Lecture No. 0144
Global Lamrim II
Lecture No. 0144
Tape: -
Date: 2019/08/15 ~ 08/18
Outline: Prologue – Veneration at the beginning of commentary
English Lamrim: Vol 1, Page 34
Over these few sessions, I have emphasized specifically on “how to listen to the teachings”, because how to listen to the teachings is a very important practice. First, we need to contemplate the benefits of listening to the teaching, then ponder on what we should be mindful of while listening to the teaching. Such contemplation should reach the point of getting ourselves motivated and transforming our mind. Transform our mind to have a strong yearning to listen to Buddha’s teaching, and truly appreciate that it is a once in a lifetime “opportunity” to listen to Buddha Dharma. What Master said was “opportunity”! To what level should we cherish this opportunity? This opportunity is like the opportunity described in the analogy of the blind turtle encountering the drifting yoke. The blind turtle will rise to the surface of the ocean once in every hundred years, and a yoke was drifting on the ocean. By chance, the turtle stretched its neck right through the hole of the floating yoke! It is this kind of opportunity! With this kind of opportunity, do we have the ability to listen to the teaching? Yes, we have ears that can hear, and having intelligence, capable of engaging in intellectual contemplation, and have the desire to contemplate – such is the opportunity! [01′03]
Once we obtained such rare conditions, if we fail to uphold the instructions on how to listen to the teachings, we get distracted by wandering thoughts; consequently, in each session of Master’s teaching, we just lightly scratch the surface of his intended meaning, or don’t even remember anything at all, then what loss can be greater than this? [01′23″]
When giving the teaching of the Global Lamrim II, I always visualize all of us sitting in a large classroom, studying together. I would really like to see what is the look in everyone’s eyes, whether you are paying attention or not. Whether you are delighted (in listening)? Whether you comprehend the teaching? And what is your sitting posture? As a certain posture will easily cause drowsiness. Besides, it is best if you can sit upright while you are listening to the teaching because continued hunching of your back will cause exhaustion after a prolong period. Are you listening wholeheartedly and attentively? If one day we can sit in a large classroom learning together, I will be able to see the look in everyone’s eyes, see everyone’s sitting posture. At that time, I will possibly remind you [about your posture]. Each reminder is to train how to listen to the teaching attentively, don’t be distracted! Why do we need to emphasize the sitting posture while listening to the teaching? Because with the proper posture it is easier for us to uphold proper perception. Once the body is not in a proper sitting posture, it would in fact not be easy to sustain the proper perception. Why does the Zen meditation always stress the need to be seated in the seven-point meditation method [meaning the legs, the spine, the hands, the shoulders, the tongue, the mouth, and the eyes]? Because it is easier for us to retain proper perception; and it is better for the body. [02′30″]
Hence, prior to listening to the teaching, the pre-lesson preparation is very crucial! Just because now you can play the audio recording and start listening to it, doesn’t mean that you can skip the pre-lesson preparation. Once such a bad habit is formed, we would listen in a perfunctory manner, even often listening to the teaching without paying much attention or in a languid way. With such an attitude, we will gradually develop this bad habit of not cherishing the opportunity of listening to the teaching; if so, then it would definitely be a great loss for ourselves! [02′55″]
So, the longer a student has learned, the more attention he must pay to the most fundamental [topics], those in front, for example “Contemplating the benefits of listening to the teaching [in v.1 chapter 3]. Regarding this point, everyone must keep it in mind and contemplate, contemplating on it until one truly feels touched, and appreciates the rarity of the opportunity of: “Sitting here, I am able to listen to Lama Tsong–kha-pa’s teaching, and able to listen to Master explaining the Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment, using a method that is clear, with familiarity, that is easy to understand. At least, understanding at the literal level, then we will be able to dwell deeper [into its meaning].” We need to recognize that such an opportunity is like the blind turtle encountering the drifting yoke; develop within our hearts the sense of cherishing it deeply. [03′43″]
Listening to the teaching with such an attitude, we would not carelessly miss any word imparted by Master; nor would we feel “I got it or I knew that”. Instead, we would strongly feel that we did not understand [the teaching]. Because each time we listen to the teaching, we would be able to hear a deeper meaning; while analyzing ourselves with discernment, when introspecting, will be able to see more of our incorrect views, see what we have not seen previously. If, with each listening, we are able to uncover our erroneous perception, refute it accordingly, how could we claim we have understood it in the past? [04′23″]
At the end of each listening [of the teaching], proper dedication is a must. We must dedicate the merit towards the goal of ultimate enlightenment; it is like dripping a drop of water into the vast ocean, so such virtuous roots will never exhaust. And, with an earnest pre-lesson preparation, we truly can reap Dharma joy, because listening to Buddha Dharma brings joy to our mind. Such joyfulness arises due to our contemplation on these truths, it is based entirely on rational discernment, developing either inner joy or being deeply touched. [04′57″]
Listening to Master’s tone of voice and his detailed explanation of the Lamrim word for word and line by line. After we have earnestly completed our pre-lesson preparation, we would be deeply moved. We would be able to sense Master’s compassionate intention – the compassionate intention from all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas as transmitted by Master! When you sense a little bit of such compassion, our state of being would be softened, would become pliable and more at ease. Even those matters which are hard to accept, after listening to these teachings, unknowingly, our mind suddenly softens; we can accept what was once thought to be unacceptable, or those who lack courage in doing kind deeds also suddenly will become courageous. For we are touched by the eternal compassionate intention from Buddhas and Bodhisattvas; we felt the unyielding will power and practice of such a Master. Moreover, he made this pledge: “As long as you won’t give up, I will accompany you to the end of the journey [to Buddhahood]!” This is the aspiration of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas! Buddha and Bodhisattvas will fulfill their promise! [06′10″]
【全球广论 II 讲次: 0144】
讲次 0144
科判 道前基础
章节 走一条最快成佛的路
标题 重视听闻轨理，珍惜闻法胜缘
音档 -
日期 2019/08/15 ~ 08/18
广论段落 P2-L1 故离智者欢喜道……故我心意遍勇喜
这几节课我都特别强调[听闻轨理]，因为听闻轨理是非常重要的一个修行。事先要思惟闻法胜利，再思惟正在听法的过程之中我应该注意什么；要思惟到令心转动、令心转变，转变为非常非常希求听到佛法，然后感受到听闻佛法千载难逢的[机会]，师父讲的是[机会]！这个机会珍惜到什么程度呢？就是盲龟遇浮木那样的机会，一百年它出来一次，浮木在大海上漂，那个乌龟恰巧把它的脖子伸到那个轭木孔里边，是这样的机会喔！这样的机会有没有能力听呢？耳朵是可以听的，而且智力正常、是有能力可以思考的，然后又想思考——这样的机会！ [01′03″]
一旦得到这么难得的条件，如果听闻轨理做不好，我们被一些杂乱的心思所干扰，而对于每一节课师父要讲的要义，就在心里轻轻地散过去，甚至完全没有痕迹的话，那有什么损失比这个更大呢？ [01′23″]
讲全广的时候，我都是观想我们坐在一个大的教室里，我们一起学。很想看到大家的眼神是怎么样的，有没有专注啊？有没有欢喜啊？有没有领会啊？而你的坐姿是怎么样的？因为有一种坐姿就很容易昏沉。另外，听法的时候最好坐直，一直驼背的话，久了之后也会疲惫。有没有打起全部的精神来听呢？如果有一天我们真的在一个大教室里听的话，我就会看到大家的眼神，看到大家的坐姿，那时候我可能就会提醒你们。每一次提醒的时候，都是在训练听闻轨理的专注力，不要散乱！为什么要强调听法的坐姿呢？因为那种坐姿比较容易提正念，身体一歪了之后其实不太容易提正念。禅定的时候为什么都要七支坐，坐得那么好呢？就是比较容易提正念，而且对身体比较好。 [02′30″]
所以在听闻的时候，前行的准备一定是非常关键的！不要因为现在把音档打开就可以听，前行就不做，不做久了之后就浮浮泛泛地、散散漫漫地去听，甚至平常就是特别不专心，很随意就听了。这样听久了就会养成坏习惯，听法也不那么珍惜，这样对自己损失就太大了！ [02′55″]
所以，学得越久的同学，越是要注意最基础的、前面的，比如说思惟闻法胜利。这一点大家一定要放在心上去思考，思考到内心真的很感动，感觉到千载难逢，[我坐在这里能够听闻宗大师的教法，能够听到师父以这么清晰亲切的、容易趣入的方式讲解《菩提道次第广论》，至少在字面上能听得懂，然后我们就可以深入。]要认识到这个机会像盲龟遇浮木那样，心里要生出万分珍惜的感觉。 [03′43″]
这样来听的话，就不会轻易地错过师父讲的每一个字，而且也不会觉得这个我懂了、那个我懂了，会深刻地感觉到这是没听懂的。因为每一次听闻的时候我们都会听到更深一点的内涵，抉择自心的时候、往内心里看的时候，都会看到更多的邪执，看到过去没有看到的东西。发现每一次自己都有看到、都有破到自己过去没破到的邪宗的话，怎么能说过去那个是懂了呢？ [04′23″]
听完之后要好好地回向，一定要回向无上正等菩提，就像把一滴水放进大海，这个善根会永不干涸。而且认真地做了听闻前行之后，我们真的可以收获到法喜——因为听闻佛法内心里很喜悦。这种喜悦就是因为思惟这些真理产生的，它完全地由理性的正理抉择，产生内心的欢悦或者内心的深度感动。 [04′57″]
听着师父的语气，听着师父字字句句对《广论》的解释，我们认真地做了前行之后是会感动的，是会碰触到师父慈悲的心意——师父所传递的诸佛慈悲的心意！你感受到一点点那样的慈悲的时候，生命的状态就会变得柔软、变得调柔，还有舒适。甚至你看不过去的事情，就因为听闻了这样的教法之后，不知道为什么，心里突然就柔软下来了，看不过去的也看过去了，过不去的都过去了；或者没有勇气行善的，也突然获得了勇气。因为我们感受到了佛菩萨对我们千古慈悲的心意，感受到了这样一位师长以这样的愿力和行持，以这样坚忍的毅力在引导着我们。而且他说：[只要你不放弃，我愿意陪你走完最后一程！]佛菩萨的愿力喔！佛菩萨的誓言就是说到做到！ [06′10″]