四天王殿 / Four Heavenly Kings Hall

四天王殿,位於大殿正門入口處,正中間供奉彌勒菩薩,開口笑面歡迎進來蓮社的每位有緣人。四周供奉四大天王 — 東方持國天王、南方增長天王、西方廣目天王、北方多聞天王。此殿後方設有護法壇,供奉韋馱尊天菩薩、伽藍菩薩。

經典記載,四大天王各住須彌山腰四方,每逢六齋日,四大天王便派遣其天子、部屬,乃至親自到人間,檢視眾生之善惡行業,並勸勉守戒行善。

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The statue of Maitriya Buddha in the middle of the hall, laughing with wild-opened mouth, welcomes everyone to ABLS. Four Heavenly Kings are honored in four corners. They are Dhṛtarāṣṭra of the East, Virūḍhaka of the South, Virūpākṣa of the West and Vaiśravaṇa of the North.

According to the sutras, four Heavenly Kings live on the lower slopes of Mount Sumeru. On Six Monthly Purification Days (Poṣadha), the Kings either send out emissaries or go themselves to inspect the state of virtue and morality of all sentient beings, and encourage them to observe the precepts and conduct good deeds.

彌勒菩薩 / Maitriya Buddha

~ 大肚能容,了卻人間多少事。滿腔歡喜,笑開天下古今愁 ~

A big belly to tolerate everything in the world; A joyful laugh to release all worrisome of the life.

東方持國天王 / Dhṛtarāṣṭra of the East

南方增長天王 / Virūḍhaka of the South

西方廣目天王 / Virūpākṣa of the West

北方多聞天王 / Vaiśravaṇa of the North