Lecture No. 0006
Global Lamrim II
Lecture No. 0006
Tape no.
1A 13:26 ~ 15:41
Date
2018/04/19 ~ 04/22
Outline: Foundation
Topic: Knowing the Author – Master Tsong-Kha-Pa
Vol. 1 of Master’s discourse handbook P9 L2 – P9 LL4
It is time to study Lamrim again! [00′03″]
Our lives are constantly moving forward, so does our mental stream elapsing moment by moment, without any stopping. In this constant forward-flowing mental stream, if the further one moves forward the happier one becomes and the more sufferings one can dispel, such flowing is undoubtedly worth our rejoicing. However, if the further one advances, the more darkness and bitterness there is, then one should be worried. Therefore, in order to change our present state as well as the tomorrow of ours, we are sitting here to analyze our own mind and learn how to adjust it. One should apply the efforts now for the betterment of tomorrow, and this is actually what we should do. So, for the sake of benefiting immeasurable sentient beings, we still need to have the aspiration to achieve the Buddhahood. [01′04″]
I often contemplate why must one have a Mahayana aspiration? Because upon having the Mahayana aspiration, one is then able to attain the Buddhahood, and ultimately the one who achieves the most encompassing state is actually oneself. When we aspire to care for all sentient beings, one day all goodness will reside back in our own mind, and mature in our own physical and mental stream - this is the wonder of the law of cause and effect. [01′30″]
So later when listening to the Master’s recording, everyone, please pay attention. Not sure if you are still very busy now, while one is very busy, “Ah! It’s time for the [Lamrim] study group; hurry up and open [the book]!” Is your mind still busily occupied by your previous engagement? Pay attention! Beware! Now is the time for the class, the class is on! Take heed, time for the class! We are about to start listening to Master’s recording; we should focus our mind on the listening. Since there is only such limited time [for the class] each day, we must cherish the time as precious as gold - not just cherishing the time in “hour”, it is to cherish every minute and every second as if it were gold! So, while listening, one should try as much as possible not to be side-tracked! [02′10″]
Well! Let’s listen to it now. [02′13″]
[Venerable Jih-Chang’s commentary book 1, tape 1A on page introduction-8]
The author of Lamrim is Lama Tsong-kha-pa. Lama Tsong-kha-pa composed [this commentary]. Please refer to the colored picture on the front [of the book]. The photo in color [is of Lama Tsong-kha-pa]. This photo is extremely solemn and very dignified. Let me briefly introduce Lama Tsong-kha-pa. He was from Qing-hai [one of the Tibetan regions], near Qing-hai Xin-ning. Xin-ning is the provincial capital of Qinghai. He was born during the [time of the] Yuan dynasty and Emperor Yuan Shun-di. Shun-di was the last emperor of the Yuan dynasty, during the 25th year of Zhi-zheng which is equivalent to the year 1357, AD 1357. From the time that [Lama Tsong-kha-pa] was young, he was extraordinarily clever. He became a monk when he was still a child. When he was sixteen, he went to Tibet [Lhasa]. At that time, the Qing-hai area in the corner of China, including Qing-hai, Xi-kang, the [rear] part of Si-chuan and Tibet, were considered the Tibetan region. The Tibetans all had faith in Vajrayana Buddhism, also known as the Tantra teaching. In this Tibetan Buddhist lineage, the education center was located in Lhasa. Therefore, at age sixteen, Lama Tsong-kha-pa, under the influence of his teacher, went to Lhasa to pursue his studies. He then stayed in Lhasa for the rest of his life and completely revived Buddhism in Tibet. [04′26″]
Well! Just now did you focus on listening? What did Master first talk about? It is a photo, right? Here we may have students who have studied Lamrim for many years. Try to recall the first time when we heard about this statement, actually many lay practitioners’ reaction is to quickly flip, flip, and flip to the page on Lamrim text with the picture, and look at that picture while listening to Master’s introduction of Lama Tsong-kha-pa. [05′00″]
That statue of Lama Tsong-kha-pa is in Kumbum Monastery. I also went on a pilgrimage with the bhikkhus from Feng-Shan Monastery. We tried to take pictures, but flashlight was prohibited in the prayer hall. That prayer hall is not very big; actually, without a flashlight, we couldn’t possibly take clear picture. It was kind of cloudy that day. At that time, we circumambulated around Lama Tsong-kha-pa’s prayer hall and kept on praying. Without [the camera] flashlight or sunshine, we really couldn’t take [good] pictures of Lama Tsong-kha-pa, because we wanted to take pictures from both front- and side-views. Then, all of a sudden, I noticed that the face of Lama Tsong-kha-pa’s statue in the prayer hall had illuminated; the entire statue had brightened up. I was very surprised and said, “Well! What is going on?” I took a look, wow! A beam of sunray pierced through the tiny door of the prayer hall and cast right on this statue of Lama Tsong-kha-pa. As if Lama Tsong-kha-pa had embraced his arms, waiting for us and said, “Take pictures quickly! Hurry up while the sunlight is very good.” At that moment, we were extremely happy and took pictures right away, and the picture we took was just like the one shown on the cover page [of Lamrim]. [06′09″]
Actually, ”Tsong-kha-pa” is not his real name. It refers to the great teacher from a place called “Tsong-kha”. So, later on, he was referred to as Lama Tsong-kha-pa. Here, please pay attention! In Master’s introduction of Lama Tsong-kha-pa, what dynasty was he born in? You can answer this on your own! Was he smart as a child? What age was that when he took his teacher’s advice and went to Tibet? He went to study in Lhasa. Be careful! There is a very important statement, that is: Lama Tsong-kha-pa completely revived Buddhism in Tibet. Take heed, it is completely revived! That is to say, he shouldered both the continuity and prosperity of Buddhism; he had completely revived Buddhism. 。 [07′01″]
In recent years, we have met some Buddhists from Nepal, America, Canada, and Myanmar. As a matter of fact, when Buddhists meet one another in foreign places, we are all very joyous. We all care about the current state of Buddhism as well as its future. Actually, we know that the Buddha’s teaching is extremely precious. To all mankind, it is a very rare wealth of wisdom and compassion. If Buddhism can continue to thrive and prosper, it will definitely bring immeasurable benefits to all sentient beings. Therefore, Lama Tsong-kha-pa who had successfully revived Buddhism in Tibet, can be described as the sun at high noon [meaning very influential]. Master has directed the spotlight on Lama Tsong-kha-pa, allowing us to travel through time as if we were sitting in front of Lama Tsong-kha-pa and gaze at him – a great eminent bhikkhu who revived the Buddhism in Tibet. [08′08″]
Actually, there are several of his statues in Lhasa; one of them whose face is very friendly and amiable, resembles him closely, and it carries a very gentle and compassionate disposition. Put it this way: while gazing at the picture, we can only base on Lama Tsong-kha-pa’s extensive or abridged Biography to feel and understand that how wise and how diligent he was, as well as how extensive was his revival of Buddhism. His impartations, debates, and compositions [of Buddhism literatures] all reached an incredible peak of perfection. [08′49″]
Many times I saw Master holding the Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment in both hands. Wherever Master went, he always carried Lamrim with him. Every time he came to give me teachings, he also carried Lamrim. When walking out from his room, he always held two books; one is the Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment, and the other is Nan-shan Vinaya. Take heed! He held the books with both hands, up to his chest by his heart. Upon seeing Master walking in such a stately manner, [I] will feel that Master was holding a treasure that was much more precious than his own life. And he wanted to give this treasure to us. Quite a few times, I also saw Master crying so hard while praying to Lama Tsong-kha-pa and he kept on saying, “Don’t underrate the Buddha’s scriptures!” There was also another time when I saw Master was reading the scriptures, as he read on and on, eventually he leaned his head down on the table and burst into tears! What I mean is, for the sake of obtaining the lineage of this Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment to teach us, Master had shed a lot of tears! Venerable Fa-zun, the translator of this Chinese (Lamrim) text, must have shed who-knows-how-much tears! Moreover, for the sake of retaining this pure lineage, who know how much tears had been shed by those great lineage-masters, Buddhas, and Bodhisattvas! [10′10″]
I have been to the mountain where Lama Tsong-kha-pa’s spiritual retreat is located. Isn’t it in the record that he sat on a boulder to give the teaching? I had gone to see the very boulder he sat on. Actually, it was a very ordinary piece of rock. There was hardly any tree on that mountain, very little trees; therefore, one could see afar of the mountain, which is full of that kind of round rocks, that are smooth in feeling when touched. I went to that mountain with Rinpoche; at that time, I doubt if I could make it up there, because up till then, I had never climbed a mountain in my life. However, while following my master, who was ahead of me, climbing seemed quite easy. While we were half way up there, there came three monastics. Wow! All the stuff they carried on their back mounted like a small cart. Lugging the entire load on their back, their bodies were bent to almost 90 degrees. Then I asked Rinpoche, “What are they carrying?” Rinpoche said, “They are going to take retreat in the mountain, should be carrying foods.” Then I said, “Could they make it with such a heavy load on their back?” Rinpoche said, “You will find out who is faster in a while.” [11′14″]
After a while, those three monastics already walked far ahead. A moment later, when I looked again, I could only see them vaguely. After another while, they were already on another ridge! It amazed me that they walked so fast as if they were flying, and they reached another mountain very quickly! There were three tiny silhouettes on another remote mountain range, and they were the monastics! [11′32″]
Later we arrived at the hut where Lama Tsong-kha-pa took spiritual retreat, and it was very small. It was said that people built it in later generation – a very very tiny hut! Nearby, there was the place where Khedrubje and Gyaltsabje had meditated [Lama Tsong-kha-pa’s 2 closest disciples]. Legend has it that when Lama Tsong-kha-pa first arrived at that mountain, there was no spring water. Later, the mule of the Glorious Palden Lhamo Goddess stumped on the ground [and the spring water appeared]. This is a legend, but that place does have spring water and I have visited that spring! On my way there it was mysteriously odd enough, the mountain before it does not have any tree or grass, however, as soon as we arrived there, all of a sudden, wow, [I found that] the grass was very green! How green was it? It was jade-like, very soft and tender; it seemed to be the most beautiful grass. How come there were such rich grasses in this area? At that time, there was a monk in the retreat house. He showed us around, and took us to a place where he had built a little hut. And he removed that iron cover from the side, [as] it was sealed on the top like a door. He opened the door [for us], wow! There was the crystal clear spring which is extremely pellucid! And then he took a ladleful of water for me, and said, “Well! There is blessing in it. Drink it quickly!” The spring water from the mountain was really icy cold. Usually, I can’t take cold water in fear of upsetting my stomach. That day I could care less, for it was blessing. Thus, I first drank some from that ladle, and then patted some water on my head praying for blessing! It is said that many people who had drank the spring water were cured of their stomach problems; it is very magical! I also noticed that there were several little yellow flowers blossoming in the spring, very pretty! [13′09″]
After we left the spring, I walked around the retreat house of Lama Tsong-kha-pa for a long while, and was reluctant to leave that place. Then I found a grassy spot and sat there quietly. Actually, there were quite a few lofty trees in that place. I then took a look at the faraway mountains and the clouds floating by in the sky; and all the afflictive feelings were gone. There was a sense of veneration and devoutness in my mind, thinking of Lama Tsong-kha-pa. [I sat there] thinking of him for giving us such wonderful stages of the path to Enlightenment, and thinking of him for the sake of immeasurable sentient beings, in that lifetime of his, he revived Buddhism and brought so much joy and so much affection to us six hundred years later. Thus, he is a person who is very very hard to forget! [13′59″]
If it were not for Master, who guided us to gaze at Lama Tsong-kha-pa, in reality you and I would never know that such a great eminent Master had been in existence! Moreover, we wouldn’t have studied his greatly composed works on guiding us how to achieve Buddhahood year after year. These happenings are all very novel, and surprisingly the conditions had ripened and occurred in our lives. Hence, we should rejoice well and be happy! Regardless of how many unhappy things and regardless of how many discontentment, we have encountered Master and such wonderful teaching. This should be the most wonderful and splendid happening that is worth celebrating in our lives, so please smile! [14′47″]
【全球广论 II 讲次: 0006】
讲次 0006
科判 道前基础
主题 认识作者—宗大师
音档 1A 13:26 ~ 15:41
日期 2018/04/19 ~ 04/22)
手抄页/行 1册 P9-L2 ~ P9-LL4 ( 2016 南普陀版：1册 P9-L1 ~ P9-LL6 )
手抄段落 那么这个作者是宗喀巴大师……佛法整个复兴，整个复兴。
又到了学习《广论》的时间了！ [00′03″]
我们的生命在一刻不停地向前，我们的心续也在刹那刹那的迁流之中，没有停顿的时候。在这个迁流的、一直向前的续流之中，如果能够达成越往前走越是快乐、离开的痛苦越多，那么这个迁流无疑是值得我们欣喜的；但是如果越往前走越黑、苦涩越多，那么就是令人满怀忧虑的。所以，为了改变我们的现在，为了改变我们的明天，我们坐在这里来观察自己的心、来学习如何调整。用现在的努力，调整明天的生命状况，其实就是我们要做的。所以，还是要有一个为利无穷无尽的有情，我们要希求佛果的发心。 [01′04″]
常常会想：为什么一定要一个大乘的发心？因为有一个大乘的发心之后，才能取得佛果，到最后其实得到最圆满状态的还是自己。当我们发心去照顾所有所有的有情，有一天所有的美好就都会落到自己的心上，成熟在自己的身心上，这就是因果奇妙的道理。 [01′30″]
所以一会儿在听师父的带子的时候，大家要专注。不知道你是不是现在还是很忙，在很忙的时候，“啊！研讨时间到了，赶快打开！”你的心是不是还马不停蹄地缘在你刚才忙的那件事情上？注意哦！注意哦！现在上课了，上课了！要注意，上课了！要开始听师父的带子了，要把自己的心专注在听闻上。因为每天只有这么少的时间，所以一定要惜时如金——不是“时”，是惜分钟如金、惜秒如金！所以在听的时候，尽量不要走神！ [02′10″]
好！现在开始听。 [02′13″]
那么这个作者是宗喀巴大师，作者是宗喀巴大师。这个地方，请翻开书本前面有一个彩色的照片，彩色的照片，这张照片是非常庄严、非常庄严！那么我简单地把宗喀巴大师的他的历史啊介绍一下：他是青海人，青海西宁附近的人，西宁就是青海省的省会。他生在元朝——元顺帝，顺帝就是元朝最末一代皇帝——相当于西历的一千叁百五十七年，一千叁百五十七年。他从小就是一个绝顶聪明的人，很小就出家，然后到十六岁就进西藏。因为这个青海一带，在我们中国靠那个角，包括青海啊，然后西康啊，然后四川的一部分哪、西藏啊，那个都是藏族的区域，藏族的区域。他们信的都是佛教，而是属于佛教当中的密教一支，密教一支。那么在这一个藏语的佛法系统当中，它的教育的中心是在拉萨，在拉萨。所以这位宗喀巴大师在十六岁的时候，也受了他师长的影响，进拉萨去求学；以后一生就在西藏，而且把西藏的佛法整个复兴，整个复兴。 [04′26″]
好！刚才听的时候有没有专注啊？师父最先讲的是什么呀？一张照片是不是？我们这里边可能有学了《广论》好多年的同学，回想起一开始听到这句话的时候，其实很多居士的反应是赶快翻、翻、翻，翻到《广论》上的那张照片开始看，然后一边看那张照片，会一边听师父为我们介绍宗喀巴大师。 [05′00″]
那尊宗大师的像就是在塔尔寺。我和凤山寺的法师也去朝礼过，我们想去拍照，结果那边佛殿里是不许打闪光灯的。那个佛殿不是很大，其实里边不打闪光灯是拍不清楚的，那天还有点阴天。当时我们就在宗大师殿外面一直绕啊，然后在祈求。要是不打闪光灯，阳光也出不来，实际上我们拍不到宗大师的照片的，因为我们想拍正面，还想拍侧面的。然后突然间我就发现，佛殿里宗大师的脸突然全部都亮起来，整个佛像都亮起来了。我就很惊讶说：“哎！到底是怎么回事？”一看，哇！一道阳光，完全地就从那个寺门——那个是很小的佛殿的门，直接全部满满地照耀在宗大师的这尊像上。好像宗大师就是张开手在那儿等我们说：“快拍照吧！快拍吧！趁着现在阳光很好。”那时候我们都特别高兴，然后马上就拍下来了，就是跟封面那张一样的。 [06′09″]
“宗喀巴”其实不是宗大师的名字，是“宗喀”那个地方的大师，所以后来就都称为宗喀巴大师。这里边，注意哦！师父介绍了宗大师是什么朝代的人呀？你们自己回答哦！小的时候聪不聪明呢？几岁的时候，由于听他师父的话就进西藏了对吧？去拉萨求学。注意！有一句最重要的话就是——宗喀巴大师把西藏的佛法整个地复兴。注意哦，整个地复兴哦！就是佛教的绵延、佛教的繁荣，他一肩挑，整个地把佛教振兴起来了。 [07′01″]
因为近几年也会碰到比如说尼泊尔的佛教徒、美国的佛教徒、加拿大的佛教徒，还有缅甸的佛教徒。其实只要是佛教徒，大家在一个陌生地方相遇了，都会非常非常开心的。大家都关心着佛教的现状，也关心着佛教的未来。其实我们知道佛陀的教育非常非常地珍贵，对于全人类来说，这是非常难能可贵的一笔智慧、慈悲的财富。如果佛教能够长久地振兴下去、繁荣下去，那么对每一个有情来说，真的是有着无限的利益。那么宗喀巴大师，就是把西藏的佛教整个地振兴起来，可以说如日中天。师父就要把聚光灯照在宗大师的身上，让我们这些人穿越了时光，好像坐在宗大师的对面，去凝视着他——这位把整个西藏佛教振兴起来的伟大高僧。 [08′08″]
其实在拉萨还有他的塑像，有一尊塑像非常非常像他本人，面容非常地亲切和蔼，有一种很温和的气质，很慈悲。可以说，凝视着这张照片的时候，我们也只能从宗大师的广传或者略传之中，去体会宗大师是聪明到何种程度、勤奋到何种程度，对佛教又振兴到何种程度。他的讲说、辩论，还有著述，都达到了登峰造极的一个不可思议的成就。 [08′49″]
我很多次看到师父捧着《菩提道次第广论》。师父走到哪里都带着《广论》，师父每一次来给我上课的时候，也都带着《广论》。他从房间里出来的时候总是捧着两本书，一本是《菩提道次第广论》，一本是《南山律》。注意！他是双手捧着，捧在心口。一看到师父那样庄严地走出来，就会觉得他捧着好像比他自己的生命更加珍贵的一个宝物，他要把这个宝物送给我们。我也曾经看过很多次，师父在祈求宗喀巴大师的时候痛哭流涕，一直说：“不要将经典当容易看啊！”还有一次，我看见师父在读经典的时候，读着、读着就趴在桌上开始哭了！我是说，这本《菩提道次第广论》，师父为了求到它的传承，为了给我们讲，可能流了好多好多的眼泪吧！翻译它的法尊法师，不知道流了多少眼泪！还有将佛法传承到今天的祖师、佛菩萨们，为了保留这个清净的传承，又流了多少眼泪！ [10′10″]
我也曾经去过宗大师在拉萨闭过关的那座山。他不是坐在一个大石头上说法吗？我有去看他坐的大石头，其实是一个非常朴素的石头。那座山几乎没有什么树，树很少的，所以一看可以看到很远很远的地方，都是那种圆圆的石头，摸起来很光滑。当时是跟仁波切爬到那座山上，当时我非常怀疑我能不能爬上去，因为从小没爬过山。但是上师在前面，我也在后面，结果好像很轻松就爬上去了。我们爬到一半的时候，从后面来了三个出家人。哇！他们身上背的东西，看起来像一辆小车，都是用行李背在上面的，人压得快成九十度了。然后我就问仁波切说：“他们拿的是什么？”仁波切说：“他们要去山上闭关，拿的应该是吃的一些东西。”然后我说：“背这么重的东西能爬山吗？”师父说：“那你看看吧，一会儿我们谁走得快？” [11′14″]
结果过了一会儿之后，那三个出家人已经远远地走在前面。然后再一会儿看，他们就剩个影子。过一会儿看，他们已经在另一道山岗！看起来是满神奇的，好像在飞一样，很快就到另一座山了！就是在另一条远方的山脉，看到有三个小身影，就是那出家人。 [11′32″]
然后到了宗大师闭关的那个关房，那个关房是很小的，据说是后人把它建起来的，很小、很小！那附近还有克主杰、贾曹杰尊者打坐的地方。据说宗大师刚去那座山上的时候还没有泉水，后来是吉祥天母的坐骑用脚踏出来的。这是一个传说，但是真的是那个地方出现泉水，然后我还去了那个泉！去到那个泉的时候，非常奇怪，前面的山上都没有什么树、没有什么草，到了那个地方之后，突然发现：哇，草好绿啊！绿到什么程度？好像玉一样，软软的，好像是最漂亮的草。到这一区为什么草这么多呢？当时那个关房也有一个出家人，他就带着我们走啊、走啊，就走到一个地方，他在上面搭了一个小屋子。然后他就把那个铁盖子打开，是侧面的，它上面是封着的，就像一个门一样。他把那扇门打开，哇！哪得清如许的那个泉啊，太清澈了！然后他就拿着一个水瓢，盛满了送给我说：“哎呀！这是加持啊，你快喝了吧！”那山里的泉水是很冷很冷的，我平常是不能喝冷水的，因为害怕胃疼。那天就不管了，这是加持，就开始拿那一瓢水先喝了，然后又擦头上祈求加持！听说很多人喝了那个泉水胃病就好了，很神奇的！而且我留心了一下，那个泉水里还有长出几朵小花，是黄色的，非常地美！ [13′09″]
离开那个泉，在宗大师的关房旁徘徊了许久，舍不得离开。后来找一块草地静静地坐下来的时候，其实那个地方还是有很高的大树，然后你看一看远山，看一看天上的流云，那些烦烦恼恼的事都飘走了，心里有一种恭敬和虔诚地想念宗大师的感觉。想着他把这么美的菩提道次第留给了我们，想着他为了无穷无尽的有情，在那一生的示现中，居然振兴了佛教，给六百年后的我们带来了这么多的欣喜、这么多的感动，所以是很难忘、很难忘的人！ [13′59″]
如果不是师父拉着我们，让我们凝视到宗喀巴大师，实际上你我又怎么会知道世上曾经有一位这么伟大的高僧？又怎么会成年累月地学他亲笔写的著作，教我们如何去成佛的？这些事情真的都是非常新奇的，居然就成熟在你我的生命中了。所以还是好好地随喜、好好地开心吧！不管你有多少不开心的事情，有多少求不得的那些心事，但是我们值遇了师父、值遇了这么好的教法，这应该是生命中最值得庆祝、最灿烂的事情，所以还是请你微笑吧！ [14′47″]