Release Question: What are the benefits of releasing life?

放生疑问：放生有什么好处？

Abstain from killing and releasing life to save lives, accumulate blessings and promote natural harmony.

----- Zhuge Changqing

戒杀

放生，解救生命，积累福报，推进自然和谐。

----- 诸葛长青

  To let go of life is to save lives, to accumulate virtue and to be enlightened and wise.

   Zhuge Changqing: We exist in this natural society and live with thousands of creatures. For the sake of the harmony of nature, we should learn to abstain from killing and releasing life, so that the life in nature can share the natural sunshine as we do.

  When people live in harmony with nature, nature will be replaced by a harmonious tomorrow. According to Buddhism, the application of kindness is exchanged for the harmony of nature, and the harmony of nature drives human society forward.

  Zhuge Changqing shares the Buddhist view on releasing life to those who are interested -

  A Q: Why do we need to let go of life?

　　A: To put it simply, releasing life is to repay the debt, the countless debts of killing we have created over many lifetimes. The Avatamsaka Sutra says: "If this evil karma has a physical appearance, it cannot be tolerated in the entire void world." We have already done countless killings in this life, not to mention many more!

　　How can we not repent in time and release the dead in order to repay our debts?

　　By letting go of life, we can cultivate a compassionate heart and treat all living beings as if they were our own, so that we will no longer be arrogant, no longer have to kill again, no longer have to accumulate the debt of killing, and no longer suffer from the cycle of retribution!

  Q: What are the virtues of releasing life?

　　A: The merits and virtues of releasing life are too numerous to mention.

　　(1) No robbery by sword, no war, no killing.

　　(2) Longevity, health and less illness.

　　(3) Freedom from natural disasters and calamities.

　　(4) Prosperity and prosperity for all generations of descendants.

　　(5) Many sons, many males, and good luck in all one's endeavours!

　　(6) Prosperity in government and prosperity and smooth sailing.

　　(7) In harmony with the heart of Heaven and in obedience to the Buddha's command, all things are grateful and all Buddhas are pleased.

　　(8) To resolve grievances and resolve enmities, to eliminate all evils, to be free from worries and troubles!

　　(ix) Joy and good fortune, peace in all seasons.

　　(10) To be born in heaven and enjoy the blessings of infinity, and to be reborn in the Western Land of Bliss if you also practise Pure Land.

  (3) What is the point of releasing a life while others are hunting and killing?

　　A: There is the virtue of releasing life, but there is the sin of hunting and killing. We who release life make our own merits and virtues, while those who kill and capture make their own sins.

　　Just as a doctor who treats a patient cannot guarantee that the patient will always be healthy, or a famine relief worker cannot guarantee that the victims will never suffer from hunger or cold, or a craftsman who builds a house cannot guarantee that it will never be damaged! This is true of all things in the world, but why is it particularly questionable when it comes to the release of life?

　　Nowadays, people are reckless and impulsive in matters of personal fame and fortune, but when it comes to releasing living creatures for good, they think about it all the time, they are critical, they seek out its disadvantages, they do everything they can.

   Fourth question: Some of the creatures released are damaged and may not survive even if they are released, so why waste money? I have seen some released animals die in the wilderness, there is no point!

　　A: Any living individual is afraid of death and has its own instinct to survive.

　　Have you ever thought that there are many, many more creatures who, through the kindness of releasing them, have already returned to their homes and are enjoying their lives? Can you arbitrarily criticise all released creatures for dying in the wilderness just because you didn't see them?

　　Even if the released creature dies, it is better to die in the bosom of nature than to be slaughtered, fried, roasted or fried in a pot!

   Q5: If everyone abstains from killing and releasing animals, the more they multiply, will it not become a world of animals in the future?

　　A: We do not eat ants, earthworms or insects, but let them reproduce naturally. The world of ants, earthworms and insects is not a world of ants, earthworms and insects. You have not yet given up your bad karma of killing animals, but you keep worrying that there are too many of them in the world. It is like a farmer who has not yet planted his seeds but worries every day that the rice ears will ripen and the field will not be full enough for use.

　　The reason why there are so many beasts in the world today is because there were many people who killed them. If everyone can stop killing and let go, then the hatred between animals and us will gradually disappear, and the number of animals and animals will gradually decrease, while the blessings of human beings will increase. There is an ancient lesson in this: "If you don't catch frogs, you will have fewer frogs; if you don't eat crabs, you will have fewer crabs".

   Sixth Q: I would rather take the money from the release of life to relief and disaster relief, which is more practical.

　　A: For widows, widowers, poor and suffering, those who have given up killing and releasing life should also give as much relief as they can. But though widows, widowers, poor and suffering are to be pitied, their lives are not yet quick to die, whereas animals and creatures that are not immediately saved and released will be slaughtered and cooked, and their lives will be cut short in the belly of the people. One is in a pitiful situation and can still survive, while the other is in a critical situation and will die.

　　We must know that, compared to me, there is no difference between the Buddha nature of all living beings and mine, but we have sunk to this level because of ignorance and karma. To save a creature's life is to save a Buddha's son, and all the Buddhas rejoice. Therefore, saving a living being is like saving a future Buddha, which is why it is said in the Discourse on Great Wisdom: "Of all the remaining sins, killing is the most important, and of all the virtues, releasing a living being is the most important. This is why the Great Wisdom says: "Of all the other sins, killing is the most important, and of all the merits, releasing living beings is the most important.

Seven questions: How can we release all the different kinds of beings?

　　A: The great virtue of heaven and earth is life, and the great way of the Buddha is mercy.

　　As for the millions of foreign creatures that cannot be released, they are the result of the common karma of our past lives.

I do not agree with the idea that people who kill and let go of life should not continue to make a living, because they love animals rather than people.

　　A: Do you have to kill to support your family? You have to know that karma is inevitable, no matter what. It is a scourge that will spread to future generations.

Q9: I once saw a turtle being released and then caught, and then caught and then released again, what does it mean?

　　A: It was a turtle with deep sins and deep blessings. Because of its deep sinfulness, it was released and then caught in a cage, but because of its good fortune, it was repeatedly rescued by good people when it was killed and escaped death!

　　Imagine the merits of releasing this turtle to a kind person, who repeatedly saves the turtle when it is about to be killed, and saves the turtle from being killed by the butcher at the same time. The vast majority of the turtles released are allowed to live out their lives, while the vast majority of those caught are mercilessly killed for human consumption and pleasure.

　　Those who catch and release turtles do so on their own, and it is a supreme merit to do so, so why should they be so reluctant to do so?

Q10: Please tell me what I should pay attention to when releasing a living being.

　　A: Release is a learning process. People who are new to release can entrust experienced release groups to do it for them and participate in their release activities, so that they can learn from their experienced predecessors.

 The following points should be noted

　　(i) No booking.

　　To avoid fishermen and hunters from selling their creatures by buying them without prior notice.

　　(ii) Irregularity.

　　The time and place of purchase are not fixed, and the time and place of release are not fixed, in order to avoid people taking advantage of the opportunity to collect money and catch the released species.

　　(3) No fixed amount.

　　It is not too small to give ten dollars, not too many to give ten million dollars, not too few to give one life, not too many to give thousands of lives, but compassion is paramount and sincerity is important.

　　(iv) Giving the three conversions to the Buddha.

　　Before releasing a life, it is important to give three conversions and recite the Buddha's name, because "if you convert to the Buddha, you will not fall into hell. If you convert to the Dharma, you will not fall into hunger. If you convert to monkhood, you will not fall into animal life." Now that we have the chance to release their lives, we should have a bodhicitta, wishing that all living beings will never fall into the three evil paths again, and that they will be rewarded in this life, be human in the next, encounter the Dharma, recite the Buddha's teachings, and be reborn in the Western bliss world, forever free from the suffering of the six rebirths.

　　(5) Carefulness and consideration.

　　It is advisable to choose a place that is sparsely populated, with deep waters and suitable for the survival of living things.

The Ten Great Virtues of Releasing Life (Master Yin Guang).

    (1) No swords and armies. The great calamities of the world are caused by the desire to kill. It is hoped that the great politicians, educators and agriculturalists will pay attention to this and promote it, for it will have a great effect.

　　(2) Gather all the auspiciousness. If we are compassionate, we will be blessed with good fortune.

　　(3) Longevity and health. The Buddhist scriptures say that those who abstain from killing and releasing animals will be blessed in two ways. One is a long life. The second is a long life without illness.

　　(4) Many sons, many males. The person who lets go of life is good at understanding the goodness of heaven and earth, so he is blessed with a male child.

　　(5) The Buddhas are pleased. To save the life of a creature is to save a son of the Buddha.

　　(6) The creatures are grateful. When the creature saved is brought to life at the moment of death, they are all overjoyed and thankful for their virtue, which is the cause of eternal reward.

　　(vii) No calamities. A compassionate person's good fortune grows day by day, and all calamities are invisibly eliminated.

　　(H) To be born in heaven. Those who abstain from killing and releasing animals will be born in the next life in the Heaven of the Four Kings and enjoy boundless blessings. If one also practices the Pure Land, he will be born in the Western Land of Bliss, and his merits will be boundless.

　　(9) Now is a very dangerous time in life. The demons of smoking and drinking and of love are haunting all people. If all sentient beings repay their kindness, all evils will be eliminated and the seasons will be peaceful.

　　(10) The advancement of animals from the lower to the higher state corresponds to the advancement of mankind from the savage to the civilized class. According to biologists, all living things are subject to change in response to external conditions. If everyone abstains from killing and releasing life, then life will continue, and goodwill will be felt, just as children and grandchildren will be passed on from generation to generation, and will live forever.

   Zhuge Changqing: It is important to follow the rituals for releasing living creatures, especially the return direction. You can refer to the Zhuge Changqing Rituals for releasing raw materials.

  Amitabha Buddha, Namo Kuan Shi Yin Bodhisattva, praise and admiration for those who abstain from killing and releasing life!

  Zhuge Changqing: Everyone starts with himself to create a harmonious society!

       Do not do evil and practice all good deeds. We must be persistent and responsive.

 放生，就是救命，就是积德，就是开悟智慧。

   诸葛长青：我们存在这个自然社会，和成千上万得生物生活在一起，为了大自然的和谐，要学会戒杀放生，让自然中的生命和我们一样，分享自然阳光。

  人与自然和谐相处，自然会换来和谐的明天。佛教认为，善心的应用，换得自然的和谐，自然的和谐，推动人类社会的前进。

  诸葛长青把佛教对放生的观点分享给有缘者---

  一问：为什么要放生？
　　答：简单地说，放生就是还债，还累劫多生以来我们所造无数的杀债。华严经云：“若此恶业有体相者，尽虚空界不能容受。”吾人今生所造杀业已不可胜数，更何况累劫多生！
　　要知道有债必还，有罪必报的真理，思及自己通身杀业，不免惶恐愧作无地自容，怎能不及时深自忏悔，力行放生，以期偿报宿债于万一！
　　放生可长养自己慈悲心肠，悲悯众生，视万物生命如己出，如此则不复颠倒狂妄，不复再造杀业，不再积欠杀债，不再轮回受报！

  二问：放生有什么功德？
　　答：放生功德广大，不可胜数，兹举其大要述说于下：
　　（一）无刀兵劫，免战争杀祸。
　　（二）长寿、健康、少病。
　　（三）免天灾横祸，无诸灾难。
　　（四）子孙代代昌盛，生生不息。
　　（五）多子宜男，所求顺遂！
　　（六）官禄亨盛，一帆风顺。
　　（七）合天心，顺佛令，物类感恩，诸佛欢喜。
　　（八）解怨释仇，诸恶消灭，无忧无恼！
　　（九）喜气吉祥，四季安宁。
　　（十）得生天上，享无极之福，若兼修净土，直可往生西方极乐国土。

  三问：你们一边放生，人家一边捕杀，有什么意义？
　　答：放生有放生的功德，捕杀有捕杀的罪过。我们放生的人作自己的功德，人家捕杀的人造自己的罪过，人间世事皆相对存在，有善必有恶，有忠必有奸，总不能因为有恶人捕杀之罪行，我们便不作放生之善行吧！
　　就好像医生医治病人，总不能保证病人以后永远健康；饥荒赈灾救济，也不能保证灾民以后永远不受饥寒；工匠盖房子也不能保证房子以后永远不会损坏！世间万事皆是如此，为何独于放生一事却特别质疑呢？
　　现在的人对于个人名利当前之事，则鲁莽冲动，毫无顾虑，但对于行善放生，则千思万虑，百般挑剔，求其弊端，无所不用其极，真是颠倒啊！

   四问：放生的生物，有些都已损伤，放了也未必可活，何苦浪费金钱？我看过有些放生的动物死在荒野，没有什么意义！
　　答：任何一种有生命的个体，均好生怕死，自有其求生的本能，伤残之人，落于荒郊野外，自有其求生之道，损伤的异类畜生亦然！
　　你只看到少数不幸死在荒野上的，你可曾想过还有更多更多的生物，经由放生的善举早已回归自己的家园，悠游自在，安享天年了！只是因为你没有看到，便可以武断地批评所有放生的生物皆死于荒野吗？
　　纵使放生之物命不幸而死，死也死得其所，死于大自然的怀抱之中，犹千万倍幸于被人宰杀、被煎、被烤、被炸于锅鼎之中！

   五问：人人戒杀放生，牲畜繁殖愈多，将来岂不成为禽兽世界？
　　答：蚂蚁、蚯蚓、昆虫，人类并不食用，任其自然繁衍，如今的世界有没有见到蚂蚁世界、蚯蚓世界或昆虫世界？放生物类在大自然的化育下，自有其生态调节与繁衍制衡。你现在杀生的恶业仍未能戒除，却一直在烦恼世界上畜生异类过多。就好像农夫尚未下田播种，天天便烦恼以后稻穗成熟，田地胀满不敷使用，杞人忧天，岂不可笑！
　　要知道因果报应，如影随形，丝毫不爽，当今世界上禽兽之所以多，正因为以前杀禽兽的人多所造成。因为人吃羊，羊死后为人，人死后为羊，死死生生，互来报怨，累世不已，正因此冤冤相报，互为畜生，所以为禽兽世界，若人人能戒杀放生，则畜生与我们怨业仇恨渐渐消弭，则必禽兽畜生渐减而人天福份增盛。“楚不捕蛙而蛙反少，蜀不食蟹而蟹自稀”古有明鉴，阁下试深自省之！

   六问：我宁愿把放生的钱拿去救济赈灾，比较实际。
　　答：鳏寡孤独，贫穷苦难，戒杀放生之人亦当随分随力救济扶助。但鳏寡孤独，贫穷苦难虽令人悲悯，其命尚不至于速死，而物类畜生若不立行救赎放生，则马上被宰杀烹烤，而断命于人口腹之中。一为境遇可怜，命犹可存，一为千钧一发，命丧九泉，熟急孰重，显而立见。
　　要知道众生异类与我相比，佛性无二无别，但因无明业报而沉沦至此。一切生物，佛皆视之如子，救一物命，即是救一佛子，诸佛皆大欢喜。所以救一众生，如同救一未来得度之佛，是以大智度论云：“诸余罪中，杀业最重，诸功德中，放生第一。”，戒杀放生之殊胜，由此可见，有识之士可不深思而免力行焉？

七问：异类众生千千万万，吾人放生怎么放得完？
　　答：天地之大德曰生，如来之大道曰慈，上天皆好生而恶杀，吾人处此五浊恶世，但当随分随力，尽自己能力随缘放生，要知道救一物命，已合天心且诸佛欢喜，更何况救众多物命！
　　至于千万异类放之不尽，实乃累劫宿世共业所致，吾人愧为博地凡夫，力有未逮，但发大慈悲心随缘放生，总不能因其太多而不解救于万一吧。

八问：以杀生为业的人，家庭子女都须要靠此赚钱养家糊口，今劝人戒杀放生，岂不断此人生计，爱畜牲不爱人，我不赞同！
　　答：养家糊口岂非一定要以杀生为业，要知道因果必报，丝毫不爽，因造杀罪，必受杀报，虽暂得衣玉食，而未来际千万劫受苦偿报，无有止期，实为得不偿失！且祸延后代子孙，杀生之人，可不慎思而及时回头乎？

九问：我曾看过一只海龟被放了又被抓，被抓了又被放，放放抓抓，有何意思！
　　答：这真是一只既罪业深重又福缘深厚的大海龟啊！因其罪业深重，所以被放生后又被抓入牢笼，因其福缘深厚，屡屡在被杀戮之际值遇善人搭救放生，逃过杀劫！
　　试想放生善人于此海龟身上，屡次于其将被杀害之际，救赎放生，活龟性命，亦同时免除欲杀海龟屠夫之杀罪，其功德何可计量！并且此种际遇之海龟亦为数少之又少，绝大部分放生的海龟均得以悠游自在，安享天年，绝大部分被抓的海龟均无情地被杀害以供人类满足口腹之欲及赏玩之用。
　　捕者自捕，放者自放，放生乃无上功德，自当义无反顾，全力以赴，何必逡巡畏缩，推三阻四，断了自己活人性命的契机？

十问：请告诉我放生要注意那些地方？
　　答：放生是门学问，初发心放生人士可委托有经验的放生团体代放，并参加其放生活动，从中请教有经验的前辈们，渐渐地自己便可随缘随力放生，自行化他并广为提倡。

 放生应当注意以下几点：
　　（一）不预订：
　　在不预先告知的情况下突然去采买物类放生，以避免渔夫猎人商家藉此捕猎兜售。
　　（二）不固定：
　　不固定时间地点采买，不固定时间地点放生，总之避免有心人士藉此伺机敛财捕抓而祸及放生物类。
　　（三）多少不拘：
　　随个人发心，十元不嫌少，千万不嫌多，物命一条不嫌少，物命万千不嫌多，但求慈悲至上，心诚为要。
　　（四）授三皈依念佛：
　　放生前一定要授三皈依并予以念佛，因为“皈依佛，不堕地狱。皈依法，不堕饿鬼。皈依僧，不堕畜生。”今朝有缘放其性命，吾人更当发菩提心，愿物类众生永不再堕三恶道中，并得于今生报尽，来世为人，值遇佛法，念佛修行，往生西方极乐世界，永远脱离六道轮回之苦，此乃放生中之大放生，是放生中最重要最究竟的意义！
　　（五）细心周到：
　　放生地点宜选择人烟稀少，地广水深，适合物类生存之地域为愿则，放生是救命的行为，把众生当作是自己的父母手足子女看待，尽量做到周全完备，庶几乎问心无愧才可以！

放生十大功德(印光大师)：

   诸葛长青：放生要符合仪轨，尤其是回向十分重要。大家可以参考诸葛长青放生仪轨。
  阿弥陀佛，南无观世音菩萨，为那些戒杀放生的行为表示赞扬和敬佩！

  诸葛长青：人人从自我作起，创造和谐社会！！

       诸恶莫作，众善奉行。持之以恒、有求必应 。

(This article is an original article by Zhuge Changqing, and the pictures are selected from the Internet. Welcome to forward it, and please indicate the source for forwarding)

Introduction to Zhuge Changqing: Zhuge Changqing, the inheritor and promoter of traditional Chinese culture, is willing to "learn from sages, promote virtue, revitalize China and benefit the world" together with people with the same ideals in the world.

(Zhuge Changqing: zhuge8031@163.com ）

Zhuge Changqing mailbox：

zhuge8031@163.com

Zhuge Changqing's Chinese Dream

Learn from sages and carry forward virtue

Revitalizing China for the benefit of the world

 （本文是诸葛长青原创文章，图片选自网络。欢迎转发，转发引用请注明出处）

诸葛长青简介：诸葛长青，中国国学传统文化传承弘扬者，愿与天下志同道合者一起“学习圣贤、弘扬善德、振兴中华、造福世界”。

（诸葛长青：zhuge8031@163.com）

Zhuge Changqing mailbox：

zhuge8031@163.com

  诸葛长青中国梦  

学习圣贤 弘扬善德

振兴中华 造福世界

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4How to repent: the ritual of repentance and the method of repentance (full version)

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5 如何念地藏经：念地藏经仪轨方法（完整版）

6How to release? The ritual of releasing life

6怎样放生？放生仪轨

7Zhuge Changqing's Repentance Culture: A Case Study of Repentance Methods for Changing Destiny

7诸葛长青忏悔文化：改变命运忏悔方法案例

8Free Life Culture: Free Life Culture in Ancient China

8放生文化：中国古代的放生文化

9Shocking photo of feeding: Buddha, Bodhisattva and Dharma Protector come to the scene

9施食震撼照片：佛菩萨护法神亲临现场

10Feeding Rite Return: the return is changed to simple return

10施食仪轨回向：回向修改为简洁回向