Lecture No. 0194
Global Lamrim II
Lecture No. 0194
Tape: -
Date: 2020-02-06 ~ 2020-02-09
Topic: When faced with suffering, recall the right cause for eliminating suffering and attaining happiness
English Lamrim Volume 1, page 34
Note: Note on Lamrim Lineage Teachings by Ah-keh Venerable Hui-hai
Now that we have already encountered such encompassing and sublime teaching, let’s examine ourselves, “Do I have faith in the teaching? Do I believe that the means to remove suffering and attain happiness are right in the Lamrim text?” Take heed! The approaches to eliminate all suffering and perfecting all good qualities are all included in the Lamrim. Then, does Lamrim contain the immediate solutions to remove our suffering at the present moment? When facing the suffering we have now, do we focus more on resolving the immediate suffering, or do we aspire to plant a happy cause, to plant a virtuous cause? Or have we already mastered how to turn the current suffering into part of our training to walk on the path [to enlightenment], by applying the teaching right away wherever there is suffering or affliction? The stronger the sufferings are inflicted, the stronger the conviction to continue on the path. The yearning to help all living beings remove suffering and attain happiness becomes stronger. [Why?] Because I am already suffering; there are many other living beings whose sufferings are much worse than mine. Then let my suffering help to reduce their pains. Thinking in this way, while we are experiencing suffering, also serves as our training to walk the path [to enlightenment]. [00:54]
Will the suffering we are experiencing at the present moment spur us to apply the teaching or will it become an excuse for us not to continue with our practice? This is what we need to contemplate deeply. For instance, to attend Lamrim class, would there be all sorts of big and small obstacles? Yes, there will be! However, will those obstacles make us work harder to accumulate merits and purify our faults, developing the desire to overcome the obstacles? Or will we allow these obstacles to get the upper hand then we withdraw from the study group, feeling defeated? These two are also options to choose from [while facing obstacles]. Let’s envisage our next life: without studying Lamrim, what means do we have to obtain the human life of leisure and opportunity? There is no other means available! Because the teaching provides us with the benefits of a shared small capacity practitioner! If we abide by the teaching sincerely and earnestly, we will for sure reap the benefits of the small capacity practitioner! [01:37]
Although this is a short passage, every sentence, every sentence is reminding us of the ways to remove suffering and attain happiness. Do we truly have faith in Buddha’s teaching with regards to the ways of removing suffering and attaining happiness? Are we earnestly and wholeheartedly committed to creating virtuous deeds? [Why?] Because virtuous deeds will lead to happiness. Are we able to purify our non-virtuous deeds earnestly and wholeheartedly? Karmic obstructions are caused by afflictions, so to purify them, we must start with our motivation; that is, why am I doing this? If we are doing these for fame, personal gain, or even for our self-interest at the expense of others, then they are purely non-virtuous deeds. Hence, we should constantly examine our mental continuum at all times and earnestly eliminate the afflictive, eliminate the non-virtuous, and engage in creating pure and virtuous deeds. Because Buddha taught us that only virtuous deeds will bring about happiness, and non-virtuous actions will bring nothing but suffering. [02:27]
Therefore, for us, if I say the suffering and happiness in this lifetime is not important, you may respond, “How come it is not important? Our minds are intensely restrained by the suffering and happiness in our present life! When happiness arises, no one wants to let go of it; when faced with suffering, no one wants to be caught in it.” However, if we shift our attention to the suffering and happiness in the next life, we will notice, “With my current thoughts, am I planting the proper causes for attaining a human life of leisure and opportunity in my next life? When facing suffering and happiness, the crucial point is to safeguard our precepts, right?” The cause for attaining higher status rebirth in the next life is none other than upholding the precepts, which will be covered in the later chapters. Thus, as practitioners, whatever aspirations we have, will determine the direction we will strive towards. [03:08]
Psychologists also have conducted similar studies: when one’s brain does not tell the body to give up, actually one’s body will not let go physically. This is because the brain is the command center. Hence, can the brain stated here be interpreted as the function of our mind? When you have a strong yearning for [the ultimate goal], your mind will not want to give up despite facing obstacles. Even when feeling depressed, you will not give up striving for the benefits of the three types of persons of different capacities. Would you be able to surmount the frustrations and overcome various obstacles in this lifetime to pursue the goal of obtaining the state of omniscience? As what Master said [in discourse #189], “we stand a good chance of reaching it!” We are the ones endowed with virtuous roots and are able to listen to the stages of the path to enlightenment, are we those who can be transformed by Lamrim teaching? If so, then I am the one who can determine the depth of my cultivation of my virtuous roots! [03:57]
Some people engage in non-virtuous deeds when they are happy; others engage in non-virtuous deeds when they are suffering. Hence, it is not necessarily true that it would be advantages for us when we are feeling happy nor does it mean that if I am happy now, it will be better for my future lives. The crucial point is whether we aspire for a better future rebirth when we are facing suffering and happiness? Do we seek to be liberated from cyclic existence? Do we strive to attain the state of Buddhahood in order to benefit all sentient beings? The crucial point is what Lamrim intends to teach us, right? [04:24]
Let’s reflect, do we feel grateful to have encountered the life-changing opportunity in this lifetime? That we have actually encountered the teaching on how to achieve Buddhahood, how to become a Bodhisattva, how to be liberated from cyclic existence, and how to prevent ourselves from being reborn in the miserable realms. All of these are covered in the Lamrim! Is there any secret Kung-fu manual more comprehensive than the Lamrim which is able to guide us on how to remove suffering and attain happiness? Therefore, we really hit the jackpot! How come such a precious treasure can drop into your house! Can fall into your mind? Are we the blessed ones? If so, then we should not forget to continue accumulating such merits! We should continue to cherish whatever we have now. Don't take such causes and conditions for granted nor slowly becoming indifferent to it due to our wild, irrational or incorrect thoughts. Thinking that all these are permanent and will not disappear and everything happens naturally. It is not the case! This is the effect of our assiduous efforts in the past. This is also due to the innumerable lives of efforts our virtuous teachers have exerted to finally awaken us to recognize the need to uphold the precepts, and thus attained this human life for practice! Thus, please avoid not treasuring the opportunity of having been endowed with such virtuous roots of being able to listen to the Lamrim teaching, wasting all the effort, then it will truly be regrettable! [05:49]
So, I hope everyone will take to heart the advice from Lama Tsong-kha-pa and the advice from Buddha. Contemplate - does the Lamrim contain all the teachings to remove suffering and attain happiness? So, when I feel that I am suffering, do I look for the ways to attain happiness from the Lamrim? Replacing all those fundamentally impure, or even other opposite ways of searching for happiness? Do I have such faith [in the teachings]? [06:18]
In this short paragraph [from discourse #189], we can ask ourselves this question sincerely. Every morning, every night, and every time we face an arising condition, we can sincerely ask ourselves this question [am I the fortunate one endowed with virtuous roots] when I feel that I am suffering, do I look for the ways to attain happiness from the Lamrim? Replacing all those fundamentally impure, or even other opposite ways of searching for happiness? repeatedly! [06:30]
【全球广论 II 讲次: 0194】
讲次 0194
标题 痛苦当下，记得离苦得乐的正因
音档 -
日期 2020-02-06 ~ 2020-02-09
广论段落 P2-L3 ~ P2-L5 此中总摄一切佛语扼要......是谓此中所诠诸法。
手抄页/行 -
手抄段落 -
备注 阿喀慧海大师《广论讲说诵授传承笔记》
我们现在已经遇到了这么完美的教法，观察一下自己的心，能不能信得过呢？会不会觉得除苦引乐的方法就在本论里边？注意喔！灭除一切的苦、圆满一切功德的法，《广论》里都有。那么我们灭除当下痛苦的方法，《广论》里会有吗？在我们当下痛苦的时候，我们是更重视马上解决眼前的痛苦，还是想要种一个乐因、种一个善因呢？还是已经学会了把当下的痛苦转为道用，哪里有痛苦、哪里有烦恼立刻就起修？痛苦逼迫得越猛，道心越坚固，希求一切众生离苦得乐的心会越强，因为我都这么苦了，还有很多众生比我还苦，那么就让我所受的苦能消除他们的苦。这也是痛苦的时候一个修法。 [00:54]
眼前的苦楚能不能变成是鞭策我们去修道的，还是变成了拖累我们修行不了的？这我们的心要想清楚。比如说要参加广论班，会不会有大大小小的障碍？会有的！但是那些障碍是让你更加地积资净忏，想要突破这些障碍，还是那些障碍就战胜自己了，自己被障碍打败就学不了了？这也是两条抉择的路。那看看来生，如果不学，用什么方法得到暇满人身呢？没有其他的方法呀！因为这里边会给我们下士夫的利益呀！如果认真照着修行的话，是一定会得到下士夫的利益！ [01:37]
虽然是一小段，每一句、每一句都在提醒我们离苦得乐的办法。我们到底对于佛说的离苦得乐的办法，心里能不能信得过？能不能死盡偷心地去造善业？因为善业会出生快乐。能不能死盡偷心地去净除恶业？恶业是由烦恼引生的，净化它一定是从动机上开始的。就是我为什么要做这些事？如果是为名、为利，甚至是为了一己之私去伤害别人，那就是纯粹的恶业了。所以这些点就要在二六时中自己观察自己的相续，要认认真真地把杂质去掉、把黑业去掉，造集白净的善业。因为佛说善业才会出生乐，恶业只会出生苦。 [02:27]
所以对于我们来说，如果我说现世的苦乐不重要，可能大家会说：“怎么不重要？我们的心被现世的苦乐绑得死死的！当有乐来的时候，大家便不想离开；当有苦来的时候，就一刻都不愿意停。”但是注意力如果转成来世的苦乐的话，我们就会注意：我当前的心念是否是来世暇满人身的正因呢？在苦乐临头的时候，最重要的是护戒，对不对？增上生的因，除了戒定非余呀，这后面有讲。所以什么样的发心，就是我们作为修行人我们的目标是什么，就决定我们会为那个目标努力。 [03:08]
心理学家也有这样研究，说当一个人的大脑不去告诉他的身体要放弃什么的时候，其实他的身体也不会放弃的，就是说其实大脑是指挥这一切的。那么那里边所谓的大脑，可以理解为我们的心的作用吗？当你的心想要那个时候，你的心不想要因为挫折而放弃，不想要因为沮丧而不去希求三士夫的果利，甚至一切智智的果位的话，我们是否可以穿越挫折、穿越此生的种种障碍，然后去希求那个结果？因为就像师父讲的，有机会呀！我们是具善根者，能够听闻道次第，具足这样的善根的人是不是《广论》的所化机？那我的善根深浅还是我自己可以培植的！ [03:57]
有的人乐的时候造恶业，有的人苦的时候造恶业，所以并不一定乐的时候我们就会占到便宜，不一定现在很快乐就对来世很好，也不一定现在很苦就对来世不好，关键是在苦和乐的时候，我们选择是不是希求来世？是不是希求脱离轮回？是不是希求饶益一切有情去成佛？那个关键是《广论》要教我们的，对不对？ [04:24]
想一想，会不会很感恩这一生生命的际遇？我们居然遇到了可以成佛的法、可以当菩萨的法、可以脱离轮回的法、可以免除堕落恶趣的法，《广论》里都有！还有什么样的武功秘笈，从苦的地方趣乐的地方，有这样一个大全的武功秘笈？所以我们真的是遇到宝了！为什么这个宝藏会落入到你的家门呢？会落入到你的心中呢？我们是有福报的人吗？如果有福报的人，就不要忘了继续积福啊！继续好好地珍惜现有的一切。不要因为自己的非理作意、自己的妄念等等，就无视这样的因缘，或者慢慢就麻木了，认为这一切都是好像永远不会消失，一切就是这么自然的。不是的！这是往昔我们费了很多勤苦的修行才换来的结果，也是我们的善知识不知道用了多少生的努力，才把我们唤回到觉醒能够持戒，然后得到这样的人身修行啊！所以千万不要对此生能够具足听闻《广论》的善根自己不珍惜呀！自己觉得无所谓，甚至让它付诸东流，这些就太可惜了！ [05:49]
所以希望大家能够将宗大师的叮咛、佛陀的叮咛放在心上。想一想：是不是离苦得乐的法《广论》里都有？那么当我感到痛苦的时候，我是到这里面去找快乐的办法吗？去替掉我那些根本不清净的，甚至是背道而驰地寻找快乐的方法，我们能不能有这样的信任？ [06:18]
在这一小段里，我们可以扪心自问──在每一个清晨、每一个夜晚、每一次对境的时候，可以扪心自问无数遍！ [06:30]