"Performing life liberation is to cultivate a kind of merciful mind, so that we realise that all sentient beings are equal, and all sentient beings possess a Buddha-nature. We are all part of this world and we live in this world together. We all have the same rights to enjoy life in this world."
问：为什么要放生？放生有什么功德？
1）放生是财布施、法布施、无畏布施，三施俱全，功德无量的行为，可感天动地。
2）财布施得财，法布施得智慧，无畏施得力量、能量。
3）放生可培养我们的慈悲心，常放生可为我们消灾延寿（当然也可以向观世音菩萨祈求，将放生的功德用于自己需要的地方，如消孽障或所求的事情等）。
Q: Why should we perform life liberation? What merit-virtues do we gain from it?
1) Performing life liberation consists of 'giving of material goods', 'giving of the dharma' and 'giving of fearlessness', whereby it's complete with all three acts of giving that are the source of boundless merit-virtues that could move heaven and earth.
2) Giving of material goods will reward you with wealth, giving of the dharma will reward you with wisdom and giving of fearlessness will give you power and energy.
3) Performing life liberation can cultivate one's merciful mind. Regular life liberation can help us eliminate calamities and extend our life (of course you can pray to Guan Yin Bodhisattva for other things, like allocating the merit-virtues from performing life liberation to areas that are more urgent, for example to eliminate karmic obstructions or to fulfil other wishes).
问：哪些人特别需要放生？
信佛的人、中老年人、年老多病的人、对父母孝顺的人。还有从事以下职业的人：厨工、厨师、手术医生、人流医生、殡葬杵工、杀虫清洁工、鸡场猪场屠宰工、刑警、法医、餐馆等，要经常“放生”来对冲消灾，当然最好是找机会转业。
Q: What kind of people especially need to perform life liberation?
Buddhists, middle-aged people, old people with illnesses and people who are filial to their parents. Also people who work in the following areas: chef, surgeons, abortion doctors, work in funerals, pest control, work in abattoirs/ slaughterhouses, criminal police, forensicist, work in a restaurant etc. They should regularly perform life liberation to counteract calamities, but of course it's best if they could change their career.
问：什么时候可以放生？
全年皆可放生，最好选择阳光明媚的白天，此时阳气最足，效果最佳，尽量避免晚上去放生，阴雨天也是可以放生的。在生日的当天，或者迎新除旧、交替的年关，或者初一十五、佛菩萨殊胜日，放生的效果特别好。另外在考前、住院前、手术前、查出大病、刚出车祸等关劫日子放生，也有极大帮助。
Q: When is the best time to perform life liberation?
You can perform life liberation at any time of the year. The best time to do it is when it's a clear and sunny day, as the 'yang' energy is at its strongest so the effect is greater. Try to avoid performing life liberation at night. When it's a rainy day, it's still fine to do it. When you perform life liberation on your birthday, or near the start of the New Year or Chinese New year, or the 1st and 15th day of the lunar month, or in special days of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, the effect is especially great. Aside from those days, you should also do it when you're about to enter into the hospital, before you perform an operation, or when you are diagnosed with a severe illness, or just when you got into a serious accident. When you do it on those days, it's especially helpful.
问：放生要放哪些动物？ 放生旨在救助生命，因此凡是要被吃掉、杀掉、受到生命威胁的都可以放生，其中放生鱼类较为普遍，鱼不要太小，一般比巴掌大一些即可。
Q: What animals should I liberate?
The principle of life liberation is to rescue the lives that faces imminent death, like those that are soon ready to be eaten or slaughtered. Of all animals to liberate, fish are the most common. Don't release fish that are too small. Typically, the size of the released fish should be bigger than the palm of your hand.
The Ritual of Performing Life Liberation
