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Global Lamrim II

Lecture No. 0133

Tape: New Version 02 30:46〜32:39

Date: 2019/07/08〜07/10

Outline: Foundation

Topic: Prologue – Veneration at the beginning of commentary

Vol. 1 of Master’s discourse handbook P46-LL6 ~ P47-LL7

We should learn to accept virtuous concepts! We should learn to discern the information that we receive because here it involves learning from the people around us, right? Whilst learning from people around us, our outcome is likely to be determined by the perception we have to absorb these information, right? For instance, whether you opt for organic or conventionally grown foods, you may consider it from the perspective of health…. at times, it is analogized to be like a watershed. So too are thoughts and ideas; what kind of thoughts and ideas should we accept? Thoughts that are free of “poison”, those that are organic, and then remove the thoughts which are “poisonous”. Observing from this point of view, we can know that at every point, Master taught us how to make sensible choices. [00′32″]

When we have a question, “Eh, what should we do at the beginning of our practice?” [Master told us in teaching #103 that] we cannot construct a cart behind closed doors; instead we need to study extensively. Having studied much, we have to be skilled in the key points of practice by aligning our mental stream with the teaching. “If we are not well versed in the teachings, how do we put the teaching into practice?” Master said, “We can put whatever we have learned into practice.” That is, no matter how much we have understood the teaching, we can put it into practice. However, how do we cope if we are surrounded with lots of people and all sorts of ideas? Accept the virtuous concepts and rectify our non-virtuous habits, rather than take them all in without discernment. It is especially true when it comes to grumbling; we cannot let it become like a contagious virus, infecting one person after another, going on and on. Because complaining will not make this world more beautiful; neither will it make our families more harmonious, and it will also not allow our hearts to find its state of bliss; therefore, this is something we need to work on. [01′10″]

At this juncture, Master was actually also pointing out what is the perspective that originates from within us that we use to interact with other people and the way we perceive many matters. Is it a more optimistic perspective where everyone is improving, or is it a more pessimistic angle that things are going from bad to worse from hereon, etc.? Because my mind is in a greyish hue, hence the world that I see also looks like a resigned state; our speech is loaded with negativity, once we open up to talk - negative energy spills in heaps and loads? [01′35″]

Thus, from the way we perceive things, we can make an observation: the point that Master reminded us to pay attention to, are we absorbing concepts that are virtuous? Master used the phrase “try our best” in “We should accept virtuous concepts and … try our best to purify the nonvirtuous ones;” the phrase “try our best” suggests a kind of magnanimity, as well as what? Master also urged us to strive hard for it! Make an effort! He said that we “gradually purify the nonvirtuous ones” and used the word “purify”, he continued, “This is what we can do.” It is especially true that now we are studying Lamrim; this concept is greatly emphasized in the later part of the text. If we are able to do it, we will gradually rectify [our non-virtuous habits] and increase [virtuous practice]. Pay attention! If we can achieve it, everything can be improved gradually; if not, we would come to a standstill at the erroneous stage. What kind of stage is it? You may put it as, nowadays those making effort at yoga have studied few [of the classic texts], while those who have studied much are not skilled in the key points of practice”; what is another possible reply? Grumbling and arrogance! Whenever a situation arises, we always respond with complaints and speak poorly of others without any awareness of the issues in our own lives: in our hearts exist the causes of suffering that needs to be removed; so that these undesirable phenomena can then manifest in different other ways when they appear in our lives. [02′47″]

Let me emphasize it one more time: while this short section reads “while those who have studied much are not skilled in the key points of practice”, the starting point of our meditation/cultivation practice is within the practice that we apply in our daily lives. How to apply the practice? We must accept virtuous concepts and try our best to gradually purify non-virtuous ones. For instance, being filial to our parents, showing respect to elders, treat friends with honesty, cultivate faith in virtuous teachers, etc. There are all sorts of ethical codes within here. This standard is a virtuous concept itself, or the so-called boundary; transgressing such boundary will bring no benefit to self or others. [03′25″]

After you studied this short section that you have heard today, tomorrow you may examine yourself to see if there is an inclination to have better thoughts when faced with the one you particularly like to complain about at work or at home. From a family, to a work place, to an organization, and towards the entire world, do we perceive them from the angle of complaining or a perspective of bettering the world, beginning from the positive angle originating from my heart? We can see with clarity how we make the choice in our mind. Take heed! We make the choice, instead of being impelled to do it! We have the power to take the initiative, because we know the respective consequences between the two choices. If we don’t want to reap such effect, then we should refrain from the aspect of complaining. If we would like to accumulate merits and purify karmic obstructions, then we should transform ourselves so as to align our minds with the teaching, deepen our understanding layer by layer; applying the teaching by self-examining, making observations and training our own minds. Just don’t grumble over the trivial issues that happen daily. From these issues, what can we do instead? We can use the mirror of Dharma to reflect on our three types of karmic doors over and over again, especially where my train of thoughts is heading for. [04′39″]

Master said, “This is what we can do!” I have repeated this statement three times. “This is what we can do! This is what we can do!” Spur yourself up; don’t pass a failing verdict on yourself even before stepping out of your house. Especially, Master said that we have studied a teaching like the Lamrim, the entire text after this specifically emphasizes on this point that if we can put what we have learned into practice, then we can gradually improve and progress ourselves. If we cannot put them into practice, it will be very sorrowful because we will stagnate at that erroneous stage. A standstill at that stage equates to being stopped at a phase of suffering where it cannot bring about positive transformation of our life. Master looked forward for us to take a proactive and positive attitude to face all challenges in life, [Santideva’s Engaging in The Bodhisattva Deeds states in chapter 1 #35] “Even in adversity, Bodhisattvas generate no negativity; instead their virtues naturally increase.” [05′20″]

讲次 0133

科判 道前基础

章节 抱怨与感恩的两条心路

标题 佛子虽逢难，善增罪不生

音档 新版02 30:46〜32:39

日期 2019/07/08〜07/10

广论段落 P1-LL1 今勤瑜伽多寡闻……复乏理辩教义力

手抄页/行 凤山寺版：第1册P46-LL6〜P47-LL7

手抄段落 那么正规地来说......所以对这件事情看不清楚。

一定要接受好的这种概念！你接受的讯息要学会去拣择，因为这里边已经涉及到向周围的人学习，对不对？向周围的人学习，你吸收什么样的观点，可能会变成什么样，对不对？比如说从吃有机和不吃有机的角度、从你的健康的角度，有的时候像分水岭一样。思想也是，要接受什么？无毒的思想、有机的思想，然后把那个有毒的思想去掉。从这样一个观点来看，处处师父都在教我们抉择。 [00′32″]

当我们有一个疑问出来：[欸，一开始修行要怎样啊？]不能闭门造车，要广学多闻；广学多闻之后，不能不善巧，要结合自己的内心来修行。没懂那么多，怎么修行呢？随分随力！你懂了的这些，也可以修行。那么跟周围的环境学习的话，会听到很多很多的概念，怎么办？接受好的概念，去改掉坏的毛病，不是照单全收。尤其是抱怨这件事情，不能像传染病一样，一个传一个、一个传一个。因为抱怨不会让这个世界变美，不会让家庭变美，也不会让自己的心变得清凉，所以这是我们需要改善的。 [01′10″]

这一点，实际上师父也在指出我们待人接物，还有我们看待很多事情，到底从什么样的一个出发点去看待？是从一个大家都在改善、有希望的角度，还是说现在越来越糟啊、什么什么......因为我的心是灰色的，所以我看出的世界也是没有希望的，充满负能量的言论，只要一张嘴，负能量就很多很多？ [01′35″]

所以从我们看事情的观点，可以观察到：师父提醒我们的点，是不是接受好的这种概念？ [尽量地]——师父用一个[尽量地]——这里边也有一种宽容，也有一种什么？要督促大家努力喔！努力！ [尽量地把那个坏的渐渐地净化]，用了一个[净化]，而且说：[这是我们做得到]。师父说：这是我们做得到的，尤其是学习了《朗忍》这样的教授，后面是非常强调这一点。那我们能够做到了，就渐次能够改善增长。注意！如果能够做到了，一切都慢慢改善；如果做不到，我们就始终停滞在那个错误的阶段。什么阶段呀？你可以说：[今勤瑜伽多寡闻，广闻不善于修要]，也可以说什么？抱怨、我慢！发生了事情之后永远都采用抱怨，都说别人的不是；没有看到自己生命里的问题——自己的心里是有苦因的，要把那个苦因拿掉，这一切不如意才会变成另一个样子在我们的生命里出现。 [02′47″]

我再强调一下：虽然这一小段在讲[广闻不善于修要]，如何去修要的起点，就是在我们平常每天的生活中，就可以修链自己了。怎么修链呢？一定要接受好的概念，尽量地把坏的习惯渐渐地净化。比如说：孝顺父母，恭敬兄长，朋友交要有诚信，对待善知识要修信心等等，它都有各式各样的标准在里边。这个标准就是一个好的概念，所谓的限度、界限，过了这个限度，对你自己、对他人都没有好处的。 [03′25″]

学了这一小段之后，今天听了，明天到单位去，或者明天在家里边，你特别特别爱对他抱怨的那个人，就可以观察一下你的心有没有要改善的趣向？从一个家庭到一个事业单位、到对一个团体、到对整个的世界，我们的看法是从抱怨的角度去的，还是从改善它，从我的内心积极的角度去的？可以明晰地看到在我内心中我是如何选择的。注意！选择趣入，不是不得不趣入！我们是有主动权的，因为我们知道了那样走的结果和这样走的结果，如果我不想要得到那样的结果，那么我就不要从抱怨的角度去；要积资、净忏的话，那么就改变自己，让自己的内心和法相应，层层深入，拿法来照自心，去观察、修链自己。就是不要在那些每天发生的一点小事上去抱怨，而是从发生一点小事那个地方，做什么？用法镜数数地来照自己的三业，尤其是照自己的思想朝什么地方去的。 [04′39″]

师父说：[这是我们做得到的！]我这句话重复三遍了。 [这是我们做得到的！这是我们做得到的！] 给自己打气，不要没出门就说自己一定会输。尤其是师父说学习了《朗忍》这样的教授，后面整本书都在强调这一点，那我们如果能够做到的话，就渐次地改善、增上；如果做不到就很悲哀，就会停滞在那个错误的阶段。停滞在那个错误的阶段就等于停在痛苦的阶段，我们生命的状况是没法改善的。师父是期待我们能够积极向上地面对生命所有的挑战，[佛子虽逢难，善增罪不生]！ [05′20″]