Lecture No. 0049
Global Lamrim II
Lecture No. 0049
Tape no.
2A 07:13 ~ 08:16
Date
2018/09/17 ~ 09/19
Outline: Foundation
Topic: Prologue – Veneration at the beginning of the commentary
Vol. 1 of Master’s discourse handbook P38-L7 ~ P38-L11
In the Chinese version of the text, before the “homage to the guru Manjusri,” there is a verse “Namo guru Manjughosa”, translated as “homage to the guru Manjusri”. In the [Chinese text of the] Introduction to the Four Interwoven Annotations, page 51, Rinpoche mentioned the meaning of the ending “a” in the “ghosa.” “A” serves as a “function word”, a type of Tibetan language usage. Here it tells us why we need to pay homage. Rinpoche said it means, “the purpose of our paying homage is to cease all afflictions in our minds, to receive the blessings from the gurus and admirable Manjusri so that we can easily understand the meaning of the commentary. For these purposes, we pay homage to laudable Manjusri Bodhisattva.” [00′49″]
So, “the purpose of paying homage” is brought up again. It is the same as what Master said, “our purpose”. Rinpoche said, “the purpose of our paying homage is to cease all afflictions in our minds.“ If affliction is like a windstorm or a sandstorm, then “cessation” is here to stop it. For this purpose, we supplicate, “to receive the blessings from gurus and admirable Manjusri Bodhisattva”. Another reason we supplicate is that we “can easily” [understand the meaning of the teaching]. What does “easily” imply? It implies that we “understand the meaning of the commentary” with ease. From the perspective of learners, we can easily and thoroughly understand the teaching. Pay attention! What attracts us the most should be the word “easily.” [Why?] Even though we exert tremendous efforts, trying to understand the meaning of the scriptures we are studying, the result might not be as promising as expected. Thus, if we can receive the blessings from the guru Manjusri, and thereby easily understand the meaning of the scriptures comprehensively, that would be very very wonderful. Hence, with extreme sincerity, I hope that with our earnest supplication to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, such a goal can be achieved. [02′07″]
Let’s look at the Introduction to the Four Interwoven Annotations, page 51. All of you have the book, right? You can refer to it. Rinpoche said, “Dharma Master Ba made a comment here.” And it said, “’This is to pay homage to the admirable or the root guru Manjusri’. In other words, it is to pay homage to the root guru Manjusri, the protector.” Rinpoche followed, “Dharma Master Ba’s annotation is not done yet. ‘As the honorable Master stated: “With guru’s kindness, one can gain a clear understanding.’ This is a direct quote from Lama Tsong-Kha-Pa. Who is the guru referred to here? That is the protector Manjusri Bodhisattva.” As we have read in the Extended Biography, we all know Lama Tsong-Kha-Pa often supplicated to Manjusri Bodhisattva. “Due to the kindness of the protector Manjusri Bodhisattva, I am blessed to perceive all the essence of the teachings”; this is what Lama Tsong-Kha-Pa wrote in his “Dependent Arising – A Praise of the Buddha”. He followed by saying, “Hence I pay homage to the honorable guru with good qualities – Manjusri.” [03′09″]
“Due to the kindness of the protector Manjusri Bodhisattva, I am blessed to perceive all the essence of the teachings”. By perceiving all the essence of the entire teachings, one will never grasp erroneously the two kinds* of wrongful discernments, and allow everything to revert to the true nature of reality without any contamination. Not until then will such frightening, up-roaring sandstorm of the cyclic existence actually be ceased. What is ceased? The endless cycling in the causes and effects of suffering is ceased. Thus, the most important factor and the key person is the guru, who can relieve our minds from the bondage of all sorts of painfulness, and liberate ourselves from pressing sufferings - to cease it. For this reason, he is the “honorable guru with good qualities.” That refers to the teacher, and for this reason, I can perceive all the essence of the teachings. Thus I pay homage to the honorable guru Manjusri, and that is to venerate Manjughosa. [04′23″]
[*Two kinds of erroneous discernments: attachment of the person and attachment of the knowledge]
So, within this short paragraph, we can see the lineage. That is, the virtuous teachers and Bodhisattvas, whether they were imparting the teachings or composing commentaries, all abided by such a tradition to venerate Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Therefore, as for us, the students, wouldn’t it be more auspicious to abide by such tradition? That is for sure! So prior to our discussion, I also hope everyone can supplicate earnestly. [04′54″]
Take our learning of the Pointing the Way to Reasoning for instance. Everyone knows it is quite a challenging book. In the beginning, we started our learning with enthusiasm; however, we didn’t quite follow it as we found out later. The venerables, especially the first class in our monastery, have successfully overcome this hurdle! [In the beginning,] they also began their learning with the debating subject: “Any color has to be red”, and gradually they are able to convince you to accept the proposition: “All colors are red”. How can we have a lightning-like progressive thought process while being cornered by the opponent during the debating session? Actually [our lightning-like thought process] all comes from our reliance on virtuous teachers, and our sincere supplications to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. [05′42″]
Thus, for us as practitioners who mindfully beseech wisdom, supplication becomes a very important homework. To put it differently, supplicating is a very necessary habit for us to cultivate. We should get accustomed to supplicating to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, and virtuous teachers constantly. While supplicating, we can temporarily put aside our overly concerns about success or failure on a given task, or excessively emphasize on immediate advantages and let us instantly submerge ourselves into a very profound and broader perspective of life, allowing us to focus on a very far-reaching goal. [06′20″]
Whatever we are engaging in now, of course, we still want to produce a positive result. However, in case things don’t turn out the way we want them to be, we should not lose our perspective, either. How can we prevent it from happening? Whatever the arising conditions are, we have to maintain our perspective to engage in virtuous deeds, as what Santideva Bodhisattva said, “Even in great trouble, Bodhisattvas never bring forth wrong; their virtues naturally increase*.” Therefore, while in the midst of all miserable realms and afflictions, the good qualities of the commentaries that can rescue us are also revealed by virtuous teachers, so we are able to understand such good qualities, and thus achieve the same good qualities accordingly. If we are able to form the habit of constantly supplicating to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, in my opinion, it is very wonderful. If you already have this habit, then continue to enhance it! If you have not fostered it yet, then begin training yourself from now on! This is a very wonderful habit, worthy of our effort to cultivate it. [07′31″]
[*The Way of the Bodhisattva chapter 1 #35]
Thus, how can we be convinced that supplication is so important in our lives? It is through the studying of the commentaries and from the teachings of virtuous teachers that we can acquire this understanding. All wonderful things arise from the blessing and the compassionate guidance of virtuous teachers. Up to here, would you feel that although the suffering in cyclic existence is extremely unbearable, the motivation of the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and virtuous teachers – their intention to benefit us all – is a hundred million folds more powerful than such suffering. With thousands of times of trial and practice, and infinite times of cultivation, our faith becomes stronger. Through taking refuge and paying homage to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas steadfastly in our minds, our lives will definitely become better day after day. Why? It is because all issues arise from nothing but within the mind, and all we have to do is change our mindset. There is a very swift approach, and it is to supplicate to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas! [08′39″]
【全球广论 II 讲次: 0049】
讲次 0049
科判 道前基础
主题 〈皈敬颂〉论前皈敬
音档 2A 07:13 ~ 08:16
日期 2018/09/17 ~ 09/19
广论段落 P1-L1 ~ P1-L2 南无姑如曼殊廓喀耶……敬礼尊重妙音
手抄页/行 第1册 P38-L7 ~ P38-L11 ( 2016 南普陀版：第1册 P38-L7 ~ P38-L12 )
手抄段落 那么里面归敬的内容呢……顺着次序来，第一个
那在“敬礼尊重妙音”前面，有一个“南无姑如曼殊廓喀耶”，它翻过来就是“敬礼尊重妙音”。在仁波切的《四家合注入门》里边，第五十一页有讲到：“廓喀耶”的：“耶”是什么？就是“所为格”的意思，所为格是藏文语法的一种用法。这里要表达什么所为呢？说：“我们礼敬的目的，就是为了止息自己心中的一切烦恼，领纳上师及殊胜天尊的加持，以及能够易于究竟通达论义。由于这些目的，所以礼敬胜天尊。” [00′ 49″]
所以在这里又再次提到了“礼敬的目的”，就是师父说：“我们的归趣”，这讲的是一样的。说：“就是为了止息自己心中的一切烦恼”，如果烦恼是一场风暴、一场沙尘暴的话，那么就提到了“止息”，为了止息它。为了这个目的，“领纳上师及殊胜天尊的加持”。还有为了“能够易于”，“易于”是什么意思呢？就是容易；容易地“究竟通达论义”，就是从学者的角度究竟地通达论义。注意哦！这里边最吸引我们的应该是那个容易的“易”字，因为费了九牛二虎之力，结果还是很难了解我们所学经典的意思，如果得到了上师本尊的加持，能够容易地、究竟地通达论义的话，那应该是非常非常美好的一件事情。所以非常非常希望我们透过内心对佛菩萨虔诚地祈求，能够达到这样的一个目的。 [02′07″]
然后在《四家合注入门》这里边，也是五十一页，你们现在都有书了吧！可以拿来看一看。仁波切讲到：“这里有一处巴梭法王的笺注。”然后说：“ ‘此为顶礼殊胜天或根本上师怙主妙音’，就是顶礼殊胜天尊根本上师文殊怙主。”然后说： “巴梭法王的笺还没有结束。‘如至尊云：“由师恩德得见时。” ’这是宗大师的话。话中所指的上师是谁呢？就是文殊怙主。 “我们读过《广传》，都知道宗大师常常祈求文殊菩萨。 “由于文殊怙主的恩德，使我见到一切法的内涵”——这是宗大师在《缘起赞》里写的——所以接下来才说：“故向功德尊胜之上师及妙音致敬。” [03′09″]
“由于文殊怙主的恩德，使我见到一切法的内涵”，见到一切法的内涵，就不会再颠倒地执取两种分别的执着，让一切还归到真理本身，而不再有种种染杂。这个时候喧嚣得像我们所害怕的轮回的沙尘暴等等，就真的会止息下来了。止息了什么呢？止息了苦因和苦果的无穷次的轮转。那么让我们内心从种种痛苦的系缚中、从种种痛苦的追逐中能够解脱出来、能够停顿下来的，那个最重要的因素、那个最重要的人，就是上师！因为这样的缘故，他是“功德尊胜”——这是上师的意思——因为这样的缘故，让我见到了一切法的内涵，所以才向功德尊胜的上师文殊，就是妙音来致敬。 [04′23″]
所以，我们在这一小段可以看到传承，就是讲论的善知识们、写论的佛菩萨们，都是依照着这样的传承礼敬佛菩萨。那么对我们学的人来说，是不是也要依着这样的传承会比较吉祥呢？那一定是的！所以在研讨之前呢，也希望大家能有一个殷重的祈求。 [04′54″]
比如说现在学《摄类学》了，大家都知道《摄类学》不是很好学，当初我们满怀热情地开始学，学了之后发现不是很懂。那么法师们，尤其是我们寺院第一班的法师们，应该说他们已经跨越了这一关吧！他们也是从“是颜色都是红色吗”开始，就辩这样的题，后来慢慢辩到可以让你承认“是颜色都是红色”。那么怎样在辩论场上被对手逼到走投无路的时候，还能突然产生闪电般的跳跃的思路呢？其实都离不开向善知识、向佛菩萨祈求。 [05′42″]
所以对于我们一心追求智慧的修行者来说，祈求是一个非常重要的功课，或者说是一个非常必要的习惯，我们必须常常习惯向佛菩萨祈求、向善知识祈求。祈求的时候，可以让我们暂时舍弃对一些事相上的成败和眼前利益的过分锱铢必较，让我们的心突然开始融入到一种非常深邃的、广阔的生命视野之中，可以看到非常辽远的目标。 [06′20″]
我们此时所做的事情，当然都希望它能够在事相上也成功，但是万一在事相上没成功的时候，我们是不能输掉内心的。怎样才能不输掉内心呢？就是无论何种境界现前，必须保证我们内心去造集善业，就像寂天菩萨说的：“佛子虽逢难，善增罪不生。”那么在一切恶趣、诸有和烦恼中，能够救护我们的论典的这个功德，也是透过善知识的宣说，使我们能够了解这样的功德，能够去成就这样的功德。所以如果能够养成常常向佛菩萨祈求的这样一个习惯，我觉得是非常美好的。如果你已经养成了，那就继续增广它吧！如果你还没有养成习惯，就从现在开始训练自己吧！因为这是一个非常非常善妙的习气，非常值得我们花时间、花心力去养成这个习惯。 [07′31″]
所以我们知道祈求对我们生命是何等重要，也是透过学习论典、透过善知识讲，才能够了解到的；一切的美好，都源于我们有善知识的摄受和慈悲的引领。学到此处，会不会觉得：虽然生死轮回的痛苦是很强烈的，但是佛菩萨、善知识的心——利益我们的心，可能强过它百千万倍；一旦我们透过千百次的修炼、无穷次的修炼，淬炼自己的信心，坚定地在内心中去皈依、去礼敬佛菩萨的话，我们的生命肯定会一天比一天变得更美好的。为什么？因为所有的问题都出在内心啊，改变内心就可以了。所以这是一个非常快捷的方法，就是祈求佛菩萨！ [08′39″]