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發表於 2021-8-25 21:46:12
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众神是一体」。
How did we make friends with the local people in Toowoomba? When I first arrived at Australia, I purchased a church and renovated it into a Buddhist hall. Except for replacing the cross with a statue of Amitabha Buddha, everything else in the church remained unchanged. Unexpectedly, the local people were very pleased with what we did because they could see that we wanted to preserve their culture. They were able to see what we have done. On the first day of opening the Buddhist hall, we invited neighbours on both sides of the street to join us and celebrate the happy day of opening the hall and our immigration to Toowoomba. In the evening we served them all a vegetarian dinner and reported to them why we immigrated to Toowoomba. We wanted to test on our ideal of ‘all religions are one family, and all divinities are one entity’.
晚宴散会的时候,有十几个街坊来看我,我接见他们,他们提出问题:「法师,你办这个活动我们很欢喜,能不能常常办?」我非常欢喜,一个星期办一次,他们都皆大欢喜。所以,我们在那里团结大众,用的是温馨晚宴,每个礼拜六晚上举行一次,大家欢欢喜喜在一块聚餐、在一块交流。他们对佛教不了解,很好奇,喜欢问,我们为他解答。一年一年过去,都没有改变,一直到今天,还是星期六晚宴,温馨晚宴。
Towards the end of the dinner, over ten neighbours came to see me and asked me a question, ‘Venerable, we really like the activity you organised. Could you please do it more often?’ I was very pleased with their suggestion and decided to hold the dinner once a week. They were all very happy. Therefore we organised friendship dinner to bring people together. Every Saturday evening we held a friendship dinner. People gathered together around the table and communicated with one another with ease and joy. They did not know what Buddhism was and they were curious. They liked asking us questions and we answered all questions. Year after year, we have not changed this arrangement. Up until today, Friendship Dinner is still running on every Saturday.
我们心目当中,就是佛陀的慈悲、上帝的大爱,突破了宗教的界限,宗教与宗教之间和睦相处。十三年,十几个宗教团体,他们的领导、代表人来找我。告诉我,他们对我们在图文巴这么多年的贡献非常感谢,我们愿意团结起来,给其他的大众做一个榜样:宗教是可以团结的,宗教是可以变成一家人,相亲相爱,互助合作;做到了,我看到很欢喜。
To us, things like friendship dinner are the expressions of the Buddha’s compassion and God’s love. It transcends religious boundaries and consequently harmony is present amongst different religious groups. Thirteen years later, leaders and representatives of over ten religious groups in Toowoomba visited me. They told me that they were very grateful to the contribution that we made in Toowoomba, and that they were willing to join us in unity and set a good example for the rest of the community, a message that says religions can work together and different religious groups can become a family, loving and caring for one another and cooperating with each other. We have done it and I am very pleased.
去年三月,巴黎联合国教科文组织有九位大使,我们邀请他们到图文巴来考察、来观光,他们看到了,对于我们常常在一起交流、讨论,希望宗教团结、希望宗教回归教育。图文巴看过之后,这个信心升起来,他们回来做了一份详细报告,还附带为我要了一个办公室,就是我们今天活动这个场所,我起了个名字——「净公上人之友社」。这是教科文组织长年的做团结宗教、做宗教教育,我们担任了这一门。这正是我们的愿望,是联合国他们章程上的主要活动。
Last March, we invited nine UNESCO ambassadors to visit and inspect Toowoomba. They witnessed us frequently communicating and exchange ideas with different religious groups as well as our hope for religious cohesion and restoring religion as education. After their visit to Toowoomba, the ambassadors gained confidence. Upon their return to UNESCO, they delivered a detailed report and also applied for an office for me, which is where we are now. I named it ‘The Association of Chin Kung’s Friends’. We are here to take on the responsibility for helping UNESCO engage in long-term activities in terms of realizing religious cohesion and religious education. This is what we wish to contribute and it is now part of what UNESCO does.
这个学社成立了,使用这个摄影棚做我们的活动工具、做我们的教室,我这今天是第二天。由于身体比去年差很多,古人所讲的年岁不饶人,去年有感觉、不严重,今年比去年严重很多。
The Association is now formally established and we use this recording studio as our tool and classroom. This is the second day of using it. My general health is worse off than last year. Just like said the old saying: ‘Time spares no man.’ Last year I could feel it to some degree. But this year I feel that age is truly catching up with me.
我讲经六十年,有同学,这有心人,帮助我做整理,搜集六十年讲经的这些教材、笔记,很完整的一些资料,我自己看到都感到惊讶。过去年轻,身体不错,有体力、有精神,一天可以讲四个小时。当年讲《华严经》,没有感觉得到累,音声宏亮。有不少的一部分,留着有录影带,录影、录像,我们讲录像,现在依然可以用。我让同学们在这个里面,选择我们大家需要听的、想听的经,我这里有现成的,可以用卫星或者是网路来传播,提供初学同学们做参考。这些资料,听过的人很多,依教修行的人也很多,确实带给我们信解行证。
I have delivered Dharma lectures for over 60 years. Some thoughtful students have helped collect and compile various lecture materials and notes of Dharma talks given in these 60 years. The collection is fairly complete. I am very surprised at seeing them. When I was younger, in good health and energetic, I could regularly give four hours of lectures every day. When I delivered talks on ‘The Avatamsaka Sutra’, I never felt tired and my voice was loud and clear. Majority of my lectures and talks were recorded in audio and visual formats and they can still be used. I have requested fellow students to select the parts of talks that people needs and would want to listen to. These readily available recordings can be broadcasted via satellite or the Internet as a reference for beginners. Many people have listened to these recordings. Many of them also put what they have learned into practice. The recordings indeed help us believe, understand, practise and attain our goal.
信是信心,对佛法生起信心;解,是对于经典明白了、理解了;行,是依教修行,经典里面所说的,我们完全接受过来,变成我们自己的思想、言行,甚至于对我们日常生活、我们从事的这些行业都有很大的帮助。所以,证明佛教是教育,我们将来把这个扩大,所有的宗教都是教育。
To believe is to gain confidence, to gain the confidence in Buddhism. To understand is to comprehend classical texts. To practise is to apply what we have learned and conduct our lives accordingly. What the scriptures stated, we turn these teachings into our thoughts, speech and actions. It will greatly benefit our daily lives and help us in different lines of work. Subsequently, it proves that Buddhism is education. When we expand it further, all religions are education.
教什么?教伦理、教道德、教因果、教圣贤的智慧。这四门在今天教育疏忽了,学校教育,甚至于宗教教育,都很少讲这四门功课,这四门功课非常重要,我们把它找回来。我们来做,希望由我们来牵头;终极的目标,希望所有的宗教我们集合成一体,我们确实认知,所有宗教的神圣都是一个真神的化身。换句话说,所有宗教的神圣是一个真神,「众神一体,宗教一家」。宗教可以复兴,西方的社会可以恢复秩序,社会安定和谐;东方恢复儒释道的教学,中国传统的教育。
So what does this education teach? It teaches us ethics, morality, causality and sages’ wisdom. The four subjects are neglected in the education system today. School education, even some religious teachings, hardly mentions these four subjects. But they are very important and we must bring them back. We will take the lead and do it first. Our ultimate goal is to bring all religions on board and act as one. We do recognise that divinities of all religions are different manifestations of one true God. In other words, the divinities and sages of all religions are one and ‘all divinities are one entity, and all religions are one family’. Religion can be revived, social order in the West can be restored, and society will gain stability and harmony. The East must revive the teachings of Confucianism, Buddhism and Daoism as well as China’s traditional education.
在今天,无论是中国、外国,我们细心去观察,具足伦理、道德、因果,中国有。其他的有没有?有,我们在各个宗教经典里面看到,不是没有;没有人讲、没有人提倡、没有人落实,所以没办法传出来。我们今天明白了、认识了,从「神爱世人」这里做起。我们要把所有宗教经典里面,所讲的「神爱世人」、所讲的「众神一体」、所说的「宗教一家」,从我们身上做出来给大家看。用这个方法恢复西方的宗教教育、恢复中国传统的教育,来帮助社会、帮助地球化解冲突、促进安定和谐。这是我们净公上人之友社要做的事业。
In the world today whether it is in China or any other country, when we observe carefully, there are teachings of ethics, morality and causality everywhere. These teachings can be found in every country in the world. We have seen them in the sacred texts of all religions. The problem today is that no one talks about them, no one advocates them, and no one practises them. It is why it is difficult to pass them on to more people. Today, we have gained a clear understanding that we should start from ‘God loves all beings’. We should start from ourselves and practise what is written in the sacred texts, ‘God loves all beings’, ‘all divinities are one entity’, ‘all religions are one family’. We should use this approach to restore religious education in the West and traditional education in China, and subsequently help resolve conflicts on Earth and facilitate social stability and harmony. This is what we need to do at the Association here in UNESCO.
今天时间到了,我们就讲到此地。祝福大家,身心健康,法喜充满!
Well, time is up. This is it for today. May you all enjoy healthy mind and body, and be filled with Dharma happiness!
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学习《神爱世人》 (第三集) 2018/8/26 英国伦敦Excel展览中心 档名:21-786-0003
诸位法师、诸位同学,大家好。今天我们继续来谈谈「神爱世人」。前面有一个报告还没讲完,今天我们继续讲。
英国历史哲学家汤恩比博士曾经说到,所有宗教的创始人都是那个时代伟大的社会教育家,一直到今天,我们还深受影响。由此可知,宗教教育深得人心。如果我们疏忽了,失去对宗教的信仰,那就是文明走向崩溃的时刻。
我们不断的接触宗教、认识经典,在这当中深深体会到,一切宗教与真神的圣哲都是一体的,他们所有的核心就是一个「爱」字,宗教教育就是爱的教育。它的核心,就是引导人们去把爱发扬光大,让人们真正懂得,如何用一颗无私的心去爱他人、去爱一切生命、去爱整个宇宙。爱是自性、是真心第一德。
我们学习宗教,受经典的薰习,「上帝爱世人」就是宗教的核心。我遇到过不少人,问我,宗教是什么?我告诉他,宗教就是爱,宗教是教育,宗教是爱的教育。如何学会把神爱世人这种大公无私的爱,放在我们自己心上,我们代表上帝去爱世人,上帝爱世人这就落实了;否则的话,上帝爱世人是一句空话。
我们追问一句,上帝怎么爱世人?这个理、事我们都要搞清楚、搞明白。上帝的爱,是大公无私的爱、是没有条件的爱。为什么?几乎每个宗教都给我们讲到众神是一体的,往后我们学习每个宗教,在经文里面就看到了,「众神一体,宗教一家」。如果我们能够契入这种认知、这个境界,那么我们距离宗教的大团结就不远了。宗教团结带给人类真正的幸福,众神欢喜。
这种无私的大爱、真实的爱心,就是上帝的大爱、佛陀的慈悲,他们彼此是一不是二。他们其实,所有宗教经典里面讲的爱,是同一个爱。宗教的信徒,特别是神职人员,都能够代表上帝去爱世人时,上帝的天堂就会降临到这个地球上。我们确实都有责任,把上帝的天堂带到这个苦难的人间。
多年来我们团结宗教,我是在一九九八年、一九九九年在新加坡尝试著做,做成功了,用了一年的时间。二OOO年我移民到澳洲,在澳洲也做实验,做成功了,时间长一些。新加坡一年做圆满,澳洲我们用了比较长的时间,我记得好像是十三年,我们才做成功。现在这个社会,没有好的榜样,大家很难相信,最好是做出来,他看到了,亲身体会到了,他才相信。怎么做?人与人之间最重要的是接触,如果不接触就难了。
我在澳洲图文巴这个城市,怎么样跟大家交朋友?我初到澳洲的时候,买了个教堂,把教堂改成佛堂,除了把十字架换成阿弥陀佛之外,教堂丝毫没有改变。没想到得到当地人的欢喜,知道我们不破坏文化,我们要保留文化,他们在旁边看。开幕这一天,我们邀请了街道上两边的邻居,参加我们移民到图文巴,建立一个佛堂欢喜的日子。晚上我们用晚宴、素食招待他们,给他们做报告,我们为什么到这边来。想做实验,我们所理想的,「宗教是一家,众神是一体」。
晚宴散会的时候,有十几个街坊来看我,我接见他们,他们提出问题:「法师,你办这个活动我们很欢喜,能不能常常办?」我非常欢喜,一个星期办一次,他们都皆大欢喜。所以,我们在那里团结大众,用的是温馨晚宴,每个礼拜六晚上举行一次,大家欢欢喜喜在一块聚餐、在一块交流。他们对佛教不了解,很好奇,喜欢问,我们为他解答。一年一年过去,都没有改变,一直到今天,还是星期六晚宴,温馨晚宴。
我们心目当中,就是佛陀的慈悲、上帝的大爱,突破了宗教的界限,宗教与宗教之间和睦相处。十三年,十几个宗教团体,他们的领导、代表人来找我。告诉我,他们对我们在图文巴这么多年的贡献非常感谢,我们愿意团结起来,给其他的大众做一个榜样:宗教是可以团结的,宗教是可以变成一家人,相亲相爱,互助合作;做到了,我看到很欢喜。
去年三月,巴黎联合国教科文组织有九位大使,我们邀请他们到图文巴来考察、来观光,他们看到了,对於我们常常在一起交流、讨论,希望宗教团结、希望宗教回归教育。图文巴看过之后,这个信心升起来,他们回来做了一份详细报告,还附带为我要了一个办公室,就是我们今天活动这个场所,我起了个名字——「净公上人之友社」。这是教科文组织长年的做团结宗教、做宗教教育,我们担任了这一门。这正是我们的愿望,是联合国他们章程上的主要活动。
这个学社成立了,使用这个摄影棚做我们的活动工具、做我们的教室,我这今天是第二天。由於身体比去年差很多,古人所讲的年岁不饶人,去年有感觉、不严重,今年比去年严重很多。
我讲经六十年,有同学,这有心人,帮助我做整理,搜集六十年讲经的这些教材、笔记,很完整的一些资料,我自己看到都感到惊讶。过去年轻,身体不错,有体力、有精神,一天可以讲四个小时。当年讲《华严经》,没有感觉得到累,音声宏亮。有不少的一部分,留著有录影带,录影、录像,我们讲录像,现在依然可以用。我让同学们在这个里面,选择我们大家需要听的、想听的经,我这里有现成的,可以用卫星或者是网路来传播,提供初学同学们做参考。这些资料,听过的人很多,依教修行的人也很多,确实带给我们信解行证。
信是信心,对佛法生起信心;解,是对於经典明白了、理解了;行,是依教修行,经典里面所说的,我们完全接受过来,变成我们自己的思想、言行,甚至於对我们日常生活、我们从事的这些行业都有很大的帮助。所以,证明佛教是教育,我们将来把这个扩大,所有的宗教都是教育。
教什么?教伦理、教道德、教因果、教圣贤的智慧。这四门在今天教育疏忽了,学校教育,甚至於宗教教育,都很少讲这四门功课,这四门功课非常重要,我们把它找回来。我们来做,希望由我们来牵头;终极的目标,希望所有的宗教我们集合成一体,我们确实认知,所有宗教的神圣都是一个真神的化身。换句话说,所有宗教的神圣是一个真神,「众神一体,宗教一家」。宗教可以复兴,西方的社会可以恢复秩序,社会安定和谐;东方恢复儒释道的教学,中国传统的教育。
在今天,无论是中国、外国,我们细心去观察,具足伦理、道德、因果,中国有。其他的有没有?有,我们在各个宗教经典里面看到,不是没有;没有人讲、没有人提倡、没有人落实,所以没办法传出来。我们今天明白了、认识了,从「神爱世人」这里做起。我们要把所有宗教经典里面,所讲的「神爱世人」、所讲的「众神一体」、所说的「宗教一家」,从我们身上做出来给大家看。用这个方法恢复西方的宗教教育、恢复中国传统的教育,来帮助社会、帮助地球化解冲突、促进安定和谐。这是我们净公上人之友社要做的事业。
今天时间到了,我们就讲到此地。祝福大家,身心健康,法喜充满!
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学习《神爱世人》 (第四集) 2018/8/30 英国威尔士三一圣大卫大学.兰彼得校区 档名:21-786-0004_en
Learning ‘God Loves All Beings’ (Episode 4) 30.08.2018 University of Wales, Trinity Saint David.Lampeter No: 21-786-0004_en
诸位法师、诸位同学,大家好。今天我们继续来谈《神爱世人》。
Venerables, fellow students, my warmest greetings to you all. We will continue to talk about ‘God Loves All Beings’.
宗教团结的深化,必须要建立在各宗教彼此深入学习对方的经典,在这个基础上才能够达成。各宗教的传教师与信徒们,都可以认识到彼此经典的共通之处,彼此都是同一位真神的子民。
The deepening of religious cohesion must be on the basis of all religious groups delving into one another’s sacred texts. Only with this basis can we succeed. In so doing, the preachers and followers of all faiths will come to understand the commonalities among the sacred texts of one another’s religion and that they are all the children of one true God.
有鉴于对于各宗教经典的认识与学习是如此的重要,我们这一次从世界十一大宗教的圣典之中,撷取出各宗教经典中的一些精华经句,让读者认识到,众神确实是一体的,他们都拥有着一体不二的大爱、一体不二的真心。这是我们学习的基础、是我们学习的核心,否则的话,宗教团结的意义就失掉了。《神爱世人》这个小册子,可以帮助我们契入境界。
Considering the great importance of understanding and learning the sacred texts of each religion, we selected a number of excerpts of the most essential teachings from the sacred texts of eleven major religions in the world. They enable readers to understand that all divinities are truly one entity and that they all have the same universal love and true mind. This is the basis of our study as well as the core of it. Otherwise, the significance of religious cohesion would be lost. The booklet ‘God Loves All Beings’ helps us reach this state of mutual understanding.
我们知道,学习的根夹在这一句话里头:一体不二的大爱、一体不二的真心。首先肯定,完全没有怀疑,从经典上认识,每个宗教都建立在神圣教诲的基础上。我们要怎样把这个爱找到?这个爱,神圣的爱,是从真心流露出来的,妄心里头没有。什么叫妄心?有分别、有执着是妄心;或者我们总的说一句,起心动念是妄心,分别、执着是妄心。必须要把这个妄心放下,真心就现前。真心就是上帝的爱心;真心,一切众生跟上帝没有两样。
We know that the roots of learning lie in the sentence ‘all divinities have the same universal love and true mind’. First of all, we must be without any doubt that, according to the scriptures, every religion is based on sacred teachings. So how do we find this love? This love, the sacred love, comes from our true mind, but not from our false mind. So what is a false mind? It is a mind with differentiation and attachment. Or to sum up, a mind that gives rise to random thought is a false mind, a mind that has differentiation and attachment is a false mind. We must let go of the false mind and then the true mind will appear. God’s love for all is the manifestation of a true mind, and there is no difference between the true mind of all beings and that of God.
所以说到最后,我们会体认到,经教里面所说的这些句子,我们节录下来了,往下我们都能看到,不但众神是一体,整个宇宙是真心所现,妄心所变。真心显露的是天堂、是极乐世界,妄心所现的是十法界;十法界跟极乐世界、跟天堂,也是一不是二。
It is why in the end we will understand what these excerpts from various scriptures tell us: not only all divinities are one entity, but the entire universe arise due to the true mind and the universe changes in accordance to the false mind. The true mind reveals Heaven and the Land of Ultimate Bliss whereas the false mind changes them into the ten dharma-realms (our universe is included within). The ten dharma-realms, the Land of Ultimate Bliss and Heaven are one, not two.
经典上都说得好,「凡所有相,皆是虚妄」,这是真的不是假的。我们能把虚妄的放下,不要放在心上,这个时候我们的心就是真心。那些开悟的人、明心见性的人,跟我们的差别在哪里?就在这个地方。明心见性的人,眼见色,不起心不动念,看得清清楚楚、了了分明;耳听声音,听得清楚、听得明白,也是不起心不动念。我们从这里就了解,古圣先贤他们修行证果的秘诀在哪里。搞清楚了、搞明白了,要学!学就叫功夫、学就叫修行。行就是动,行动。凡夫的行动,里面有妄想、分别、执着,有烦恼、有习气;明心见性的人,他六根在六尘境界上,真正是不起心不动念、不分别不执着,差别就在此地。
It is stated in a Buddhist sutra that ‘All phenomena is illusive and unreal’. This is true, not false. When we let go of all that is illusive and unreal, remove them from our minds, at this very moment, our minds are the true mind. What is the difference between us and those who have attained enlightenment and witnessed the true nature? It lies right here. When they see anything, no thought arises in their minds but they can see it all clearly and thoroughly. When they hear anything, they can hear it all clearly but no thought arises in their minds. From here, we can see the secret of the cultivation and attainment of ancient sages. Once we fully and clearly understand what it is, we also want to learn it! To learn it is to attain the ability, to learn is to do or practise it. When ordinary people do something, there are wandering thoughts, differentiation and attachment as well as afflictions and aquired habits in their minds. As for those who have attained enlightenment and attained their true nature, there are no thought, differentiation and attachment when their six sense are in contact with worldly phenomena This is the difference.
明心见性不是要离开世间,那你就错了!世间是离不开的,真妄是在一体,你怎么能离得开?怎么办?佛菩萨教给我们,所有宗教的教主、上帝,以及上帝的使者、教化六道众生这些大德、大师,他们不但教给我们,而且给我们做模范、做榜样;我们能契入他们的境界,俗话说「得道」,你得到了,得到什么?你得到明心见性的道路,你就晓得怎么走法,就是六根在六尘境界上学习。眼见色是修行,是学习明心见性。现在开始下手,就是所见的色相,不分别、不执着、不放在心上,就对了。
If anyone thinks that they must leave this world in order to attain enlightenment, then they are completely wrong! They cannot leave this world to attain it. Truth and falsehood are one and the same, how could they leave the world to attain awakening? So what should we do? Well, Buddhas, bodhisattvas, the founders of all religions, God as well as God’s messengers and those who taught and reformed all beings in the six realms, all of them not only taught us but also were good role models for us. So when the state of our minds is the same as that of theirs, we will have attained the right “Path”. What shall we have attained? We shall have attained the path to attaining enlightenment. By then, we shall know how to get there, that is, how to use our six senses when in contact with this world to properly conduct our learning. For example, when our eyes see a form or a phenomenon, it is a chance to cultivate ourselves and learning to attain enlightenment . Start from this moment onward, whenever we see any form or phenomenon, be it beautiful or ugly, we do not differentiate the form, nor do we have any attachment to it, and lastly, we let go of the form from our minds. This is the right way to cultivate.
一般凡夫他的问题在哪里?问题是把所有的现象,真的、假的,统统放在心上。他不知道真心、本性里面是清净的,一尘不染,虽见色,没放在心上;虽闻声,也没有放在心上;乃至于鼻嗅香、舌尝味,都不放在心上。所以称它叫一如、真如。真如是什么意思?真妄是一不是二,叫一如、叫真如。不起分别、不生执着,这是入门的地方,要用功夫去练。你真正做到了,方东美先生教我的一句话你也得到了,「学佛是人生最高的享受」,得到了;我得到了、你也得到了、他也得到了、人人得到了。怎么得到的?不起心不动念、不分别不执着、不放在心上,就对了。放在心上的是凡夫,把真心变成妄心,把本性变成习性,问题就出在这里。我证实了方先生这句话,「人生最高的享受」。
And what would ordinary people do? Ordinary people cannot let go of any form or phenomenon, true or false. Everything is on their minds. They do not know that the true mind or self-nature is pure without a single speck of dust. Although a person with a true mind sees a form or phenomenon, that form touches not the mind within; although they hear a sound, that sound is not present in the mind. As for what they smell or taste, they let go of it. It is why it is called ‘one self-nature’ or the ‘true self-nature’. What does ‘true self-nature’ mean? True and false are one, not two, and they are called ‘one self-nature’ or the ‘true self-nature’. Do not differentiate or be attached to anything---this is where we start our learning. We need to practise it with genuine effort. When you can truly practise it, you will attain what Professor Fang Dongmei told me – ‘Practising the Buddha’s teachings is the highest enjoyment of one’s life’. I attain it, you attain it, they attain it, and everyone attains it. How is it attained? Stop from having wandering thoughts, no more differentiation, no more attachment and do let go of everything on your mind. This is the right way. Those who cannot let go of things are ordinary people. They have changed their true mind into false mind and changed their self-nature into habitual nature. This is where the problem is. I can testify what Professor Fang said – ‘the highest enjoyment of one’s life’.
有人问我:我修了几十年了,烦恼重重,没有得到安乐,你是怎么得到的?我告诉他:你要跟我学,你也会得到,学什么?不放在心上。这句话说得容易,做起来很难。为什么?你已经把起心动念、分别执着养成一种习惯;眼见色立刻就起心动念,耳闻声立刻也起心动念,六根在六尘境界上,个个都忙着起心动念,这麻烦可大了!心上有起心动念叫做妄心,不是真心。把起心动念放下、分别执着放下,心上什么都没有,那是真心、那是自性。千经万论帮助我们认识诸法实相,一切法的真相认识;认识之后,认识是在解,信、解、行、证,认识是在解,你没修行。行是什么?是放下。这一放下,你的认识就变成智慧,不是烦恼。
Someone asked me, ‘I’ve cultivated for decades, but I still have much afflictions and without peace or happiness. How did you do it?’ I told him, ‘If you learn from me, you’ll also achieve it. What do you need to learn? Let go of things from your mind.’ This sentence is easy to say, but hard to do. Why? It is because you have developed a habit of thinking, differentiating and being attached to various things. Whenever you see or hear something, thoughts immediately arise in your mind. When your six senses are in contact with the world, all of them are busy with creating more wanderingthoughts. This is where the real trouble is! So long as thoughts are arising in our minds, our minds are the false mind, not the true mind anymore. Let go of wandering thoughts, let go of thoughts of differentiation and let go of attachment. Let go of everything in the mind. This is the true mind and this is self-nature. Numerous sutras and sacred texts help us understand the true reality of all phenomena in the world. Once we understand the truth, as mentioned in the previous lesson, the four learning steps are believing, understanding, practising and attaining. The step of “understanding” is only knowing the truth but without the practise. So what do we practised? “Let go” is the practise. Once you let go of things, your understanding will turn into wisdom and it is no longer afflictions.
放下是你的修行。所以我向章嘉大师请教,佛门有没有方法让我们很快就契入?他老人家听了我这个问题之后,看着我,我看着他,我们两个对看了半个小时。他看着我,我不知道什么意思,他是在等我静下来,不静下来,老师讲的你不相信。半个小时就像入定一样,定了半个小时,心清净了,没有杂念了,他说了一个字:有。那我们的注意力就集中了,又错了,又起心动念了,他就又不说了,大概又看了十分钟。前面三十分钟,定下来了,他说个有,我们的心又动了、又起分别执着,有了,所以他就不讲了。十分钟之后,我就又定下来,告诉我:「看得破、放得下,看破帮助你放下,放下帮助你看破。」我就明白这个方法了,佛法的修行是什么?看破、放下,看破是智慧,放下是功夫。
Learn to “let go” is how you should cultivate yourself. I sought guidance from my teacher, the Changkya Khutukhtu, ‘Is there a quicker way of getting into Buddhism?’ Having heard my question, he looked at me. And I looked at him back. We looked at one another in silence for half an hour. I did not know what he meant by looking at me at that time. Later, I realised that he was waiting for my mind to settle down. If my mind did not settle down, I would not take in his words and I would not have believed what my teacher said. That half an hour was much like entering into meditation for me. After that, my mind was pure without any thought. He then said one word, ‘Yes.’ Well, hearing his answer, I immediately focused my attention to what he was about to say. Wrong move! Because wandering thoughts arised in my mind. Once again, he stopped speaking. This time, he waited for about 10 minutes. You see, in the first 30 minutes, I settled down my mind and he said one word ‘yes’. After that, my mind was stirred and random thoughts together with differentiation and attachment was present. As I had all of those, he did not speak further. Ten minutes later, my mind settled down again. He then told me, “See through and let go”. “See through the truth of everything will help you let go of them. Letting go of things helps you see through them.” Then, I understood the method. What is the cultivation and practice of Buddhism? It is to see through things and let go of them. Seeing through things is wisdom, and letting go of them is real practise.
在日常生活当中,你要想得到受用,不能不把人事统统放下,不放在心上,你就有智慧。好处太多了!你能慢慢的入佛境界,佛菩萨明心见性,你也明心见性了。明心见性是自性本有的,不是外头来的。功夫也是本有的,功夫是禅定,心里有事就不定了;妄想、分别、执着统统放下,心定下来。定生智慧,智慧是自性本有的。然后经愈看愈深入,它的深度、它的广度慢慢你就看到。这个我们不能不知道,希望同学们慢慢琢磨。
In our daily lives, if you want to benefit from the practice of the Buddha’s teachings, you must let go of all affairs. Letting go will help us gain wisdom. There are just too many benefits from such practice. Gradually, you will attain the state of the minds of Buddhas. Buddhas and bodhisattvas have attained enlightenment. You will also attain it. Enlightenment is something innate to our self-nature, and it is not gained from outside. The ability to practise is also innate to us and it is also meditative concentration. When there is something on our minds, we cannot enter into meditative concentrate. So when we let go of wandering thoughts, differentiation and attachment, our minds will be able to achieve meditative concentration. Meditative concentration gives rise to wisdom, which is innate in our self-nature. Subsequently, we shall be able to delve deeper into the sutras and gradually grasp the width and depth of them. This is something we must know. I hope that fellow students can slowly contemplate it.
最好,这是福报,一生能够不管人、不管事、不管钱。把人放下、把事放下,事来的时候做,做完了不放在心上,钱放下。方先生这句话,「学佛是人生最高的享受」,你就体会到了。
It is best kind of fortune if we do not have to manage people, affairs and money in our lifetime. We should learn to let go of people and affairs. So when there is something we have to do, we do it properly but let go of all of it after we are done. We let go of money too. At that moment, you will fully experience what Professor Fang said ‘Practising the Buddha’s teachings is the highest enjoyment in one’s life’.
时间到了,我们就学习到此地。
OK, time is up. This is it for today. Thank you.
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学习《神爱世人》 (第四集) 2018/8/30 英国威尔士三一圣大卫大学.兰彼得校区 档名:21-786-0004
诸位法师、诸位同学,大家好。今天我们继续来谈《神爱世人》。
宗教团结的深化,必须要建立在各宗教彼此深入学习对方的经典,在这个基础上才能够达成。各宗教的传教师与信徒们,都可以认识到彼此经典的共通之处,彼此都是同一位真神的子民。
有鉴於对於各宗教经典的认识与学习是如此的重要,我们这一次从世界十一大宗教的圣典之中,撷取出各宗教经典中的一些精华经句,让读者认识到,众神确实是一体的,他们都拥有著一体不二的大爱、一体不二的真心。这是我们学习的基础、是我们学习的核心,否则的话,宗教团结的意义就失掉了。《神爱世人》这个小册子,可以帮助我们契入境界。
我们知道,学习的根夹在这一句话里头:一体不二的大爱、一体不二的真心。首先肯定,完全没有怀疑,从经典上认识,每个宗教都建立在神圣教诲的基础上。我们要怎样把这个爱找到?这个爱,神圣的爱,是从真心流露出来的,妄心里头没有。什么叫妄心?有分别、有执著是妄心;或者我们总的说一句,起心动念是妄心,分别、执著是妄心。必须要把这个妄心放下,真心就现前。真心就是上帝的爱心;真心,一切众生跟上帝没有两样。
所以说到最后,我们会体认到,经教里面所说的这些句子,我们节录下来了,往下我们都能看到,不但众神是一体,整个宇宙是真心所现,妄心所变。真心显露的是天堂、是极乐世界,妄心所现的是十法界;十法界跟极乐世界、跟天堂,也是一不是二。
经典上都说得好,「凡所有相,皆是虚妄」,这是真的不是假的。我们能把虚妄的放下,不要放在心上,这个时候我们的心就是真心。那些开悟的人、明心见性的人,跟我们的差别在哪里?就在这个地方。明心见性的人,眼见色,不起心不动念,看得清清楚楚、了了分明;耳听声音,听得清楚、听得明白,也是不起心不动念。我们从这里就了解,古圣先贤他们修行证果的秘诀在哪里。搞清楚了、搞明白了,要学!学就叫功夫、学就叫修行。行就是动,行动。凡夫的行动,里面有妄想、分别、执著,有烦恼、有习气;明心见性的人,他六根在六尘境界上,真正是不起心不动念、不分别不执著,差别就在此地。
明心见性不是要离开世间,那你就错了!世间是离不开的,真妄是在一体,你怎么能离得开?怎么办?佛菩萨教给我们,所有宗教的教主、上帝,以及上帝的使者、教化六道众生这些大德、大师,他们不但教给我们,而且给我们做模范、做榜样;我们能契入他们的境界,俗话说「得道」,你得到了,得到什么?你得到明心见性的道路,你就晓得怎么走法,就是六根在六尘境界上学习。眼见色是修行,是学习明心见性。现在开始下手,就是所见的色相,不分别、不执著、不放在心上,就对了。
一般凡夫他的问题在哪里?问题是把所有的现象,真的、假的,统统放在心上。他不知道真心、本性里面是清净的,一尘不染,虽见色,没放在心上;虽闻声,也没有放在心上;乃至於鼻嗅香、舌尝味,都不放在心上。所以称它叫一如、真如。真如是什么意思?真妄是一不是二,叫一如、叫真如。不起分别、不生执著,这是入门的地方,要用功夫去练。你真正做到了,方东美先生教我的一句话你也得到了,「学佛是人生最高的享受」,得到了;我得到了、你也得到了、他也得到了、人人得到了。怎么得到的?不起心不动念、不分别不执著、不放在心上,就对了。放在心上的是凡夫,把真心变成妄心,把本性变成习性,问题就出在这里。我证实了方先生这句话,「人生最高的享受」。
有人问我:我修了几十年了,烦恼重重,没有得到安乐,你是怎么得到的?我告诉他:你要跟我学,你也会得到,学什么?不放在心上。这句话说得容易,做起来很难。为什么?你已经把起心动念、分别执著养成一种习惯;眼见色立刻就起心动念,耳闻声立刻也起心动念,六根在六尘境界上,个个都忙著起心动念,这麻烦可大了!心上有起心动念叫做妄心,不是真心。把起心动念放下、分别执著放下,心上什么都没有,那是真心、那是自性。千经万论帮助我们认识诸法实相,一切法的真相认识;认识之后,认识是在解,信、解、行、证,认识是在解,你没修行。行是什么?是放下。这一放下,你的认识就变成智慧,不是烦恼。
放下是你的修行。所以我向章嘉大师请教,佛门有没有方法让我们很快就契入?他老人家听了我这个问题之后,看著我,我看著他,我们两个对看了半个小时。他看著我,我不知道什么意思,他是在等我静下来,不静下来,老师讲的你不相信。半个小时就像入定一样,定了半个小时,心清净了,没有杂念了,他说了一个字:有。那我们的注意力就集中了,又错了,又起心动念了,他就又不说了,大概又看了十分钟。前面三十分钟,定下来了,他说个有,我们的心又动了、又起分别执著,有了,所以他就不讲了。十分钟之后,我就又定下来,告诉我:「看得破、放得下,看破帮助你放下,放下帮助你看破。」我就明白这个方法了,佛法的修行是什么?看破、放下,看破是智慧,放下是功夫。
在日常生活当中,你要想得到受用,不能不把人事统统放下,不放在心上,你就有智慧。好处太多了!你能慢慢的入佛境界,佛菩萨明心见性,你也明心见性了。明心见性是自性本有的,不是外头来的。功夫也是本有的,功夫是禅定,心里有事就不定了;妄想、分别、执著统统放下,心定下来。定生智慧,智慧是自性本有的。然后经愈看愈深入,它的深度、它的广度慢慢你就看到。这个我们不能不知道,希望同学们慢慢琢磨。
最好,这是福报,一生能够不管人、不管事、不管钱。把人放下、把事放下,事来的时候做,做完了不放在心上,钱放下。方先生这句话,「学佛是人生最高的享受」,你就体会到了。
时间到了,我们就学习到此地。
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学习《神爱世人》 (第五集) 2018/8/31 英国威尔士三一圣大卫大学.兰彼得校区 档名:21-786-0005_en
Learning ‘God Loves All Beings’ (Episode 5) 31.08.2018 University of Wales, Trinity Saint David.Lampeter File: 21-786-0005_en
诸位法师、诸位同学,大家好。今天我们接着看《神爱世人》这个小册子。
Venerables, fellow students, warmest greetings to you all. We will continue with learning ‘God Loves All Beings’ today.
第一个宗教,巴哈伊教。巴哈伊是新兴的宗教,很难得,里面的内容,好像是所有宗教里面都谈到。特别是他们能够拓开心量,肯定众神是一体,非常难得,整个宇宙是一家,非常契合我们这个课题。
The first faith we learn is the Bahá’í Faith. The Bahá’í Faith is a relatively new religion. What is rare and wonderful about its teaching is that their scriptures mention almost all faiths. It is particularly remarkable that they are able to broaden their minds and affirm that all divinities are one entity and the entire universe is one big family. This notion is in tune with our topic.
在它的经典上,我们节录了几段,这是前面的第一段:「上帝对人类派遣了他的先知、使者们,其目的有二:首先,他要使他的人类孩子们,从无知的黑暗中走出,并引导他们走向真知的光明;第二,他是要借此来维系人类的和平,与其心灵上的安宁,并且要为和平与安宁的实现,提供一些可行的方法。」
We excerpted a few paragraphs from its canonical texts and here is the first paragraph, ‘God’s purpose in sending His Prophets unto men is twofold. The first is to liberate the children of men from the darkness of ignorance, and guide them to the light of true understanding. The second is to ensure the peace and tranquillity of mankind, and provide all the means by which they can be established.
这些方法,在东方,中国五千年的文化;在西方有宗教,许许多多的宗教。为什么会有这个现象?我们深入经藏之后,逐渐体会到了,大乘经教里面交代得很清楚。神,一个真神,众生无量无边,体是一个,众神一体,众生跟神也是一体。体是谁?用佛法来说,就是自己的法身。法身没有形相,证得法身,没有圆满,称为法身菩萨;证得圆满,就称之为佛陀。
These ‘means' are found in the 5000-year culture of China in the East as well as in many religions in the West. Why is it? After delving into scriptures, we gradually realise one thing which is also made clear in Mahayana scriptures. God, there is one true God and there are infinite beings, but they are all of one entity. All divinities are one entity. And all beings are of the same entity as God. Who is the entity? In Buddhist terms, it is our own dharma body. The dharma body has no appearance or form. When one attains dharma body imperfectly, such being is called dharma body bodhisattva. When one attains a perfect dharma body, this being is called Buddha.
没有圆满的时候,我们看到很多,像这个经上所讲的,他们在无知的黑暗里面生活,所以神要帮助他们回头、帮助他们回归自性,方法很多。为什么有那么多方法?众生根性不一样。神、佛菩萨说法叫应机而说,你是什么样的根性,就给你说什么法,你容易契入、容易明白,道理在此地。方法无量无边,佛法里面讲八万四千法门、无量法门,你是什么样的根性,就用什么方法教你,你真正遇到高明。高明在佛教里面讲,佛、菩萨,这是高明;阿罗汉虽然觉悟,并没有深入。菩萨还分等级,五十一个位次,像读书一样,一年级、二年级、三年级……大乘教里头五十一个班级。最高的,十个位次,加上等觉,十一个位次,那个境界差不多都是圆满的。经历五十一个阶级,再上面就是佛陀,功德就圆满了。
Before attaining perfection, we have seen many examples just like what is stated in the text, people live in the darkness of ignorance and therefore God helps them to turn around and return to their self-nature. There are many ‘means’ or methods for it. Why are there so many methods? It is because all beings have different attributes and characters. Whenever God, Buddhas or bodhisattvas teach, they adjust their teaching methods to the attributes and characters of the listeners. They will use different materials to teach people with different attributes and characters. In so doing, it is easier for people to approach and understand the teachings. This is quite rational. There are infinite methods of teachings. In Buddhism it is said that there are 84,000 methods which also means infinite methods. When someone is able to teach using methods tailored to your attributes and characters, this someone is truly extraordinary. In Buddhism, Buddhas and bodhisattvas are extraordinary. Although arhats are awakened, they are not fully enlightened yet. Even for bodhisattvas, there are 51 levels, just like in school education there is grade one, grade two, grade three, etc. In Mahayana Buddhism there are 51 levels of bodhisattvas. Among them, there are ten highest levels, together with the level of equal-enlightenment bodhisattva makes it eleven. These 11 highest levels bodhisattvas have almost reached perfection in cultivation. Going through 51 levels then there is the level of Buddha, the merit of which is perfect.
大乘在中国有十个宗派,每一个宗下面又分派,所以「方便有多门,归元无二路」,门门都能成无上道。那为什么要设这么多法门?根性不一样。其实给你说真话,佛无有法教给你,你开悟了,是你自己开悟的;他有方法帮助你开悟,破迷开悟。你不经历这些方法,你虽然开悟是自己的事情,你自己不会,迷失了方向,所以你得不到佛法的利益。因此,就要设许许多多的方便,对无量无边的众生,乃至于为一个众生,也开了很多法门。这些道理我们现在慢慢都体会到了。像我们求学一样,童年的时候读小学,有小学课本,有小学教学法;再长大了,小学毕业了升到中学,中学有中学的教科书,有中学的教学法;乃至于大学。
There are ten schools of Mahayana Buddhism in China. Under each of them there are sub-schools. It is why a Buddhist line goes, ‘There are many doors of convenience, but there is only one path taking us back to the origin.’ Each method will enable us to attain the ultimate Enlightenment. Why are there so many methods? It is because of the different attributes and characters of all beings. In fact, to speak the truth, the Buddha has nothing to teach you. When you attain Enlightenment, you will have done it by yourself. The Buddha has ways of helping you to break delusions and attain Enlightenment. Attaining Enlightenment is your own business, but without using those methods, you do not know how to get there and will get lost, and you will not benefit from the Buddha’s teachings. Therefore, for the convenience of myriads of beings, or even one single being, Buddhas show them numerous methods. We have now gradually experienced the rationale behind it. It is just like us pursuing education. In our childhood we attended primary school. There were corresponding textbooks and pedagogy for primary school students. When we progressed to secondary school, there were textbooks and pedagogy for secondary school students. Similar things applied when we embarked on higher education.
上帝爱世人,上帝帮助世人,派使节,像我们现在讲派代表、派老师。宗教,我们把它比喻学校,上帝是校长,他的助教很多,他下面的老师很多。这些老师执行任务,帮助众生破迷开悟、离苦得乐,所以设八万四千法门,或者说设无量法门。在我们这个地球上,所有不同的宗教、不同的圣人、不同的先知,他们真身就是上帝;换句话说,他们都是上帝的分身、上帝的化身,是一体。
God loves all beings and God helps all beings. He dispatches delegates to do it, just like us sending off representatives or teachers today. Using an analogy of school, God is the school principal and He has many teachers assisting Him. These teachers carry out assignments and help all beings break delusions, attain Enlightenment, be freed from suffering and obtain happiness. Hence, they use 84,000 methods or infinite methods. The true body of the sages, saints and prophets of all religions on this planet is God. In other words, they are the manifestations or the provisional forms of God, and are of the same entity as God.
我们再看下面这一段,这段非常重要:「你们都是同一棵树木的叶子,都是同一个大海中的水滴。」一滴水。这个话我们一听就明白了,一体。他用树跟树叶来比喻,那一棵大树就是上帝,变现出无量的众生、无量的世界。一个星球是一个世界,太空当中有多少星球?数不清,我们能见到的少数,还有许许多多距离太远了;本身放光的,我们比较容易见到,不放光的不知道有多少。科学家告诉我们,太阳系放光的就一个,太阳;不放光的有九大行星,行星还有卫星,在太阳反射之下我们见到了,反射不到的我们不知道。
Let us look at the next paragraph. This paragraph is very important, ‘You are all the leaves of one tree and the drops of one ocean.’ ‘The drops of one ocean’, we can easily understand it, one entity. He used an analogy of tree and its leaves. The big tree is God and it is transformed into infinite beings and worlds. One planet is a world. How many astronomical bodies are there in the space? Myriads of them. We can only see a few of them. Many of them are too far away from our planet. It is easier for us to see stars as they are luminous, but there are countless astronomical bodies that are not luminous. Scientists told us that there is one star in the Solar System, the Sun, and there are nine planets orbiting it. There are also natural satellites or moons orbiting each of the planets. We can see those planets and moons because they reflect the light of the sun. But we do not know the astronomical phenomenon that do not reflect the light of stars.
科学不断的在提升,我们的视野不断的在扩大,这是得利于科学,发明许多仪器,帮助我们看到肉眼所很难见到的,我们都见到了;这宏观世界。再看另外一头,微观世界,生物更多了,它帮助我们看到肉眼看不到的细胞、细菌。我们从科学报告里头知道这些常识,是不是就是这么多?不敢说,肯定不是这么多,有更多。我们等待科学仪器再提升,不断的进步,使所有看不见的,在显微镜里面统统看到。说明我们是同一个法身,这里讲的,同一棵树木的叶子。
Science is constantly developing and our horizon is constantly being expanded. Thanks to science and many devices it invented, we can now see many things that are impossible to observe with our naked eyes. This is the macro-world. As for the micro-world, scientific devices help us observe much more organisms that we cannot see with our naked eyes such as cells and bacteria. We learn common knowledge like these from scientific reports. But is that all? I doubt it. There is bound to be more than that. We wait for the further development of scientific equipment enabling us to see everything that we cannot see now. This tells us that we are of one dharma body, just as it is said here ‘the leaves of one tree’.
我们这边走出去,街道的两旁边是公园,树木有年代了,都非常高大,所以有很好的树荫给我们乘凉。所有这么多树,就像经上讲的,你们有这么多人,都是一棵树木的叶子。亲切,不是独立的树,我们是树上一片树叶。
Outside this building there are parks on both sides of the street. The trees in the parks are of old age and very tall, and give us comfortable shadows keeping us cool. All those trees, as it is said in the sacred text, there are so many of you and you are all the leaves of one tree. We are closely connected. We are not separate individual trees, but are the leaves of one single tree.
后面还有一句:「都是同一个大海的水滴。」大海距离我们不远,巴黎的外面是大西洋,大海望不到边际,芸芸众生就像一滴海水一样。这个比喻很亲切,把我们人与人、人与上帝的关系讲清楚了、讲明白了。我们有没有接受?没有。为什么没有?我们迷得太深、迷得太厚了。
Here is another line, ‘…are the drops of one ocean.’ Ocean is not far from us. Paris is next to Atlantic Ocean. We cannot see the boundary of the ocean. Each being is like a drop of seawater. This metaphor is heart-warming. It clearly explains the relationship between human beings and that between human beings and God. Have we accepted the explanation? No, we haven’t. Why not? It is because we have been deluded too deeply and for too long.
所以我们不能离开上帝,不能离开上帝派到这个世间来的使者。使者是上帝的助教、是我们的老师,我们对他要尊重、我们对他要信任,不能怀疑。带着怀疑的心来学道,难;带着怀疑去学科学,行,学道不行,道是形而上的。所以我们要肯定,这些都是上帝的话,都是上帝使者教给我们的,我们信心从这里建立。有了信心之后,我们再来解决问题。
Therefore, we cannot be without God and the messengers that God sends to the world. The messengers are God’s assistants and they are our teachers. We should respect and trust them without doubt. If we seek the ultimate truth with doubt, it is difficult to succeed. It is fine to study science with doubt, but it does not work with seeking and cultivating towards ultimate truth. The ultimate truth is metaphysical. Hence, we must be convinced that what is said in the sacred text is God’s words and it is what God’s messengers taught us. It is where we build our confidence. After we have gained confidence, we will then resolve problems.
修行,依照经典的教训认真学习,把经典的教训变成自己生活的规范。起心动念不离开经典,言语造作不离开经典,这是上帝的儿女,这是圣贤的弟子。
To cultivate oneself is to seriously learn the teachings given in sacred texts and turn them into the norms of our daily lives. We should think, speak and behave in accordance with the scriptures. This is what the children of God and the students of saints and sages do.
有同修告诉我,我们很想学习,但是就是入不了境界,怎么办?我告诉大家从哪里入门,儒、佛,再看一切宗教经典, |
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