Lecture No. 0172
Global Lamrim II
Lecture No. 0172
Tape: 3B 04:05 ~ 05:42
Date: 2019-11-21 ~ 2019-11-24
Topic: The simple and pure purpose of Buddha’s teaching – eliminate suffering and gain happiness
English Lamrim Volume 1, page 34
【All those fortunate ones who are unobscured by the darkness of partisanship,
Who have the mental capacity to differentiate good and bad,
And who wish to make meaningful this good life of leisure
Should listen with one-pointed attention.】
Master’s discourse Vol 1 P82-LL4 ~ P83-L6 (2016 NanPuTuo Version: Vol 1 P82-LL5 ~ P83-L6)
Greetings to all! It is time for us to study Lamrim again! I am wondering if you have made some progress in terms of your practice/cultivation over this period of time? Nevertheless, we all have to make an effort to start working at it now. Right now the dependent arising that we have to observe is to be mindful of the preparatory prior to listen to the teaching. Buddha’s teaching especially emphasizes the importance of shaping the motivation; that is, what is the intention for engaging in certain task? Similarly, now what is our purpose for studying Lamrim? If it is merely to remove suffering and attain happiness for oneself, it is certainly fine. However, with the same amount of time spent, if we aspire with the approximate intention to attain Bodhichitta – for the sake of removing the suffering of all motherly beings so that they can attain happiness, I must pursue Buddhahood to attain the state of omniscience. Such mentality will produce incredible strength to nourish and uphold our virtuous roots, even though this intention lasts only one second. What’s more, if we then dedicate the merits of this virtuous intention to the cause of achieving Buddhahood, the merits thus dedicated will never be exhausted. Hence, prior to every discussion session, I always hope that all of you and I, together we need to instil the Mahayana aspiration over and over again. [01:26]
Each time when we shape our motivation, even though it is likely that you can recite what I have said before [about shaping motivation], it is very important to check whether this mindset has taken root in your heart, and whether you have cultivated such a habit! Once this habit is formed, without being constantly reminded, the motivation will manifest spontaneously prior to listening to Lamrim; this is the intention we deliberately need to have. [01:54]
We should shape our motivation prior to listening to the teaching, and while engaging in certain tasks, such as reciting, doing kind deeds, offering to the Three Jewels, even having meals every day, we should engage them with the aspiration to achieve unsurpassable enlightenment. If so, the motivation shaping for many undertakings will be expanded wider and broader, starting from the preparatory to listening to the teaching. It is like a barren field in the beginning but will gradually be covered with lush greenery, full of vitality. Likewise, I hope that our motivation can gradually extend, progress and expand from the preparatory to listening to the teaching, all the way until we spontaneously become non self-centered while engaging in every task, where all are with the aspiration to help every motherly being to remove suffering and attain happiness. Our attainment of the ultimate enlightenment is encouraged by such a goal in the progress. [02:40]
Let’s examine ourselves: at this given moment, can I calm myself down and dismiss all other engagements? Can I fully focus on shaping a pure motivation of “for the sake of benefiting all living beings, I want to achieve Buddhahood”? With such motivation, we listen to the Great Treatises on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment, contemplate and discuss its meaning until the actual realization of the experiential knowledge of Lama Tsong-kha-pa’s teaching truly arises in our mind stream as it is illustrated in Lamrim. [03:14]
Very well! If everyone is ready, we can begin listening to Master’s original commentary on the Great Treatises on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment. [03:21]
[3B 04:05 ~ 05:42]
What is the real purpose of Buddha Dharma? We should give it some thought. Normally, speaking of Buddha Dharma, what is Buddha Dharma? It encompasses the Tripitaka and the twelve branches of the Buddhist canon. By merely glancing at them will give you a headache: Wow! So many volumes! In an attempt to read them, they seem all Greek to you. If you specifically probe into Buddha Dharma, there are the Mahayana and Theravada traditions, Profound View and Extensive Deeds, exoteric teaching and esoteric teaching; with the variant teachings, you simply don’t know what to go by; this is the reality that we are facing now. However, if you can delve into it and carefully explore its purpose, its goal is indeed very simple; what is its goal? Two words: suffering and happiness – eliminate suffering and attain flawless happiness, that's all. If we use these two criteria as a yardstick, every single living being in the world is no exception. Everyone is actually bustling around for nothing but this goal of [attaining happiness and eliminating suffering]. For those who are more rational, you may ask them the true intention behind every engagement they are mostly involved in, what their purposes are. Their answers will still be the same – [eliminating suffering and attaining happiness]. What about those more sentimental ones? Though they may be emotional, what are they searching for? If you guide them to explore their goal carefully, you would find their intentions are still to [eliminate suffering and attain happiness]. Therefore, the reason why people cannot achieve true happiness in the secular world is that they do not understand the true nature of suffering and happiness, nor do they understand their causes. If we don’t know the true nature of reality, whatever we engage in will be wrong. Yet, Buddha is the only one who can elaborate in detail its profound meaning clearly and thoroughly. [05:00]
Great! Let me ask you one question: what is the first question Master brought up in this section? He said we should give it with some thought, contemplating it, right? “It” here means the actual purpose of Buddha Dharma. “What is the real purpose of Buddha Dharma?” Master continued saying, “Normally, speaking of Buddha Dharma, what is Buddha Dharma?” When we lay the hands on our heart and examine ourselves, or during our discussion we may ask each other, “What is Buddha Dharma?” What kind of concept you would have in mind? Over here Master gave us one example, “It encompasses the Tripitaka and the twelve branches of the Buddhist canon;” these are what Buddha Dharma is. As we all know, the scriptures Buddha taught are voluminous, very profound and very extensive. However, “By merely glancing at them will give you a headache”; to what extent can’t one understand many voluminous scriptures? “They seem all Greek to you”. I am not sure whether you feel you can understand the scriptures while you attempt to read them – just reading them! “There are the Mahayana and Theravada traditions, Profound View and Extensive Deeds, exoteric teaching and esoteric teaching; with the variant teachings, you don’t know what to go by.” One wouldn’t know how to understand them thoroughly, nor would one realize what the Mahayana and Theravada traditions, or the Profound View and Extensive Deeds are about. And Master followed by saying these words: “this is the reality that we are facing now,” meaning this is the pragmatic reality. [06:29]
We would feel troubled by what we don’t understand and what we can’t express verbally. When you first encountered Lamrim, you all felt that it was hard to understand, and this includes many people with sound educational background; they all think it is not easy to understand Lamrim. This is obvious. However, is there a very simple way to illustrate the purpose of Buddha Dharma? This is because there must be some purpose behind each undertaking; is there any simple way to understand what the purpose is? In what way can we understand it? [07:02]
Master followed by saying that this is the reality. “However, if you can delve into it and carefully explore its purpose….” Pay attention to the use of the word “explore” in the “if you can delve into it and carefully….” That is, among all the scriptures in the Tripitaka and the twelve branches of the Buddhist canon, if we can carefully, not hectically, or shallowly, explore what its purpose is, then we would find the purpose is simple. Master said, “its goal is indeed very simple”! Isn’t it? Isn’t it indeed very simple? It is hard to imagine such voluminous and profound scriptures as the Tripitaka and the twelve branches of the Buddhist canon are simple; Master described the intention of all scriptures as “indeed very simple”. In the very beginning, upon hearing this, I was as surprised and astonished as you all: such profound wisdom that is hard to fathom under normal condition, yet the purpose of such scriptures is very simple; is it so? [08:18]
So what is the purpose? It is exceptionally simple; [so simple that we can use two words to describe it], “Two words: suffering and happiness”! And Master immediately followed by saying, “eliminate suffering and attain flawless happiness, that’s all.” Master was very certain! There was no confusion, foggy, darkness, or the like! It is just as straightforward as that – suffering and happiness! That is to remove all suffering and attain flawless happiness. Master rephrased it again: “that’s all!” [08:43]
Up to this point, let’s reflect on the purpose of Buddha Dharma: it is very simple and it can be described with just two words: suffering and happiness. The suffering has to be removed, and we can attain happiness. Is it really as simple as that? Buddha spent 49 years teaching Dharma, [which was compiled into] many voluminous scriptures; great masters in the past held up the torch of the sublime teaching life after life; Buddha sacrificed his physical form at his causal stages; the great teachers of the lineage preserved the teaching by undergoing countless hardships and torments; all of these are nothing but for this purpose: for the living beings to obtain happiness and remove suffering. The purpose is indeed very simple and straightforward, utterly simple – to eliminate suffering and attain happiness! [09:27]
【全球广论 II 讲次: 0172】
讲次 0172
标题 佛法极为单纯的目的－离苦得乐
音档 3B 04:05 ~ 05:42
日期 2019-11-21 ~ 2019-11-24
广论段落 P2-L2 诸有偏执暗未覆……诸具善者专励听
手抄页/行 第1册 P82-LL4 ~ P83-L6 ( 2016 南普陀版：第1册 P82-LL5 ~ P83-L6 )
手抄段落 佛法真正的目的是什么......说得清清楚楚、明明白白。
大家好！又到了我们研讨《广论》的时间了！这段时间不知道你们修行有没有进步？无论怎样，都必须从现在的缘起点上开始努力，那么当下的缘起点就是听闻的前行。佛法特别侧重动机的修链，就是我们做一件事是为什么做的，现在我们来研讨《广论》是为什么的？如果只是为了自己能够离开痛苦、得到快乐，当然也是可以的；但是同样的时间，如果我们发一个相似菩提心那样的心念，就是希望为了令所有的如母有情能够离开痛苦、得到快乐，我必须去希求佛果，得到一切遍智的果位。哪怕我们在内心用一秒钟的时间这样作意一下，这都是有不可思议的力量，能够摄持我们的善根，再去回向的话，直到成佛都不干涸。所以在每一次听闻的时候，我都是希望大家和我——我们一起，要一遍一遍地策励大乘的发心。 [01:26]
所以在每一次动机的策动，虽然你们可能全都会背我说那几句话了，但是这件事到底在诸位的心中有没有生根，有没有成为自己的习惯这很重要！一旦成为习惯，不用策励就自己出现了，在听《广论》之前就油然而生，会生起要发心这样的一个作意。 [01:54]
在听闻前是这样作意，从听闻前行开始扩大、扩大、扩大，课诵呀、善行啊、供养三宝，甚至一日几餐都是为了进趣无上菩提，就好像原来是寸草不生的土地，现在就开始被青草、被生机勃勃的绿意一点点地覆盖。希望我们的动机慢慢地由听闻前行开始扩展、扩展、扩展，直到做什么事情都不是为了一己之私，都是希望能够令所有如母有情离苦得乐，我们去证得大觉佛位，为了这样一个目标！ [02:40]
观察一下自己：此时此刻能不能静下心来，摒除其他的外缘、专心致志，在我们的心念上造就一个纯净的“为利有情愿成佛”的动机？以这样的动机来听闻《菩提道次第广论》，来思惟、研讨，直到宗大师的教法能在我们的心续中真的生起如《广论》上所说的那样的证量。 [03:14]
好！我们就可以听师父的《菩提道次第广论》旧版的带子。 [03:21]
佛法真正的目的是什么？这个我们这地方要来找一找。平常我们说佛法，什么是佛法？三藏十二部教典。一看哪，一看就头痛，哇！这么多的书。然后看起来是一窍不通，讲起来是大小、性相、显密，又教你莫衷一是，这是事实。但是如果说你能够很深入、仔细地去探索它的目的，它的目的就是单纯极了，什么目的啊？两个字：苦乐──去掉苦，圆满得到乐，就是这样。以这两个标准来说，世间没有一个人例外，所有的人他真正忙碌的目的无非为这个。不管他是理智的，啊，求什么，你就他的最深入的这个中心，你去问，干什么？他还是找这个。或者有很多的感情的糊里糊涂的，他虽然糊里糊涂，可是他为什么呀？如果说你仔细地让他探索一下的话，还是这个。所以，普通世间所以得不到，因为并不了解苦乐的真正的真相，以及苦乐的原因。那个事情真正的真相都弄不清楚，所以呀怎么弄就怎么错，而只是佛才把那个内涵说得清清楚楚、明明白白。 [05:00]
好！我提一个问题：师父最先提出的问题是什么？说要我们找一找、讨论一下的。对！佛法真正的目的。 “佛法真正的目的是什么？”师父接着说：“平常我们说佛法，什么是佛法？”当我们扪心自问，或者我们研讨的时候互相问说：“什么是佛法？”大家心里会有什么样的概念呢？师父举了一个例子，说：“三藏十二部教典”就是佛法。三藏十二部的教典浩如烟海，非常地深邃、博大精深，但是“一看就头痛”，这么多的书一看呢看不懂，不懂到什么程度呢？ “是一窍不通。”我不知道大家看经典，会不会有人觉得自己看懂了？这是看喔！ “讲起来是大小、性相、显密，又教你莫衷一是”，不知道怎么样贯通，甚至是大、小、性、相一个也不懂。接着师父说了几个字：“这是事实。”说如果你感觉到这样的话，那么是事实。 [06:29]
当我们看不懂、也说不明白的时候会很苦恼。大家一开始遇到《广论》的时候，都觉得《广论》很难读，很多学历很好的人，他们都觉得《广论》不是很好读。那么这是显而易见的一个事实，但是有没有什么非常简单的方式，可以说佛法的目的是什么？因为做什么事都要有一个目的，那么“目的是什么”这件事会不会非常简单地就了解到呢？那用什么方式了解呢？ [07:02]
师父接着说：虽然这样是事实，“但是如果说你能够很深入、仔细地去探索它的目的”，注意！这里边“能够很深入、仔细地”，后面那两个字叫“探索”。就是在佛陀的三藏十二部的教典里，不要很慌乱地、仔细地，而且不要很肤浅地深入去探索它的目的的话，它的目的就是单纯的。而且师父说：“单纯极了！」是吧？是单纯极了吧？很难想像三藏十二部的教典，那么博大精深的教法，它的目的居然是“单纯极了”这四个字。一开始听到这里的时候，应该大家和我一样都是非常地惊讶、惊愕：这么深邃的智慧，平常的状态难以企及的这些教典，它的目的难道这么单纯？ [08:18]
那么什么目的呀？居然还有更简单的，“两个字──苦乐！”接着师父马上说：“去掉苦、圆满得到乐，就是这样。”非常肯定！就这么简单——苦乐！去掉苦、圆满得到乐。师父又讲一遍，说：“就是这样！”[08:43]
当我们看到此处的时候，再回头去想一下佛法的目的：单纯极了，就两个字——苦乐，苦是要被去除的，乐是要被我们得到的。就这么简单吗？用了那么多的教典，佛陀四十九年说法，祖师大德生生世世擎举着正法的火炬；佛陀因地不惜舍头目脑髓，历代的祖师把它传承、维系下来，所受的那些艰辛、忧悲苦恼，就为了众生能得到快乐、去掉痛苦。就这么单纯的、单纯的、极为单纯的目的——离苦得乐！ [09:27]