A Prayer for New Year's Eve

慈悲偉大的佛陀！

Oh great, compassionate Buddha,

 今天是歲殘年盡

Today is the end of the year,

我們的人生又過去了一年

Another year has gone by in our lives.

這一年來

During this year,

在我的生活裡嚐到許多的酸甜苦辣

I have tasted the bitter and the sweet in life,

在我的遭遇裡看到許多的人情冷暖

I have experienced the warmth and the coldness

Of human emotion.

慈悲偉大的佛陀

Oh great, compassionate Buddha,

所幸仰仗您的庇護

Relying on your protection and blessing,

讓我生起勇氣面對現實

I developed the courage to face reality

一次又一次渡過險難

And to overcome dangers and difficulties

Again and again;

所幸承蒙您的教誨

Relying on your teaching,

讓我提醒自己不要失望

I reminded myself not to be discouraged

平安走到一年的盡頭

And to walk to the end of the year safely.

慈悲偉大的佛陀

Oh great, compassionate Buddha,

有時我會懷疑

Sometimes I have doubted:

人生的意義究竟在哪裡呢

What is the meaning of life?

有時我會思索

Sometimes I have wondered:

人生為什麼有那麼多的苦難

Why is there so much suffering in life?

有時我也會難過

Sometimes I have also felt sad:

我對人真心

I am sincere to others but,

別人對我竟然是虛情假意

Surprisingly, they are insincere to me;

有時我也會不平

Sometimes I have also felt injustice:

我給人幫助

I give people assistance and,

反而被人怨怪 被人歪曲

Unexpectedly, I am blamed and misunderstood.

佛陀！這一年來

Buddha! In the past year

我每日纏繞在執著煩惱中

Everyday I have been bothered 

By attachments and cares,

無法開脫

Unable to free myself;

我經常陷身於無明業海裡

Often I have fallen into the ocean of karma 

Of ignorance,

不能自拔

Unable to break away;

我雖有師長教誨

Although I have teachings and admonitions

From teachers,

無奈講時似悟，對境生迷

I understood when they taught me

But was helplessly confused

When I encountered the situation;

我雖有善友提攜

Although I have assistance 

From benevolent friends,

總是忠言逆耳，錯失良機

I always found that honest advice 

Was unpleasant, and so missed

Good opportunities.