，普度众生。
亿亿劫中，度人无量。
寻声赴感，太乙救苦天尊。
七宝芳骞林，九色莲花座。
万真环拱内，百亿瑞光中。
玉清灵宝尊，应化玄元始。
浩劫垂慈济，大千甘露门。
妙道真身，紫金瑞相。
随机赴感，誓愿无边。
大圣大慈，大悲大愿。
十方化号，普度众生。
亿亿劫中，度人无量。
寻声赴感，太乙救苦天尊。
In the Realm of Eternal Joy of Green Radiance,
the Palace of Wondrous Majesty in the Eastern Ultimate,
within the fragrant Qian Grove of Seven Treasures,
upon the lotus seat of nine colors.
Ten thousand true ones circle and bow within,
amid the radiance of a hundred billion auspicious lights.
The Numinous Treasure Worthy of Jade Purity —
responding in transformation from the Primordial Beginning.
Through vast kalpas, extending compassionate salvation,
the gate of sweet dew for the great cosmos.
Wondrous Dao, true body — purple-gold auspicious form.
Responding to the occasion, going to those in need — the vow is boundless.
Great sage, great mercy; great compassion, great vow.
Transforming through the ten directions, universally saving all beings.
Through a hundred million kalpas, saving beings beyond measure.
Seeking the cry, responding to the call —
The Heavenly Worthy Taiyi Who Rescues from Suffering.
the Palace of Wondrous Majesty in the Eastern Ultimate,
within the fragrant Qian Grove of Seven Treasures,
upon the lotus seat of nine colors.
Ten thousand true ones circle and bow within,
amid the radiance of a hundred billion auspicious lights.
The Numinous Treasure Worthy of Jade Purity —
responding in transformation from the Primordial Beginning.
Through vast kalpas, extending compassionate salvation,
the gate of sweet dew for the great cosmos.
Wondrous Dao, true body — purple-gold auspicious form.
Responding to the occasion, going to those in need — the vow is boundless.
Great sage, great mercy; great compassion, great vow.
Transforming through the ten directions, universally saving all beings.
Through a hundred million kalpas, saving beings beyond measure.
Seeking the cry, responding to the call —
The Heavenly Worthy Taiyi Who Rescues from Suffering.
此颂全面赞颂救苦天尊的功德：居处（东极妙严宫）、形象（紫金瑞相）、誓愿（度人无量）。"青华长乐界"为救苦天尊所居净土。"甘露门"比喻救度的法门如甘露般滋润众生。"寻声赴感"是救苦天尊的核心愿力——闻声救苦、感应道交，类似于观音菩萨的"寻声救苦"。
This hymn comprehensively praises the Heavenly Worthy: his dwelling (Eastern Ultimate Palace), form (purple-gold radiance), and vow (saving limitless beings). "Realm of Eternal Joy" is his pure land. "Gate of sweet dew" metaphorically describes the saving Dharma. "Seeking the cry, responding to the call" is his core vow — hearing cries and coming to rescue, akin to Guanyin Bodhisattva's vow to save those who call upon her.
This hymn comprehensively praises the Heavenly Worthy: his dwelling (Eastern Ultimate Palace), form (purple-gold radiance), and vow (saving limitless beings). "Realm of Eternal Joy" is his pure land. "Gate of sweet dew" metaphorically describes the saving Dharma. "Seeking the cry, responding to the call" is his core vow — hearing cries and coming to rescue, akin to Guanyin Bodhisattva's vow to save those who call upon her.
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