Lecture No. 0090
Global Lamrim II
Lecture No. 0090
Tape no. -
Date 2019/02/07 ~ 02/10
Outline: -
Topic: The Sutra of Miscellaneous Jewels - The Kingdom That Abandoned Elders
Greetings to all! Happy New Year! It is time for us to study Lamrim together again. We have just crossed the first few days of the New Year, have you made New Year visits to your elders? I’m sure everyone had a great time! Hence, I would like to share with you a story about Buddha from The Sutra of Miscellaneous Jewels. Do you like this idea? Let me hear you…. oh, great! Everyone feels it is a pretty good idea, thus I will begin the story! [00′36″]
The name of the story is The Kingdom That Abandoned Elders; it is one of the stories in The Sutra of Miscellaneous Jewels during the time when Buddha was at Sravasti, Buddha said, “Respecting the elderly will bring about great benefits. We will learn and understand what we had never heard before. Such a good reputation will travel afar, and one would be respected by the wise.” The monks said, “Tathagata, the World Honored one, you often praise and respect parents and elders.” Buddha replied, “It is not just today; I have been respectful to parents and elders since countless eons ago.” The monks asked Buddha again, “How exactly did you pay respect to the elderly in the past?” [01′32″]
Buddha began to tell the story: “A long time ago, there was a Kingdom named Abandoning Elders, abandon as in discarding away. In that country, the elders were banished to a faraway place and were left alone without care, just like abandonment. There was a minister whose father was aged. According to the laws of the kingdom, his father should be sent away to the faraway place without any providence. However, this minister was very filial and could not bear to abandon his father. Thus he came up with a solution that was to dig deep underground – and then build it as secret chamber so that his father could stay there and the minister could readily attend to him. Undoubtedly, this had to be done secretly and no one should find out. Why? Because it was violating the law. One would be go going against the law if they provided for their father! See how merciless the ruling of this kingdom was. [02′46″]
Later, there appeared a heavenly god who brought 2 snakes to the palace and asked the king, “If you are able to tell apart which one of the snakes is male and which one is female, then your country will be at peace. However, if you can’t, then you and your country will collapse in 7 days.” This was a deity! Even though the king was powerful, he dared not offend the heavenly god. Thus, upon hearing this, the king was so worried that he immediately discussed with the ministers to find a solution. All ministers racked their brains, but could not come up with any solution or answer. They declined one after another, explaining that they were too, at their wits’ end. Hence, the king offered a reward to everyone in the kingdom: whoever could tell the difference will be granted an official position with a handsome reward. This minister went home and consulted his father; the father told his son, “This is a very easy task! Just put both snakes on something silky and soft. The fidgety one would be the male snake, while the calm, stable one is the female.” They followed the advice of the minister’s father accordingly, and indeed they managed to distinguish the male snake from the female one. [04′17″]
It seemed that this heavenly god was not satisfied and continued asking the king another question, “Comparing to those who are asleep, who is the awakened one? Comparing to those who are awakened, who are the ones asleep?” The king could not come up with an answer, and neither could the ministers. Thus the king offered a reward in the kingdom again, but still, no one could answer it. The minister asked his father again, “What does this statement mean?” The father said, “Compared with ordinary beings, the learned one is the awakened one; when compared with an arhat, the learned one is like a sound asleep person.” That was the answer to it. The learned refers to the practitioners between the stages of path-of-preparation and the path-of-meditation, which includes ordinary beings and sages. The path-of-preparation is the stage of ordinary beings, while the path-of-seeing and the path-of-meditation are the stages of the sages. They practice the teachings for the sake of eliminating afflictions; thus they are known as the learned. [05′19″]
So this question was answered. The heavenly god was still not satisfied. Here came the 3rd question. The heavenly god asked, “What is the weight of this white elephant?” Evidently, there was a white elephant in the palace. That elephant might have been so gigantic that even though the ministers discussed for a long time, they could not figure out how to measure such a heavy and enormous animal. Again a reward was offered, but no one could come up with an answer. And so the minister asked his father again; the father replied, “Lead the elephant onto a boat, mark the water level that the boat sinks to, and then walk the elephant out of the boat. Load the boat with rocks until it sinks to the same water level as the drawn line. [By knowing how much the rocks weigh,] you would know the weight of the white elephant.” Thus, the heavenly god’s question was answered by using this approach. They cleared the 3rd challenge. [06′21″]
However, the heavenly god was still not satisfied, so he asked the 4th question. The heavenly god asked, “The amount of water cupped in hands can be more than that of the ocean, who knows how is this done?” The ministers began to discuss again; after a while, they still had no answers; not even after asking everyone. Hence the minister asked his father again, “What does this question mean?” And the father replied, “It is very easy! If someone, upholding a pure faith, offers water cupped in the hands to the Buddha, the sangha as well as all suffering patients, due to such merits, this person would enjoy endless good fortune for millions of eons. Although the ocean is vast and deep, its existence is no longer than one eon. As such, the amount of water cupped in hands can exceed hundreds of thousands of times that of the ocean.” That was the answer for the heavenly god. Let me elaborate here. Why does the ocean exist for such a long time? Each world will go through the stages of formation, sustaining, decaying and vacating. When it is the decaying eon, everything in this world will be destroyed, even the oceans too, through the calamities of fire, water, or wind respectively. Thus the existence of the ocean is said to be less than an eon. From this passage, we know the father held a firm belief in cause and effect; he was learned and even fully understood the concept of formation, sustaining, decaying, and vacating. Can you imagine what kind of person this father was? [07′56″]
What about the heavenly god? The 4th question was replied, but the heavenly god was still not convinced and proposed the next question again. This time, the heavenly god transformed himself into a starving person. How starved was he? He looked very skinny and bonny, so wretched and pitiable, and he asked, “In this world, is there anyone more famished, poor, emaciated and wretched than me?” The ministers started to rack their brains again, yet could not come up with the answer. They were really at their limits. Thus the minister went to ask his father again. What was the answer from the father? Let’s find out. The father said, “there are people in this world who are stingy, jealous, lack of faith in the Three Jewels, unable to take care of their parents, teachers, and elders, which will cause their downfall to the realm of hungry ghost in their future lives. They will not hear the name of water or food for billions of years. Their bodies are like mountains, with bellies as big as valleys; throats are as tiny as a pinhole, and hairs as sharp as razors, which twist around their bodies from head to toe. If they move their bodies, all joints of the limbs will be burning with pain. The ordeals these people undergo are billion times more terrifying than your starvation!” This was the answer given to the heavenly god. [09′28″]
How many questions have we gone through so far? Have you come up with the answers to any of the above questions? Did you get any one right? Do you have answers? The heavenly god was still not satisfied, so again he asked the 6th question; everyone can try to think about it! This time, the heavenly god transformed into a human, with shackles on both hands and feet; he was even chained up around the neck. And also, the entire body was on fire and badly charred; and again the heavenly god asked, “In this world, is there anyone who suffers more than me?” Neither the king nor the ministers could answer it; in fact, no one knew the answer so none of them could answer it. If that were for you, what would be your answer? This time, the minister went back to ask his father again. The father replied, “In this world, those who disobey their parents, harm their teachers, betray their husband – of course, this refers to the wives, and slander the Three Jewels will be reborn to the hell realm. In the hell, there are mountains of daggers, forests with trees of iron sword leaves, firing wagons, burning tandoors, rivers of faeces; besides, there are paths of knives and paths of fire, the roads are all covered by barbed knives and blazing fire. These people endure immeasurable sufferings, the intensity of suffering surpasses billion times more than that of your suffering!” That was the answer gave to the heavenly god. [11′01″]
After that, the heavenly god transformed into a woman with elegant appearance with beauty beyond worldly beings, and asked, “In this world, is there anyone whose looks are as elegant as mine?” The king and ministers were again silent, unable to come up with an answer. Thus, the minister went to ask his father again. The father replied immediately, “In this world, those who have faith in the Three Jewels and pay respect to them, who are filial to their parents; enjoy practicing generosity, patience, joyous perseverance and ethical discipline will be reborn to the heavenly god realm with elegant features, outstanding appearance that is many thousand times more superior than yours. Comparing with them, you look like a blind monkey.” This was the answer for the heavenly god. [11′57″]
Upon answering the question, the heavenly god came again holding a square-shaped genuine sandalwood and asked, “Which side of this wood block was the root of the sandalwood tree?” This was totally beyond the intellect of the king and ministers, so again they could not answer it. There was no mention of any reward provided by the king for this answer in the sutra. Most likely there was no one who could answer. Again the minister went back to ask his father in the secret basement chamber, and the father said, “This one is very easy to understand, just place the sandalwood block in water, and the root portion of the block would definitely sink, while the part made from the far ends of the tree would float.” This was the answer provided to the heavenly god. [12′40″]
Later, the heavenly god brought two white horses, identical in size, shape and colour. The heavenly god then asked again, “Which one is the mare and which one is the pony?” Neither the ruler nor his ministers could answer that. And then the minister went to ask his father again. His father replied, “Feed them hay, the mother horse will definitely push the hay towards the baby horse for it to eat.” [13′11″]
Since the king answered all questions, the heavenly god was very pleased. He presented the king with a great number of precious treasures, and told the king, “I will protect your kingdom from being attacked or invaded by any intruder.” [13′29″]
After hearing this, the king was elated and asked the minister, “Did you come up with all the answers on your own or was there someone who taught you how to answer those questions? It was because of your wisdom that kept our kingdom safeguarded. Not only have I been granted with so many treasures, the kingdom too, gain protection by the heavenly god; all these are attributed to your capacity.” Hence, the minister replied to the king, “It was not my wisdom. I wish to seek Your Majesty’s kindness to pardon me for speaking the truth, before I have the courage to report them to you one by one.” The king said, “Even if you have committed a serious crime punishable by the death penalty today, you will be acquitted of any charge, let alone some minor wrongdoings?” Thus, the minister reported to the king, “There is a law in our country that disallows the caring of the elders. Yet I have an elderly father, I could not bear to abandon him, so I transgressed the royal law by hiding my father in a secret chamber at the basement of my household. The reason that I was able to answer all those questions is due to my father’s wisdom instead of mine. I wish everyone can be granted to take care of their elders in Your Majesty’s kingdom.” [14′46″]
Upon hearing this, the king was full of great admiration and was delighted; he made offering and paid respect to the minister’s father, regarding the father as the teacher. And the king said, “You have saved everyone’s life in this kingdom; such merit is beyond my comprehension.” Henceforth, the king declared his order and announced that, “From now on, abandoning the elderly is prohibited. Instead we must be filial and tend to the needs of the older generation. Whoever is unfilial towards their parents or disrespects their teacher will be charged with grave sentences!” [15′21″]
After explaining such past causes and conditions, Buddha said, “The father at the time was me, the minister then was Sariputra, the king at the time was the king Ajatashatru, and the heavenly god then was Ananda.” [15′41″]
That is the end of the story; what is going through your mind? Sariputra, he at the causal stage, under such difficult circumstances, was filial to his father even if it meant going against the law. However, in current times, if we don’t take care of our father, we could be punished by the law and be condemned by moralists in society. In our era, there are no hindrances that will prohibit us from taking care of our parents. However, in our lives, take a look at ourselves and people around us, how do we fare when it comes to filial piety toward our parents, and showing respect to our teachers? [16′24″]
So, during Chinese New Year, we can express more gratitude to our parents, and if our parents have passed away, we can then recite sutras sincerely, carry out meritorious deeds on their behalf, and dedicate merits to them. [16′36″]
After hearing such a story, we can think about how it was not easy to deal with the brainteaser questions when we were unable to switch our thinking around. So let us think about Sakyamuni Buddha during his causal stage, wow, Buddha was not only erudite, his wisdom was as profound as the ocean! So, let’s make aspiration to take refuge in Buddha, Dharma and Sangha life after life, to engage in ten virtuous deeds to benefit self and others in this world, and properly uphold our ethical discipline. [17′06″]
During the Chinese New Year celebration, classmates who have vowed to take the five precepts, especially those who observe the precept of not consuming alcohol, please be more vigilant! While gathering with relatives and friends, you need to be very aware, if you have taken the vow not to consume alcohol, please do not forget about it! In addition, do not kill, eating more vegetarian meals will be better for your health. [17′25″]
Once again, I wish everyone a Happy New Year and great auspiciousness all-round! [17′31″]
【全球广论 II 讲次: 0090】
讲次 0090
科判 特别专题
主题 《杂宝藏经・弃老国缘》
音档 -
日期 2019/02/07 ~ 02/10
大家好！新年快乐！又到了我们一起学习《广论》的时间了，这两天过年了，不知道大家有没有去给长辈拜年啊？都很开心吧！所以我决定在研讨《广论》的时间，给大家讲一个佛经故事，这个是源自于《杂宝藏经》的故事，不知道你们觉得这样好不好呢？我听一听——哦！大家觉得还不错，那我就开始讲啰！ [00′36″]
《杂宝藏经．弃老国缘》——这个故事的名字。说佛陀在舍卫国，那个时候世尊说：[恭敬年长的长辈会有很大的利益——过去没有听过的事能够听闻并且了解，美名远扬，被智者恭敬。]诸比丘说： [如来世尊常常赞叹恭敬父母及年长的长辈。]佛陀说：[不只是今天而已，我在过去无量劫中都恭敬父母及年长者。]比丘又请问佛陀说：[过去您恭敬的那些事迹到底是怎样的呢？] [01′32″]
佛陀开始讲说：在过去久远以前，有一个国家叫弃老国——丢弃的弃。在那个国家里，老人就要被驱逐到远远的地方，不去管他们，就像抛弃了一样。有一个大臣，他的父亲年事已高，按照国法，是应该驱逐到很远的地方不去管他。但是这个大臣很孝顺，不忍心弃父亲于不顾，于是想出了一个办法，就在家里深深地挖掘了一个地下的密室——挖掘了地下，然后把它建成一个密室——让父亲就住在里面，随时地孝敬和供养。当然这一定是秘密的，不能被别人发现的，为什么呢？因为会犯国法的，如果养父亲会犯国法的哦！听听这个国家的法令是多么地残忍。 [02′46″]
后来，有一个天神，这个天神就抓了两条蛇，来到了国王的宫殿上，就问国王说：[如果你能分辨出哪条蛇是雄蛇、哪条蛇是雌蛇，那你的国家就能安定；如果国王你分辨不出来，你和你的国家七天之后都将覆灭。]天神哦！纵然国王威震四野，也不敢惹。所以国王听了之后，就非常地忧恼，立刻跟大臣商量该怎么办呢？然后每个大臣都应该是挖空心思地想也想不出来，所以就纷纷推让，说他们没法分辨。于是就悬赏全国——谁能分辨出来，一定会加官进爵，厚加赏赐。大臣回家之后，就去请问父亲，父亲回答儿子说：[这件事很容易！把蛇放在纤细柔软的物品上，躁动不安的就是雄蛇，静止不动的就是雌蛇。]照做之后，果然分出了雌雄。 [04′17″]
这个天神好像不甘心，又继续问：[谁与睡着的人相比是觉者？谁与觉者相比是睡着的人呢？]又来问国王了。国王答不出来，大臣也答不出来，于是又悬赏全国，也没有人能回答。然后大臣又问父亲说：[这句话是什么意思呢？]父亲说：[有学位的人，与凡夫相比，是觉者；与阿罗汉相比，就像睡着的人。]就这么回答。有学位是指加行位到修道位之间的修行者，其中包含了凡夫及圣者，像加行位就是凡夫位，见道位、修道位就是圣者，他们为了断除烦恼而修道所以就叫有学位。 [05′19″]
这个问题就又答完了。然后天神可能还不甘心，又来问了第三个问题，天神又问说：[这头白象有多少斤重呢？]很显然可能有一头大白象在那里。然后可能那头象太大了，所以大臣们讨论了半天，也没有人知道，太重了，怎么量呢？又悬赏全国，都没有人知道。然后大臣就问父亲，父亲又说了：[把大象牵到船上，看船在池水中下沉了多少，沿着水面画一条线，然后把大象牵出来，再把石头放在画线的这个船上，直到船下沉到同一条线，就知道大象有多重了。]于是就回答了天神，可以用这个方法，所以第三个问题又过关了。 [06′21″]
可是天神还是不满足，又来问了第四个问题。天神又问说：[用一捧水比大海还多，谁知道这是怎么办到的呢？]群臣们又开始讨论，讨论了半天，还是不知道，问了所有的人都不知道。所以大臣又去问父亲：[这句话是什么意思啊？]然后父亲说：[这句话很容易！如果有人怀着清净的信心，用一捧水供养佛陀、僧众、还有痛苦的病人，由于这样的功德，在数千万劫中受福无穷。海水虽然很多，但是存在的时间不过一劫而已。所以一捧之水，能比大海多过百千万倍。]就这样去回答天神。我解释一下，为什么大海存在这么久？每个世界都会经历成、住、坏、空的阶段，坏劫出现的时候，这个世界的一切都会被破坏，即使是大海水，也会由于火劫、水劫、风劫而被破坏，所以说海水存在的时间不过一劫。大家可以看这一段，这个父亲啊，他是深信因果、博学多闻，连成住坏空全部都了解，大家可以想想这个父亲，到底是什么人呢？ [07′56″]
天神呢？第四个问题被答了，天神还是不甘心，又来问了。这次天神变成了一个饥饿的人，饿成什么样呢？瘦骨嶙峋、形销骨立，就是非常非常地可怜，就问说：[在这个世间上还有人比我更加饥饿、更加贫穷、更加瘦弱、更加痛苦的吗？]大臣们又开始左思右想，答不出来，这可能已经到达了一个顶点了。所以大臣又去问父亲了，父亲的答案是什么呢？大家可以听一听，父亲说：[世间上有人悭贪嫉妒、不信三宝、不能供养父母师长，将来之世会堕入饿鬼道中，百千万年都听不到水还有饮食的名字；身体像山一样，腹部像山谷一样，喉咙像针孔一样，头发就像锥刀一样，而且缠住身体一直缠到脚，只要身体一行动，四肢的关节都会燃烧。这样的人比你的饥苦百千万倍还苦啊！]就用这一番话回答天神。 [09′28″]
现在被问几个问题了？上述这几个问题，你们有没有想啊？有没有答上？有没有答案？然后天神还不满足，又开始第六个问题了，大家考虑考虑哦！这个天神又变化成一个人，这个人手脚都套上了枷锁，连脖子上都挂着锁链，而且全身冒火，举体烧烂，又问说：[这个世界上，有人比我更痛苦吗？]国王和大臣都没有人回答，没有人知道，也答不出来。你们想一下，你们会想什么呢？这个时候，大臣又回去问父亲了，父亲回答说：[世间上有人不孝父母、忤逆伤害师长、背叛丈夫——这当然指妻子，然后诽谤三宝，来世就会堕入地狱，地狱里有刀山、剑树、火车、炉炭，身陷沸屎之河，还有刀道、火道——就是那个路上都是倒刺的刀、燃烧的火，受无量无边的痛苦不可计数，他比你痛苦可是超越百千万倍呀！]就这样如此回答天神。 [11′01″]
然后天神又变化成一个女人，相貌端严美好，超越世人，又问说：[这个世间上，有人像我长得如此庄严吗？]国王及大臣都沉默了，答不出来，所以大臣又去问父亲了。父亲当时就回答说：[世间有人，信奉尊敬三宝、孝顺父母、喜好布施、忍辱、精进、持戒，能够投生天上，相貌端正，出众又美好，超过你百千万倍，与他相比，你就像瞎眼的猕猴一样。]就用这番话回答天神。 [11′57″]
这个问题答完，天神又来了，拿了一块正方形的、真正的檀香木，然后就问说：[哪一边是树根的部分？]国王及大臣的智力有限，答不出来。这段在佛经上没写悬赏全国、有谁回答，多半都是没有人回答。然后大臣就回去问他住在地下密室里的父亲，然后父亲说：[这很容易了解，把檀木放在水里边，根的部分一定会下沉，然后尾部一定会上浮。]就用这句话回答天神。 [12′40″]
后来，天神又牵来两匹白马，身、色都一模一样，天神又问说：[哪一匹是母马，哪一匹是小马呢？]君臣都答不出来。然后大臣又去问父亲了，父亲回答说：[给它们草料，让它们吃食，若是母马，必定会把草推给小马吃。] [13′11″]
国王回答了所有的问题，天神非常地欢喜，馈赠国王大批的奇珍异宝，跟国王说：[你现在的国土我当拥护，让外敌不能侵害你的国家。] [13′29″]
国王听了之后，龙心大悦，就问大臣说：[这是你自己知道的，还是有人教你的？因为你的才智，才得以保护国家的平安，我获得了那么多的珍宝，又被天神拥护，这都是因为你的力量。]于是大臣就回答国王说：[不是臣的智慧，希望国王施直言无惮的恩德，我才敢跟国王您一一禀告。]国王说： [即使你今天有万死之罪，还尚且不问罪，何况是小的罪过？]于是大臣启禀国王说：[我们这个国家有一个制度命令，不允许孝养老人。而臣有一个老父亲，我不忍心遗弃他，所以冒犯了王法，把父亲藏在地下密室里面。臣之所以能回答那些问题，都是父亲的智慧，而不是我的力量。只希望大王的国土之内，都能准许孝养老人。] [14′46″]
国王听得非常地赞叹，心生喜悦，就奉侍大臣的父亲，而且尊敬他，把他当成老师。然后国王说：[您救了全国上下所有人的性命，这样的利益不是我所能了解的。]于是就宣布命令，昭告天下说：[从此以后，不允许弃养老人，要孝养老人。谁不孝顺父母、不敬师长，当判为大罪！] [15′21″]
佛陀讲完过去的因缘之后，佛陀说：[当时的父亲，就是我；当时的大臣，就是舍利弗；当时的国王，就是阿闍世王；而当时的天神，就是阿难。] [15′41 ″]
故事讲完了，大家在想什么呢？像舍利弗，他在因地当中，在那么艰难的状态下，冒犯王法也要孝养自己的父亲。可是在今天，如果我们不孝养父亲的话，是可能会被王法制裁，也会被社会的道德人士所谴责。所以我们生在这样的一个时代，孝养父母，是没有人阻碍你的。可是在我们的生命中，看看自己和周围的人，孝养父母、尊敬师长这件事，做得如何呢？ [16′24″]
所以在过年的时候，多去感恩自己的父母，如果自己的父母已经不在了，就好好地念经，为他们做一些功德，回向给他们。 [16′36″]
听了这样的故事，大家可以想想，前面非常像脑筋急转弯，也转不过来吧！所以想一想释迦佛在因地的时候，哇！不仅仅是博学多闻，真是智慧如海呀！所以，发愿生生世世能够皈依佛、皈依法、皈依僧，能够在这个世界上自作教他，然后行十善法，好好地守持律仪。 [17′06″]
在过年的时候，受持五戒的同学，尤其是受持了不饮酒戒的同学要注意哦！在大家亲朋好友相聚的时候，你要特别清楚，你如果受了不饮酒的戒，不要忘记哦！另外不要杀生，多吃素对身体比较好。 [17′25″]
再次地祝大家新年快乐、诸事大吉！ [17′31″]