Lecture No. 0184
Global Lamrim II
Lecture No. 0184
Tape: 3B 09:50 ~ 14:20
Date: 2020-01-02 ~ 2020-01-05
Topic: Set attaining Buddhahood as our life goal
English Lamrim Volume 1, page 34
Master’s discourse Vol 1 P85-L6 ~ P87-L6 (NanPuTuo Version Vol 1 P85-L7 ~ P87-L6)
Next, we are going to listen to Master’s Lamrim commentary. [00:08]
[3B 09:50 ~ 14:20]
Next, we will begin explaining Lamrim text. Now, what are we going to talk about next?
“Here the teaching that I will explain is how fortunate beings are led to buddhahood by way of the stages of the path to enlightenment that (1) contain the key points of all of the Conqueror’s scriptures, (2) are the pathways forged by two great trailblazers, Nagarjuna and Asanga,”
The instructions given here, namely the teaching of Lamrim, include all key points of the encompassing Dharma that Buddha explicated; they are all-inclusive. And these encompassing key points are divided into two branches: Profound View and Extensive Deeds. The former represents the wisdom merits, while the latter represents the blissful merits. These two lineages were passed down from Bodhisattva Manjusri and Bodhisattva Maitreya respectively. Then [the latter was passed down] to Bodhisattva Asanga and Bodhisattva Vasubandhu, [while the former was passed down] to Bodhisattva Nagarjuna and Bodhisattva Aryadeva. That’s how the encompassing teaching is divided into these two great trailblazers. With the encompassing teaching, the practitioners could be guided to the stages that
“(3) are the system for supreme beings progressing to the state of omniscience, and (4) fully comprise all the stages practiced by the three types of persons.” [01:30]
Now let’s look at the first verse: “Here the teaching that I will explain is how fortunate beings are led to buddhahood by way of the stages of the path to enlightenment that (1) contain the key points of all of the Conqueror’s scriptures, (2) are the pathways forged by two great trailblazers, Nagarjuna and Asanga”. Here Master explained that this treatise, contains all the essence of Buddha’s perfect and complete teaching, i.e. “the key points of all of the Conqueror’s scriptures” in its entirety, namely the Lamrim. The encompassing key points are passed down to Nagarjuna and Asanga, the two great trailblazers. With this lineage, where does the text aim to lead us? The text aims to guide us to [the stages of the path to enlightenment that]: “(3) are the system for supreme beings progressing to the state of omniscience, and (4) fully comprise all the stages practiced by the three types of persons.” Let’s continue listening to Master's commentary. [02:11]
This Lamrim teaching will guide us to the Buddha realm. The state of “omniscience” is the wisdom of Buddha, Buddha’s wisdom. The teaching will lead us to the ultimate goal – the Buddha realm, which means all sufferings and problems are resolved, and all blissful merits are thus perfected. Hence, this is the highest goal. The text is further categorized into three major sections; each one is designated for one of the three types of persons, namely the small, medium, and great scopes. These are the stages for step-by-step advancement, just like our education system: from elementary school, middle school, to college. All of the contents, like Tenets, Reasoning, Application, and Effect, are all inclusive in the text. If we are to explain the contents of this encompassing teaching from another perspective, they can be divided into three aspects: the first one is the “essential quality,” whose quality has to be pure without any flaws. What about the “quantitative measurement”? It has to be perfectly sufficient. And the third? It requires “systematic order” to be applied without any disarray in the steps. In general, it is easy for us to understand the qualitative and quantitative measurement. Regarding the systematic order, though it is very important, we usually overlook it. Now, let me elaborate it with an example. [03:46]
Take preparing a meal for instance. You will need vegetables, rice, and so on. Yes, rice has to be rice. There is a popular expression: steam sand into rice. If you [mistake sand for rice and] cook sand, you won't get rice. So, to do it right, you need to prepare rice. Then, you have rice and vegetables prepared. What about the portion? You will know the portions based on the number of servings, which has to be right as well! The sequence of preparing foods is equally important. If you mix it up, then it will not work. Take cooking vegetables for example. First, you have to properly prepare them by washing them thoroughly, chopping them, and then cooking them in a pan. If you don’t apply the proper sequence and, say, cook the vegetables before washing them, will it work? Absolutely not! Because there are mud and all sorts of pesticides on the vegetables. How can you wash them after cooking? Basically, there is no way to wash cooked vegetables! Originally, eating vegetables is to provide your body with nutrition. However, with mud still on them, how could you possibly eat, [not to mention those pesticides]? The pesticides will not provide your body with any nutrition; worst still, they may poison you to death! Understandably, to make it work, the essential quality, the quantitative measurement, and the systematic order are indispensable. Now, all three aspects are included in the Lamrim text, and this is why it is encompassing. This encompassing teaching will guide us to the stages of the path to enlightenment. Hence,
“…by way of the stages of the path to enlightenment”
The encompassing teaching is to guide us to the path to ultimate enlightenment. [05:26]
Let’s look at this section. It says that the stages of the path to enlightenment “(3) are the system for supreme beings progressing to the state of omniscience, and (4) fully comprise all the stages practiced by the three types of persons.” Master explained to us: “This Lamrim teaching will guide us to the Buddha realm. The state of ‘omniscience’ is the wisdom of Buddha, Buddha’s wisdom. The teaching will lead us to the ultimate goal – the Buddha realm, which means all sufferings and problems are resolved, and all blissful merits are thus perfected. Hence, this is the highest goal.” The purpose of Lamrim is stated right at the beginning! “The system for supreme beings progressing to the state of omniscience” means that this text, Lamrim, is to guide us to Buddhahood. This is the highest goal in life. Then what is the state of obtaining Buddhahood? That is, all sufferings and problems are resolved and all blissful merits are thus perfected! [06:24]
While we are going over this section, let’s examine ourselves; would we be inspired and feel enthusiastic by such goal? Is it possible that one day we would be able to resolve all sufferings and problems, and perfect all blissful merits? Are we able to establish the highest goal in life for ourselves? We often work hard for all of our goals, be it big or small. And, we do get frustrated and downhearted when we are unable to achieve them. For instance, we wish to have others’ understanding, hoping to hear a few heart-warming words; and sometimes we hope that others would not misunderstand our intention when we try to do things for them, etc. There are many, many big and small goals in our lives. We may say that from morning till night, from young to old, how many goals have we set for ourselves? Many of them have simply gone with the wind. Even if we have set the goals, we would have to endure hardships every day for the sake of these goals, right? [07:27]
So what kind of goal we want to reach by studying Lamrim? The goal is to achieve Buddhahood! This achievement is to resolve all sufferings. To resolve whose suffering? Do you remember the aspiration of the spirit of enlightenment? It is for the sake of resolving the suffering of all sentient beings. However, how do we resolve the sufferings of all sentient beings, in order for them to eliminate suffering and obtain happiness? What we have to understand regarding this matter is both the goal of benefitting self and others must be complete. Then, has it ever occurred to us that… Take heed! What I meant is that subconsciously, in the depth of our heart, have we established this kind of highest goal for our life – I want to become a Buddha? [08:10]
When I studied by Master’s side, I often noticed that when various things did not turn out the way we wanted them to, Master would often say, “Precisely because of such, so we must seek to attain Buddhahood!” Under all sorts of sufferings big and small, and of not getting what we desire, Master would often say, “Precisely because of such, so we must seek to attain Buddhahood.” However, by comparison, we will discover that when we do not get what we desired repeatedly, we would be trapped by the sufferings of not having it, we would be ensnared in negative emotions, such as depression, disappointment, complaining about others, and even becoming dispirited. We would be enshrouded in these kinds of negative emotions, totally paralysing us. However, when such sufferings appear, what Master demonstrated before us is to seek the attainment of Buddhahood immediately; as he said, “Precisely because of the many things not going right in our lives, that is why we must seek to attain Buddhahood!” [09:12]
【全球广论 II 讲次: 0184】
讲次 0184
标题 为生命安立成佛的目标
音档 3B 09:50 ~ 14:20
日期 2020-01-02 ~ 2020-01-05
广论段落 P2-L3 ~ P2-L4 此中总摄一切佛语扼要……依菩提道次第门中
手抄页/行 第1册 P85-L6 ~ P87-L6 ( 2016 南普陀版：第1册 P85-L7 ~ P87-L6 )
手抄段落. 下面我们就正式开始......引导我们走上菩提大道的。
接下来我们就要来听师父讲的广论。 [00:08]
下面我们就正式开始，现在我们讲，那么下面讲些什么呢？
此中总摄一切佛语扼要。遍摄龙猛无着二大车之道轨。
现在这个里边所讲的，这是本论所讲的，把佛所说的圆满的教法的纲要，统统包含在里头了。而这个圆满的纲要，下来又分性、相二支，一个是智慧资粮，一个福德资粮。经过弥勒菩萨以及文殊菩萨，向下传到──无着、世亲菩萨，龙树、圣天菩萨，又分成功这个两个大轨。那么现在这里有圆满的包容，有了这个东西就可以把你引导到：
往趣一切种智地位胜士法范，三种士夫，一切行持，所有次第，无所缺少。 [01:30]
现在看第一句：“此中总摄一切佛语扼要，遍摄龙猛无着二大车之道轨。”在这里边师父解释此论就是本论，把佛所说的圆满的教法的纲要，就是“佛语扼要”，统统包含在里边，就是指《广论》。有了这个圆满的纲要，遍摄龙猛、无着二大车之道轨。有了这样的一个传承，接着要把我们引导到哪里呢？就引导到“往趣一切种智地位胜士法范，三种士夫，一切行持，所有次第，无所缺少。”请大家往下听。 [02:11]
这是引导我们到佛地。 “一切种智”，那就是佛的智慧、佛的智慧。这个里边这个道理啊是引导我们圆满达到佛地，这就是说解决一切痛苦、一切问题，圆满一切福德。那么这个最高的目标是如此，上去又分成三个大的段落，每一个段落称它为一种士夫，所谓下士、中士、上士。这个是上去一步一步的次第，就像我们念书一样，小学、中学、大学，所有的这个内容，所谓教、理、行、果，圆满一点都不少。在圆满的教授当中，如果我们把它的内涵用另外一个方式来说的话，可以分成三个项目：第一个“质”，它的质本身要纯正，一点不错。这个“量”呢？要圆满，一点无缺。还有呢？还要“次第”本身不可以紊乱。平常我们对于这个质跟量是容易了解，这个次第非常重要却是往往忽视，我现在这个地方说一个比喻。 [03:46]
譬如说我们烧饭，然后呢你要菜啊、饭啊、米啊、样样东西。是的，说这个米就是米，平常我们说蒸沙煮饭，如果你用泥沙来，那不行！那时候米嘛、菜嘛这是没错啦！然后呢量，说几个人嘛要吃多少，也没有错啦！可是次第同样地重要。假定你弄错了次第的话，那个不行。譬如说，你说你拿了菜来嘛，一定先把它整理一下，洗洗好，然后切好，然后放到锅子里烧。假定说你这个次第弄不清楚，你说：好！先把那个菜拿过来，烧完了再洗，这个行不行啊？绝对不行！因为菜上面种种的泥巴、种种的农药，你烧完了能洗吗？根本不能洗！本来这个菜吃了以后让你增加营养的，结果你吃进去啊还有泥巴，你怎么可能吃？这个毒药不但不增加营养，还把你毒死啊！所以这个里边一定要有它的质、量、次第，现在本论这三样东西一点都不缺少，所以这才圆满。这个就是，喏，引导我们走上这一条圆满的觉道的这个圆满的教法，所以
依菩提道次第门中，
这个，这条门哪引导我们走上菩提大道的。 [05:26]
大家看这一段，说：“往趣一切种智地位胜士法范，三种士夫，一切行持，所有次第，无所缺少。”师父在这里面讲：“这是引导我们到佛地。‘一切种智’，那就是佛的智慧、佛的智慧。这个里边这个道理啊是引导我们圆满达到佛地，这就是说解决一切痛苦、一切问题，圆满一切福德。那么这个最高的目标是如此。”开宗明义啊，《广论》！ “往趣一切种智地位胜士法范”，就是这本论是教导我们成佛的。那么生命最高的目标即是如此，成佛的境界是怎样的呢？解决一切痛苦、一切问题，圆满一切福德！ [06:24]
现在看到这段话的时候，观察一下我们自己，我们会为这个目标振奋吗？有一天可以解决一切痛苦、一切问题，圆满一切福德吗？我们可以为我们的生命安立最高最高的目标吗？我们常常为一些大大小小的目标奋斗嘛，也为一些大大小小目标达不到而忧悲苦恼。比如说求别人的理解呀，希望有的时候可以得到几句温暖的话；还有的时候希望自己为别人做的事不要被误会等等，我们生命中充满大大小小的目标。可以说从早到晚、从小的时候到大，我们已经有多少目标了？很多目标就付之东流了，而且安立了之后，我们每天也为那个目标受苦吧！ [07:27]
那么学习《广论》，是要我们达到什么样的目标呢？是要成佛！成佛要解决一切痛苦。谁的一切痛苦呢？发心记得吧？是要解决芸芸众生的一切痛苦。但是如何解决芸芸众生的一切痛苦，令他们都离苦得乐？是自己要明了这件事情，就是说自利和利他都要圆满的。那我们有没有想到──注意喔！我说想到的意思是：在我们的潜意识里边，在我们深深的那个心里边，是否安立出了这样最高的生命目标──我是要成佛的？ [08:10]
跟在师父身边学习的时候，常常会看到有大大小小不如意的事情出现的时候，师父常常说：“正因为如此，所以我们要希求佛果啊！”在大大小小的痛苦和求不得的这样一个状态下，师父常常会这样讲，说：“正因为如此，所以我们要希求成佛啊！”但是相比于我们，就会发现当很多求不得苦出现的时候，我们就会被这个求不得苦所困，就会困在负面的情绪里，比如说沮丧啊、失望啊，或者抱怨别人，甚至心灰意冷，会被这种负面的情绪笼罩，动弹不得。但是当这些痛苦出现的时候，师父在我们的眼前示现的，就是马上就去希求佛果了，说：“正因为人生有种种不如意，所以我们才要去成佛呀！”[09:12]