Lecture No. 0256
Global Lamrim II
Lecture No. 0256
Lamrim Volume 1: Pg36L5
Tape No | 4B 05:09 ~ 09:34
Date: 2022-07-21
Topic: Plant the Extreme Intelligence Cause like Master Atisha’s
What kind of causes and conditions had Master Atisha planted in the past that allowed him to manifest so magnificently and splendidly in this life? I haven’t have the chance to read the biography depicting Master Atisha’s past causes and conditions. However, here is a pertinent story in the sutra about why Venerable Ananda was deemed the guardian of the Buddha Dharma. I will share it with you. In the Sutra of the Wise and the Foolish, Buddha explained why Ananda was so intelligent that he could memorize every word Buddha said. Given that Buddha gave so many teachings, this is definitely an inconceivable legend! It may sound like Ananda was born with peerless, retentive memory, but everything has its cause. I will explain it in colloquial language. [00:49]
The Sutra of the Wise and the Foolish begins with “Thus have I once heard”. When Buddha was at the Jetavana-vihāra of the Śrāvastī, many monastics were having doubt, saying, “What virtuous deeds did Venerable Ananda do exactly to have such retentive memory and erudition that he can remember every word Buddha said?” The monks went to Buddha and asked: “What kind of blissful merits brought forth Venerable Ananda such retentive memory and knowledge? We hope Buddha can explain it explicitly.” Buddha then told the monastics, “Listen well! The manifestation of Ananda is all due to the blissful merits he carried over from the previous lives.” [01:35]
Buddha then began to tell the story. In the past, innumerable eons ago, there was a monk mentoring a novice monk. This monk insisted that this novice monk be disciplined rigorously, ordered him to recite sutras every day. If the novice monk completed the daily assignment, the monk would be very pleased; otherwise, the monk would reproach and instruct him painstakingly. Hence, this novice monk was often very troubled and felt tormented. Although reciting sutras was worth the effort, he would often miss the mealtime if he adhered to the recitation assigned by the master. That was because back then, monastics had to go for alms round. If he could obtain food (in time) during mealtime, he would be able to finish his memorization assignment; thus, he didn’t have to worry about upsetting his teacher. However, going for alms round doesn’t necessarily mean they would receive meal offerings every time. If he didn’t receive the expected meal offering, he would have to walk for a longer distance, spending more time trying to get the food. Then he did not have much time left to finish the assigned recitation. And his monk teacher would be upset and reproach him. [02:54]
Once, this novice monk was very worried; how worried was he? He was so worried that he would cry while walking. It is likely that such arising condition does happen. A young student in our monastery once bawled in front of me. I asked him, “Why are you so sad?” He replied, “I can’t memorize the text!” And he began to cry sadly. [Back to the story.] Later, there was an elder, he noticed the novice monk crying while walking on the road. He went up and asked the young monk, “What is troubling you?” The elder would like to find out why the novice monk was crying. And the novice monk replied, “My master is very strict with me! He made me memorize the sutras, everyday I have to follow a fixed timetable of recitation. He would be very pleased if I can finish my assignment on time; if not, he would reproach me severely. If I can get food in time in my alms round, then I can finish the recitation as planned; otherwise, I won’t be able to collect the food in time, and to finish the assigned memorization. I would be reprimanded by my master if it is for the latter; this is why I am so troubled.” [04:03]
After hearing what the novice monk had said, this elder immediately told him, “From now on, you can always come to my house all year round. I will offer you food. So, please don’t worry about your alms round and just focus on the recitation!” Knowing that he didn’t have to worry about food, he began to focus his entire attention on memorizing the sutras and recited diligently. He was able to finish the assigned task without skipping any, and he was doing marvellously every day. Both the master and the disciple were very pleased every day. [04:37]
Then, Buddha told the monastics, “Who was the master at that time? He is a Buddha now – the Dipaṃkara Buddha. The novice monk was me.” That is, Buddha Shakyamuni himself. “Who was the elder offering the novice monk the food? That was Ananda now. Because Ananda engaged in such good deeds in his past life, he is endowed with retentive memory and erudition, and he will not forget any word I have said.” After hearing what Buddha said, all the monastics were very happy and aspired to abide accordingly. [05:16]
Thus, when Master told us the story of Master Atisha, it always reminds me of the cause Venerable Ananda had planted in his previous lives, for his intelligence. The cause is: if we can make offerings to the novices or monastics, we would be endowed with erudite knowledge without oblivion. Many lay practitioners are making such kinds of offerings these days. Thus, we can imagine if there is nothing grave to obstruct such great virtuous roots, and when such good causes come into fruition, they will be endowed, if not as perfect as Ananda, at least with good qualities of being erudite, and having retentive memory. Why? Because this is stated in the scriptures instructed by Buddha. [05:54]
If we can support a monastic’s cause and condition in listening and contemplation, so that he doesn’t have to worry about provisions and thus has more time to study and contemplate the scriptural knowledge - look at the merits the elder had accumulated as the benefactor. Actually, Venerable Ananda had been the patron in the previous life, so now he was such a brilliant monastic! Therefore, everyone can ponder: from the time you have faith in Buddha till now, how many monastics have you made offerings to, especially those monastics who earnestly strive for listening and contemplation, and those monastics who engage in various virtuous deeds? When you dedicate such virtuous merits toward your process of listening-contemplation-meditation/cultivation, you can also obtain such exalted and remarkable wisdom. [06:28]
This is why Master repeatedly encouraged us to read The Life of Master Atisha, he said, “You should read the book carefully!” Why did he remind us again and again? He certainly hoped that we would be able to find the cause for self-motivation by reading The Life of Master Atisha. If we can follow along and work on planting such good causes, we hope that before long – the sooner, the better – we would be able to increase our blissful and wisdom merits; the collection of good causes will be as enormous and mighty as the flows of the rivers during summer times. If so, our study of the Tripitaka will become easy. It is much better if we be like all the ancient eminent masters such as Venerable Ananda. He was a legendary figure among the major disciples of Buddha, for he could recite the sutras word for word, and surprisingly the cause and condition [he had planted] is just like this! [07:19]
When Master Atisha was 15 years old, he attended a debate on behalf of the Buddhist community, and his manifestation was also awe-inspiring! Thus, for us disciples, upon hearing all these amazing feats, where should we begin? We can start by venerating the scriptures, striving for listening- contemplation- meditation/cultivation. We can even pay homage to the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra and study, contemplate, recite, and transcribe it. Or we can sincerely make offerings to those who listen, contemplate and meditate/cultivate on the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra, and to those monastics who listen, contemplate and meditate/cultivate on the scriptures. If we can make such offerings, such an effect as what Venerable Ananda manifested could be achieved by us as well. Would you feel promising and confident after hearing this – Find the proper cause and strive for it! Because where there is a cause, there will be a reciprocal effect, and that effect would be realized as expected! [08:12]
【全球广论 II 讲次: 0256】
讲次 | 0256 (2020-09-10 ~ 2020-09-13)
标题 | 种下如尊者般绝顶聪明的因
《广论》段落 | P2-LL1 ~ P2-LL1 其殊胜分三……得已于教所作事业。 今初
音档 | 4B 05:09 ~ 09:34
手抄页/行 | 第1册 P115-LL2 ~ P118-L5 ( 2016 南普陀版：P115-LL2 ~ P118-L5 )
手抄段落 | 这个阿底峡尊者……《阿底峡尊者传》真动人哪！
(更新日期: 2022年7月21日)
00:00
阿底峡尊者到底往昔是一些什么样的因缘，感得这么精彩的示现？我还没有读到往昔因缘的那个传记，但是在佛经里讲到阿难尊者为什么是总持的时候，倒有一段这样的故事，可以给大家分享一下。在《贤愚因缘经》里边，佛陀有讲阿难为什么那么聪明，可以记住佛陀说的每一个字，而且佛陀讲了那么多法，这绝对是一件不可思议的神话故事！听起来好像阿难天生就记忆力超群、无人能比的样子，但是凡事都是有因的。我用白话讲一下。00:49
“我听佛陀这样说过”——《贤愚因缘经》的开始。佛在舍卫国祇树给孤独园的时候，当时有很多比丘都生起了疑问，说：“贤者阿难究竟有什么善行获得如此无量强识博闻，记佛所说一言不差？”然后比丘们便前往佛处问了：“贤者阿难究竟有什么福德，获得如此无量的强识多闻呢？希望佛陀明示。”佛陀就告诉比丘们说:“你们仔细听着！阿难之所以如此，都是因为他有前世的福德。”01:35
接着佛陀就开始讲故事了。说过去世阿僧祇劫的时候，有一个比丘领着一个沙弥，这位比丘每天坚持用严格的方式管教沙弥，令他诵经。每天的课程如果沙弥完成了的话，比丘便很高兴；如果不足、没有做完的话，比丘便苦心责备、教育。因为这样，这个沙弥也常怀苦恼，心里很苦——背诵经书虽然还是有所得的，但是要想按照师父教的背的话，往往就耽误吃饭。因为那时候他们要乞食，如果行乞的时候及时能够得到食物的话，他就能够按时把经书都背完，这样的话他的师父就不用不开心。可是行乞的时候不是一定能够碰到人家供养，如果不及时，他就可能要走很远的路，花很长时间，结果所剩时间不够，便不能按时背诵经书，如果不能按时背诵的话，那往往就会被他的比丘师父责备。02:54
有一次，这个沙弥因此内心非常地愁烦，愁到什么程度呢？就是一边走路、一边哭——这是有可能发生的，像我们寺院里，有一次有一个小朋友在我面前就整个哭出来。我说：“你为什么这么伤心？”他说：“背书背不会！”就开始哭，哭得很难过——然后，当时就有一个长者看到沙弥哭泣着走路，就向前招呼问道：“你为什么愁烦？”应该是为什么哭？然后沙弥就回答说：“我师父对我太严格了！叫我背诵经书，每天都有一定的功课限定，如果按时背诵完毕，师父就会高兴；如果达不到要求，他就苦心地责备我。我行乞及时得到食物，就能够按时背诵完经书；如果行乞不能及时得到食物，就不能按时背完经书。如果是后者，便受到师父的斥责，就是因为这个原因我才愁苦。”04:03
这个长者听了沙弥的这个话，就马上告诉沙弥：“从今以后你常年到我家，我为你提供食物，请你不要愁食物，专心地背诵经书吧！”沙弥听到这个话之后，从此不用愁食物的事情了，就开始专心勤勉地诵经。功课的限量不减都能完成，所以天天都很出色，天天如此，师徒都十分地高兴。04:37
佛又告诉比丘们说：“当时的那个师父是谁呢？现在已经成佛了，就是定光佛，当时的沙弥就是现在的我。”就是释迦佛自己。“当时提供食物的长者是谁呢？就是现在的阿难。因为阿难在过去世造此功德的缘故，所以现在阿难获得如此无量强识多闻、没有忘失。”诸位比丘听佛说完之后就欢喜奉行。05:16
师父讲阿底峡尊者这个故事，我总是想起阿难尊者这么聪明的原因，如果能够供养闻思的沙弥或者比丘的话，就可以得到强识多闻、一字不差。现在很多居士都在修行这样的供养，所以可以想见如果没有什么事破坏这个伟大的善根的话，以后成熟起来，大家虽然可能不能完美地成熟到阿难那样一个字都不漏，但是至少博闻强记是一定会获得，因为佛陀的经典就这样讲的。05:54
如果我们成办一个出家人闻思的因缘，让他不要为饮食操劳，有更多的时间去闻思教典的话——看那个施主他所获得的。其实阿难就是前世那个施主，他现在成了出家人之后这么厉害！所以诸位听到这里之后想一想，你们从信佛开始到现在供养了多少出家人了？尤其是那些努力闻思的出家人，还有做各种善行的出家人，你把这样的善根回向自己的闻思修，可以感得这样殊胜、不可思议的慧力。06:28
所以师父再再地让我们去读《阿底峡尊者传》，说：“你们好好看看！”再再地让我们去读，一定是希望我们在《阿底峡尊者传》中，找出自己能够努力的因。一旦我们沿着这样的因去努力的话，也希望在不久的未来——最好越快越好，我们能够修集到增长福报和智慧像夏日江河般那个猛烈成熟的因。这样的话，我们在学习佛陀的三藏教典的时候就不会困难。最好就像我们学习的祖师一样，比如像尊者阿难，那简直是佛陀大弟子中的一个神话人物，他一个字不漏地记着这些，这个因缘居然是这样的！07:19
而阿底峡尊者在十五岁的时候，就代表佛教进行了这样的辩论，这样的示现也是叹为观止的！那么对于我们学的人，听了这样的一些事迹之后，到底从何处入手呢？比如：恭敬教典，努力地闻思修，对《般若经》能够恭敬、听闻、思惟、读诵、书写，甚至我们去供养闻思修《般若》的人、闻思修经典的出家人，如果能够真心去供养，也会成熟这样的一个结果。听了这个会不会觉得满有希望的？找对了因去努力！因为有因必有果，那个果就一定在我们的期待中到来！08:12