Friday, 17 December 2021

Hostility toward the dharma, views about a self, fear of samsāra’s suffering, and not considering the welfare of sentient beings — these are the four obscurations of those with great desire, tīrthikas, Śrāvakas, and pratyekabuddhas.

-- Maitreya, Uttaratantra Shastra



Thursday, 16 December 2021

The Earth Is A Solid Place Of Refuge 

by Thich Nhat Hanh

When we feel that we’re fragile, not stable or solid, we can come back to ourselves and take refuge in the Earth. With each step, we can feel her solidity beneath our feet. When we’re truly in touch with the Earth, we can feel her supportive embrace and her stability. We use all our body and our mind to go back to the Earth and surrender ourselves to her. With each breath, we release all our agitation, our fragility, and our suffering. Just being aware of her benevolent presence can already bring relief.

On the verge of the Buddha’s enlightenment, he touched the Earth with his hand and asked her to bear witness to his awakening. Flowers sprang up in celebration at the very place where his hand touched the ground.  At that moment, the Buddha’s mind became so free and so clear that he saw millions of flowers everywhere smiling at him.

We can be like the Buddha, and in difficult moments touch the  Earth as our witness. We can take refuge in the Earth as our original mother. We can say, “I touch the pure and refreshing Earth.” Whatever nationality or culture we belong to, whatever religion we follow, whether we’re  Buddhists, Christians, Muslims, Jews, or atheists, we can all see that Mother  Earth is a great bodhisattva. When we see her in this way, with all her many virtues, we will walk more gently on her and treat her and all her children more gently. We will want to protect her and not harm her or any of the myriad forms of life she has given birth to. We will stop wreaking destruction and violence on Mother Earth. We will resolve the question of what we mistakenly  call “the environmental problem.” The Earth is not just the environment. The  Earth is us. Everything depends on whether we have this insight or not.

When you’re able to see the Earth for the bodhisattva that she is,  you will want to bow down and touch the Earth with reverence and respect.  Then love and care will be born in your heart. This awakening is enlightenment. Don’t look for enlightenment elsewhere. This awakening, this enlightenment, will bring about a great transformation in you, and you’ll have more happiness, more love, and more understanding than from any other practice. Enlightenment, liberation, peace, and joy aren’t dreams for the future; they’re a reality available to us in the present moment. 



"Attachment" refers to your companion in delight, the companion you spend time with. It is all right to be attached to them, but then you have to remember that your attachment is free from coming and going, arising and ceasing. Because its nature is beyond conceptual fabrication, the attachment self-liberates.

-- Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche



Wednesday, 15 December 2021

發心與善行

文|傳仰

當我們學習佛法一段時間後,對三寶多少產生了信心,而信心又推動著我們發願,以作為己身修學佛法的目標,有了信及願,我們隨分隨力地將所學的佛法應用在日常生活中──調伏貪瞋癡、清淨身口意;此信、願、行不可分開,是互相展轉增上的。

譬如歡喜念佛、發願往生西方淨土的人,對阿彌陀佛生起信心,發願求生阿彌陀佛國,因而長時持誦彌陀聖號;此即是由「願」導行,而「行」時亦要有願,才不至於走錯方向並將「行」的功德迴向諸希願處。

學佛者善行的目標即是願!這個願是因人而異的,但又可分成長程、中程、短程等幾個階段性的差別;層層分剖,也就是我們每天要行持的項目。基本上,善行以「戒」為主,其中包括「止持」與「作持」。剛開始可以選擇最急須改進,或難度較小的項目,隨時鼓勵自己應該作的事要盡力達成,警惕自己不應該作的事切勿違犯!

若不知如何發願,可以參考一些懺本中--大悲懺、水懺等的迴向文,或祖師大德的發願文。除了平時常見的一些迴向偈「願消三障諸煩惱,願得智慧真明了,普願罪障悉消除,世世常行菩薩道」外,還有「願生逢漢地,長遇明師,正信出家,童真入道」,「願執持淨戒,塵業不侵,不逢八難,不缺四緣」,「願承事十方諸佛,無有疲勞;修學一切法門,悉皆通達」。參考這些文,作為與自己相應的願;由總願到別願,由別願再層層分到你的下手處--即每日的善行項目。

舉例而言,若總願是「為利有情願成佛」,則須先發願「得菩提心而不退」;但菩提心是需要修行才能生起的,如「七因果」與「自他換」,即是兩種發菩提心的方法。

「自他換」的內涵包括自他平等、愛惜自我的過患、惜護他人的利益及功德,及自他相換的實際思惟等。如學習「自他換」,可發願「早日依自他換,成就發菩提心」。在這些項目中,可以選擇「為別人著想」為下手處,以此為自己每日善行的重點。

每天起床後,即先皈依發願,緣念自己的善行項目--為別人著想;若碰到種種境界,應該如何去對境練心。白天的行住坐臥中,則盡可能提起心力去「為別人著想」,若遇到一些境界,因為心裡已有了準備,即可用先前想好的方法對治;到了晚上,切實地反省今天善行的結果--得則隨喜,過則懺悔。

最後作迴向,由下往上的次第是:「早日依自他換成就菩提心→願菩提心堅固不退→願常行菩薩道廣度有情→為利有情願成佛道」。若約成就一切智智邊說,也可選幾項相關的善行作為日課,其餘如上所說。

總之,信、願、行不可分開,願為行的指標,行是理想(願)的實踐,如此展轉增上的過程中,信心也隨之而增長了。

願可有總、別、大、小之分,別願中又可以再層層區分,最後的著手處就是每天要作的善行項目,而每天晚上反省後的迴向--總的來說須迴向無上菩提;別的來說,則可以迴向至各式各樣的希願處,使令我們在菩提道上能逆緣消除、順緣增長,逐漸積集資糧,最終成就直至成佛的大願!



Awareness is like a thread that runs through every experience we have. Our thoughts and emotions are constantly changing. Our reactions and perceptions come and go. Yet despite these changes, awareness is always present.

-- Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche



Tuesday, 14 December 2021

Bodhicitta

by Ribur Rinpoche

Bodhicitta, the aspiration to attain enlightenment in order to benefit all sentient beings, is something that is truly inconceivable, truly splendid and marvellous. One of the gurus of Lama Atisha told him that an attainment such as clairvoyance, or a vision of a deity, or concentration as stable as a mountain is nothing compared to bodhicitta. For us, these attainments seem amazing. If we ourselves, or if someone we heard of, had a vision of a deity, achieved clairvoyance, or through practising meditation attained concentration as stable as a mountain, we would think this to be unbelievably wonderful. However, Atisha's guru said to him: "These are nothing compared to bodhicitta. Therefore, practise bodhicitta."

Even if you practised mahamudra or dzogchen or the two stages of highest yoga tantra [generation stage and completion stage] and even if you achieved the vision of many deities, these are not beneficial if you do not have bodhicitta.

As the great Bodhisattva Shantideva said, "If you churn the 84,000 teachings of the Buddha, their essence is bodhicitta." By churning milk we get butter, which is the very essence of milk. In the same way, if we examine and churn all the 84,000 teachings of the Buddha, their very essence is the practice of bodhicitta. Therefore, it is extremely important for us to strive to achieve the uncontrived, effortless experience of bodhicitta. At the very least, we should try our best to generate the contrived experience of bodhicitta, the bodhicitta that arises through effort.

There are two main lineages of instructions on the basis of which you can practise and generate bodhicitta. The first is the seven-point cause-and-effect instruction, and the second is the instruction on exchanging oneself with others.

The first, the seven-point cause-and-effect instruction by which you generate bodhicitta on the basis of developing affectionate love towards all sentient beings, is a practice which was used by such great Indian pandits as Chandrakirti, Chandragomin, Shantarakshita and so forth. The second, the instruction on exchanging oneself with others, comes mainly from Shantideva. Whether you choose to train your mind in the seven-point instruction or in exchanging oneself with others, the result is that you will generate bodhicitta in your mind.

The great saint Atisha showed extraordinary interest in bodhicitta. In order to obtain the complete instructions on the practice of bodhicitta, he embarked on a long journey to the Indonesian island of Sumatra to study with the great master Serlingpa, not caring about the many hardships he endured on the way. Today we can travel to Indonesia by a very fast ship or by aeroplane, but at that time it took Atisha thirteen months to reach Indonesia. Once he arrived, he received the complete experiential instructions on both the seven-point technique and exchanging oneself with others from the master Serlingpa. He then practised for twelve years at his master's feet, until he fully developed bodhicitta. Thus Lama Atisha came to possess both instruction lineages: the seven-point technique and exchanging oneself with others.

Although he held both lineages, Atisha would teach only the seven-point technique in public, to large assemblies of disciples, and would teach the instructions on exchanging oneself with others secretly to a select group of qualified disciples. When Atisha went to Tibet, he gave the instructions on exchanging oneself with others only to his principal disciple,  Dromtonpa.

Later, the great Lama Tsong Khapa, the Protector of all beings, incorporated the two sets of instructions into a single practice consisting of eleven points. When you are receiving teachings on bodhicitta, you receive the two sets of instructions separately, but when you are actually meditating on bodhicitta — training your mind — then you combine both instructions and meditate on the eleven points. Combining the two instructions into a single practice for the purpose of training the mind in meditation is said to be a particular greatness of the Gelugpa tradition.

In a prayer composed by Lama Pabongka Dorje Chang requesting to meet the doctrine of Lama Tsong Khapa, he wrote: "By merging the practices of the seven-point technique and exchanging oneself with others of the precious mind, this greatness which is not shared by others, may I thus be able to meet the doctrine of Lama Tsong Kha pa." "Not shared by others" means that this merging of the two practices devised by Je Rinpoche is a unique approach that is not found in other traditions.

I first received these teachings from the holy mouth of the incredibly kind Lama Pabongka Dorje Chang, when he taught the eight great lam-rim texts over a period of four months at Sera Monastery in Tibet. At that time I was very young. When he reached the point of explaining exchanging oneself with others, he gave teachings on The Seven-Point Thought Transformation. Later I  received these teachings twice from the late Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche.



When we encounter good times, we are naturally happy and joyous. However, with mindfulness and wisdom, we should be keenly aware of their impermanence. When we meet with bad times fraught with obstacles and challenges, let us also be deeply mindful of their impermanent nature and of the need to surmount challenges with perseverance, determination, and resilience.

-- Venerable Kwang Sheng



Monday, 13 December 2021

谈谈闻思修

益西彭措堪布

一、修的内容由闻思决定,修包括观察修和安住修两种

很多人认为“闻思时才需要观察,实修时唯一应安住修,不必观察”,这样自然便会认为:不闻思照样能修,或者闻思只是研究或为实修提供证据。

这种想法若不遮破,则始终不会重视闻思。

以下破除这种观点:

实修时必定有个所缘境,有个所修的内容,若不经过闻思,是不可能了知这一内容。就连炒菜这样的小事也要先听别人讲解怎么炒,之后还要自己考虑,观察到位,才能实际操作。同样,所修的内容首先要听别人讲解,由他力得到决定,再由自力思惟决定,然后再串习就是修。所以,修的内容是由闻思来决定的。

再者,闻思决定的内容本来就有观察和安住两种,因此修也就有观察和安住两种,不能说修唯一是安住。

譬如:修净土法门中求生净土的愿,即是修厌离娑婆和欣求极乐的心。对所修的内容,首先应通过听闻了解,否则就不知道修些什么、该如何修。所谓“听闻”,就是以佛的教法、法师的开演和自己的耳根等因缘和合,而听到佛经中修欣求心和厌离心的内容。同时,必须明白所闻的法不仅仅是知识,更是所修的内容——实修的教授。

比如,听到讲解娑婆世界的三苦、八苦、五痛、五烧,这是修厌离心的教授;又听到讲述极乐世界种种依报和正报的庄严,这是修欣求心的教授。这样通过他力得到了知,就是由听闻决定所修内容。

之后,还要对此数数思惟,了解透彻。比如,娑婆世界的苦苦、坏苦、行苦,每个苦是什么意思?为什么把“苦”、“坏”、“行”叫做苦?为何要出离娑婆世界?娑婆世界有哪些过患?这些问题自己不思惟就决定不下来。所以,修厌离心的内容——三苦、八苦等,先要由思惟引发定解,之后再反复串习,就会引发厌离心,而且越修越强,越修越稳固,最后,会达到囚犯想出监狱、粪坑里的人想出粪坑那样迫切的心情,一刻也不想呆在娑婆世界。

反之修欣求心,就是观察极乐世界没有三苦、八苦,往生立即了脱生死、获得不退转果位,种种依报环境的功德、正报佛菩萨的功德等。但是,对此若不听闻、阅读净土经论,自己是无法了解的;若不思惟,也不能将所修的内容吃准、搞透。所以,首先应通过闻思决定修的内容,再如是反复串习,令欣求心增上、持续。相续中一旦具有欣求心和厌离心,便是成就了求生净土的愿。

由此可见,修不只是安住,闻思也不只是为修提供证据,不是和修无关的佛学研究。应切记“闻思的任务是决定修的内容”这一关要。

二、闻、思、修密切相关

智慧分为闻慧、思慧、修慧。这三种慧是如何产生的呢?即:闻慧由闻而成就,要想获得闻慧,前行是听闻,由闻法就会成就闻慧;思慧是由思惟所成就,不在思惟上下工夫,思慧就无从产生,故思慧的前行是思惟,由思惟便能成就思慧;修慧由修习而成就,即由串习而成。

之后,反观自己:听闻时,如果没有如法的发心和行为,耳根没有专注在法师所说的法义上,或者生起昏沉、掉举、傲慢等烦恼,如此绝不会生起闻慧,只会增加无明、业障;思惟时,若对所闻法义,或者粗略阅一遍,或者束之高阁,根本就不看,又怎么谈得上如理思惟?又怎么有数数如理思惟?所以,落实思惟的人寥寥无几。如是思慧尚未产生,更谈不上引生修慧。

以下再了知三慧次第生起的道理。

(一)“修慧从思慧生”

“修慧从思慧生”并不是指从思慧直接就产生修慧。修慧的前行是修,修又是串习由思慧所决定的法义。若无思慧,就无法确定在何处修,想串习也没有所缘境,又如何生起修慧?所以,要生起修慧,必须串习思慧所决定的法义,是从这个角度而言“修慧从思慧生”。

比如,对世间享乐修出离心,所修就是坏苦,这只有由思慧才能决定。换言之,以思慧能决定欲乐不是安乐性,刹那迁变之故;欲乐坏灭时必定产生痛苦,有贪著心之故。了知这些之后,再安住法义串习,就可以引发厌离心,而且,越串习厌离心越强,厌离心越强,就越能放下。如果没有思慧,不知在何处串习,又怎么能生起修慧?所以,没有思慧指导的修就像盲人射箭,是“盲修瞎炼”。

(二)“思慧从闻慧生”

并不是说从闻慧直接生起思慧,而是说思慧依靠思惟产生,思惟的内容由闻慧而决定,是从这一角度说“思慧从闻慧生”。

比如:清楚地听闻了讲述八无暇、十圆满的文句,所忆持的法义就成了思惟的内容。如果听闻之后,没有记住任何法义,连讲什么都不知道,又能对何者作思惟呢?因此,没有闻慧,就不可能有思惟。

总之,由闻而产生闻慧,由闻慧能进入思惟,由思惟而产生思慧,由思慧能进入修习,由修习产生修慧,这是闻思修的生起次第。

另外,应当“主动及时地转入”闻思修。这个主动性非常重要,闻思修主要靠自己,自己不争取,没有人能把智慧直接送入相续。释尊的能力可谓第一,如果有这种可能性,佛早已把智慧安放在每个众生的相续中。

所谓“主动及时地转入”,就是要尽心尽力地投入,听一点,就要听懂一点;听懂一点,就要思惟一点;思惟一点,就要透彻一点;透彻一点,就要串习一点。比如,听人无我法门,耳根要专注在法师的音声上,自己的动机就是要听懂,要生起闻慧,对重点之处,若无法记下,就应做笔记。总之,要尽一切努力得到闻慧。若具这样的发心和加行,则听一次就生一次闻慧,闻法就很有收获,内心便会欢喜闻法。

听懂之后,最重要的是思惟,即针对闻思所了知的法义,及时地思惟,依靠自力对法义融会贯通,生起断定的理解。乃至未获定解之前,必须不断努力地思惟。

为了能一心投入思惟,并有所成就,应当合理安排时间和环境,尽量避免外缘的干扰,舍离一切无关的世间琐事、无义的闲谈交往,如此才能集中心力投入思惟。所以,应当独自在寂静处,专心致志地观察思惟法义。听闻、修行都应如此。

总之,对每天以闻慧了知的法义,要及时转入思惟,通过点滴的积累,逐渐成就累累硕果,如同“聚沙成塔”一般。世上没有不劳而获的事,也没有异想天开,凡事均需长期用功才会有成果,而且大成果是从点滴积累而来的。

比如,听闻了人无我法门,知道了“观察我和五蕴一体、异体”的方法,但并不能以此为足,而是要思惟透彻,直到生起坚定不移的定解为止。因此听闻之后,就应一心思惟:“我”和“蕴”一体有什么过失;“我”和“蕴”异体又有什么过失;“我”和“蕴”不是一体、异体,那“我”是什么?“我”和“蕴”到底是什么关系?这些问题要一遍又一遍地观察、衡量,要切实下苦工夫,要知道凭空是不可能产生定解的。

一般思惟时都会有个过程,最初一点也摸不到头绪,左边摸一下、右边摸一下,翻来覆去地摸索,但最后慢慢会理清头绪,开始相应法义,能决定“是这样一个意思”,心里能肯定而没有怀疑。

因此,我们应当长期听闻正法,之后及时转入思惟,如是让佛法正见越来越深广稳固。须知,这是一切修行的基础。

闻思还有一个关键,就是要“熟”,“熟”了就会“透”,“熟”了就会善巧。《禅林宝训》中说,白云禅师阅经书不下几百遍。每次开卷再读,一定有新的收获。我们若能像禅师这般勤奋,一定能通达佛法。

古人说:“故书不厌百回读,细读深思理自知。”(旧书若能耐心读上百遍,细细地读,深深地思惟,书中的道理自然会明白。阅读属于闻慧,读时思惟属于思慧。)听闻、讲解、思惟都是如此。任何法门只要反复讲、反复看、反复思惟,以串习力终有透彻的一天。

由思惟决定好之后,就要及时串习。比如,对暇满的涵义,很多人五年前就理解了,但是并没有在心上串习,所以五年后仍在虚耗时间,根本不见有进步,这就是不串习的过患。所以,懂了一点之后,要立即串习。比如,对“暇满难得”不断观察修,才能远离过失、引生功德,也才能日日有进步(上等修行人日日有进步,中等修行人月月有进步,下等修行人年年有进步)。如果不仅没进步,还不断退步,那就不是修行人,因为只是学知识,根本就不修,没有改变自相续。

三、对实修来说闻思最重要之理

理由是:有多少听闻,就有那么多的闻所成慧;有多少闻所成慧,就有那么多的思惟;有多少思惟,就有那么多的思所成慧;有多少思所成慧,就有那么多的修习;有多少修习,就有那么多的灭除过失、引生功德。换言之:听闻是零,闻慧就是零;闻慧是零,思惟就是零;思惟是零,思慧就是零;思慧是零,修就是零;修是零,所灭的过失、所引的功德就是零。

因此,对实修来说,闻思最为重要。若无最初的闻思,修行要么成为盲修瞎炼,要么流于影像,很难成就。

由此便知,闻思修对于个人修行的成败和整个佛教的兴衰,关系何等重大。如果舍弃了闻思,也就不会懂得什么是人身的意义,什么是无常,什么是苦,什么是人无我,什么是慈悲,什么是出离心,什么是因果,什么是生死的缘起,什么是三宝,什么是空性,什么是佛性。如此一来,人天善道、出离心、菩提心、出世间空性之道等,完全会隐没,最后不闻三宝之名,又怎会有教证二法住持世间呢?对个人而言,人天善道、解脱道、菩提道,只有依靠闻思才会了解,也只有串习闻思所决定的法义,才能在心中体证佛法。所以,世亲菩萨说:“佛正法有二,谓教证为体,有持说行者,此便住世间。”这是千真万确的定论。

四、两种偏差

(一)闻思未到量就盲修瞎炼

如果闻思没有到量,不明白修的次第、方法、数量,不知道如何解决修行中的问题,也辨不清正道和歧途,没有了定解之目,极易堕入盲修瞎炼的险坑中。

(二)闻思此法,修持彼法

这是不明白教证二法的关系所致。其实,教法是指示修行的道路,教你怎么做、怎么修,而证法是按照所指示的道路真实行持。所以,修就是修闻思所决定的法义。如果闻思和修无关,闻思的法义并不是所修的内容,则即便闻思二十年,也对修没有任何帮助,有心修行的人又岂愿虚耗二十年宝贵时光?若按这种想法,很多人会放弃闻思。

试问:佛成道之后,最根本的事业是转*轮,四十九年说法,结集成三藏十二部的教法,如果这些教法不是指引众生修行的教授,佛陀四十九年说法岂非无义?这是对佛的大毁谤。

再者,一般人单凭听闻也无法得到解脱,否则“修”就成了多余,只要说“闻、思”,不必再加一个“修”。

全知麦彭仁波切在《大乘庄严经论释》中说:“如果不是这样,那应当仅仅以听闻无我等法就现量证悟其义,当下得解脱,所谓的修持也就没有任何意义可言。又如果不听闻无我等法就可以自修彼义,那宣说诸经论应成毫无意义,也就不必宣说了,但这是绝不可能的。如果想获得圣者如实见法性的各别自证智,必须首先听闻圣法,然后思惟其义而生起定解,接下来,应当专注一缘修持此法义。因此,初学者最初必须生起听闻智慧。因此,听受和所讲的佛法是这样具有大意义和大必要。”

许多人都有这样的通病,听完法合上书本,就算完成任务。如此即便一部接一部地闻法,其实根本就没有思惟过,学的虽多,但真正消化、吸收的却非常少,又怎么能引生定解?怎么能结合相续串习?如此只会堕入“闻思没有用”、“闻思不必要”的邪见中。

还有一些人虽然在闻思,但不够彻底。有些只掌握佛法的片段,不懂得整个菩提道从下至上的次第;有些没有体会到佛法的真实义,没有得到心要;有些不知道“修”是安住在闻思所得到的定解中,串习由闻思所决定的法义。

观察目前闻思修的状况,问题颇多,不良心态也很多。一种是不老实,无法老老实实坐下来,全心全意地融入佛法;一种是不踏实,学佛多年,心里一直没底,总是怀疑“这样做有没有用”;还有一种是幻想家,本来基础的法门就是目前最需要的,抛开这些能闻思、能串习的法门,整天盼星星、盼月亮,幻想能得一个最高、最快、最轻松的法。

本来一切佛法通过如理闻思都能显现为修行的教授,但一般人未能好好闻思,也就没有能力趣入实修。这并非所学法门的问题,而是我们自身的问题,没有好好思考过闻思修的关系,一向没有依教奉行,才导致不能把法结合在自心上修行。如果不改变这种状况,恐怕还会发生不良的后果。

因此,首先要调整闻思修的发心,明确目标,唯一是为了了生死、成菩提、度众生,而不是想获得名声和地位,也不是只收集佛学知识。

其次,为了能真正串习法义,改变自他相续,先应精进闻思,掌握修的方法,明白修的次第和数量。之后,于己,唯一要在心上实修实证;于他,唯一要无私地为有情开示佛法的心要。由此可见:上等修行者是上等法师,中等修行者是中等法师;住持佛法和实修、自利和利他、教法和证法、闻思和修,彼此关系密切,并非毫不相干。

比如,某人想练剑的愿望非常强烈,到处寻访名师,拜师之后,想方设法要学到剑术。他的心始终专注在剑术上,对老师的教导,一句不肯漏,全面主动去寻求、去摸索、去请教,目的无非是想把剑练好,提高境界。他弄清套路之后,不会只满足于“纸上谈剑、口上谈剑”的境界,会立即真刀真枪地操练。我们闻思修若能有这样热诚实干的心,肯定会成功。

所以,学佛不只是为了做理论家、谈论家,积累佛学知识,学佛的目的是解脱、是成佛、是度众生。一切闻思修都应从这点出发,而且注意力要放在如何修心、应修何法上面。这样的初发心非常关键,应时常铭记于心。须知,佛地之前均为有学地,均需闻思修,需辗转增上,故应发起从现在开始学到成佛为止的大心。佛法如大海,越转越深、越转越广。我们闻思就要和修心结合,逐渐将自相续转成圣贤的相续,转成佛菩萨的相续。

五、举例说明

(一)修暇满

我们耽著今生,散乱心非常强,这是无始以来串习坚固的习气,直接障碍摄取后世和解脱的大义。看似很小的颠倒心,实际上危害无穷,会把心完全缠在追求今生的魔网当中,大好人生都浪费在造恶业上。

对治这种颠倒的方法就是修暇满。能否修成,就观待闻思是否获得定解。因为修暇满实际是串习闻思所决定的暇满难得和义大的意义,如果获得定解,安住定解观察,越观察就越能引发珍惜人生的善心,当这个善心修到猛利、持续时,就有力量逆转颠倒心。

所以,对于修暇满来说,最重要就是闻思暇满,力争生起定解,而不是用其它方法,也不观待外在条件。

为了获得定解,要尽力寻求闻思。凡是宣说暇满之处,我们都要好好听闻。凡是开示人身难得、义大的经论,古德珍惜人身的教言、传记,我们都应收集,作为专题,对重点要深入思惟。像这样,一次一个重点,下死功夫突破,学一次学透一个,步步透出就是在前进。

平时应多听、多看、多思惟。学暇满,就一心投入在暇满上,一直思惟到完全扭转观念,获得不可夺的正见,再依正见串习,就是顺理成章的事。不然,见解没有转变,修行就很难相应。

所以,首先要获得定解,然后安住在定解中串习,而且要坚持串习,如此才能断除原先的颠倒心,让珍惜人身的心越来越强,乃至最后稍一提念,就会现起正念,这就修成了菩提道的一个支分,自相续也因此受用匪浅。

(二)修人无我

首先,由闻思抉择无我,遣除心中对无我的怀疑,破除有我的观点,引起人无我的定解。然后,不论入定出定、行住坐卧,都再再串习无我的定解,让无我的习气逐渐成熟,即“生处转熟、熟处转生”(习气生的地方——无我,让它变熟;习气熟的地方——有我,让它变生)。

无始劫来,我们最熟悉的是我执,一张口就是“我”,起心动念都是考虑“我”,不必费力自然如此,这是无始积习,根深蒂固。这个我执就是轮回之根,此根不断,根本无法相应出世间法。从这个根出生八万四千烦恼:赞叹“我”,马上露出笑容,批评“我”,脸马上阴沉下来,顺我的意就高兴,不满我的意就生嗔心、嫉妒心,凡事都要满足我的意愿。换言之,凡事都要随顺我执才行,这就是修我执。这种状态若不扭转,千生万劫也出不了生死,因为方向完全相反,这是念念生死的走向,怎么会有解脱?所作所为都落入生死当中。

现在要从根断除轮回,唯一要依靠智慧。智慧也不会凭空产生,必须通过闻思空性,而且首先从容易下手的人无我开始。

为了让修行得力,首先闻思要达到要点。闻思越成熟、越究竟,修起来就越方便。如果闻思透彻,提起来就可以用,就可以安住。这样熏习得多,思惟得也多,达到量之后,“无我见”自然就稳固,丝毫动不了。

我们对一件事听得多、想得多,自然形成一种见,转不过来,以后无论做什么,都随着这个“见”转。现在应善用心这个作用,逆转串习,不断听闻无我,时时思惟无我,最终会破除疑惑,得到定解,之后串习这个“无我”的定解,以无我执伏住我执,不去想我、贪我……,自然就伏住烦恼。

若能以无我定解的慧眼,见到只有色受想行识五蕴,此外并没有“常、一、自在”的我,心就直接安住“唯蕴无我”的定解上,串习得越熟、越深,越好。最好一切威仪中都依止正知正念,让心安住在“无我”中。走路时,知道只有五蕴在不断随缘起运转。听声音时,也要作意没有我,只是耳根和声尘和合,现起一个声音的相。安住在无我中,别人说你好,也观“没有我,只是一堆蕴,没有可贪执的”;别人骂你,也观“只有蕴,只是零散的微尘和念头”。如是怎么也找不到“我”,不必为“我”欢喜、为“我”忧。

身处人群当中,很容易就和别人比较,这时不安住无我,很快就会生起烦恼。比别人高,就生傲慢;比别人低,就生自卑;见别人圆满,就生嫉妒;见自己好,就有表现欲,想争座位、出风头。这时应当安住在无我中,别人是五蕴,我也是五蕴,心专注在蕴的相上,不去执我,如是“我好、你不好”、“我吃亏”、“我没有被重视”等念头得不到支持,就生不起来,即可遮止贪嗔。

总之,要举一反三,自己主动给自己当教练,把人无我的法门贯彻在生活当中,时时运用。

(三)修苦

若对苦闻思得不够,则很难生起真正的出离心,更不必说大悲心。因为如果没有闻法,就不了知三苦的体相以及八苦、六道诸苦等的差别,而不思惟有漏皆苦、乐是坏苦等涵义,就无法获得定解,这样很难安住在轮回是苦海、是火坑等意义中,也就无法修成普厌三有的出离心。

一般苦苦好理解,但了解坏苦、行苦的人并不多,这样就很难修成出离心,因为只知道苦苦,并没有深刻认识到坏苦和行苦,就无法对善趣(欲界人天、色界、无色界)生起出离心。若没有出离心而一味追求轮回的圆满,则无论修什么也只是积集顺生死业。

由此可见,了知教理的重要性。教能指示方向路径、界定地道阶位、辨明真妄,若教理不明,就像盲人一样,容易误入歧途。比如,认识不到坏苦,就会把欺诳性的乐受看成是安乐,无法解脱对乐受的爱著,不必说天宫的妙乐,即便对人间的小乐也是趋之若鹜,不会觉得没有意义,而且还耽著不舍。如此发展下去,要等到何年何月才能趣入解脱道?

再者,大悲心也要有闻思苦的基础才能修成。一般说修大悲,其实修的只是片面的悲、浮在表面的悲。闻思若未究竟,会有很多似是而非的说法,修也是流于影像。今天照着法本相似修一点,几天不见效果,又转修下一个,一系列修下来不见有什么成就,便全抛在一边,把希望寄托在另一个法上。总认为有不共的法,认为有捷径,可以轻而易举地奏效,就是不肯刻苦地闻思修。相反,若闻思究竟再修,则修一法就能成就一法,修出离心成就出离心,修菩提心成就菩提心,修无我成就无我。由闻思决定好了整个菩提道的各个支分,之后就是修习这一系列的道次第,不必再另找一个修法。

(四)修持净土

我们想求生极乐世界,前行也是数数闻思净土经论。比如,对西方净土的因、果、事、理,依报、正报的功德庄严,往生净土的殊胜利益,往生的正因和违缘,西方净土的不共优点,修持净土的方法,阿弥陀佛的大愿海,弥陀名号的功德等等,都要由多闻才能了解。多闻之后,又要多思惟忆念。如果由思惟圣教和正理引发了定解,那就能引生往生净土坚定的信念和切愿。在真信切愿推动下,身心投入修持,修一分就是一分净土正因,步步切实,决定成功,可以说“往生净土,万牛莫挽”。以这个原因,蕅益大师说:“往生与否,全凭信愿之有无。”

所以先由闻思引生定解,这是最初的关键。在定解的摄持下,所有的修行下至一点一滴都能成为净土资粮,而且是纯乎其纯的资粮,由此开始踏上了往生净土的真实之道。而且,修的效果非常好,因为整个心和阿弥陀佛相应,功德不可思议。按这样发展,虽然还身处娑婆世界,其实已成为极乐国的人。

相反,若没有闻思净土的经论,对净土没有生起真信切愿,则修持净土容易沦为影子之道。(当然并不排除宿世已种过深厚善根,一听就能深信不移,这并非此处所指的对象。可以反观自己,如果只是模糊的信心,往生的愿望甚至比去美国还微弱,那一定要闻思净土的经论教言。各人都有自知之明,反观自心就知道信愿的真切程度。)

不闻思是怎样造成修持的不得力和不相应的呢?(此处,“闻”不只是听闻,十法行中的书写、阅读、讽诵、开演等都归属在内。)比如,没有听闻思惟过阿弥陀佛的功德和恩德,就不会去忆念,也就无从生起对佛的信心和感恩心。或者,闻思得不够,观察和忆念未到量,则信心和感恩心就很难猛利、恒常。如是即便修一点,与法相应的程度也很差,效果也不明显。

或者没有闻思,就不会了知阿弥陀佛的智悲力不可思议、四十八愿宏深广大,也就不能由衷地发起对佛的皈依心,这样即便形象上向阿弥陀佛合掌、礼拜,但和以猛利皈依心礼拜相比,功德相去甚远。

或者,不知道依仗佛力超越生死远比单凭自力容易,就不能死心依止佛力,决志求生净土。

或者,没有闻思,就不能真正观察到娑婆世界纯粹是苦性,遇到世间的顺逆境,仍会耽著不舍,无法投注心力修持净土。比如,一个人对苦谛思惟得深彻,出离心坚固,他就能放下世间,一心修净土。而另一人不知轮回是苦,根本没有出离心,虽然口中念佛,心中追求世间的念头不断。两人念佛的效果肯定相差悬殊。

或者,不闻思,就不知道净土不可思议的利益,不会缘此观察串习,也就难以生起欣求极乐的心,更不能让欣求心达到强烈,以及持续到行住坐卧的一切威仪中。无法深刻了解《阿弥陀经》所说的“无有诸苦,但受诸乐”极乐世界“乐”的内涵,也就发不起求生的心力。

再比如,若没有对因果深入闻思,就无法引生对因果的信心,这样正知正念不容易坚固,平常起心动念,恶念多善念少,念佛的功效也差。印光大师说:“心地上了不起恶,全体是善,其念佛也,功德胜于常人百千万倍。”所以,有没有深信因果的正见,在念佛的效果上相差甚远。当然,此处闻思业果是指如理如量的闻思,而且能以法为镜反省自己。走马观花般的闻思或者不得要领的闻思,起不到大的效果。

或者,没有闻思过菩提心的教法,就不会深刻认识到菩提心的重要性,不知道发菩提心是往生净土极关键的正因。事实上,有没有菩提心摄持念佛,功德相差悬殊。或者,对于菩提心是大乘入门、菩提心的利益、菩提心的德相、修菩提心的方法等,没有深入闻思引发定解并实修,即使发菩提心,心力也很微弱,或者只是相似的发心,这样念佛效果也就很差。

印光大师说:“念佛须善发心者,心为修持之主。心若与四弘誓愿合,则念一句佛,行一善事,功德无量无边。”又说:“须发菩提心,誓愿度生,所有修持功德,普为四恩、三有法界众生回向,则如火加油,如苗得雨。既与一切众生深结法缘,速能成就自己大乘胜行。若不知此义,则是凡夫、二乘自利之见,虽修妙行,感果卑劣。”

或者,不系统闻思第二转*轮的空性和第三转*轮的如来藏,对于净土的理解就很肤浅,证入的品位也不高。《观无量寿经》中所讲上品上生的条件,其中一条是“读诵大乘,方等经典”,目的也是提高对大乘的见解,增上大乘的福慧资粮,从而提高往生品位。

或者,如果没有闻思最基础的暇满、无常、恶趣苦等涵义,就不知道怎么珍惜时间修习净土,怎么让心专一。相反,对此等若获得了定解,则一提正念,就能很快让心转入修行。如《彻悟语录》中说:“世之最可珍重者,莫过精神。世之最可爱惜者,莫过光阴。一念净,即佛界缘起。一念染,即九界生因。凡动一念,即十界种子,可不珍重乎。是日已过,命亦随减,一寸时光,即一寸命光,可不爱惜乎。苟知精神之可珍重,则不浪用,则念念执持佛名。光阴不虚度,则刻刻熏修净业。”这段开示就是将暇满和无常的教法直接和净土的修行结合,显示为实修的教授。开示中所说的“知”,也只有通过闻思才能强有力地引发。如果经过串习让珍惜人生的心强烈、持续,单以这个善心,就有力量改正浪费时间的恶习。

印光大师开示:“至谓欲心不贪外事,专念佛。不能专,要他专。不能念,要他念。不能一心,要他一心等。亦无奇特奥妙法则,但将一个死字,贴到额上,挂到眉毛上。心常念曰:‘我某人从无始来,直至今生,所作恶业,无量无边。假使恶业有体相者,十方虚空,不能容受。宿生何幸,今得人身,又闻佛法,若不一心念佛求生西方,一气不来,定向地狱镬汤、炉炭、剑树、刀山里受苦,不知经几多劫;纵出地狱,复堕饿鬼,腹大如海,咽细如针,长劫饥虚,喉中火然,不闻浆水之名,难得暂时之饱;从饿鬼出,复为畜生,或供人骑乘,或充人庖厨;纵得为人,愚痴无知,以造业为德能,以修善为桎梏,不数十年,又复堕落,经尘点劫,轮回六道。虽欲出离,末由也已。’能如是念,如上所求,当下成办。”这是将无常和恶趣苦显示为实修教授。若想强有力地生起这一正念,基础仍是闻思无常和恶趣苦。如果闻思获得定解又数数串习,那就能让怖畏心越来越强,由此一提正念,就有力量让心转入念佛。

总结:

总之,要知道由闻思修修心的方法和次第,对此获得定解之后,不会认为闻思和实修没有关系。我们应当静下心从长计议,一点一滴逐渐积累闻思,下十五年到二十年的工夫,将思想观念彻底转为佛法的观念,面对任何人事物以及轮回、人生的现象,都能用佛法来看待,以佛法思惟,以佛法指导自己的身语意,从而走上觉悟之道。

如此,面对轮回时,不缘则已,一缘就是不净、就是苦、就是假相,如是自然会退掉耽著轮回的心;面对众生时,自然就能生起慈悲菩提心、利他心;修持六度时,自然就能自在趋入,修持到位,而且自然发起大乘弘愿;面对境界现前时,都能了知是因缘生,没有自性,打我、骂我、赞我、毁我,没有任何可执著之处,能所双亡,或者,思惟这些都是缘起法,不必欢喜不必忧。而且,无论讲什么、修什么、念什么,很容易就契入,就像丹青妙手画技纯熟时,随手画来,惟妙惟肖。

所以,贵在纯熟,对佛法要学得滚瓜烂熟,日里夜里、醒时梦时,心心念念往法上如理作意,朝也念法、暮也念法,心自然就转成佛法的体性,从文字的教法修成了心中的证法。

这样,见色闻声、待人处事、穿衣吃饭,都可以在心上用功,统统可以转为道用。就在一个心上运用一切佛法,譬如到一个城市,可以观无常、观苦、观无我、观多体、观缘起、观净土,可以修菩提心、发愿等。可以将佛法完全融入生活,一切都变成修法。

如此才会明白,阿底峡尊者传来的道次第具有一切佛语现为教授的特点。若能沿此道深入下去,即可显露更深层次的佛法,如同抽丝剥茧,最终显露万法实相,了达佛法的密意。如此自然就知道佛法都是引导众生成佛的方便,根本没有相违之处,而且全都可以融会于一个心上,头头是道,念念可修。

能修的天地非常广阔。暇满、业果、无常、恶趣苦、皈依、苦集、十二缘起、忏悔、慈悲喜舍、菩提心、六度四摄等,都是在心上起修。对这一套得到定解之后,修行方法不必要问别人,自己心知肚明,不会再有任何怀疑。

全知麦彭仁波切在《辨中边论释》中告诉我们,圣法的一切修行相或行为相,可以归摄在十种法行中。十种法行就是书写、供养、施他、听闻、披读、受持、开演、讽诵、思惟、修习。这十种当中含摄了一切有关圣法的修行,因而称为十法行。我们行持十法行中的任何一种,都可以获得无量福德聚。因为圣法是出生一切利乐的源泉,并且是超出三有的正道,与之相关的一切作业都具有极大意义。因此下至书写、听闻一个偈颂,功德也胜过一切世间善根。

此“十法行”就是闻思修的广说,而闻思修是我们入佛门乃至成佛为止最重要的所作,也是我们应日夜投入唯一的所作。所谓资粮道的菩萨,主要精力都要用在听闻和思惟圣法上。在此基础上“加功用行”,就趣入加行道。由此便知,自己目前应当在何处着手努力。

最后,愿大家一入道就认准方向,顺利进入闻思修的正轨。



All of us cherish helpful and loving friends, and wise, compassionate spiritual mentors are especially important to us to progress on the path. Being separated from the people we value or having an important relationship not work out the way we had hoped is painful, yet it is a common occurrence in cyclic existence. Because we ourselves, others, and all the conditioned things around us are impermanent by nature, whatever comes together must also separate.

-- Venerable Thubten Chodron



Sunday, 12 December 2021

Why Bodhgaya is so important?

by Goshir Gyaltsab Rinpoche

H.E. Goshir Gyaltsab Rinpoche would always emphasise that Bodhgaya is the holiest place in the whole world. The reason is that this is the location where all one thousand Buddhas of the present aeon would come and attain enlightenment. And it is universally accepted by all Buddhist faiths, regardless of Theravadin, Mahayana and Vajrayana.

Q:Why Bodhgaya is so important?

Rinpoche says the whole appearance of the universe is nothing but the projection of our mind. The favourable elements and objects in the universe are the result of our positive karma and unfavourable objects of this universe are the result of our negative Karma. But all of them comes from the negative emotion and obscurations that beings posse in terms of their root.

Just as there is the Buddha-nature, as an essence of our mind, in the midst of our delusions and obscurations, we have Bodhgaya at the centre of the whole universe. So to speak, Bodhgaya represents the Buddha-nature as a conventional form of the ultimate reality. Therefore, when a practitioner removes his or her obscurations, he or she would internally reveal the Buddha nature and externally reveal Bodhgaya in the fundamental sense and then they become Buddha.

The real Bodhgaya is not the temple that we can visit with eye organ and take pictures but a crossed Vajra that exist underneath the Bodhi tree. It is indestructible and free from any physical effect. It may not be visible to the eyes of normal beings like us. But its power and blessing can affect us.

Q: If all Buddhas attain enlightenment in Bodhgaya, does it mean that great practitioners like Milarepa would also have to arrive at Bodhgaya in order to complete their path?

Rinpoche says there are two types of Buddhas. External Buddha and internal Buddha. The external Buddhas are like Buddha Shakyamuni who is a Buddha and performs the activities of enlightenment like Buddha's twelve major activities. But the internal Buddhas are like Milarepa who have attained enlightenment inside but remain as ordinary being in the presence of disciples and does not necessarily perform the activities of a Buddha in public.

The external Buddhas, all without exception, would physically come to Bodhgaya and they would attain enlightenment while sitting under the Bodhi tree. However, not all internal Buddhas would come to Bodhgaya for enlightenment. Most of them would reveal their own ultimate Bodhgaya which is their Buddha-nature in their mind and thereby they would attain enlightenment. For such internal Buddhas, Buddha-nature is the Bodhgaya and the Bodhi tree is the central channel for them.

However whether we are destined to be external Buddha or internal Buddha, to come to this holy place like Bodhgaya and receive the blessing of it, practice dharma and do meditation here, the merits would be multiplied compared to doing these in any other places on this earth. Therefore, we should not waste our opportunity to practice diligently while we are here in Bodhgaya.

And also because of the limitless blessing of this holy place, if you come here with a very good motivation of practising dharma and visit your Gurus, any act that you commit during your journey to here such as booking for flight, boarding, landing, renting a taxi, checking in a hotel and so on, all these actions would become virtuous actions and you would achieve inconceivable merits.

Q: What is the best thing we can do here in this holy place? And what is the best prayer we can make when we are in Bodhgaya?

Rinpoche says the best thing is to practice meditation rather than reciting or reading something without any sense of meditation in the mind. Therefore, you should emphasise meditations. You can meditate on anything like calm-abiding or penetrative insight. Emptiness or Mahamudra. Or very basic but profound teachings like taking refuge and bodhicitta. All these meditations would become very effective.

Generally speaking, any prayers are good. Prayers for world peace, well being of the beings and the long life of the Gurus. But the best prayer you can make here is a prayer for attaining enlightenment. Enlightenment for yourself and enlightenment for all other beings. That would be the best. Because the purpose of our dharma practice is to attain enlightenment and Bodhgaya is the place where we will attain enlightenment in the future.