Lecture No. 0151
Global Lamrim II
Lecture No. 0151
Tape: -
Date: 2019-09-09 ~ 2019-09-11
Outline: Foundation
Topic: Prologue – Veneration at the beginning of the commentary
English Lamrim Volume 1, page 34
Whenever [we] have time for self-introspection, just like a lake in which only placid water can reflect the moon and stars in the sky, the same works for our minds. Only after being calm and tranquil can we discover the deeper underlying issues in our lives. Thus our pace of lives should not be too quick, too hectic, or too hasty; otherwise, we could not focus our attention on our mind nor could we be aware of our train of thoughts. [Therefore,] amid the 24 hours [everyday], whether we are at work, at school, or at home, handling all sorts of matters, everyone please slow down our pace a little bit. Why should we slow down [our pace]? [Because that will allow us to] reflect inwardly. Do remember that the most horrible thing in the three realms (desire realm, form & formless realms) is [our] mind! [This is] because the root of our greatest suffering lies within our minds, and the source of all sufferings originates from our untamed mind. [00′59″]
Buddhas and Bodhisattvas [have] come to this world to reveal such truth to us. If we can establish such concept in our mind, and keep practicing, [we] would definitely be rewarded with the sweet taste of learning and practicing Buddha Dharma. We would realize that, transforming [our] mind is actually much easier than changing the external conditions, for it is hard to gauge and be sure of others’ minds. If we [could] calm down and reflect inwardly, examining [how our mind reacts to] everyday occurrences, which happen around us, be it big, small, or trivia, we would become more and more familiar with our own mind, and with our way of thinking and behavioral pattern, [particularly] when we face the arising conditions. You would realize the way you perceive when an incidence occurs, and how [your perception and response] arise. [With that kind of awareness, we] can change the way our mind [normally] works to taming from within [instead of blaming the external factors; [we should] tame our indocile mind so that we can cultivate the virtues [that haven’t yet formed], and foster an attitude of forgiveness [that we haven’t had:] be compassionate towards others --- our parents, teachers, Three Jewels, even a stranger or another living being; we should treat them all with respect. As such, [we] won’t plant many chaotic, disturbing and suffering causes. Hence, if we can be mindful of the proper perception everyday upon waking up, then we would engage in much less non-virtuous deeds in the day, for we would uphold a vigilant awareness in minding our three karmic doors (body, speech and mind). [02′21″]
By earnestly working and continuously training ourselves via such approach, certainly we would habituate self-restrain from conducting non-virtuous actions physically, verbally and mentally i.e. the three karmic doors. We would then be used to nurture virtuous thoughts manifested through our mental, verbal and physical activities. Gradually our virtuous karma would keep flowing like a waterfall that never runs dry; besides, the more we practice the better we are at it, the more [virtuous karma] would we accumulate. With that, we will reap the benefits of having a serene, tamed, gentle, and grateful mind/personality in this life. We wouldn’t hurt others’ feelings with harsh words, or be insensitive to others’ contribution; nor would we blame others for anything that goes wrong. [Instead,] we can reflect on ourselves very easily; we would [also] discover many wonderful things that are worth cherishing and deserving our appreciation in our lives. [03′09″]
After all, is it easier to change the external conditions or transform our minds when we face arising conditions? [I] also hope that you all can discuss about it. I think such kind of discussion is very valuable and very meaningful! Although this has been explained many times in the [various] sutras and scriptures, [in addition to] Buddhas and Bodhisattvas giving us sincere advice constantly, when facing the arising conditions, we [still] get confused, as we then consider all problems arise [solely] from the external conditions. Yet [again], the most horrible thing in the three realms is the mind because it can generate all sufferings. On the other hand, by constantly practicing and training our mind [based on the teachings], we will generate all kinds of happiness. Thus, everyone should work on it earnestly! [03′53″]
Furthermore, when we begin to notice that many sufferings and even the root of all sufferings originate from our minds, we would realize: when interacting with others, do we put ourselves first? Or have we prioritized thinking about the needs of others? Are we being self-centered or placing other beings with foremost importance? As we all know, we tend to grasp on self-cherishing, thus when things happen, we would treat ourselves differently from the others. We often [derogate] others leaving them in the corner and overtly put ourselves “rightfully” under the spotlight. In fact, this is the suffering cause. Buddha said this is the root cause of [our] sufferings. [04′33″]
If we can properly take in what Buddha taught us, adjusting our habitual behavior of self-centeredness, and transforming it into cherishing others more – that is, to cherish others more than oneself, then we can gradually change/adjust our habitual tendency. Thereafter, [we should] work hard to transform our excessively untamed self-cherishing attitude and shape it to be utmost respectful of others, and put others at the most important position in our lives. The Engaging in the Bodhisattva Deeds also mentioned that: Buddha did it the same way, hence he has attained encompassing happiness; what about the living beings? We have been [so accustomed] to putting ourselves first that we have caused too many sufferings to ripen in our lives. Therefore, comparing the two outcomes, we should know which way of thinking and behavior [we ought] to adopt. [05′35″]
All in all, [I] hope we can sincerely uphold Buddhas and Bodhisattvas’ teachings in our minds and earnestly contemplate and cherish them well. Because being able to come across or hear this teaching of “cherishing others over ourselves” is an opportunity that doesn’t come by very easily! If we are able to establish it as the goal in our lives and put it into practice life after life, our visions/perspectives of life will broaden. From our various observations throughout the day, we would naturally be able to recognize the good qualities in other people, the contributions they have made, and the difficulties and hardships they have to face. By doing so, in the darkness of the night, we’d see the stars glittering in the sky, instead of lapsing into the [old] habit of focusing on the darkness. [06′29″]
【全球广论 II 讲次: 0151】
讲次 0151
科判 道前基础
主题 〈皈敬颂〉造论宗旨
音档 -
日期 2019-09-09 ~ 2019-09-11
广论段落 P2-L1 故离智者欢喜道……故我心意遍勇喜
如果有时间来反省的话，好像湖水，静静的时候才能够映出天上的星星和月亮，我们内心也是。宁静了之后，才会发现自己生命中更深一层的问题。所以步调不能太快、太杂乱、太匆促，因为这样，我们就无法关注内心、无法看那些念头。在二六时中的工作中、学习中，在家庭中、大大小小的这些事物之中，请大家要稍微放缓一下脚步。放缓脚步做什么呢？凝视一下自己的心。要记得三界中最恐怖的就是内心了！因为最痛苦的根本存在于内心，所有的痛苦的来源，是我们并未调伏的心。 [00:59]
佛菩萨来到世间告诉我们这样的真理，我们在内心中能够树立这样的见解，反覆地去练习的话，自然会尝到修习佛法的甜头。你会发现：实际上改变内心比改变外境容易多了，因为他人的心是很难把握的。我们如果静下来看一看自己的心，每天看一看、每天看一看！大事看一看、小事看一看、凡事都看一看！我们就会越来越熟悉自己的心，会熟悉自己对境的那个套路，你会知道这个事情来了我会怎么想，是怎么发生的，然后把它那个方向变成是向内调伏，驯服我这颗未驯服的心；让良善能够生起来、宽恕能够生起来；对他人慈悲，对父母亲啊、师长、三宝，甚至一个陌生人、一个他有情，我们都应该恭恭敬敬地对待。这样的话，就不会产生很多杂乱的、痛苦的这些因。所以每天起来的时候，如果提一下这样的正念，这样一天的生活之中我们就会少造很多恶业，因为我们会有一个正知力在关照自己的三业。 [02:21]
长此以往这样地用功下去，自然我们就会习惯于遮止三门的恶业，习惯在身语意上去造作良善的念头，慢慢地让我们的善业像瀑流水一样绝对不会停止，而且越来越增长、越来越增长。这样的话，我们在现世的时候就会收获一个平静的、调柔的、感恩的心；不会用语言去刺伤别人，或者对他人的付出很麻木，或者凡有事情发生都是他人的错；我们就非常容易反省自己；就会在生命里发现很多很多美好的、值得珍惜、值得感恩的事情。 [03:09]
所以到底事情发生的时候是转境容易，还是转心容易呢？也希望你们可以讨论一下。我觉得这个讨论是非常具有价值、非常具有意义的！虽然经典上讲了很多次了、佛菩萨耳提面命地常常叮嘱我们，但是心对境就会迷失，我们就会认为凡是境界那方面都是出问题的。可是三界中最恐怖的莫过于这颗心了，它会出生一切痛苦；当然你好好修行它的时候，它就会出生一切快乐，所以大家要好好地努力！ [03:53]
另外，当我们开始注意到很多的痛苦、甚至所有的痛苦的根本，都是出自于内心的时候，我们就会发现：在跟他人相处的过程之中，到底是把自己放在重要的位置？还是把他人放在重要的位置？是爱自还是爱他？我们都知道我们有我爱执，所以当有事情发生的时候，自他还是不公平的。我们常常让他人退居在角落，然后把自己放在一个堂而皇之的非常非常重要的位置。实际上，这就是苦因，佛说这就是苦因。 [04:33]
如果能够好好地信受佛所说的话，调整自己以自我为中心这样的一个习惯，变成是爱他胜自——爱惜他人胜过自己，把这个习惯慢慢地调伏过来。然后把特别爱重自己的这个不调顺、未驯伏的部分把它调伏，调伏到非常非常地尊重他人，能够把他人放在自己生命最重要的位置。 《入行论》里也有讲：佛陀是这样做的，所以佛陀得到了一切快乐；那么众生呢？是把自己放在最重要的位置，所以就成熟了太多的痛苦。所以看一看两者的结局，就应该知道选择什么样的思想、什么样的行为。 [05:35]
说到此，就是希望我们真能够把佛菩萨讲的教言在内心里好好地思考、好好地珍惜，因为能够听到这样一句[爱他胜自]，真的是非常非常不容易的！如果能够把爱他胜自列为生命的宗旨，生生世世实践的话，我们生命的视野会特别地开朗。在我们每日的很多很多的观察之中，我们眼里自然会看到他人的好、他人的付出、他人的不容易、他人的艰辛。这样的话，我们就好像在黑夜里不会老是习惯注视黑暗，会习惯去看到满天的星辰。 [06:29]