【Explaining 】-  Slaves of afflictions versus master of afflictions

Usually, we say that we must not have attachments. However, when the preferred and favorable conditions arise, you are totally unaware of being in the midst of attachment – [you are] completely dragged into it unknowingly. [You] try not to be angry, yet you don’t even realize that you are submerged in it. [You] still feel that it is reasonable, one hundred percent a slave of anger without realizing it. At that time, if the concept that you have sincerely explained and listened to has benefited [your] mental continuum, well, and then you will not go along with it! Not to mention that you are able to recognize it – which is already not an easy task – [the anger] cannot influence you. Attachment, regardless of how favorable the object there is, you will despise it with a laugh, “Ha! You have always captured [me] as your slave. Now [your] influence will not work.” Once you have this capacity, then you are the master. For us now, we are the slaves of affliction. We express this me, me, me; actually we are slaves to it. For worldly beings, we are the slaves of money. If you have the ability not to be swayed [by money], then next you can be the master! Buddha Dharma is also built on this concept. Regardless of whether it is about practice, explaining, or promulgating the teachings, it all refers to this same concept.

SOURCE 来源 :

13B 16’34” Vol 2 of Master Jih-Chang’s Discourse P171 L1
English Lamrim Vol 1 P66

日常师父法语📡13B 16’34” 手抄稿第2册P171 L1

讲说 ：烦恼的奴隶与烦恼的主人

平常的时候我们尽管说不要贪啊，但是好的、可爱的境界现起，你就是根本不晓得自己在贪，完全跟着它跑掉了都不知道。叫它不要嗔啊，你根本不晓得自己在嗔，还觉得很有道理，完全跟着它跑掉了，百分之百做了它奴隶都不知道。那个时候如果你真正地讲、听的道理在相续上面得到饶益、得到好处的话，欸，那个时候你就不跟它跑了！不要说你能够认得它，认得已经不容易了，就是拿你莫奈何。贪心，再好的境界摆在那里，你会很轻视它，笑笑：“哈！以前啊，老被你抓着去做你的奴隶，现在，根本不动摇。” 你有了这个本事，那个时候你才可以做它的主人。现在我们眼前说起来，我们是烦恼的奴隶，我们说我、我、我，实际上我们做它的奴隶啊；世间的人来说是，我们说是金钱的奴隶。你有了这个本事，你不被它动，那个时候你进一步，才可以做它的主人啊！佛法在这个上面讲的。修行也好，讲说也好，弘法也好啊，就是指这个而言。