Lecture No. 0074
Global Lamrim II
Lecture No. 0074
Tape no.
2A 27:13 ~ 27:52
Date
2018/12/13 ~ 12/16
Outline: Foundation
Topic: Opening Veneration – Veneration before commentary
English Lamrim Vol 1, Page 33
Vol. 1 of Master’s discourse handbook P46-LL2 ~ P47-L2
After learning the above analogy, we might find it very astonishing. [Actually, through compare and contrast,] we have already talked about many kinds of incredibility. And then, Buddha again gave another analogy by saying,“Moreover, Kausika! If noble men and noble women guide the sentient beings in the Jambudvipa continent to dwell in Four Meditative Stabilizations, Four Immeasurables, Four Meditations of the Formless Realm, Five Clairvoyance; what do you think? Would such noble men and noble women accumulate a lot of merits due to such cause and condition?”Kausika replied, “Very much so! Buddha! A lot of it! Sugata!” Again [this is what] Buddha said, “Kausika, where do the noble men and noble women who guide the beings in the Jambudvipa continent dwell? Four Meditative Stabilizations! They practice meditation there. They also dwell in Four Immeasurables, and Four Meditations of the Formless Realm! And at the same time, they have achieved the Five Clairvoyance.” What are the Five Clairvoyance? They are the clairvoyant vision, the clairvoyant hearing, the unimpeded speed in walking, the capability to understand other’s mental intention, and the knowledge of past lives, except for the clairvoyance of no more afflictions. If one has achieved these Five Clairvoyance, one is considered immortal, just like the celestial being! [01′01″]
Pay attention! All of them have achieved these Five Clairvoyance! Besides, all of the people living in the Jambudvipa continent have acquired them as well. It is inconceivably marvellous that all the people in the Jambudvipa continent can fly in the sky and travel underground because of your guidance; they all become celestial beings! Those in this continent won’t need any means of transportation; they can fly to wherever they feel like. No more needs of ferries, either; they can simply get to wherever they want to go. Such conduct is an enormous good deed, isn’t it? Kausika also praised, “Wow! Very much so; this is bountiful! Wow, Buddha, this merit is enormous!” And Buddha continued to say, “If noble men and noble women transcribe such profound Perfection of Wisdom Sutra, and give the transcribed copies to others for them to recite or to transcribe for further dissemination, such merits are much more than the former case.” Much more merits are accumulated than the former case [of guiding the living beings to become celestial and acquire the Five Clairvoyance]! [01′39″]
Next, Buddha applied more analogies; in addition to the beings in the Jambudvipa continent, Buddha continued to make an analogy by mentioning the beings in the four continents, moving further to the beings in the one thousand small world systems, the one thousand middle world systems, the one thousand great world systems, and the worlds as numerous as the sand in the Ganges River in all ten directions. Moreover, one can guide all sentient beings in the worlds of ten directions to dwell in Four Meditative Stabilizations, Four Meditations of the Formless Realm, Four Immeasurables, and Five Clairvoyance. [Please imagine that] all beings in the worlds of the ten directions have attained such merits. Buddha said, “These noble men and noble women,” meaning would such noble men or noble women, “attain bountiful merits due to such cause and condition?” Buddha asked Kausika again, “If one has accomplished such a great endeavour that all living beings in all worlds can fly in the sky, travel underground, and become endowed with all the Five Clairvoyance, the merits accumulated to achieve the above are great, right? Kausika said, “Very much so!” Lots and lots, simply bountiful! [02′28″]
And Buddha continued by saying,“If noble men and noble women transcribe such profound Perfection of Wisdom Sutra (Prajnaparamita), give the transcribed copies to others for them to recite and then transcribe for further dissemination, such noble men and noble women would accumulate even more merits than the aforesaid.” Although these noble men and noble women guide all living beings in all ten directions and enable them to dwell in the Four Meditative Stabilizations, Four Meditations of the Formless Realm, Four Immeasurables, and Five Clairvoyance, the merits they have accumulated are less than those of transcribing the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra, sending the transcribed copies for others to recite, and then for them to transcribe again for further recitation and wider dissemination. How did Buddha compare such merits [about the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra] with the aforesaid merits? Much more than the former! The merits are much better, much more than the former, very much so! [03′09″]
In “Scroll” 431, “section/ chapter” 36-1, The Exposition of the Purity of all Dharma, Buddha made some comparisons between the merits of transcribing the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra, giving the transcribed copies to others for recitation, further transcribing, and wider dissemination and the merits of various other virtuous deeds. All of us can give a thought to this. Buddha is the only one capable of making such comparisons; you may visualize how thoroughly he understands the karma of all living beings, their virtuous deeds, virtuous roots, and merits. With the omniscience, he could ascertain accurately, without any mistake. This is an inconceivable analogy! It is hard to imagine that such virtuous root thus accumulated comes from transcribing the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra, sending it to others for recitation, further transcribing, and wider dissemination. Such a virtuous root brings about incredibly huge and bountiful merits! [03′52″]
Don’t overlook the Four Meditative Stabilizations! Now we all know how difficult it is to attain the nine mental states [v.3 p.32]. Because we get distracted easily, especially in the current high-tech era, we are bewildered by all sorts of images and sounds. Thus understandably, it takes enormous efforts for one to observe inwardly, to stay steadfast, and to dwell on a virtuous meditative object so as to attain pliancy, and then the state of the Four Meditative Stabilizations. Afterward, one has to practice meditative stabilization so that he can achieve the Five Clairvoyance; all the hard work is way beyond what an ordinary person can do! The inconceivable amount of merits accumulated by so many such practitioners [in the worlds of the ten directions] is so bountiful that [it is hard for one to imagine]! However, it is still no greater than the merit one accumulates by transcribing the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra, giving it to others for recitation and wider dissemination! [04′39″]
Moreover, please visualize that all of the living beings in the worlds of the ten directions, i.e. all living beings sit properly in lotus position on their comfortable cushions. We all know that we must get rid of excitement/distraction and laxity during meditation practice. Many people have to struggle a great deal merely to counter against excitement/distraction and laxity. Besides, before listening to the teachings of meditative serenity (Samadhi) and insight (Vipassana), most of us don’t know how to attain meditative concentration with a virtuous object of meditation; we just sit there idly, or claim to enjoy some sense of physical gratification or quiet minds without wandering thoughts, and feel good enough about it. However, to practice meditative stabilization correctly, one has to follow very detailed, clear and precise guidance. For instance, what is the right intensity [v.3 p.51]? While your cognition of clarity arises, how much intensity do you have? If you are not clear about the intensity, it is not counted as meditative serenity. To achieve meditative serenity, one must attain pliancy; in order to achieve pliancy, the clarity must be accountable. Hence, one must study meditative serenity and insight in great details so as to achieve all the aforesaid. [05′40″]
Besides, there are also the Five Clairvoyance; all living beings can fly in the sky and travel underground; that is simply a world [only existing in our imagination], yet it is even more futuristic than you can imagine in the world of science fiction. All beings in the ten directions become deities. Surprisingly, the merits accumulated [by guiding all living beings to become deities] are not comparable and less than the merits of transcribing the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra, and giving the transcribed copies to others for recitation and wider dissemination. Why is it so? As for the reasons, Buddha already explained in this chapter of the sutra. [06′02″]
Of course, regarding the comparison and contrast described in “Scroll” 431, “section/ chapter” 36-1, The Exposition of the Purity of all Dharma, I only introduced a small portion, namely, the part about the significance of the merits accumulated in transcribing the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra and giving the transcribed copies to others for recitation, further transcribing, and wider dissemination, so you would have some basic idea. Later in this Chapter, Buddha continued to say,“To transcribe such profound Prajnaramita, to listen wholeheartedly, to practice, to recite, to study earnestly, and to contemplate properly …”Again, there is a comparison and contrast about the merits obtained by these noble men and noble women. That is, “Noble men and noble women share such Prajnaparamita with others in immeasurable ways, impart, illustrate and elaborate respective reasoning and theme, so people would understand easily and accumulated merits …”So on and so forth; it follows with many analogies to illustrate the steps leading a practitioner to advance on the path. You may recite the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra on your own. I only pick a small part of it for everyone to have a taste about the huge merits of transcribing the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra, giving the transcribed copies to others for their recitation, further transcribing and wider dissemination, not to mention the other merits mentioned later in the Sutra! [07′12″]
【全球广论 II 讲次: 0074】
讲次 0074
科判 道前基础
主题 〈皈敬颂〉论前皈敬
音档 2A 27:13 ~ 27:52
日期 2018/12/13 ~ 12/16
广论段落 P1-L6 如极难量胜者教……我礼龙猛无着足
手抄页/行 第1册 P46-LL2 ~ P47-L2 ( 2016 南普陀版：第1册 P46-LL2 ~ P47-L3 )
手抄段落 因为这样的关系……有很多是以慈悲方便入。
上述的一种譬喻讲完了之后已经够震撼的，我们已经说了很多种不可思议了。然后佛陀又比喻了，佛陀说：“复次，憍尸迦！若善男子、善女人等，教赡部洲诸有情类，皆令安住四静虑、四无量、四无色定、五神通，于意云何？是善男子、善女人等，由此因缘得福多不？天帝释言：甚多！世尊！甚多！善逝！”佛陀又说：“憍尸迦呀，如果这个善男子、善女人教赡部洲的有情，让他们住在哪呢？四静虑喔！修定。然后四无量、四无色定喔！而且获得了五神通。五神通有什么通呀？天眼通、天耳通、神足通、他心通、宿命通，就差了一个漏尽通了。这五通一得到，一般都说仙人，像神仙一样了！ [01′01″]
注意！都得到这个五通喔！而且是赡部洲的人都得了，你教了赡部洲人都会上天遁地，都会飞了，那是不可思议的，全成神仙了！我们不用有交通工具了，飞哪儿都可以，也不用轮船了，就都可以了。做了这么大的一个善行，够大了吧！天帝释也赞叹说：“哇！这太多、太多了！哎呀，佛陀，这功德太大了！”然后佛陀又说：“如果善男子、善女人书写了这个甚深般若波罗蜜多，施他、让他读，或者转书写广令流布，这样的福德喔，甚多于前。”比刚才这个例子多很多！ [01′39″]
接着又出现了，说先放着赡部洲的人不说，先说四大洲的，然后往上增──小千世界的、中千世界的、三千大千世界的、十方各如殑伽沙等世界的；然后再放着不说，说十方一切世界的有情，都令安住四静虑、四无色定、四无量、五神通，教所有的十方世界的一切有情，都得到了这样的功德。说：“是善男子、善女人”，这样的善男子或善女人，“由此因缘得福多不？”佛陀又问天帝释说：“如果办成了这么大的事情，一切世界的有情都飞天遁地，什么五神通全获得了，这所有的有情都获得了，那功德够大的吧！”天帝释说：“甚多！”那很多、很多、很多了，那太多了！ [02′28″]
然后佛陀又说：“若善男子、善女人等，书写如是什深般若波罗蜜多，施他读诵，若转书写广令流布，是善男子、善女人等，所获福聚甚多于前。”尽管是这样，这个善男子、善女人教化了十方一切诸有情类，都令他们安住四静虑、四无色定、四无量、五神通，还不如这个抄《般若经》，给别人这样读诵，然后再抄、再读诵，广令流布，不如这样的功德大。这样的功德，比之前我们上述的功德要怎样？甚多于前！比那个功德多好多、好多，非常之多！ [03′09″]
这是佛陀在〈经文品〉中，对比了抄写《般若经》，然后把它送给别人读、再抄写、广令流布这样的功德，跟各种比。大家可以想一想，也唯佛能做这样的譬喻，他能够彻底了知众生做何种业、何种善行、有多少善根、有多少功德，他可以用他遍智的心，清晰地计算、完全无有错谬地计算。这是一个不可思议的譬喻啊！很难以想像这样的善根，居然是由于抄写《般若经》，再送给别人读，然后再抄写、广令流布，由这样的一个善根，大这么多、这么多，很难想像的！ [03′52″]
别小看修那个四静虑呀！现在我们大家都知道，修个九住心都是很困难的。因为我们的散乱，现在尤其是在一个高科技的时代，大家迷惑于各种影像啊、声音啊，能把心向内观照、向内驻守，然后再安住于一个善所缘上产生轻安，到产生这种四静虑，他所费的苦心是很深的，要花很深的苦功夫喔！而且再由于修定，得到了五神通，这不是一般用功的人啊！这么用功的人这么多、这么多，他所获得的功德是不可思议地多，居然还不比那个抄《般若经》、送给人读、广令流布的功德大！ [04′39″]
然后说十方一切世界的有情，就是所有的有情，也可以想像都端坐在自己的安乐坐垫上，他们全部用七支坐的方式端坐在那里。大家都知道修定的时候，要去除散乱和昏沉，光是对治散乱和昏沉，很多人就要奋斗好久。而且有些人在没有听闻〈奢摩他〉和〈毗钵舍那〉教授的时候，还不知道如何修定，还不知道找善所缘，就坐在那里空坐，或者说享受一点身体的愉悦感，享受一点没有胡思乱想就算了。但真正的修定，它是有非常详尽、清晰、精确的解释。比如说住分是多少，当你生起了住分的时候，你的明分是多少，如果明分不清楚的话，是不能算得定的。得定一定要轻安，轻安的话，明分一定要算进去。所以要详尽地学习〈奢摩他〉、〈毗钵舍那〉的教授，才能够得到上面所说的这些。 [05′40″]
而且还生起了五神通，所有的有情都会飞天遁地，那个世界简直是，应该比科幻还科幻的世界，所有的十方一切有情都变这样了。居然还不如抄经，然后送给他读，然后再抄、再送给他读，广令流布《般若经》。至于为什么？佛陀已经在这里边解释了。 [06′02″]
当然上述对于〈经文品〉的这个对比，我只介绍了一少部分，只是就抄《般若经》然后送给他读，然后再抄、广令流布这样的功德。后面这个〈经文品〉里边还有，说：“于此般若波罗蜜多，至心听闻、受持、读诵、精勤修学、如理思惟……”这样的善男子、善女人所获得的功德福聚又再比。还有就是“善男子、善女人等，于此般若波罗蜜多，以无量门广为他说，宣示开演显了解释，分别义趣，令其易解，所获福聚……”又是怎样怎样的，后面有辗转增上这样很多很多的譬喻，大家可以在《般若经》中自己去阅读。我只是抽取其中的部分、一点点，让大家感受一下，抄《般若经》，把它送给别人、让他读，然后再抄、广令流布，就这一件他所做的功德是多大的。更不要说后面的！ [07′12″]