正月初六-定光佛誕辰

定光古佛,宋初僧人,人稱「定光佛」。是閩西汀州客家人之重要守護神。定光大師是五代末、宋初的高僧,俗名鄭自嚴,閩南泉州府同安人,十一歲時出家,十七歲得道,有許多神妙事蹟,如以法術除蛟、伏虎等。在宋太宗淳化年間圓寂,享壽八十二。民眾尊稱其為定光古佛。

定光大師雖是閩南人,但其一生大部分時間都在汀州弘法,其在世時,已被閩西、贛南、粵東等地不少信徒視同神明,信徒極多,並為之建造殿宇,踴躍供養。其圓寂後,便成為汀州的重要鄉土神明,稱為定光古佛,而來台的汀州客家人也奉其為守護神。

著名文學家蘇軾,曾為定光古佛作贊詞:「定光古佛,不顯其光,古錐透穿,大千為囊。臥像出家,西峰參道,亦俗亦真,一體三寶。南安石窟,開甘露門,異類中住,無天中尊。彼逆我順,彼順我逆,過即追求,虛空鳥集。驅使草木,教誨蛇虎,愁霖出日,枯旱下雨,無男得男,無女得女。法法如是,誰奪誰與?令若威怒,免我伽梨,既而釋之,遂終白衣,壽帽素履,髮鬢皤皤。壽八十二,與世同波。窮崖草木,枯臘風雨。七閩香火,家以為祖。薩埵御天,宋有萬姓。乃錫象服,名曰定應。」

American Ci Bei Temple, established in New York City on June 30, 2024, is a Buddhist Zen organization under the spiritual leadership of Venerable Master Yi Yun. As the temple’s guiding mentor, Master Yi Yun inspires the four-fold assembly of disciples in the practice of Mahayana Buddhism, emphasizing both Zen and Pure Land traditions to help practitioners achieve spiritual liberation. The temple is dedicated to transcending ignorance, promoting the righteous Dharma, enlightening society, and benefiting all sentient beings.