【闻思修 Listen，contemplate，act】我是凡夫，所以... I am an ordinary being, therefore ….

听闻： 我是凡夫，所以...

我自己又想起我的善知识，以前常常用这个勉励、要求我。我心里面常常想：唉！法师讲的，我还是一个凡夫啊，我还是一个凡夫啊！有一次他就跟我说：「正因为凡夫所以才跟你讲，那你圣人，我还跟你讲什么！我磕你的头向你学，你讲给我听啦！」 我抓抓头想：对呀！但是这个问题还是弄不清楚。我听完了回来想一想：「我还是凡夫，还是要求太高了！」 以后慢慢才懂。说你凡夫才要学，你感到了痛苦，所以要听着佛法净化自己，下这个因，将来才能够步步上升，感得透脱痛苦的果，非常清楚。

来源 Source ：

日常师父法语10A 5'36" ~ 6'22" 手抄稿第二册 P40-L4

10A 5’36” ~ 6’22” Vol 2 of Master Jih-Chang’s Discourse P40L4
English Lamrim Vol 1 P56

Listening to the Teachings – I am an ordinary being, therefore ….

[How to listen to and explain the teachings]
[A. How to listen to a teaching in which both the teaching and its author are great]
[1. Contemplating the benefits of hearing the teaching]

I remember that my virtuous teacher often would encourage and request this of me. I often thought: “alas! For what the Venerable Master asked [me to do], I am still an ordinary being; I am still an ordinary being!” Once, he told me, “It is precisely because you are an ordinary being that I am telling you this. If you were a sage, there would be no need for me to tell you anything! I would bow to you and learn from you. You could teach me!” I scratched my head and thought, that’s right! However, [I] still could not figure out this concept. After listening to the teacher’s comment, I came back and thought about it: “I am still an ordinary being. His demands are still too high!” Later, it gradually dawned on me that because you are an ordinary being, [you] need to learn. You feel suffering so you need to listen to the teachings for self-purification. Plant seeds so that in the future step-by-step advancement is available and you will eventually be released from the effects of suffering. This is very clear.