Monday, 31 January 2022

修行起来为何很困难不容易成就

梦参老和尚

要如何修行?有几个重要的观点是我们应当要先认识的。一般来说,我们所谓的修行都是礼忏、念经、念佛,或者上早、晚课。其实这样的修行是不够的,我们往往忽略了现前的境界,在佛堂拜佛的时候,忽略了禅室外头的事情。在我们拜忏或打木鱼、敲引磬的时候,会影响到别人;而你并没考虑到别人,就只看到自己在修行。这样的修行会有障碍,对你的利益不大,也不会对他人生起什么好的影响。

在修行的时候,所有外边的、现前的一切现象,跟我们修的法应该是很有关系的,如果不把修法和日常生活充份结合起来,那么我们修法的成就也不会太大,对我们的帮助也很小。

这个涵义就是说,不论你拜忏也好,念佛也好,修禅定也好,一定要跟你现前的现实生活,以及工作结合在一起,这样来修法,成就也容易大一点。也就是把我们的心念跟所修的法结合在一起,如果我们的修行跟日常的生活、工作成了两条并行线,分别的进行,互不相干,这两者你都会做不好。修行和生活不是两条线,应该是一条线,要使你的心跟现实生活,结合成一体,这样的修行,对你的帮助是很大的。

在现实生活当中,我们一天到晚起心动念,如果你不能够把佛法跟你现在所做的工作、所面对的生活结合在一起,用教义上所说的话,就是你的心不能转变客观和现实的环境,不能把佛法运用到现实环境当中,所以修行所起的作用不太大。

我们经常说信心、信佛,你有没有信心?你有没有信佛?这两个涵义是一体的。信佛即是信心,信心就是信佛,但是我们常把心跟佛分开了,分开了理解力就不强。我们经常说心即是佛、佛即是心,要相信自己的心,你们有没有信心?我们一般说:你有没有信心?好像是指信佛,并不是如此,而是说信你自己的心。

我们讲述《华严经》的时候,就跟大家说:“你要相信自己就是毘卢遮那佛,要这样你学《华严经》,才能学得进去。”意思就是说你念阿弥陀佛的时候,要相信自己就是阿弥陀佛,“心佛与众生,是三无差别。”这不是一句话,而是你在做的时候能够跟心结合在一起,这叫有信心;如果你没有这个信心,成不了佛,也不是真实的信佛,信佛就是指信你自己的心。

佛的涵义,学佛的人都知道。佛的印度原话是“佛陀耶”,“佛陀耶”中译为直觉的觉,明白的明,我们的觉心是明白的,是觉悟的,但因为受多生累劫的薰习,薰习妄缘迷惑了我们本有的佛性、本有的佛心,好像朦胧阴影,受了垢缘;一旦这些迷惑消失了,恢复你原来的清净心,也就是在《楞严经》上所说的“妙明真心”,那就对了。

因此你在修行的时候,一定要相信自己,相信自己的心。这个心在每一天的生活当中,不论是在你工作当中所面对的事物,都不要离开现前的一念心。学佛法就要用佛法来指导我们的生活,让佛法跟生活成为一条线,而不是成为两条并行线,如果成为两条并行线的话,修行起来就很困难,也不容易成就。

当大家念经或者拜忏的时候,心总不能够跟法、佛融合在一起。我跟很多道友谈过,当你念阿弥陀佛的时候,你是不是观想自己就是阿弥陀佛,当你念地藏菩萨的时候,你就成为地藏菩萨的化身,你有没有做这样的观想?你念观世音菩萨的时候,你就是观世音菩萨的化身,我不是随随便便说说,《地藏经》第一品当中那些来聚会的大众,都是受了地藏菩藏教化,从六道出来,乃至于成佛、成菩萨,都是地藏菩萨的化身。因为你的心跟佛的心已经结合在一起了,当你念地藏菩萨的时候,你就是地藏菩萨的化身,念阿弥陀佛,你就是阿弥陀佛的化身。

这个问题在你修行当中是最主要的问题,可不是小问题。你要是以这个心来拟定你一天所做的事,以佛心来指导你的一切,那么你所做的都是佛事,也就是你的心、跟佛的心、跟佛的事业是分不开的,当这样做的时候,你并没有求利益的心,也没有求福报的心,也没有求加持的心,为什么?因为这一切都是自心所具有的,以自心来加持自心,这是从心上来说。



Be soft in your practice. Think of the method as a fine silvery stream, not a raging waterfall. Follow the stream, have faith in its course. It will go on its own way, meandering here, trickling there. It will find the grooves, the cracks, the crevices. Just follow it. Never let it out of your sight. It will take you.

-- Venerable Sheng Yen




Sunday, 30 January 2022

Be Grateful

by His Holiness Gyalwang Drukpa, Jigme Pema Wangchen

While we are busy complaining and looking for reasons to dislike or be angry with our circumstances and the people around us, we still expect ourselves to be happy. But if our minds are only looking for problems, how can we be? If gratitude and appreciation are lacking in our lives, we will miss the path to happiness.

What is going well in your life?

Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the over compensations for misery. And, of course, stability isn’t nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand. ALDOUS HUXLEY, BRAVE NEW WORLD

People often tend to focus on what is going wrong in their lives, rather than giving themselves a chance to dwell on what’s going well. It is true that we can learn very helpful lessons from things that happen which we would describe as mistakes. And learning such lessons allows us to develop our skills, our compassion and the ability to see things from alternative points of view. However, sometimes I think we forget there are great lessons to be had from the parts of life that fill us with joy. Simply the act of shining a light on those good feelings encourages them to grow and infuse the rest of our life, or at least the rest of our day.

Why not celebrate and develop the things we do well? We can’t all be good at everything, and while it’s no bad idea to challenge ourselves and look for new areas in which we can learn, we can also hone the skills we have been blessed with. After all, they then become gifts with which we can improve other people’s lives in some way. When we feel like we are a very good fit with what we are doing – whether that is in our job, our relationship or any other aspect of life – we don’t need to spend so much time looking around the next corner for happiness because we feel it in our contentment and our relaxed confidence. When we get back to the simplicity of doing something well, we are lucky enough to remind ourselves of the essence of life.

We seem to find it much easier to believe in the negative side of things (this is where our belief is at its strongest) and we have no confidence in the good things. But to change life in the positive sense, let’s start with believing that happiness, joy, peace – all the great things – can happen with us first. We can be fearless if we want to. So we might wake up in the morning and think for a few moments about the loving people in our lives, that we have a roof over our heads, a cup of tea first thing and the ingredients in our cupboards for a good breakfast. We then think about the things we are grateful for that we don’t have today: illness, for example, if we are in good health, blindness, if we can see, homelessness, if we have a home. This kind of thinking not only helps to bring our happiness to the surface, but also to tune in our awareness. As we train our minds to consider the things in our lives that make us want to say ‘thank you’, we begin to notice more of them and take fewer things for granted. The other benefit is that by practising this kind of thinking we also help to develop our compassion for others; we are able to acknowledge suffering and have the strength to look directly at it, so that we may also have the motivation to help those in need. 



Nothing ever exists entirely alone; everything is in relation to everything else.

-- The Buddha



Saturday, 29 January 2022

人身難得,佛法難聞

净空法师

世尊常說,「人身難得,佛法難聞」,這是說我們有幸得人身,而且有機會聽到佛的正法,應當要珍惜此殊勝之因緣。這些年,我們認真學習佛的教誨,在現實生活上得到了證明。最淺的常識,佛講的「因緣果報」,我們很冷靜、細心去觀察,確實財布施得財富的果報,法布施得聰明智慧的果報,無畏布施得健康長壽的果報。能明白此理,了解事實真相,生活在世間,心情自然就穩定,所謂「心安理得」;道理明瞭之後,心就安了。

在《了凡四訓》中,了凡先生與雲谷禪師在禪堂裡,坐了三天三夜,沒有起一個妄念,這是一般人做不到的。一般人妄念紛飛,分別執著太多,這就是經上講的「凡夫」、「可憐憫者」。禪師說:「你的功夫不錯!」他說:「我沒有功夫,我的命被孔先生算定了,一生的休咎、吉凶、禍福,都是命裡安排好的,打妄念也沒用處,所以就不打了。」了凡先生雖然明白事實真相,但沒有透徹明瞭,也就是知其當然,不知其所以然。所以,禪師為他開示,將所以然之理告訴他。他依照禪師的教導,認真努力去做,真的改變了命運。所以,明瞭道理與事實真相,才能改變命運,創造命運。

菩薩有五十一個階級,每個階級所了解的道理與事實真相都不同。最低的是圓教初信位菩薩,所明瞭的比了凡先生高出太多了,但在佛法裡是屬於階層最低的菩薩,到如來果地才是究竟圓滿透徹的明瞭。所以,佛家的教學,無非是教導我們了解宇宙人生的真相而已。真正明瞭真相,就是法身大士,是圓教初住菩薩的果位。初住以下,雖明瞭而沒有透徹,只是解悟,沒有達到證悟。譬如,佛說一切眾生就是自己的法身,我們深信不疑,這是解悟,但沒有證實,還不能將一切眾生真的看作自己,眾生與自己之間仍有差別。若是對待一切眾生,真的與對待自己一樣,就是證悟,這是法身大士。

我們現在雖然懂得這些道理,但還做不到,這就是解悟,不是證悟。李老師常說,解悟不管用,該怎麼生死,還是怎麼生死,無法脫離輪迴,證悟才能脫離輪迴;不但脫離輪迴,而且脫離十法界,證得一真法界。一真法界才真正得大自在,得幸福美滿。十法界裡的美滿、幸福不是真的,「真善美慧」是有名無實;一真法界才是真實的,「真善美慧」都是事實。佛陀對我們的期望及勉勵,是希望我們在一生當中證得。佛所說的是我們一定能做到的,問題是「你肯不肯做」。佛教我們將心量拓開,愛一切眾生像愛自己一樣,這就是行,解行要相應才能證得。

世間有些野心家,想做世界的主宰,能否做到?能。佛在經上講,此世間最大的國王是金輪王,統治一四天下,就是統治太陽系。為何稱為輪王?他以輪寶作為交通工具及武器。這使我們聯想到,近幾十年來,世界各地傳聞的飛碟,大概就是輪王的輪寶。可能是輪王派遣部屬,到此地來巡視。他們乘著輪寶,一天一夜可以走遍一四天下,也就是一個太陽系,這是一般的講法。

若照黃念祖老居士的講法,一個單位世界是一個銀河系;換句話說,金輪王統治的範圍是一個銀河系。他的輪寶在二十四小時內,能周遍遊歷整個銀河系。輪王何以能統治如此大的國家?經上說,他以「十善業道」和「四無量心」,得此大福報。摩醯首羅天王是天王福報最大的,金輪聖王是人間福報最大的,都是修積功德而成就的,決不是以武力、霸道成就的。

在中國,秦始皇用霸道,三十幾年就亡國;在近代,希特勒用霸道,亦復如是;日本人用霸道對中國發動戰爭,八年就幾乎滅亡,最後無條件投降;這是在史實上證實霸道不能成就。在中國歷史上,建立王朝時間最久的是周朝,享國八百年,就是實行仁政,以「五倫」、「八德」來治理天下。而周朝末代的子孫,不遵守祖宗的教誨,不仁不義,最後招致亡國。倘若他們仍遵循祖宗的成規,周朝就不會亡國。

所以,仁慈、真誠、愛人,無條件的幫助別人、成就別人,這是世出世間真實的福報。真正的福報不是自己享受,是一切眾生享受,因為一切眾生就是自己。如同一位真正愛護子孫的老人,自己辛勤的耕耘、工作,就是希望兒孫過得幸福、美滿。他將兒孫看作自己,兒孫享受就是自己享受,這是世間人。諸佛菩薩是將一切眾生看作自己,實際上一切眾生真正是自己。這是說明生命是一個整體,盡虛空、遍法界是自己生命的共同體,亦即是一體。

若將虛空法界比作是一個人身,一切眾生就是身體的每個細胞。每個細胞都是自己,每個細胞都是平等的。雖然各個功能不相等,眼能見,耳能聽,但無論是眼、耳、鼻,或是內臟、四肢、皮膚、指甲,分析後皆變成分子、原子、電子,所有的組織完全是相等的,這是平等。所以,盡虛空、遍法界是一個自己,這是佛知佛見。

華嚴宗常講「作法界觀」。過去有些老法師,如隆泉法師、智光法師和南亭法師都是學《華嚴》的,他們在《華嚴經》上,看到祖師大德講的「作華嚴觀」。何謂「華嚴觀」?在日常生活當中,認真去做,認真去學,盡虛空、遍法界是一個自己,這就是華嚴觀。所有一切眾生,就像身體每個部位的細胞;不同族群就像不同的器官,少一個族群,人就會生病。所以才曉得,各種不同的族群,組織起來是一個圓滿、美好、完整的生命共同體,這樣你就會愛一切不同族群的眾生。所以,我們對於各種不同的文化、族群、宗教,以真誠心去愛護,全心全力去幫助,這就是《華嚴經》的落實。所謂落實,就是《華嚴經》的證果。「信、解、行、證」,證就是落實,完全落實在現實生活中,現實的生活就是「佛華嚴」,我們才得真正的受用。

釋迦牟尼佛當年在世示現的榜樣,我們要細心體會,認真學習,在一生中,就能過佛菩薩的生活。這樣,你就成佛、成菩薩,前途無限光明。這是諸佛如來對我們的期望,在這一生中決定可以證得,只要真正依教奉行。佛教我們做的,認真去做;佛教我們不許做的,決定不做,就能證實經上所講的事實真相,就能得到佛法的真實受用。



Life doesn’t stay in place, even for just a moment.

-- Gampopa



Friday, 28 January 2022

The Special Attitude of Bodhicitta

by Lama Zopa Rinpoche

By having the realisation of renunciation of our own samsara, when we look at others we see all their sufferings very clearly and we feel it is unbearable. That is how compassion is generated for others. That is how we achieve the realisation of compassion for other sentient beings. And, because of this unbearable feeling of compassion for the suffering sentient beings, we can attain bodhicitta. Understanding how we must experience our own samsara due to our mind being obscured, we see how it is exactly the same with them — their obscured minds are under the control of karma and delusions, making them experience the sufferings of samsara.

From that arises the special attitude, the determination, “I myself will free them from all the sufferings and cause them to have happiness. Those who do not have temporary happiness, I will cause them to have temporary happiness. Those who do not have ultimate happiness, liberation from samsara, I will cause them to have ultimate happiness, liberation from samsara. And those who do not have the peerless happiness of full enlightenment, I will cause them to have the peerless happiness of full enlightenment. I am going to do this work by myself alone.” In that way, we take the responsibility completely on ourselves.

This is the special attitude, the attitude that is vital if we are to attain bodhicitta and then enlightenment. Without it, without achieving the state of omniscient mind ourselves, we cannot do perfect work for other sentient beings. At the moment, we cannot perfectly guide even one sentient being. Even the arhats, who are completely liberated from all suffering and have ceased all karma and delusions, including the seeds of the delusions, even though they have skies of incredible qualities, such as psychic powers and clairvoyance, they still cannot do perfect work for other sentient beings because they still have subtle obscurations, the subtle negative imprints left on the mental continuum by past delusions, such as the wrong concept of inherent existence. There is still a subtle defilement that hinders their mind, causing them to make mistakes when they are guiding sentient beings.

For example, even the very high arhats cannot see the subtle karma of sentient beings because they have not abandoned the four unknowing minds. They cannot yet see the inconceivable secret actions of the buddhas. These actions are called secret because only buddhas themselves with their omniscient minds can see them. No matter how many realisations they have, no sentient being can see these secret actions because they still don’t have omniscience. And they cannot see the subtle karma of sentient beings. I think the other two unknowing minds should be checked, but my guess is that one is the inability to see things that happened an unbelievably long time ago, and the other is the inability to see things that are incredibly far away. These last two should be checked. [Rinpoche was correct] Therefore, even though those arhats have skies of unbelievable qualities, so many realisations, they still have not abandoned the four unknowing minds. Because of that, there is the possibility of making mistakes when trying to do perfect work for sentient beings.

This is true not only for arhats but even for bodhisattvas on the tenth bhumi, those who are close to achieving enlightenment. There is no question an arya bodhisattva on the tenth bhumi has unbelievable qualities, so much more than an arhat. But even the tenth bhumi bodhisattvas who are close to achieving enlightenment still have subtle defilements, the negative imprints that project the hallucinated appearance of inherent existence. That is the imprint and part of that hallucinated appearance, the obscuration to the omniscient mind, the obscuration to a fully knowing mind, called “obscuration to knowledge,” in Tibetan she drib.

Because there is still the possibility of a tenth bhumi bodhisattva making mistakes when trying to do perfect work for other sentient beings, the only way we can do this perfect work is by achieving omniscience. Therefore we must achieve omniscience.

It’s only when we meditate that we feel this. When we don’t meditate, it doesn’t happen. So, we must first meditate on the renunciation of our own samsaric suffering. And then, on the basis of that, we use whichever technique we want to train our mind in bodhicitta, either the seven techniques of the Mahayana cause and effect or equalising and exchanging the self with others.

The seven-point technique starts with equanimity, realising how all sentient beings are equal, and then recognising how all sentient beings have been our mother, remembering their kindness, generating the thought of repaying their kindness and then generating loving-kindness, which can be translated as the loving-kindness of seeing sentient beings in beauty.

This beauty has nothing to do with the body, with the beauty of the shape of the body. This beauty is seeing how that person is so precious, how they have been so kind to us, and because of that, we see their beauty. With that perception, we feel loving-kindness. Then there is compassion and then the special attitude, where we take complete responsibility upon ourselves for other sentient beings. After that, there is bodhicitta.

The feeling of bodhicitta will only come when we do these techniques of the seven-point Mahayana cause and effect or the other technique, equalising and exchanging self for others. Whichever technique we use, the feeling will come, otherwise, the feeling will not arise.

That is what is called “skin bodhicitta.” You know when you buy candies, there is the candy, the actual confectionery, and then there is the wrapping. If you lick the wrapping, there’s some sweetness on that, isn’t there? Maybe not on all of them! The analogy we normally use is the skin of a sugar cane. We only feel the thought to achieve enlightenment for others when we meditate, but after we stop meditating, after the session, we don’t feel it. That’s called “bodhicitta like the skin of the sugar cane.” It’s not the actual realisation of bodhicitta; it is what is called the effortful experience of bodhicitta, feeling bodhicitta when we are meditating on it but not when we are not. Of course, it has to happen like that at first.

Then, by continuously training the mind in bodhicitta, we start to feel it all the time, continuously, day and night. Not only during meditation, but even when we are not meditating, our mind remains in that attitude. We naturally feel that. Our mind naturally, spontaneously arises in that attitude all the time, while we are eating, working, talking — all the time, day and night, spontaneously, the thought arises to achieve enlightenment for sentient beings. Whenever we see any living being — human being, insect, animal — we spontaneously have this thought to achieve enlightenment for them. That is the realisation of bodhicitta. That is like the actual sweet, not the skin of the sugar cane, but the inside sugarcane itself, the actual sweet.

Bodhisattvas who have the actual realisation of bodhicitta feel this so strongly; they cherish others like we cherish ourselves. Every other single sentient being is so precious; everyone is the most important one in the bodhisattva’s life. That is how a bodhisattva feels. Therefore, whatever they do they only do with this attitude, nothing else. There is no thought at all of working for the self, no thought of seeking happiness for themselves. The only thought is seeking happiness for others.



If you've ever watched a dog or a cat chasing its own tail, you've seen the essence of samsara.

-- Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche



Thursday, 27 January 2022

修行人降除心魔的四种方法

印光大师

道高一尺,魔高一丈,是一定的。修行到功夫深了,难免没有魔来。魔有内魔,有外魔;外魔易退,内魔难降。如不能降,必要着魔;不但修功走失,亦且危险甚虞。若论降魔,约有四种方法。

一、要识魔相

凡着魔的人,大都遇着魔来的时候,不知道他是魔,以致着魔。倘能识得魔相,即不着魔而魔自退。怎样是魔相?大凡可爱、可贪、可畏、可憎的人物或境界当前,无不是魔。至五阴内魔,尤为厉害。《楞严经》说五十种阴魔,至为详尽,亟须仔细参穷,免得临时上当。

二、舍身无畏

人必先有舍却身命之心,然后可以学佛;人必先有看破生死之勇,然后可以降魔。魔化夜叉、罗刹来搏噬我,魔化猛虎、毒蛇来啖食我,都是幻想,何惧之有?即使真被吞食,亦是夙业所招,况脱去皮囊、往生极乐,正当感谢于他,为我早日解脱。所以修行之人,雷霆起于侧而不惊,泰山崩于前而不动,魔力虽大,其奈我何?否则贪生畏死,恐怖怆惶,不待魔来,方寸已乱,欲不着魔,其可得乎?

三、不取不舍

魔之为物,取固不可,舍亦非宜。遇着魔来时候,必须镇定我心,既不可贪恋他,又不可厌恶他。要作几种思想:一想魔即是佛,佛即是魔;觉即成佛,迷即是魔。魔如佛如,并无二理。又想眷属即魔,魔即眷属。眷属同居,人之常情。魔在我旁,于我何害?又想魔亦是众生之一,一切众生我都要劝他发心念佛,魔既亦是众生,我也要劝他发心念佛,伴我修行,转成法侣。总之,魔来不拒,魔去不留,如此则魔术俱穷,无论外魔内魔,一齐退去。

四、持咒却魔

初修行时,小小魔关,容易打破;等到道力渐深,藏在八识里面的多生根本习气被功夫逼迫出来,或欲念横飞,或妄心乱起,力量甚大,非比寻常,修行人惟此末后一关最难逃过,全仗自力诚恐把握不住,必须仗着佛力帮忙,惟有摄住心神,持诵神咒。咒为佛之金刚心印,无论何种恶魔,遇着即摧成粉碎。诸咒降魔之力,以《楞严》为最胜;当日阿难证须陀洹初果地位,尚且仗此脱离淫席。次则《大悲心咒》,为观世音菩萨所说;观世音具十四种无畏功德,故降魔之力亦宏。但持咒功夫必须平日持得烂熟,否则魔到临头,恐字句都记忆不起,何能通利?何能相应?所以平日功课中,《楞严》《大悲》两咒是每日必须要念、不可间断的。又一心念佛,即无魔事;纵有魔来,倘能不惊不怖,至诚念佛,决定立刻消灭。何以故?以正念昭彰,魔无容身之处故。是以念佛之人不需另找降魔之法,而魔事自无由而起矣。

If worldly activities are done right, the celestial realms are not far off. If the worldly and spiritual stairway is climbed, then even liberation is at hand. 

-- Nāgārjuna

Wednesday, 26 January 2022

The Peaceful Mind

by Tulku Thondup Rinpoche

When I was ten or eleven years old, my personal tutor, some friends, and I made a rare excursion from the monastery. I looked forward to visiting the great adept Kunzang Nyima Rinpoche in a valley two days away. Though I enjoyed my life in the monastery, it was so exciting to ride a horse across the spacious Ser Valley. For miles and miles, we rode through this untainted land, enjoying the sight of peaceful and beautiful animals. Butterflies dotted the air over the green carpet of grassland, and birds played and sang freely, in a timeless scene of natural beauty.  It was the greatest feast for the senses of a little boy to enjoy, an unforgettable adventure for someone who had lived for years within the sanctuary of a monastic compound.

Arriving in the evening, we reached a small, peaceful gorge walled by gentle green hills. In the distance, the majestic mountain of Ser Dzong seemed to preside over all of existence.

We camped in a beautiful field at a distance from Rinpoche’s big black tent. Early the next morning, we crossed the meadow to meet Rinpoche. He had a beautiful and powerful face with wide, smiling eyes, a brownish complexion, and long hair tied around his head and wrapped in a silk turban. He might have been in his fifties, and he had a strong, vital body. With a blossoming, flower-like smile, he welcomed us as if he had just found his long-lost friends. He kept his treasure of writings close at hand, about forty volumes, most of which were his mystical revelation. I remember the feeling of unconditional and unpretentious love in his heart, which wasn’t only for me but for all around. Although his voice was powerful and far-reaching, he spoke in a stream of gentle and soothing words. He was someone who enjoyed the simple gifts of life with deepest contentment. I was a guarded and shy boy, but in the sunny presence of Rinpoche, I became so natural. There was no place to harbour darkness or anxiety anymore.

Rinpoche’s joy and calm seemed pervasive. Immediately upon meeting him and for all the time I was there, die world appeared to be a very peaceful place. As I looked around, I vividly felt that his presence had somehow transformed my surroundings, that nothing was separate from this wonderful peacefulness. The trees, the mountains, my companions, myself — everything was united in calm and peace. It wasn’t the mountains and people that changed, but my mind’s way of seeing and feeling them. Because of the power of his presence, my mind was enjoying a greater degree of peace and joy, almost a state of boundlessness. That feeling enabled me to see all mental objects through those qualities. For a while, no attractions or disappointments mattered.

Even today, when I remember that experience from more than four decades ago, I feel joy and completeness. The heat of that memory helps me to melt the ice of obstacles as they come upon life’s journey. The mind creates peacefulness. In this case, my mind had focused on an object outside itself — this benevolent spiritual teacher — and expanded the feeling of peace. We can benefit from such experiences because they offer a taste of peace and show us how our minds would like to be. And we don’t have to go to the Ser Valley to experience such peace. We can feel happier and more peaceful in our everyday lives and encourage this feeling of peace through meditation. 

True healing and well-being come down to enjoying an awareness of peace, the ultimate peace of existence. The mind is not passive in the sense of being half-asleep. Instead, the mind is open to die thought and feeling of total peace. An unrestricted and uncontaminated awareness of peace is the ultimate joy and strength. When we are truly aware of peace, our nature blossoms with full vigour. 

Some people are so fully open to the true nature of existence that they are peaceful no matter what the circumstances. For die enlightened mind, peace does not depend on any object or concept. Awareness of die absolute nature of things, the universal truth, is not limited or conditioned by concepts, feelings, or labels such as good and bad. A mind that is free can transcend dualistic categories such as peace versus conflict and joy versus suffering. The enlightened mind does not discriminate between a subjective or an objective reality or between liking and disliking. Time is timeless, and everything in existence is perfect as it is.

Before this begins to sound too theoretical, I should say that there are many people who are enlightened, to one degree or another. Some Tibetan lamas I know were imprisoned for many years, and they almost enjoyed die experience. I try to avoid talking about the political upheaval in Tibet because it is too easy for blame to arise. This can lead to a cycle of resentment, which could embitter the mind and is neither helpful nor productive. Suffice it to say that prison is not necessarily a pleasant holiday. Yet I have a friend who got out of prison only after twenty-two years and had felt quite at home there because of a very peaceful mind. When I asked him how it was, he said, “It was nice there. I was treated very nice.” When you ask one of these lamas to explain, he will say, “Alive or dead, it doesn’t matter. I’m in Buddha pure land.”

We can be inspired by tales of enlightenment, where peace is everywhere and even turmoil is OK. But for most of us, the goal should be to work with our ordinary minds and just try to be a little more peaceful and relaxed in our approach to life. If we can become a little more peaceful, it will help us handle everyday problems better, even if big problems are still difficult.
 
Even so, it can be helpful to remember that die enlightened mind and the ordinary mind is two sides of the same coin. The mind is like the sea, which can be rough on the surface, with mountainous waves stirred up by ferocious wind, but calm and peaceful at the bottom. Sometimes we can catch sight of this peaceful mind even in times of trouble. These glimpses of peace show us that we may have more inner resources to draw upon than we had realised. With skill and patience, we can learn how to be in touch with our peaceful selves. 



Once you stop clinging and let things be, you'll be free, even birth and death. You'll transform everything.

-- Bodhidharma



Tuesday, 25 January 2022

非無此苦 然有此苦

體方法師

“如是我聞:一時,佛住王捨城耆阇崛山。爾時、世尊晨朝著衣持缽,出耆阇崛山,入王捨城乞食。時有阿支羅迦葉,”這一經的主角就是阿支羅迦葉,“為營小事出王捨城,向耆阇崛山,遙見世尊。見已,詣佛所,白佛言:‘瞿昙!欲有所問,寧有閒暇見答與不’?佛告迦葉:‘今非論時,我今入城,乞食來還,則是其時,當為汝說’。”他看到佛陀就想問法、請法,但是佛陀告訴他這個時候時間不適合,因為佛陀要去托缽、乞食,等他回來的時候再問,那時是恰到好處的。“第二,亦如是說。第三,復問瞿昙:”但是他不死心,他並沒因為這樣就不問,他繼續問,第二次請問,還是這樣(回答),第三次又問,“何為我作留難!”你為什麼要留難我呢?“瞿昙!雲何有異!我今欲有所問,為我解說!佛告阿支羅迦葉:‘隨汝所問’。”他既然一定要問,(見其請法之懇切)佛陀就答應他啦。

“阿支羅迦葉白佛言:‘雲何瞿昙!苦自作耶’?佛告迦葉:‘苦自作者,此是無記’。”他的問題就是:我們身心起了痛苦、煩惱,這個是自己造作的嗎?佛陀就告訴他,這個問題不回答,是無記——佛陀是不記說的。

“迦葉復問:‘雲何瞿昙!苦他作耶’?”他以為佛陀不回答他,可能是問題不正確,那麼另外問一個問題,難道是苦是其它的條件來完成來制作的嗎,(先前問)裡面有一個作者?還是外面有一個作者?苦是裡面有一個人在創作嗎?還是外面的人創作的呢?“佛告迦葉;‘苦他作者,此亦無記’。”這個問題呢,佛陀也不回答,‘無記’就是不記說。

“迦葉復問:‘苦自他作耶’?”迦葉不死心繼續問,自作你不回答,他作也不回答,那麼是自他和合的嗎,裡面有一個,外面有一個,合起來作的嗎?“佛告迦葉,苦自他作,此亦無記,”這個也是不回答,那麼繼續再問啦,

“雲何瞿昙,苦非自非他,無因作耶,”那麼是沒有原因而有的嗎?忽然間自然產生的嗎?無因作——也是自然產生的意思。“佛告迦葉,苦非自非他無因作者,此亦無記,”佛陀也不回答這個問題。

“迦葉復問,雲何瞿昙,所問苦自作耶,答言無記,他作耶,自他作耶,非自非他無因作耶,答言無記,今無此苦耶?”佛陀不回答,你既然不回答,難道這個苦是不存在的嗎,沒有這個苦嗎?“佛告迦葉,非無此苦,然有此苦,”佛陀的回答說,不是說沒有苦啦,其實眾生這個苦受都是有的。

“迦葉白佛言,善哉,瞿昙說有此苦,為我說法,令我知苦見苦,”他就把握這個因緣,你不回答自作、他作的問題,至少你現在認為確實眾生有這個痛苦,那麼他就把握這點,請佛陀說法令他知道這個苦的真相。

“佛告迦葉,若受即自受者,我應說自作,”今天我們的苦受,如果這個苦受是自己在受,那麼我就會說‘苦自作’,“若他受,他即受者,是則他作,”如果這個苦是‘他’在受的,那麼一個接受的人是‘他’嘛,他即是受者,那這樣就他作了。也就是說,如果苦是你自己創作自己接受的,那麼就有一個創作者或者是受者的意思,如果是外面的其他,‘他’其實跟‘自’是一樣的,從另一個角度闡述啦。說你好啦,如果是你創造的,或者是你接受的,那麼應該這個就有他受了。

“若受自受他受復與苦者,如是者自他作,”如果這個痛苦啊,是內在自己作的或者是外在他人給你的,然後有一個接受的人,那麼這樣子的話,應該講是和合的,就是自他受的,就是和合作的,“我亦不說,”他也沒有這樣講過,因為佛陀從來沒有講過這些話,“若不因自他無因而生苦者,我亦不說,”佛陀從來沒有講,沒有原因會產生一切法,苦受當然也是法之一嘛,一切法都是因緣生的,他從來沒有講過,沒有因緣會有的。







Life has two purposes. Most importantly, to put you on the spiritual path. Secondly, for you to appreciate your life. If you appreciate your life, it may give you release from your problems. Try to properly understand this. If you properly acknowledge this, recognise this, it is a tremendous source of joy, motivation and encouragement.

-- Gelek Rimpoche




Monday, 24 January 2022

No Karma — Emptiness And The Two Truths

by Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche

Karma is central to Buddhism, as far as this discourse has contended till now, and yet, on another level, the ultimate reality of karma is not recognised. At this point, the two levels of truth in Buddhism become relevant: empirical and ultimate reality. Karma possesses only relative reality by nature, and because of that, it is something we can transcend. Karma is something we need to overcome in fact. What this amounts to is aiming not only to overcome negative karma but also positive karma. Both kinds of karma lead to rebirth, and it is the exhaustion of our karmic propensities and tendencies that is the ultimate aim.

The Madhyamaka school of Mahayana Buddhism, we briefly noted, alongside the Yogacara school, was to have an important philosophical influence on the notion of karma as well. Founded by Nagarjuna in the late second-century ce, Madhyamaka thinking expounds the notion of two truths — the relative truth and the absolute truth. Karma is seen as real only in relation to relative truth, but not in terms of ultimate truth because the ultimate truth is emptiness. Karma in itself has no fixed nature. It is a phenomenon; it is not reality. Again we need to qualify this statement as an expression of the ultimate viewpoint. Karma does have relative reality. Nagarjuna’s fundamental point was that karma is really created through mental fixation, through our getting too enamoured with our concepts, ideas and thoughts, our mental projections, and our inveterate tendency to reify all that we think about. The objects of our thoughts are given a solid reality, whether they exist or not. This is called “mental imputation,” whereby we provide things with many more attributes than they actually have. Imputation or projection has a huge impact on our mental well-being, how we proceed to cultivate (or fail to cultivate) our feelings, and how we deal with our emotions and what we think about.

By contemplating emptiness, one can loosen the grip of mind’s fixation. Even in terms of karma, Nagarjuna states that if we fixate on it, which is our standard tendency — if we fixate on the agent, the action, and so forth — we will be unable to free ourselves of it. The result becomes quite the opposite because thinking along fixated lines leads to conceptual proliferation (prapanca). Basically, the mind starts to go haywire. Not only do we give more reality to what we see, smell, taste, and touch but we even start to imagine all kinds of things existing that do not exist. God and soul and things of that nature are examples of this, according to Nagarjuna. Merely the fact that we can think of something prompts our tendency to think that there must be an actual corresponding object of that thought. Apparently, it seems entirely logical for us to assume that if we are capable of thinking of such-and-such a being, that being must therefore exist — otherwise where would the capacity to think it come from? Western philosophers and theologians of the past have used this very argument to support the existence of an omnipotent, omniscient being, insisting that our endowment with this mental faculty, the ability to imagine an omniscient being, proves that such a being must exist.

Nagarjuna used what was later to become known as the “Prasangika razor,” which essentially refers to a chopping down of every philosophical position, a cutting at the root of all that we think. It is a ruthless examination of all claims to areal or true existence. He had followers that took his theories even further, such as Chandrakirti, and the Prasangika Madhyamikas, who employed a reductio ad absurdum system, reducing or demolishing every philosophical position to its fundamental inconsistencies, without taking a position themselves. The main point to be made here is Nagarjuna’s insistence that due to all things’ being dependently arisen, nothing has inherent existence, and therefore everything is empty. This is not a vision of pure emptiness, which would be the conclusion of the nihilistic view. Nagarjuna actually thought that the nihilistic understanding was completely errant, a lethal type of thinking, suicidal — like taking hold of a snake by the tail incorrectly, so that it swings around and bites our arm and poisons us. Therefore it is completely incorrect to interpret Nagarjuna as denying the existence of karma. In fact, he states that it is far better to revert to conventional ways of thinking, to believing things actually exist as commonsense people do, than to entertain nihilistic ideas that nothing really exists. This is a crucial point in understanding Buddhism. Because everything is interdependently arising, karma is also an interdependently arising phenomenon, lacking inherent existence, and thereby able to be overcome. Nagarjuna’s logic also explains why samsara and nirvana are dependent concepts. Without samsara there can be no nirvana, and without nirvana there can be no samsara.  This is elaborated upon in his main text Fundamental Verses on the  Middle Way (Mulamadhyamakakarika).

There are two main points to be made here concerning the application of Nagarjuna’s approach to karmic theory. On the one hand, he encourages us to relinquish our fixation on different things, on mental objects basically, and on the other, he warns against replacing this tendency with nihilistic thinking, which he sees as a serious pitfall. It should also be mentioned that some of Nagarjuna’s successors ended up criticising the Yogacarins themselves for fixating on some of their own platform ideas, such as the eight forms of consciousness.

In talking of Nagarjuna, we are talking of philosophy, which brings us to an interesting distinction often made in Buddhism between intellect and insight (prajna). People often assume that insight is generated through the study of philosophy. Of course, if one studies Nagarjuna, it will be profitable, but there is a way that is superior to the purely intellectual way to study, which is the contemplative way, or the meditative way. One is still thinking, going through the same process of reasoning and so on, but at a slower pace and using a variety of mental faculties and physical states and processes in order to stay focused on the subject, on the object of contemplation. Indeed, we need to realise that there are different ways of thinking. Even when we say we are “thinking,” in our normal everyday usage of the word, we are actually referring to “thinking” in many different ways. By thinking in a purely intellectual way, we may gain some insight, but all the other aspects of thought and being are not involved; it is a purely intellectual thing; it operates on its own. It is almost an intellectual exercise, but that exercise may end up being a more or less neutral activity,  from a spiritual point of view.

Even in seeking insight then, we are still reliant on our karmic resources and inheritance. We need to use our own available resources to gain insight or prajna. Yet it is often said that prajna destroys karma, destroys all karmic traces and dispositions. With the sword of prajna, everything is demolished. On one level, this is true, but this is on the ultimate level. On the relative level, prajna is also dependent on preexisting karmic causes and conditions. Therefore, certain individuals may be predisposed toward having greater insight than others. If this were not the case, all this effort would not matter in the least — everyone would have the same insights and the same level of insight, and everything would be the same from individual to individual. But this is not the case, of course. Understanding is always contingent upon the level of development of the individual. A broadly developed person, having undergone the type of self-cultivation that we have been discussing, having achieved a certain level of foresight, will have a more penetrating and far-ranging insight than someone without such a  background.

Often, if we are really pursuing insight in a purely intellectual manner, we become introverted. We think of it as a very solitary exercise because we are imagining ourselves going inside, going deep down in our thinking. The external world and other people and other living beings become a distraction and paying attention to them an annoyance. They all represent the same thing to us, which is time taken away from our deep reflection, the mission we so cherish. Because we are looking to unravel these knotty issues of life or metaphysics and we need this “time to myself,” we close off. Buddhism regards the kind of insight gained in this way to be of an inferior variety. Insight is very much enhanced when we become more caring and more loving and extend ourselves more to others. We will not be as closed-minded if we take this balanced approach. To this end, Buddha himself taught the meditation on loving-kindness  (metta-bhavana). He said metta-bhavana was crucial for the development of prajna or insight. In Buddhism, there is no strict separation of the cognitive aspect of our mind and its emotional and effective aspect. Our cognitive ability should be supported by the richness of our emotional repertoire, our emotional resources. In other words, if we are emotionally barren, dried up,  even our cognitive ability will be compromised, its effectiveness reduced. This is why the meditation of loving-kindness is said to help us think clearly and to see things clearly. Everything we do in order to gain proper insight produces good karma. We need to be aware on a number of fronts then: we need to make sure that our body is healthy, in a positive state, and emotionally, at the level of feelings, we need to make sure that we are not rigid and closed up. Paying attention to such things produces good karma, which in turn leads to gaining insight. Insight arises from creating positive karma and doing the types of things that overcome negative karma.

The followers of Nagarjuna are called “Shunyavadins,” or “exponents of the emptiness school,” where shunya means “emptiness” and vadin “exponent.” In fact, those who follow the Madhyamaka school of thought are considered to be Shunyavadins. At times, the Shunyavadins employed Nagarjuna’s ideas as a kind of weapon against the early Buddhists, suggesting that there is no karma. They point to Nagarjuna’s chapter on karma in the Mulamadhyamakakarika, in which he says there is no agent and no action. He even states that there is no nirvana. Various people then, and the Shunyavadins generally, suggest that karma need not be taken too seriously, as, after all, it does not really exist. If there is no agent and no action, then how can karma be produced? It is true, Nagarjuna states almost as much, in one sense — that karma is illusory. However, when he makes such statements, he is not suggesting that there is no karma whatsoever, or that there is no agent at all. Rather, he is approaching things from the ultimate point of view, which is to deny a self-existing agent.  There is still an agent though, just not a self-existing one, which is something that we have already discussed in relation to the Buddha. So there is no real contradiction here in any respect. Nagarjuna does not state that there is no agent or action. An agent is an agent because it has the capacity to perform actions; without actions, there can be no agent. So there is an equivalence here. He said the same thing about karmic cause and effect. We think that a cause has more reality than an effect because without a cause there will be no effect. Cause seems to have more reality in a way because an effect issue from a cause, but a cause does not issue from an effect. Therefore cause has primacy over effect. Nagarjuna disputed this idea with his notion of interdependent arising. Everything arises because everything is dependent on everything else. Cause and effect are seen as mutually dependent on each other, and agents and actions are regarded as mutually dependent as well. One cannot exist without the other. This is the right understanding of the emptiness of karma.

To see it any other way would be to diverge from Buddha’s middle view. To say karma does not exist at all, that it is completely illusory, would be one extreme, and to think that it actually exists, that karmic cause and effect have true reality, would be the other extreme. For Nagarjuna, karma does not have true reality because it is devoid of inherent existence, yet karma does manifest. It is a manifest phenomenon; to that extent, it is real, it exists. This may seem a somewhat pedantic distinction to make, but it is quite crucial to Shunyavadin thought, because if something has inherent existence, it cannot be removed, and in Buddhism, we aim to overcome karma. Karma can be overcome, it is said, and if something can be overcome, it cannot have inherent existence.

In the end, there is very little difference to what is said by the Shunyavadins and what the Buddha taught. It comes down to seeing things as real on the conventional level but not on the ultimate level. Karma has no intrinsic reality, but it is real on another level because we experience it. For instance, during waking hours, we have some type of reality — this is real — but when we are dreaming, while the dream lasts, it also has a  reality of its own. It is real while it is happening; in the context of dream, the dream is real as a dream. Similarly, our everyday life experiences, including that of our karma, are real to the extent that as long as we are not enlightened, they will remain real, and we will experience them that way. Ultimately,  though, they are not real, and therefore can be overcome. We are not tied to karmic reality in such a way that we are condemned to this eternal recurrence of the same dying, taking rebirth, dying, taking rebirth — an interminable cycle of life and death. There is a terminal point, according to Buddhism.

Until the veil of ignorance has lifted from us, we will continue to experience the hold things have on us, but this does not mean that all our experiences have some intrinsic reality. The Buddhist response to this question about the reality of karma is not black and white. As Nagarjuna himself said, one cannot simply answer in one direction or the other, with a yes or no. He would answer such questions by posing another question, “In what context?” Are we talking from the perspective of reality, or the perspective of appearance? From the point of view of reality, karma and everything else that we experience on this empirical level of existence has no enduring essence and therefore is not real. But to say that there is no reality at all is also untrue. Everything we experience we do so because karma is so intimately tied up with all that we do. It is there in the very fabric of our lives, in what we like and don’t like. Everything is appropriated in terms of our own subjective experiences and subjective level of being. These experiences leave imprints in our consciousness, which is akin to a river, a dynamic flowing event. Therefore, even though consciousness has no stability, only successive states, and nothing abides, it is still happening. There is still two-way traffic between incoming information being processed, leaving karmic imprints on the unconscious, and the outgoing reaction, where the imprints stimulate the individual to respond in a predetermined way.

These patterns created by ourselves throughout our lives cannot be jettisoned just like that, which is why Buddhism, and especially  Mahayana Buddhism, emphasises the nonduality of appearance and reality,  or relative and absolute truth. We need to straddle these two. We need to balance between relative reality and ultimate reality. This is viewed as being absolutely crucial. Even in the very profound view of the  Dzogchen teachings, in terms of conduct, everything has to be grounded in our everyday life experiences. We cannot be floating in some kind of  vague space of “things as they are,” or in the “reality of all things.” We start with the need for prajna, insight, in order to break through, in order to transcend our karmic bondage. However, the prajna attained should then allow us to gain this balance between what is relatively real and what is ultimately real. That is the main point because if we fall on either side, we will not be able to really attain full realisation. Without all the emotions and feelings and so forth that are associated with relative reality, the realisation of ultimate reality will not occur. This is made very clear. It is often said that as serious Buddhist practitioners, we are always balancing ourselves on this tightrope of appearance and reality. Indeed, this is why, even on attaining enlightenment, it is said to happen on two different levels — on the physical level and on the mental level. On the physical level, it is called  rupakaya, where rupa means “form” and kaya means “body,” so “form body.” On the mental level, it is called dharmakaya, which means, in this  context, “ultimate reality.”

The rupakaya or form aspect of the Buddha’s body corresponds to relative reality, and the dharmakaya corresponds to ultimate reality. The form aspect of the body is related to the cultivation of certain mental faculties and a certain emotional repertoire and range of feeling tones, and things of that kind — on the relative level. Buddhas have realised the form body because of the emotional cultivation discussed above, which is why they are said to remain in this world out of compassion. They are not tarnished by this world though, because they have also attained the formless body, the dharmakaya, or Buddha’s authentic state of mind. Thus it is said in Mahayana Buddhism that a true Buddha resides in what is called “non-abiding nirvana.”

Nevertheless, liberation cannot be secured if it were not for karma. That is the view. So through cultivation of ourselves, we attain the form body of the Buddha in relation to our mental faculties, emotional faculties, and physical factors. In addition, through cultivation of insight, we attain the formless aspect of the Buddha’s being. These are said to result from two types of accumulation: the accumulation of merit and the accumulation of wisdom. In Buddhism, the idea is not to give up everything, as we often hear. While giving up some things, we should stock up on other things, so the two accumulations are spoken of. Through the accumulation of merit, we attain the Buddha’s form body, and through the accumulation of wisdom, we acquire the Buddha’s mental body, the dharmakaya. 

On one level then, karmic theory is not really designed simply to encourage people to create good karma and avoid the negative — to lead a moral life in other words. Liberation comes from shedding both kinds of shackles. Traditionally, negative karma is likened to being chained in iron shackles and positive karma in gold shackles. Even in gold shackles, we are not free; so to be free from all shackles is genuine freedom. This is stated in the original discourses of the Buddha as well as in the Mahayana.  Even so, we need to engage with our karma. There is no way around it. We try to overcome negative karma by cultivating positive karma, working toward the eventual overcoming of even positive karma. The Buddha defined three categories of karma: positive karma, negative karma, and non-producing karma. Non producing karma relates back to the origin of the idea as action. Bad people doing bad things creates negative karma, and good people doing good things creates positive karma, and those really striving to advance on the spiritual path, aiming toward enlightenment — their actions produce no karma, which is the reason that we can attain nirvana.



People have a hard time letting go of their suffering. Out of a fear of the unknown, they prefer suffering that is familiar.

-- Thich Nhat Hanh



Sunday, 23 January 2022

關於空性的體証

印順導師

在大乘法中,空是被稱為:「甚深最甚深,難通達極難通達」的。如《般若經》說:「深奧者,空是其義,無相、無作是其義,不生不滅是其義」等。《十二門論》也說:「大分深義,所謂空也」。所以空、無生、寂滅等,是大乘的甚深義。為什麼被看為最甚深義?這是世俗知識──常識的、科學的、哲學的知識所不能通達,而唯是無漏無分別的智慧所體悟的。這是超越世間一般的,所以稱為甚深。

佛法所說的空或空性,可說是引申虛空無礙性的意義而宣說深義的。空,不是虛空,而是一切法(色、心等)的所依,一切法所不離的真性,是一切法存在活動的原理。換言之,如不是空的,一切法即不能從緣而有,不可能有生有滅。這樣,空性是有著充實的意義了。

說到寂滅,本是與生滅相對的,不生不滅的別名。生與滅,為世俗事相的通性,一切法在生滅、滅生的延續過程中,但一般人總是重於生,把宇宙與人生,看作生生不已的實在。但佛法,卻重視到滅滅不已。滅,不是斷滅,不是取消,而是事相延續過程的一態。在與生相對上看,「終歸於滅」,滅是一切必然的歸宿。由於滅是一切法的靜態,歸結,所以為一切活動起用的依處。

生滅滅生的當體,便是不生不滅的寂滅性。由於這是生滅的本性,所以矛盾凌亂的生滅界,終究是向於寂滅,而人類到底能從般若的體證中去實現。

從事相而觀見空寂之深義:一切法空性或寂滅性,是一切法的真實性,所以要從一切法上去觀照體認,而不是離一切法去體認的。如《般若心經》說:「行深般若波羅密多時,照見五蘊皆空」。深般若,是通達甚深義的,照見一切法空的智慧。經文證明了,甚深空義,要從五蘊(物質與精神)去照見,而不是離色心以外去幻想妄計度的。

(一)、從前後延續中去觀察,也就是透過時間觀念去觀察的。
(二)、從彼此依存中去觀察,也就是透過空間觀念(或空間化、平面化的)去觀察的。
(三)、直觀事事物物的當體。這猶如物質的點、線、面一樣;而甚深智慧是從豎觀前後,橫觀彼此,直觀自體去體認,而通達一切法性──空或寂滅性。

佛法空義

(一)、從前後延續去觀察時,得到了「諸行無常」的定律。一切法,不論是物質或精神,無情的器世間或有情的身心,都在不息的流變中。雖然似乎世間有暫住或安定的姿態,而從深智慧去觀察時,發覺到不只是逐年逐月的變異,就是(假定的)最短的時間──一剎那,也還是在變異中。固有的過去了,新有的又現起,這是生滅現象。這一剎那的生滅,顯示了一切都是「諸行」(動的),都是無常。這種變化不居的觀察,世間學者也有很好的理解。但是世間學者,連一分的佛學者在內,都從變化不居中,取著那變動的事實。也就是為一切的形象所蒙蔽,而不能通達一切的深義。唯有佛菩薩的甚深般若,從息息流變中,體悟到這是幻現的諸行,不是真實有的。非實有的一切,儘管萬化紛紜,生滅宛然,而推求本性,無非是空寂。反過來說因為一切法的本性空寂,所以表現於時間觀中,不是常恆不變,而現為剎那生滅的無常相。無常,是「無有常性」的意義,也就是空寂性的另一說明。

(二)、從彼此依存去觀察一切法時,得到了「諸法無我」的定律。例如有情個體,佛說是蘊界處和合,不外乎物理的,生理的,心理的現象。所謂自我,是有情迷妄的錯覺,並不存在,而只是身心依存所現起的一合相──有機的統一。稱之為和合的假我,雖然不妨,但如一般所倒想的自我,卻不對了。印度學者的(神)我,是「主宰」義,就是自主自在,而能支配其他的。

換言之,這是不受其他因緣(如身心)所規定,而卻能決定身心的。這就是神學家所計執的我體或個靈。照他們看來,唯有這樣的自主自在,才能不因身心的變壞而變壞,才能流轉生死而不變,才能解脫生死而回復其絕對自由的主體。但這在佛菩薩的深慧觀照起來,根本沒有這樣的存在。無我,才能通達生命如幻的真相。依此定義而擴大觀察時,小到一微塵,或微塵與微塵之間,大到器世界(星球),世界與世界,以及全宇宙,都只是種種因緣的和合現象,而沒有「至小無內」,「至大無外」的獨立自體。

無我,顯示了一切法空義。無我有人無我與法無我,空有人空與法空;空與無我,意義可說相同。從彼此依存去深觀空義,如上面所說。如從法性空寂來觀一切法,那就由於一切法是空寂的,所以展現為自他依存的關係,而沒有獨存的實體。這樣,無我又是空義的又一說明。

(三)、從一一法的當體去觀察時,得到「涅槃寂靜」的定律。雖然從事相看來,無限差別,無限矛盾,無限動亂;而實只是緣起的幻相──似有似無,似一似異,似生似滅,一切終歸於平等,寂靜。這是一一法的本性如此,所以也一定歸極於此。真能通達真相,去除迷妄,就能實現這平等寂靜。矛盾,牽制,動亂,化而為平等,自在,安靜,就是涅槃。

大乘法每每著重此義,直接的深觀性空,所以說:「無自性故空,空故不生不滅,不生不滅故本來寂靜,自性涅槃」。 從豎觀前後,橫觀彼此,直觀自體,而得「諸行無常,諸法無我,涅槃寂靜」──「三法印」。但這決非三條不同的真理,而只是唯一絕待的真理,被稱為「一實相印」──法性空寂的不同說明。三印就是一印,一印就是三印。所以,如依此而修觀,那麼觀諸法無我,是「空解脫門」;觀涅槃寂靜,是「無相解脫門」;觀諸行無常,是「無願(作)解脫門」。三法印是法性空寂的不同表現,三解脫門也是「同緣實相」,同歸於法空寂滅。總之,佛法從事相而深觀一一法時,真是「千水競注」,同歸於空性寂滅的大海。所以說:「高入須彌,咸同金色」。

(四)、法空寂滅即法之真實(自性):一般名言識所認知的一切法,無論是物質,精神,理性,雖然被我們錯執為實有的,個體的,或者永恆的,而其實都只是如幻的假名。假名,精確的意義是「假施設」,是依種種因緣(意識的覺了作用在內)而安立的,並非自成自有的存在。所以,這一切都屬於相對的。那麼,究竟的真實呢?推求觀察一一法,顯發了一一法的同歸於空寂,這就是一切法的本性,一切法的真相,也就是究竟的絕對。空寂,不能想像為什麼都沒有,什麼都取消,而是意味著超脫一般名言識的自性有,而沒入於絕對的不二。經論裡,有時稱名言所知的為一切法(相),稱空寂為法性,而說為相與性。但這是不得已的說法,要使人從現象的一一法去體悟空寂性。法與法性,或法相與法性,實在是不能把他看作對立物的。這在空義的理解上,是必不可少的認識。

被稱為空宗的中觀家,直從有空的不一不異著手。依空宗說:一切法是從緣而起的,所以一切法是性空的。因為是性空的,所以要依因緣而現起。這樣,法法從緣有,法法本性空,緣起(有)與性空,不一不異,相得相成。空與有──性與相是這樣的無礙,但不像法相宗,偏從緣起去說一切法,也不像法性宗,偏從法性去立一切法,所以被稱為不落兩邊的中道觀。

在大乘中,不會成立唯一的本體,再去說明怎樣的從本體生現象,因為法性是一一法的本性。也就因此,法與法性,雖不可說一,但決非存在於諸法以外;更不能想像為高高的在上,或深深的在內。唯有這樣,才能顯出佛法空義的真相。

「色即是空」,「空即是色」,一般賞識他的圓融,卻不大注意佛經的完整意義。忽略了這是闡明「五蘊皆空」,而歸宗於「諸法空相」及「空中無色」的。這不是理論問題,而是修證問題。如專在即色即空的理論上兜圈子,就會不自覺的橫跨了一步。

學佛法,是要在這當前的現實(五蘊)中,如實覺照而得大解脫(度一切苦厄)。無論是小乘、大乘,有宗、空宗,都以為修證,是有超越常情的體驗的。究竟的體驗內容,是一般心識所不能意解與想像的;也不是一般語言文字所能表示的。這是什麼都不是,連「不是」也說不上的。對一般人來說,這是怎麼也說不明白的。佛陀說法,不是為了說明這個,而只是就眾生的當前現實身心,指示,引導,使學者在修持的過程中,離卻顛倒、錯亂,而趣向,臨入這一如實的境地。

在修持中,以脫落常情迷執而實現出來。所以在無以名之,強為立名的情況下,就稱之為「空」,「空性」(也稱無相、無作、不生滅等)。古人說:「空亦復空;但為引導眾生,故以假名說」。如以空為空,那早就誤會了。空,可說是符號,表示那眾生所無法思議的,而可經空無我的觀照,而如實體現的境地。

色即是空,空即是色

就現實「五蘊」而體證「空相」中,表現為大乘菩薩的,不只是「照見五蘊皆空」,而是從「色即是空」,「空即是色」去證入的。「色即是空」與「空即是色」,在修持上是觀法,是趣入「空相」的方便。在說明上,這是與二乘的差別所在。這是事實,是佛教界的事實。被稱為小乘的聖者,觀「五蘊」而證入「空寂」,意境是「超越」的,是超越於生死的。因而自然的傾向於離五蘊而入空,離世間而證涅槃。從而作體系的理論說明,那就生死與涅槃各別,形成兩項不同的內容。

基於這種意解,而形成聖者們的風格,不免離世心切,而流露出「遺世獨存」、「出淤泥而不染」的精神。這在佛教中,可說是聖之清者了!而另一分證入的聖者,覺得迷悟雖不可同日而語,而迷者現前的五蘊,聖者現證的空相,決不是對立物。觀五蘊而證入空相,空相是不離五蘊,而可說就是五蘊的;就是五蘊的實相,五蘊的本性。如明眼人所見的明淨虛空一樣,與病眼所見的,決不是對立物,而實是病眼所見的,那個空花亂墜的虛空的真相。沒有離五蘊的空,也就沒有離空的五蘊了。這一類聖者,就是被稱菩薩的。

依蘊而契入空相,意境是「內在」的。真理是不離一切而存在。基於這一特質,自然傾向於即俗而真。由此而發為理論的說明,那就「世間即涅槃」,「生死即解脫」,「色即是空」,「無明實性即菩提」了。基於這種特質,而表現為菩薩的風格,那就「即世而出世」;「不離世間而同入法界」;「不著生死,不住涅槃」;「不離世間」,「不捨眾生」,而流露出「涅而不緇」的精神了!

然在修證的過程中,大乘還是「照見五蘊皆空」,還是證入「諸法空相」,「空中無色,無受、想、行、識」。因為五蘊是眾生當前的事實,熟悉不過的生死現實。所求所向所趣證的目標,當然不是五蘊。修證的主要目標,正是即「色」觀「空」而契入「空相」。在沒有契入「空相」以前,也說不上即色即空的妙悟。所以觀「空」而契入「空相」,就是轉迷為悟,轉凡成聖的關捩所在。《般若經》說:「慧眼於一切法都無所見」。《金剛經》說:「若見諸相非相,即見如來」。唯識宗所傳:根本智證真如,是泯絕眾相的。聖者的現證,突破生死關的根本一著,就在這裡。《密嚴經》說:「非不見真如,而能了諸行,皆如幻事等,雖有而非真」。

不同於世俗所見的諸行(五蘊)如幻,是要透過這根本一著──證悟真空,而後逐漸達到的。所以根本智(般若)證真,方便(後得智)達俗,方便是般若的妙用,是般若成就以後所引發的。論理,方便不異般若,即般若的妙用。五蘊是即空的五蘊,蘊空不二。而事實上,印度聖者的修證,卻是面對現實;儘管即色即空,而所悟正在「空相」(根本智證一關,並不說菩薩修證,齊此而止)。這與部分學者,高談理論的玄妙,清談娓娓,悅耳動聽,是有點不同的。

以「色即是空,空即是色」來說,佛教界是有多種解說的,這是適應人類不同的思想方式所引起。雖不妨說有差異,有淺深,但都有引導趣向修證的方便妙用(這才是佛法)。這裡,試略舉中觀者(大乘空宗),唯識者(大乘有宗)的解說:以中觀者的正觀來說,人類面對的現實界(色)等五蘊,雖有極其強烈的真實感,然在中道的正觀中,一切是因緣所生,在種種關係條件下的綜和活動;如尋求究竟的真實,那是不可得的。這不但世俗公認的「假有」(複合體),如房屋,樹林,沒有離因緣的自體可得。

就是一般所成立的「實有」,也還是一樣(在這點上,與「實有自性者」進行辨證)。佛每舉喻來說,如「陽燄」──水汽在陽光下上升,遠遠望去,形成波動的一池清水。不但口渴的鹿,會奔向前去(所以又稱為「鹿愛」),人也會誤認為水的。在沙漠中,也常有遠望見水,等到走上前去,卻一無所有的經驗。看起來,是千真萬確的,其實並不如我們所見聞覺知的,這就是「如幻」、「如化」、「如陽燄」……的「緣起無自性」的正觀。1.「境」,如花的紅色,那種鮮艷動人的色彩,是多麼動人而具有誘惑性?然而,這就是紅色嗎?有被稱為「色盲」的人,並不能見到紅色。在人類中,這是少數,當然被看作病態不正常了。

然在畜生界,牛、豬等所見,多數不如人類所見的紅色,難道畜生界,多數是病態不正常嗎?決不是的。在畜生的立場,難道不可以說,人為紅色所誘惑而迷戀,是神經病嗎?在現代的物理學中,顏色是什麼,姑且不論。在眾生界的不同認識中,這是要以生理機構(眼)的組合,及光線等而決定其色相的。色、聲、香、味、觸──感覺到的物理世界,被解說為外在的世界,不但複合的假有,沒有自體可得。即使小到極微──原子、電子,總之最小的物體,都不能離因緣而存在。

如沒有通過特定的生理組織(根),與習以成性的心理關係,我們是不可能規定其體(特性)用,而稱之為什麼的。2. 心「識」,不但心與心所,是「相應」的複雜的綜和活動,還要有根與境為緣。如根損壞了,境相不現前,那心識就不可能現前。一念心識的內容,受著以前習以成性的絕大影響。所以就是這一念的心識,也沒有自性可得。3.「根」,以前五根──眼、耳、鼻、舌、身來說,沒有可以獨存而營為其作用的。如眼根有能見的作用,但如大量失血,有關的神經受傷(還有入定等),眼就會不起作用。進一步說,眼根是什麼呢?眼只是肉團,肉團內的淨色(近於視神經末稍),而這都是複合體。如分析、推求到最細的一點,那任何一點,都不能獨立而有能見的作用。那眼的自性是什麼呢?所以現實世界的一切,一切只是因緣關係的存在;在因緣關係的特定情形下,形成時空中的存在。

「色」等五蘊,或眼等十八界等,佛說是「因緣所生法」。經上說:「空相應緣起」。依中觀者說,這是沒有自性的,與空相應的緣起法。依因緣而有,所以沒有孤立的獨存(一)性。依因緣而起滅變異,所以沒有永恆的不變異(常)性。非一(也就不是異),非常(也就不是斷)的因緣有,是非實有(也就非實無)性的。這樣的因緣生法,從沒有自性說,名為空,是勝義空,順於勝義的(現證的勝義,是不能安立的),雖然空無自性,而緣起法相,卻在因緣關係下顯現。這是「唯名唯表唯假施設」的世俗有。

古人簡略的稱為:「畢竟空而宛然有,宛然有而畢竟空」。如幻、化、陽燄一樣,說是真實的嗎,深求起來,卻沒有一些真實性可得。說沒有嗎,卻是可見可聞,分明顯現。在世間施設中,因果分明,絲毫不亂。所以空而不礙因緣有,有而不礙自性空(「色即是空,空即是色」)。進一步說,正因為是因緣有的,所以是性空的;如不是因緣有,也就不是性空了。反之,因為一切性空,所以才依因緣而有;如不是性空,是實有自性的,那就是實有性,是一是常,也不會待因緣而有了。

這樣,不但依因緣有而顯示性空,也就依空義而能成立一切法。這樣的因緣有與無自性空,相依相成,相即而無礙。如有而不是空的,就是實(執)有;空而不能有的,就是撥無因果現實的邪空。遠離這樣的二邊妄執,空有無礙,才是中道的正觀。然而,在眾生── 人類的心目中,一切是那樣的真實!呈現於人類心目中的真實性(自性),是錯亂的。為這樣的錯亂相所誑惑,因而起種種執,生種種煩惱,造種種業,受種種苦,生死流轉而無法解脫。唯有依因緣的觀照中,深求自性有不可得(「照見五蘊皆空」),才能廓破實自性的錯亂妄執,現證「絕諸戲論」的「畢竟空」── 一切法空性,而得生死的解脫(「度一切苦厄」)。在信解聞思時,就以即色即空的空有無礙為正見,所以「般若將入畢竟空,絕諸戲論;方便將出畢竟空,嚴土熟生」。不厭生死,不樂涅槃,成就大乘菩薩的正道。

繼中觀者而興起的唯識者,從因緣生法來顯示空義;說一切法空而重視因果;以空勝解,成立不著生死,不住涅槃的大乘道,都與中觀者相同。在印度佛教中,這二大流,始終保持了釋迦佛法的根本立場──緣起中道論(非形而上學)的立場。但由於傳承而來的思想方式的不同,對「色即是空,空即是色」的解說,與中觀者不合。唯識者解「空」為二:

一、實無自性的妄所執性──遍計所執性,是空的,空是沒有自體的意思。二、實有自體的真實理性──圓成實性,這是從修空所顯的;從空所顯,所以稱之為空,其實是「空所顯性」,空性是有的。解「有」也分為二:一、妄所執性的「假有」,但由名相假立所顯,這就是遍計所執性。

二、緣生性的「自相有」──依他起性,對勝義圓成實性說,這是世俗有,非實有的。對遍計所執性的「假相安立」說,這是「自相安立」的,是有的,而且可稱為勝義有的。遍計所執的有(無體隨情假),是空的;依他起性的有(有體施設假),是不空的,非有不可的。如說是空,那就是惡取空了。就在這點上,形成了「空有之爭」。

二宗的解說不同,源於思想方式,而表現於空與有的含義不同。妄所執性是空的,這是彼此相同的。圓成實(空)性,中觀者也說是假名說,真勝義是不可安立的,是無所謂空不空、有不有的。但不可安立,與空義相順,所以不妨稱之為空。「空」,含有離執與顯理二義,所以是「即破而顯」的。唯識者以為:法性是無所謂空不空、有不有的,但不能說沒有(唯識者是以空為沒有的),那麼「離執寄詮」,應該說是有了。但二宗的論諍焦點,還在依他起性──因緣生法的可空不可空。

中觀者以為:因緣生法是有的,但這是如幻如化的有,是有錯亂性的,是似有而現為「實有」的。舉例(「以易解空喻難解空」)說:如「陽燄」的遠望如水,並非妄執,而是在因緣關係中,確有水相顯現的;這水相,不能說不是空的。一切因緣生法,如色等五蘊,現為實有──「自性相」,並非妄執,而是引起妄執的,所以稱為「虛誑」。這樣的有,不能說不是空的。但說空,並非說什麼都沒有,而只是沒有「自性」,是不礙有相顯現的。這樣,就成立了「即有即空」的理論(為中國玄學化的佛教所應用)。

唯識者以為:依他起是依相用而立法,因果是各各差別的。什麼樣的種子,就生什麼樣的現行,稱為「分別自性緣起」。這樣的有相顯現,有因果性,不能說是空的。二宗的主要差別,歸結到因緣生法的現有自相,可空或者不可空。唯識者以為:這是有而不是空的,所以對「色即是空,空即是色」的經文,解說為約遍計所執(的色等)性說,如於繩見蛇,這種蛇的意解,是空而沒有自性的。如約依他起性──因緣生法說,是不能說「色即是空,空即是色」的。

當然更不能約圓成實(空)性說,圓成實是無為不生滅法,怎麼可以相即呢!約依他起──色等,與圓成實空性,只能是「色不異(離義)空,空不異色」。正如《辯中邊論》所說:「此中唯有空,於彼亦有此」,以表示性相──空(性)有的不相離異。所以切實的說:唯識者對於性相,空有(如色與空),長處在分別精嚴;而空有無礙的正觀,不能不讓中觀者一著。

「色即是空,空即是色」,不只是理論的,而是修證的方法問題。般若的「照見五蘊皆空」,是以「色即是空,空即是色」──空有無礙的正觀為方便,而契入「諸法空相」的。約方法說,是觀,是空觀──「未成就時名為空(三昧,唯識宗名加行無分別智)」。因空觀的修習深入,到契會實相──「成就時名為般若」(唯識宗又稱為根本無分別智)。論方法,是觀,雖依止起觀,修到止觀雙運,而觀不是止。等到成就功德,般若與禪定相應,定慧平等,而般若波羅密多,並不就是禪定波羅密多。

說到觀,觀是尋思,抉擇。思擇一切法無自性空;或思擇名義無實而入唯識無義的正觀,般若是由觀的修習而引發的。中道正觀(無分別觀)與修止不同,與直下無分別而得的無分別定,也根本不同。與部分類似的定境,都不可同日而語,何況是幻境?更何況是咒力、藥力,所起身心的類似超常經驗呢!以藥力所引起的某種超常經驗,解為「色即是空,空即是色」,固然是不倫不類。專在學派的理論上表揚一下,對於「即色即空」的經義,也還有一段距離呢!

這樣的如實觀,是能得解脫的。為了進一步的說明,所以又說:「諸蘊本空」。觀五蘊為無常、苦、空,不是主觀的顛倒妄想,而是諸(五)蘊的本性如此。既然本性空,為什麼生起?「由心所生」;這是直捷的點出了迷妄的根元。心是迷妄的「有取之識」,在一切法(五蘊)中,起著主導的作用。由於心識的執取、愛染,所以起煩惱、造業,感得世間的生死。如因夢心而有夢境,因夢境而起夢心,一直迷夢不覺一樣。如能作如實的觀察,通達法性空而無所取著,那就迷妄的心識不生,也就不會起煩惱、造業,造作諸蘊,這就是解脫了。這樣的修習趣入的,名空解脫門。 再說無想解脫門:如了得五蘊本空,能離虛妄知見的,早就得解脫了。

但也有能觀五蘊本空,而觀慧中還存有空想──空的意象,這就應進修無想解脫門。經上說:「住三摩地」。如實觀察,都是要在三摩地(譯為正定)中的;止觀雙運,才能深入。此處特別說到住三摩地,只是舉一為例而已。我們的一切知見,不離六根──眼、耳、鼻、舌、身、意。六根所取的境相,是色、聲、香、味、觸、法──六境。由六根起六識──眼識……意識;現起的境象,就是色想、聲想、香想、味想、觸想、法想。現在如實觀色等一切境相,如三災起一樣,一切歸於滅盡。一切境相滅盡,那觀心中的一切法(有)想,也就不起了。法想所攝的空想,也不再現起,那就入無想解脫門。一切想不起,所以知見清淨──不起虛妄知見,而得清淨的法眼。

內心的貪瞋癡,是依六塵境相而起的。得了無想解脫,貪瞋癡也就無所依而滅盡。這樣,外離六塵,內滅三毒。外離六塵想,所以不起我所見;內離三毒,所以不起我見。我見與我所見,是有見無見,一見異見,常見斷見……一切見的根本依處。我見我所見不起,一切執見也就無所依而不起了。這就到了截斷生死根本──我見我所見,到大解脫的境地。

應該如實觀察這些妄識:這都是依因託緣而生起的。能生的因緣,都是無常的;所生的妄識,當然也是無常的,還有什麼可愛著呢!這樣的返觀妄識,如石火電光,生滅不住,即生即滅。進而照見妄識,生無從來,滅無所去,契入不生不滅的境地。如雲散而皓月當空,畢竟明淨一般。這樣的一切不可得,識也不可得;悟入妄識性空,就無所愛染,不再造作,名為無作解脫門。到得這步田地,證知一切法畢竟清淨;於一切法而無所著,得大解脫,大自在;證入了「諸法從本來,常自寂滅相」的空性。



Since lack of control of body and mind prevents one from taking anything seriously, it is in opposition to the way to inner peace; since places where many people gather cause distraction, one fails in what one has to do; since taking pleasure in drowsiness, sluggishness, and idleness prevents one from completing any work, it is a false friend; since exultation and self-reproach disturb the mind, they hinder a wider perspective; since many people and acquaintances are an occasion for much involvement, attachment, and aversion, they counteract concentration; since talkativeness diminishes any feeling of wholesomeness, hinders its arising, and is the source for dissatisfaction and strife, it is by giving up all these hindrances that meditative experiences will naturally grow, and that one perseveres in the teachings of the Victorious One.

-- Longchenpa



Saturday, 22 January 2022

What is Zen?

by Zen Master Seung Sahn

In this whole world, everyone searches for happiness outside, but nobody understands their true self inside. Everybody says, "I" — But nobody understands this "I." Before you were born, where did I come from? When you die, where will your I go? If you sincerely ask, "what am I?" sooner or later you will run into a wall where all thinking is cut off. We call this "don't know."

Zen is keeping this "don't know" mind always and everywhere.

When walking, standing, sitting,
lying down, speaking, being
silent, moving, being still.
At all times, in all places, without
interruption — what is this?
One mind is infinite kalpas.

Meditation in Zen means keeping don't-know mind when bowing, chanting and sitting Zen. This is formal Zen practice. And when doing something, just do it. When driving, just drive; when eating, just eat; when working, just work.

Finally, your don't-know mind will become clear. Then you can see the sky, only blue. You can see the tree, only green. Your mind is like a clear mirror. Red comes, the mirror is red; white comes the mirror is white. A hungry person comes, you can give him food; a thirsty person comes, you can give her something to drink. There is no desire for myself, only for all beings. That mind is already enlightenment, what we call Great Love, Great Compassion, the Great Bodhisattva Way. It's very simple, not difficult!



Today if we read articles from many scholars, we will learn that happiness is contagious. For example, someone who spends more time with happy individuals will tend to experience positive effects. However, laziness and sleepiness are also contagious. Therefore, we need to be careful with our associations.

-- Zurmang Gharwang Rinpoche




Friday, 21 January 2022

貫雨法師開示


一、佛學基礎的重要:

導師說過,我們中國的佛教徒在中國佛教這樣一個生態環境中,所熏習的都是那些高妙的談心說性的圓融。實際上,佛陀並不是從這些方面來契入的,佛法必須要建立在基礎的佛學上,師父講的雜阿含經就是基礎佛學。佛陀所開示的雜阿含經的內容,就在說我們的身心,所以我們覺得很有親切感。佛法整個的重要性是不離五蘊六處和緣起中道,在五蘊中去作所謂的無常觀,在六處的和合中去作所謂的無我觀,以及談所謂的緣起中道。五蘊——無常;六處——無我;緣起——中道,這六個大主題就是整個佛法的宗要,也就是導師所講的重要的基礎佛學。因為整個的佛學基礎裏面,其實都是佛陀所談的,內容就是我們在研究的雜阿含經。

佛陀讓我們知道:我們的身心為什麽在這裏起所謂的貪、嗔、癡煩惱和痛苦?是怎麽產生的?我們的身心功能是什麽?這些功能作用為什麽會讓我們產生痛苦與煩惱?輪回是什麽?為什麽會起生死輪回的現象?有沒有方法讓這樣生死不斷的輪回現象停止?有沒有解脫的可能性和希望?什麽是貪、嗔、癡?我們是怎樣造業的?造業的後續過程是什麽?這些內容就是佛陀所說的基礎佛學,也就是我們師父一直在談的,他為大家所宣說的是一個基礎,是一個根本,是真正的佛弟子都必須要明白清楚的。

佛法回到雜阿含經中,使我們感覺在大乘的佛法薰習中,好像突然從高空落了地似的。導師一直反對中國佛教帶給普通眾生談的“高妙、虛玄”,這對眾生來講,不是說不要去學高妙,而是首先要建立在具體的真實內涵上,那就是與解除我們眾生的苦迫有切身關系的內容。導師也在他的論著中說:如果沒有這個基礎的佛學,佛法是經不起考驗的。這一句話是多麽的嚴肅!佛法之所以會滅,也就是因為離開了這個基礎的佛學。如果缺乏了這樣的基礎佛學,整個佛法是空洞洞的,是經不起考驗的,也經不起問的,雖然講的頭頭是道,那都是離開了身心去談那些法,那些法對我們眾生解脫是無意義的。

二、佛法是探本的、簡要的、完成的:

探本的:佛陀揭開了生死大謎底,我們的五蘊身心猶如一棵大苦樹,探其生死的根本是無明(惑)即樹根,愛染造業是樹幹,無盡的業力和痛苦煩惱就是樹上的累累苦果。無明是不明白身心的功能,苦樹的根不斷增長廣大,所以愛染造業,生死不斷,苦果累累。苦樹越長越大,苦果越來越多,業力越來越深重,果報越來越慘。這次的雜阿含經的44個主題,每一個主題都回到身心來,探尋生死的原因以及如何滅除的方法。其中的每一個經文都是一個完整的道次第。

簡要的:雜阿含經的每一經都像小故事,由佛陀或聖弟子開示,完成解脫的過程。非常簡要的開示,直接當下契入,回到親切的身心當下,都是能夠體會經驗的,最普通而根本的是:“色無常否?無常是苦否,苦是無我否”?用這樣的反問讓聽聞者當下回到身心,在真正明白身心功能的當下,就能從無明到明而解脫,很多人當下得法入法知法,甚至得漏盡阿羅漢。

完成的:既然生死的根本是無明,就首先要了解無明的內容是什麽?眾生由於錯誤的觀念,在本來無常的生滅變化中起了常見,當這一個現象消失時又起斷見;由於錯誤的認為身心是獨立存在的,所以在無我中起了我見的妄執,好比是見到繩子以為是蛇。常見與我見都是虛妄的執見。

所以,從身心的反觀中觀察到:原來常見的妄執是錯誤的,進一步觀察到原來是無我。就好比在夢中被魔鬼壓住,夢醒後發現空無一物,根本就沒有魔鬼,當下就解除了恐怖驚慌,卸下勞累的重擔而得清涼自在。

那棵大苦樹的根由無明變成明,樹幹由愛染變成智慧慈悲,樹上結的果實由苦果變成利他的無限功德。所以,明與無明都在我們的生命中,無常無我都是每一個人生命的真相,是本來如此的,就等著我們來認識它。所以,徹見真相也只是還它個本來而已,沒有增加什麽,也沒有減少什麽,虛妄的還它個虛妄,不再執著。

三、不學基礎佛法直學大乘的過失重罪:

1. 斷滅見:大乘說一切空,很多人就誤解空義,大多落入斷滅見,以為空掉因果緣起,於是把因果緣起,善惡報應,生死輪迴,看作什麼都沒有。禪宗也說:不思善,不思惡,就以為無善無惡,那就錯了。在基礎佛法中,反而告訴我們有善惡因果,有生死輪迴;苦惱在哪裡?問題在哪裡?然後如何修?如何證?才得永遠究竟清淨。現在很多年輕人都落在斷滅見。

2. 顛狂想:大乘講人人都有佛性,人人都能成佛,人人本來是佛,心佛眾生三無差別,容易誤解為自己已經是佛了,狂妄顛倒得不得了,什麼也不用學了,產生大顛倒,耽誤自己。

3. 無因論:大乘或說因緣不可得,因緣無自性,這並非沒有因緣。有些人卻因此而落入自然無因的邪見。因果是佛法的宗要,非好好信解不可。現在有些地方,好像佛法很盛,但很少談到三世因果,無形中佛法成了現生的道德學、修養法,這些變了質的離根本佛法甚遠,都是偏於大乘所引起的錯誤,也可以說這根本不成大乘法了。

總之,這都是未學基礎佛法即學微妙大乘正法所引起的副作用。大乘佛法好比人參等補藥,如果疾病沒有痊愈,馬上吃人參就會死掉。如果疾病已經痊愈,但是還沒有恢覆氣力,可以用人參提升氣力。大乘佛法也是如此,學習基礎佛法後得到受用,再用大乘佛法提升,就非常穩當,利益他人才有力量。小乘(基礎佛法)告訴我們疾病(苦諦)以及病根(集諦),用什麽方法(道諦)慢慢把病治好(滅諦)。只有把自己的病治好了,才能看到眾生的病在哪裏而真正幫他。所以,四聖諦緣起法就是根本的基礎。

四、師父講雜阿含經的用意:

1.讓所有的佛弟子看到法的源頭。

從根本佛法流衍到現在,大小乘喋喋不休的諍論、莫衷一是,讓修學者找不到根本。現今流傳的大乘佛法,既深且廣,這一生一世都不能做到,這種上不著天,下不著地的修學生態,令人不能安心。師父從導師抉擇的大乘三系中知道了什麼是究竟了義、什麼是方便,又從1942年導師「立本」根本佛教的抉擇中,解了「立本」二字,是佛法與世不共與外道不共的鑑別點,是不違背佛法特質的立足點,是肯定不疑惑的地方、安住的地方。導師推翻了古大德對佛法的判教,將雜阿含經判攝為第一義悉檀,被淹沒了一千多年的雜阿含經,現在才得以重見天日,逐漸恢覆它為第一義諦的原貌,抉擇它是最接近佛陀時代的第一義悉檀。師父從不反對任何宗派,只是為大家建立基礎─一個不違背佛法特質的立足點,如此才有能力去抉擇流衍中的佛法及修行法門,重講雜阿含就是希望所有的佛弟子都能回到法的根本來。

「佛法」在印度滅亡是多麼嚴肅的事,如導師在論著中以「牧女賣乳」為喻,不斷善巧方便的適應,如一手一手的加水,最後「佛法」的真味淡了,「佛法」也不見了,師父看到此感觸良深。導師於清末民初看到出家眾都在搞經懺,即看到中國佛教也承繼著滅亡的危機,這是正見的變質與不彰。物必自腐而蟲生,衰滅其來有自,唐宋佛教的興盛,至清末的衰敗,於是導師溯源而上探究印度佛教,而做出了─立足於根本佛教之淳樸,弘闡中期佛教之行解的抉擇。為什麼導師要弘闡的是初期大乘之行解呢?站在整體佛教而言是中期佛教;站在大乘角度就是初期大乘,是般若與中觀的思想,當時佛教產生了兩個極端的病態─斷滅的空與執著實有,龍樹菩薩為對治這兩邊邊見(離兩邊名中道),特造中論以為對治。導師判攝此為對治悉檀。

此時婆羅門梵化的思想已融攝進來,導師提醒我們「梵化之機應慎」,此時期的思想也不是全盤的接受。我們應註意,導師說中論是阿含的通論,是闡揚大小共貫,真俗無礙的佛法精義的。中論的一實相印(空是總相義)即是阿含的三法印,三法印中的諸行無常就是常不可得,不可得即是空;諸法無我即是我不可得,不可得即是空;涅槃寂靜即是生滅不可得,不可得即是空,大乘以一個空義貫穿三法印,這與阿含精神是一致的。這就是龍樹菩薩造中論會通阿含之目的。理解導師思想這一段是很重要的。後期須抉擇確當,後期的佛法並不是一無是處,我們須抉擇方便是方便,究竟是究竟,譬如為畏無我句的眾生而巧說有如來藏的我,這是為了適應而方便說,後令入佛智而應說空如來藏,佛法流衍中,不能沒有方便,但何時用方便,方便應善於運用,切記不可執方便以為究竟。

2.師父修學的困境與作為後學的借鏡

現今的佛教修學生態,每個法門都好,都勸人為善,但仍找不到“安心處”。師父至今近40年的修行,前面20年像瘋子一樣,無法得到究竟的受用,竟然沒有一個人為他介紹導師的思想。在閉關房中書架上看到導師的論著,欣喜若狂!知道不受用的原因,原來是基礎沒打好,師父希望後學佛子們不要像他一樣這麼辛苦,重蹈他的覆轍,自問我能為佛教做什麼呢?師父說我能做的是“立本處”的用心,讓大家有擇法眼。回到雜阿含經非常感動、親切,佛陀是這麼如實,告訴我們的法是隨時於身心中都能體驗的,即使面對死亡的大比丘,佛陀仍對他說:「色無常否?無常是苦否?…」,指引著他回到正念正知的當下,安下心來。師父清楚看到居士大眾學佛法的不易,所以把雜阿含經帶給大家,使修行者都能找到安心處。在雜阿含經的封面有八個字“悟佛所悟,行佛所行”,這就是師父重講雜阿含經的願心所在,讓眾生回到佛陀悟道的因緣;回到根本的立足點來。師父已經70歲了,這是師父在有生之年獻給佛

3.  弟子的傳家寶,有了安心處,也才能直通大乘啊。

在台灣抨擊師父最重處:只講小乘。抨擊導師最重處:只開藥方沒治病,指的是有論著,而一直住在精舍,沒有建立僧團。這次僧團的建立,實現了師父30年前的理想─如果一個僧團,僧團中的出家眾個個得法,都具僧格,任何來問法求法者,不必問寺裡的當家或住持,隨便向寺中掃架房的、大寮夥房的、水頭等任何一位師父,他都能指導你,請問這樣以法攝眾,以法接眾的正法僧團,佛法會不會大興!師父要建立這樣的正法僧團。

五、佛法為何說五蘊、六處、十八界、緣起法:

今天這堂課進入了所謂的處法門。我們先要了解佛陀為什麽在當時要宣說蘊、處、界,背景是什麽?我們每一個人都有與佛陀同樣的五蘊六處,又能聽懂師父的國語,就看我們要不要了。

五蘊法門:“老病死”是我們眾生最不愛的三件事,當時印度的外道眾生求解脫風氣很盛,但對身心不明白,把這個生命當成我,就有個一體感、主宰性,那就是“我”。所以佛陀用五蘊的色受想行識來破除這樣的一體感、獨存性。我們的生命是蘊處的色、受、想、行、識的和合,只是五個條件的組合而已,生命的五種功能聚合在一起。當佛陀為我們開示五蘊的時候,我們的一體感就沒有了。如果“識”是我,那“想”就不應該是我,我是獨立存在的(能主宰的、永恒不變的),怎麽會有兩個“我”呢?如果“色”是我,那麽“受”就不是我……這樣來破除眾生的妄執。佛陀非常善巧,他都是適應當時外道所充斥的邪見而應機說法。在這個應機說法裏,把他正覺生命的真相演說出來。有這樣的一個提示以後,在學習五蘊主題時會覺得很親切,我們的一體感也可以在佛陀開示五蘊的法門中,當下掀開、破除。

六處法門:佛陀說,眼耳鼻舌身五個為色法,意為心法,色心二法和合,破除外道認為內在有一個單獨存在的“受”者。佛陀開示說,苦樂感受是從因緣而生,根塵接觸而產生識,識剎那滅去,留存影像充實於內心,並俱生受想行,這一連串的條件的和合,表示內在沒有實在的單獨存在的“受”者。佛法說,一切法者名十二處。十二處就是六根(內六處)以及觸對的六塵(外六處)。我們所能知道的其實就是十二處,佛陀定義六處名所謂的世間。他說我們所能經驗到的,所能看到的見聞覺知到的一切,沒有離開六根、六塵。

但是當時的外道認為有一個受苦、受樂、受業報的實在的“受者”(即我)。這一類的眾生認為沒有一個實在的造作者(我),但有一個受苦、受樂、受業報的實在的我。所以佛陀就跟他們講六根觸六塵,譬如眼見色產生眼識,眼根、色塵、眼識三種因緣和合生所謂的觸,觸俱生受想思,哪有一個受苦、受樂實在的我!就這樣宣說了“六處”法門,來破外道的眾生對“受”的執著性。當我們了解佛陀宣說六處法門的因緣後,進入經文時,也順便洗刷我們對“受”字實在感的執著性。當你在六根觸六塵(六根緣境)時,去觀察苦受、樂受、不苦不樂受的產生,就明白那都是緣起的,哪裏還有什麽真實的“受者”!

六界法門:也叫做一切法門。六處+六塵+六識,來破除外道的有一個實在的制造業的“造作者”。六界法門只不過是六處法門(或十二處)的延伸,只是多加了一個六識,變成所謂的十八界,講得更細一點了。佛陀說,你們所看到的其實就是這十八界,這就是為我們所能知道的一切法門。這個是在破什麽呢?印度外道認為有一個造業者(實在的我)。佛陀用六界法門來說明,外道認為有一個所謂的造作者,那只是六根觸六塵產生的所謂的六識,只不過是因緣的運作,緣起環環相扣所產生的這樣的一切現象,裏面哪有一個造作者?下面通過介紹心意識的運作關系和過程,我們會明白確實沒有一個實在的造作者和受者。

緣起法:我們來看佛陀悟道的緣起十二支流轉與還滅的圖,佛陀洞悉了宇宙生命的真理實相─緣起法,揭開了有情眾生生死大謎,五蘊、六處、十八界總和就是緣起法的內涵。

十二支緣起反映出一個因果必然性的規律:此有故彼有,此無故彼無。此故彼間有著必然的聯系,這就是緣起法。此因與彼果間有不可分離的關系,即此故彼的必然性。因滅則果滅,任何果法的產生都是由因而產生,這可以在身心一一體會、經驗、證實的。佛法是這樣的單純、平實、親切!舉例:受的因緣是內六處接觸六塵,產生六識。識剎那滅去,留影像在心裏,俱生受想行,彼彼觸集則受集;觸的因緣消滅,受也滅去,彼彼觸滅則受滅。當下就是寂滅止息清涼,這就是受的真相。

我們眾生不明白真相,無明故。所以符合自己心意的就產生樂受,與後面的愛支相應;不符合自己心意的就產生苦受,與嗔相應(是愛的另外一種姿態);與自己無關的就產生不苦不樂受,與癡相應。所以,我們的六根無時不刻在接觸六塵,時時刻刻在產生三受,也就是說每一個觸的當下都在制造貪嗔癡!

我之所以先提出來佛陀開示蘊界處的背景,目的是讓我們進入蘊、處、界三處觀的過程時,會明白佛陀要讓我們正觀身心運作,其用意就是在觀察的過程中,讓我們去發現沒有一個實實在在的“我”跟“我所”。

六、心意識:

導師說,在我們中國佛教裏面,沒有一個大思想家,因為中國人好簡,又好談玄妙,很多內容其實都是圓融籠統的。所以,心意識在中國佛教裏面是不分的,直接就用一個「心」字就講完了。所以不能用我們中國話來解說,這都是講印度文字,這也不能依中國字典來解釋,那是配合不起來的。導師及我們師父說:心意識實際上都是我們精神功能的運作,它各有各的不同的功能,各司其職。當下的認識需要很多的條件:根、塵、識、觸、空間、光線、過去的影像(曾習境)提出來與現境相吻合……通過了解心意識的功能,就明白找不到那個妄執的“我”。

識:識字的定義, 就是「謂於所緣,了別為性」。對於我們所緣的境界,這是什麼,那是什麼,能夠去了別它。明瞭、區別,這個就是「識」的作用。我們要認識一個東西,我們就要區別,如果不能區別,你就不認識。我看到你們,知道是某人,某人,我怎麼認識呢?決定是因為你們一個一個不同,我才認識,假使個個完全一樣的話,我就叫不出來,分不出來了。一片迷糊,一模一樣。所以,我們這個認識作用,就是了解、差別,這樣不同、那樣不同。所以就是區別、明瞭,這個就是「識」的作用。

總之,識的明了區別,也還來自於六塵萬法的差異,才能產生區別的功能。比如說:我的眼現在看到各位,如果大家都長成一個樣,我就無法辨別某某是誰,叫什麽名字。由於識有了別的功能,而色塵也是個體差異的,所以識就能區別它是這樣,它是那樣,而形成我們的認識作用。如果色塵都一個樣,我就不能區別得出這個跟那個不同。

心:是種種的積集,然後滋長,是精神界的統一。心的作用是采集、保藏,統一。就好比蜜蜂采集各種花粉,帶回去收藏起來。古典的論書把心叫做集(采集),也就是統一性的功能。我們的六根接觸六塵產生的六識,心就把這些采集回來的影像收藏起來,它有統一性,積集在我們的心所中。所謂的心所,就是依“心”而起的各種精神作用和心理作用,叫做心所法或叫心法。細分之下,識與心在功能上還是有些不一樣。識的功能是了別、區別,比如說,能辨別兩位比丘尼師父,不會把甲喊成乙。心的功能是把外面采集回來的資料送到心所中,心所中就有這樣的影像,然後收藏起來。等到接觸外境時,就把收藏在心所裏面的影像提出與境相印合,所以就不會錯亂。

我們留了很多的曾習境在心所中,這就是心的功能。其實,就是我們過去的經驗采集放在心所中,這就是心的功能。後期大乘佛教的流行產生所謂的唯心思想,把心的統一性當成獨一,就形成真常系的觀念。實際上,從上面的圖可以看到,我們剎那的心識與根之間的交互運作,是一個緣起流動的關系,它雖然有統一性,但絕對是好多(種種)心相把它組合而成的。這樣的一個心意識的運作,它不是獨存的,而是無常前後相續而起的,但又形成統一性。所以,我們眾生的身心運作可以從縱向(豎)觀察中,看到它的前後相續而發現它的無常性;又從橫向觀察中,看到它的彼此相互依存的和合性而發現它的無我性。心意識的運作就是這樣。

意:意根是身心交感的中樞,是外在的取相(五根攝取境相)與內部認識(意根產生意識)的中樞作用。意是思量、度量、思惟。量,有一種測度意思。就像我們拿個尺一樣,量一量,多少。對這個境界上去認識的時候,有一種思惟,思量的作用。比識更進一步深度了解所認識對象的不一樣處,所以,是了別度量的功能。比如說:初初地大約看到眼前這位師父外表外形的相,不會把她叫成另外一個人,這是識的了別功能所致。如果要更進一步主動細微了解認識這個所緣的境相,就要靠意根的思量、思惟的功能作用。因為意根有思惟度量的作用,度量就是更精細了解她與眾不同的特殊條件和獨自具有的特性,而更進一步地認識她。這就是意根的思量功能與識的了別功能的不同處。

人類的心意識比一般的有情都更具有高度明確的意識。因為我們有人的六根,一些低級的有情所必備的就是身識和意識,所以能產生所謂的覺識,因此也稱為有情。但是,我們人類眾生特別不一樣,就是在他的心意識上。形成認識作用都必備了五個大條件,在論書中叫做五遍行,要產生認識作用,心所中一定有這五個東中,缺一個都不可能,就好像互相牽著手(助伴)在一起而產生作用,這叫五遍行。就是說:讓我們有情產生認識作用,必然有這個心所中的五大功能。作意、觸、受、想、思都是我們的心所法(心有法),也就是依“心”而起的心理作用。導師說,眼耳鼻舌身五根好像是新聞采訪員,采訪五塵的色聲香味觸,攝取外相的資料,所以它只是取相的功能。

眼根只是我們內在的一個凈色根(視覺神經),當我們的視覺神經能看到外面時,它只是負責取相,無法認識,認識要靠識的功能,識有明了區別的功能。但是還要靠另外的五個條件—五遍行。

作意:作意即註意力。如果某某人在跟我講話,我的心念在另外一個境界中,在想別的,我根本就沒有作意到你跟我在講話。這時就不能完成耳根接觸聲塵而產生耳識的功能,就不能聽到話的內容,這叫做心不在焉,也就是沒有作意(註意)。所以,沒有這樣的作意及產生作意條件時,哪怕我的耳根具備了,外在的聲塵也具備,耳識也具備了,這些所有的條件都具備了,但是剛才我沒作意,你在跟我講時心不在焉,然後一回神:啊,你跟我講什麽?剛剛講什麽我都不知道。因為差了一個條件——作意力。

作意又叫憶念,是“念心”力,是念心所的一個功能。古代的論師都叫做意念,是讓我的心念去緣這個塵境,然後又由識能了別這個塵境,產生認識作用,聽到了你講話的內容。這個作意緣在當下,心緣在當下的這個作意更重要,否則我們這個念緣在別的東西,去想別的,剛剛講什麽,一句都沒有聽到,那就不能成為一個認識。唯識講:要形成“看見”的這個動作,必須有九大條件,其中的作意就是一個重要的條件。如果沒有作意,哪怕你的眼根是ok的,眼識是ok的,色塵也就在我們面前,照樣不能完成眼見色的作用。從這裏,我們就可以觀察到,這裏沒有一個實在的、不變的“我”在操控。佛陀用十二處來破除我們認為有一個實在的我,在負責受苦、受樂、受業報的執著性,他告訴我們這些都是緣起的。現在只是細細地解釋心意識是怎樣地在運作,所以,這個作意非常重要!否則心不在焉,作意的功能不在,你照樣不能完成所謂的認識作用。

觸:阿含經說根、境、識三和合為觸,三件事和合在一起,形成我們的六根緣境產生認識作用,不是讓它各跑各的,心有統一性的功能,所以,觸也在心所中,由心來把根、境、識和合收藏或統一。它把根、境、識,透過觸的和合,然後來完成。所以眼根見色產生眼識,三和合就是觸,觸以後俱生受想思,靠心所的觸來統一。談這個時,我們同樣地要作為流動的過程來看待。十二緣起的名色、識、六處、觸、受這五支是現生當下的生命功能,是現實身心的活動過程。觸俱生受、想、思,我們眾生都是與無明相應的觸,後面一定是所謂的愛、取、有。透過上面的分析,明白了心意識三者之間的運作關系,其實,都在解釋六根觸六塵產生受、想、思的這一邊。因為心意識還各守其職。

觸,三和合以後俱生受想行,俱生就是同時生起。俱生有所謂的和合,不要把和合又當成心念獨一的、單獨的,就會落入把“心”當成實在的真常的觀念,那是不對的,那只是“心”有這樣的統一性的功能,這個統一性的功能還是來自於心、意、識運作的流動關系。流進流出,形成種種的心相積聚在我們的心所中。導師說:觸三和合以後俱生受、想、思:比如觸對外境以後,就會產生感受,看到這個人,我馬上會把過去的經驗所留存的心相都會放在我們的心所中,比如說:觸對到外境,我的眼觸對到外面的色塵,看到了某某,馬上就想到了,他過去罵我一句,我生起這樣的一個感受,過去的曾習境(影像)會出來,我觸對他的時候,過去的心所中的影像會有自動功能,出來跟外境的這個影像結合:你過去罵了我一句,然後我產生了一種不合意的感受,這就是過去的曾習境,這個都是受、想的功能,進而起了我的感受。

接著會產生應該怎麽去應付這個外境即所緣的對象。也許產生合意的,我就跟他打個招呼;若對他不好的印象,我就給他一個白眼。這個導向就是我們觸對外境時,受、想、思當下就是這樣運作的。實際上受、想、思還是相續而起的,只是非常的快速。我們就認為看不到它微細的相續而起的變化。所以它還是無常相續的變化,然後,統一采取了這樣的一個動作,因為它的速度非常之快,所以就認為:在那種和合產生這樣的動作時,就會覺得它好像很實在。實際上不是,這個也都要透過我們的觀照。先了解我們身心功能這樣運作的關系,來作為我們生命觀的重要指導的這些內涵。從心意識的運作,我們可以明白其中沒有獨存的我,這樣就可以破除虛妄的我執。因為眾生最後的執取堡壘就在心意識上。

導師說:識從外境進入到我們內在的心所中,識觸對到外境,它會把所收集的資料由意識來了別它,識剎那滅去以後,就把認識到的外面的境相(影像)流入到心所中,這就是我們所講的曾習境。曾習境是我們過去的經驗,過去的影像,過去的記憶,統統自動保存在心所中。你攀緣得越多,心所中的影像就越多,那不見得是好事。所以識的影像流入到心所中,就是曾習境。再由意根去緣於外境,借由識了別外境。我們的心、意、識就是這樣不斷地交流,流入又流出,不斷地在這裏工作。

從這樣的過程中,看不到一個實實在在的我和我所,只不過是根不斷地觸對到外境,然後產生識,識剎那就即生即滅了。然後留影像充實於內心(心所),留存了很多心所。如:我今天早晨第一次見到這位張居士,看見他的外貌。我們的心意識還沒有見到並認識這個人時,我的心相中沒有他的資料,那就掏不出這樣一個曾習境的影像。這次見到後,他的新影像就存留在我的心所中了。雖然剛見到張居士的曾習境還很新,現在上課時又看到他,今天早上在我心所中的資料就流出來與他的色塵相印合,於是跟他打招呼:張居士好!這就是心識的功能。我們每一個當下都是這樣在運作。六根前面的五根,只是負責取相的功能而已,它沒有辦法了別跟分別。

所謂“動分別心”,其實是我們意識的功能。我們了解心意識的功能,只要了解一個大概就好。作為修學佛法的一個重要部分,還要了解它背後有一個佛要帶給我們的真正目的。了解這些都只是條件之一,最重要的就是讓我們回到十二支緣起來,看我們與無明相應產生的樂受,跟隨我們的貪的慣性相應,後面一定會產生與貪嗔癡三不善根相應的貪;與無明相應產生的苦受,跟隨我們瞋的慣性反應而產生瞋;與無明相應產生的不苦不樂受,一定是與癡相應的。我們強烈的慣性都是這樣,時時刻刻都在六根接觸六塵中,產生三受,由於與無明相應,而產生貪嗔癡,所以時時刻刻都在造業不息!佛法開示給我們這些內涵,目的就是讓我們看清楚,就是這些引導我們走向所謂的生死輪回!那麽我們有沒有解脫的機會?有!要在哪裏解除生死的業因?就在這個地方。

比如觸,佛法中告訴我們最重要的,就是與明還是與無明相應?導師說:當下這一個觸是否與明相應,這個能力與正知見的建立及觀照度的確立有密切的關系。師父非常慈悲,讓我們越來越能雲何知、雲何見(如何知、如何見),就是這二個讓我們更具備與明相應的能力。這個知就是師父為我們建立的緣起正見;這個見就是帶我們如實地回到身心中如實作觀。你在這二個知見上越透,對我們身心功能這樣的運作越了解,越如實觀察,覺照的能力越強,你在觸的這個地方,就是與明相應,與智慧相應。

樂受只是樂受,苦受只是苦受,就不會隨著三受而起慣性的貪瞋癡習性反應。觸俱生的就是與明相應的受想思,後面不會愛取有。所以,我們今生就能達到生死輪回的切斷。講這一些內容都是能讓我們朝向切斷生死輪回的。所以,聖弟子都是問佛陀:你開示我要怎麽樣的知,要怎麽樣的見,能夠讓我們在五蘊身心中離系、離執著,不見我,不見我所,目的就是切斷生死輪回。所以,一定要知道佛陀開示這些法要的目的,然後在我們的身心去實驗、經驗、證明。

我們應該在這個過程中,知道從哪裏去下手,應該具備什麽樣的條件,這些都是一貫的。最重要的,在了解心、意、識的一些特殊功能後,還是要回到身心中來如實作觀,才能讓我們的知和見真正達到與智慧相應,與明相應,這樣的功能作用,就能切斷後面的愛、取、有。我們今生一定要往這樣的條件去具備而依教奉行,在我們的生命中必然都能證實和達到。

七、如實觀照:

師父辦的是真正的“消災法會”,只有緣起正見,才知道災從何起,緣起正見為我們找到了生死之因,在每個當下找出災的源頭,才能真正消災;師父也“點燈”,點亮我們身心功能覺知的燈。慢慢消除我們意識中的妄執,把正見熏習到意識中,成為我們的認知,自然會轉化我們的行為。無明眾生意識的思維作用產生認知的錯亂——妄執我。所以用正法的正見緣起來熏習意根,換軟件。

我們的意識有攝識的功能:1、意識的錯亂來自於它;2、正見也靠它熏習汰換。久了,那套緣起的正見三法印就成為思維(意根)模式,不需要刻意起心動念了,必然會法隨法行。第一個“法”是我們的五蘊造作;第二個“法”是緣起正見的作用。把我們內在意識中錯亂的程序潛移默化、不動聲色地替換掉。當意識中錯誤的認知被取代的時候,不用起念,不用想:“這是無常,這是無我,不要貪染……”,正見會自動起來相應,會指導我們的行為,正見帶著我們走,就是法隨法行。這與有沒有文化沒有關系。第一步:借由緣起正見破掉無明——拿掉蒙住雙眼的黑布;第二步:如實觀照破除愛染的習性——開啟生命中正念正知的覺知功能。這就是“看”,六根觸六塵產生六識時,就是“看著”它的運作,不要迎拒、取舍、判斷、結論。虛妄的還它個虛妄,因為妄相自然會止息。如果用我們習慣的迎拒、取舍、判斷、結論,就會把我們帶到大苦樹去。

觀念念即住,覺妄妄即真。這個“住”就是止息,在觀照覺知的當下,妄念自然會止息;當你發覺妄相時也就發現了真相,生生滅滅遷流不息的緣起的妄相就是不生不滅的真實相。

在每個當下都是那樣。雜阿含每集都是在講當下發現真相,通過這樣的看,最終讓我們發現真相,這就叫現法見,離熾然,不待時節,緣自覺知。所以,虛妄的還它個虛妄,本來就不實在,壞就壞在“我”要主宰。所以,還給生命自己如實地來運作,如實呈現,不要交給虛妄的“我”。我們無明眾生都是那個虛妄的我在主宰,好管閑事,幹涉生命的本來功能。學了緣起正見,要回到生命中來,如實地“看”它到底在做什麽?交給生命自己如實地運作,不要幹涉它:“你要這樣,你不要那樣……”。所以,我們的師父對弟子也不會“你要這樣,你不要那樣”。

什麽叫禪修?其實真正的禪修就是在身心活動的當下,明白緣起流轉的一邊,也明白緣起還滅的一邊,那就是真正的禪修。

佛陀說法不離我們當下能經驗,能體會,能證明的一切。當下看著有沒有煩惱,看的當下就能熾然不起,名為滅熾然。只有在現法生命活動的當下,當你看著念頭時,念頭已滅了。眾生一無明,燈就關了,貪念起時看著它,貪念不起了,名為滅熾然。貪嗔癡燒著我們的五蘊身心,如果中箭的人要先搞清楚這個箭的由來再拔箭時,命也沒了。師父是重受用的,所以,只要有五蘊身心的功能作用,當你發現妄相時也就發現了真相。明白緣起流轉的一邊,也就明白緣起還滅的一邊。知道了無常,明白煩惱也是緣起的,是因緣而有的妄相,慧劍揮處已是癡,不要拿刀對付它,發現時自然也就止息了,煩惱是虛幻的,不要對治它,只有發現煩惱的真相,才能跟它說byebye。

師父說發現它自然滅,不用對治,眼根與色塵相觸,當下客觀地觀察,讓生命自然呈現,把這些都交給生命,讓它如實顯現,只是開著這盞燈,不要好管閑事,不要幹預,如實看著當下,生命自然如實地呈現,然後你就會看到無常無我呈現出來,這就是真相。如實面見它,如實觀察它,自然真相顯示給你看。雜阿含有一經,佛陀說你要精勤方便,內寂其心,如實看著它就是觀,觀中就有止,傳統的禪定一般重在修定,佛法重的是止觀雙運,止觀前,要把身心寧定下來,只要看,只要覺知,就是內寂其心,無需另外修定來內寂其心。根塵生識三和合為觸,從而生受,讓它如實呈現,苦受起時看著它如實顯現,諸行無常也會如實知顯現,還貪染什麽!發現無常、無我的真相,苦自然寂滅。