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Global Lamrim II

Lecture No. 0257

Lamrim Volume 1:  Pg 36L5

Tape No | 4B 09:34 ~ 14:35

Date: 2020-09-14 ~ 2020-09-16

Topic: The accomplishments of Master Atisha’s reliance on Teachers, and becoming Head of the 18 schools

We will continue listening to Master expounding on the accomplishments of Master Atisha. The coverage today is about Master Atisha’s virtuous teachers. [00:11] 

So, his family background was really excellent. Despite such excellent conditions, his royal family could not persuade him not to renounce – if it were for us now, it would be impossible for us to give up the royal lifestyle. In other words, [his determination to renounce was owing to] his virtuous roots from the past lives and later, after his ordination, his reliance on his teachers. All the teachers he relied on were the most prominent practitioners at that time. Regardless they were from the Profound View or the Extensive Deeds lineage, his teachers were all top ranking. The first one was Shōteki Brahmaṇa, and then Avadhutipa, Master Atisha advanced step by step. Vidyakokila was one of his teachers as well; Vidyakokila was Nagarjuna Bodhisattva’s either third or fourth-generation disciple. Vidyakokila was an eminent monk at that time. At our present time, Madhyamaka and Yogacara are the two schools seriously promulgating the Buddhist philosophy. It is well recognized that Madhyamaka is the most esteemed one. The key figure promulgating Madhyamaka teaching was Commentator Candrakirti. And Vidyakokila was the disciple of Candrakirti, his personal disciple. What an exalted and prominent practitioner Vidyakokila was! Besides, what were their attainments? Their attainments were at least at the stage of the path of preparation or above. [01:12]

This path of preparation is the stage based on the Extensive Deeds lineage. As far as our great Chinese masters are concerned, we know there was one person, Hui-si Zen Master, who was the teacher of Master Zhi-zhe in the Tian-tai school. His attainment was beyond the stage of the path of preparation. Thus, you can imagine how exalted this stage of achievement is! All the great eminent masters in our lineage had attained great realization, sorry; many surpass the level of realization! Buddha also achieved ultimate Enlightenment. However, many teachers with great realization in the past were still ordinary beings; this is what we should understand. Don’t judge the ranking of attainment based on our interpretation. For example, Master Han-shan attained great realization at his time, but people asked him, “Well, how do you compare against masters in the past, for example, Master Zhi-zhe of Tian-tai school?” Master Han-shan replied, “Oh! There is no comparison between him and me! His achievement was way beyond me; as for me, I have only attained an awakened mind!” Well, you see, Master Han-shan was the top of the four great masters in the late Ming dynasty; actually, he was the most distinguished and the enlightened one, yet Master Han-shan thought highly of Master Zhi-zhe. We don’t really understand the rankings. Once you truly understand these rankings, you would realize how extraordinary it is for Bodhisattvas to attain the path of preparation! [02:11]

Master Atisha had tens of great masters as his teachers! All of his teachers had at least attained the stage of the path of preparation. Furthermore, according to Master Atisha, he had acquired all of his teachers’ good qualities, every single one. From this perspective, he surpassed all his teachers. Why? If he possessed all the good qualities of one teacher, then he would be on par with this teacher. However, he possessed all his teachers’ good qualities; but his other teachers might not possess the same good qualities as Master Atisha [since he upheld all the good qualities of all the teachers]! Who would have such qualities among our Chinese practitioners? We cannot find any amongst our lineage masters nor in the Buddhism world. But there was one in the secular world – Confucius. Confucius learned extensively from all schools of thought at his time, so he acquired all their teachings, and what became of him? Confucius integrated all the sagacious teachings from every school. This was the same as Master Atisha when he was in India; he was the patriarch of all Buddhist sects and schools in India. [02:56]

There was a customary practice in India at that time; many monasteries and different Buddhist schools, and each monastery had its own school of thought. For example, currently in the local context [in Taiwan] we have the school of Zen meditation and the school of Pure Land. Within the school of Zen meditation, there are Lin-ji (school) and Tsao-dong (school). Within each school, the most prominent achiever will be the head of the school. What was the symbol for being the head of a school? It was the monastery’s key, the head of the school is entrusted with the monastery’s key; that was how it worked. In the end, before he left India for Tibet, Master Atisha held one hundred and eight keys or eight hundred keys... I am not too sure, from the translation. Anyway, he held all the keys of the major monasteries in India at his time. Master Atisha was the one who thoroughly understood all of the scriptural collections of the eighteen schools. Whenever there was contention or questions, regardless of the school, you only need to ask him, he would resolve all your questions. Hinayana [issues], Hinayana was also him, Mahayana, Mahayana was also him, Profound View, Profound View was also him, Extensive Deeds, Extensive Deeds was also him. That was how remarkable he was! [03:56]

In Chinese [Buddhist] history, we really cannot find anyone comparable with Master Atisha. You may say, “Well, Master Du-shun was also remarkable. He was the founder of Xian-shou school” Ah! sorry, the Tian-tai school might disagree! People may consider this practitioner to be remarkable, but it does not necessarily mean that he was regarded as the most admirable! For example, now, we often see, say, ah, the few eminent masters after the founding of the Republic [of China in 1911, which is Taiwan]. We often mention the senior monk Xu-yun, Master Yin-guang, Master Tai-xu, and so on! I once heard an eminent monk – nowadays, these eminent masters are elderly masters in their old age. We often mentioned so and so Master. This monk would say, “This old monk, Yin-guang [known for his practice of chanting Buddha’s name]….” Eh! Why? He was a Zen practitioner, so he might find himself at odds with those who chanted Buddha’s name. Similarly, those who chanted Buddha’s name might say, “Zen Master Xu-yun was really remarkable, but his Zen practice may not be suitable for people of this era.” Actually, in our Chinese history, never was there a single master that was respected by both his contemporaries as well as the later generations. However, all lineages and schools everywhere in India respected Master Atisha. Even after he went to Tibet, some practitioners would still travel thousands of miles to consult him with questions. I will not go into too much detail here. However, I have just gone over the outline. [05:15]

Very well! In this section, we learned that as brilliantly intelligent as Master Atisha was, he also earnestly followed eminent teachers and attended to the virtuous teachers. We all know how much hardship he went through [on the trip to a far-off land] in order to learn from Master Serlingba. Over a dozen great teachers of Master Atisha were all prominent lineage masters. Such a brilliant practitioner encountering such excellent eminent masters, would certainly create a brilliant era, so Master Atisha became the head of the various sects and schools. [05:52]

Master said Master Atisha held all the keys to the major monasteries in India at that time. He carried 108 keys on his waist, and people would seek answers from him, whether they were practitioners from Mahayana, Hinayana, Profound View, and Extensive Deeds. He had such high achievements! The “three principal aspects of the path” we are learning now were passed down from his! This lineage has reached you and me. Master said that all the virtuous teachers of Master Atisha were highly esteemed; and Master Atisha was endowed with the good qualities of all of his teachers. We can imagine what a remarkable matter this was! [06:35]

When our venerables finish translating the more extensive biography of Master Atisha, we will discuss this Biography of Master Atisha closely. By then, we can fulfill Master’s instructions to us; to earnestly read and learn the Biography of Master Atisha closely. I hope everyone can cultivate pure faith in Master Atisha, such a brilliant, eminent virtuous teacher who carried 108 keys on his waist. Master expounded this section in this way to inspire us to generate pure faith. We should rejoice Master Atisha’s brilliance – at the age of 15, he was able to represent the Buddhism community to debate [with the non-Buddhists]. And we can also rejoice at his having so many brilliant virtuous teachers and rejoice that he was notably endowed with all the good qualities of all his teachers. Furthermore, he was able to answer questions from all sects and schools, becoming the most discerning guiding mentor and eminent virtuous teacher. [07:27]

In the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra, Buddha repeatedly reminded us: if we can rejoice at Bodhisattvas’ good qualities, we would accumulate inconceivable merits. If we don’t know how to rejoice, then as stated in the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra, it seems to be quite serious – very likely we are obstructed by demons or descended to the demonic group. Everyone can take a look at that chapter in the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra. If by listening to the life stories of these masters, Buddhas, and Bodhisattvas, can inspire us to develop admiration and rejoice, we will be able to accumulate inconceivable merits, every second and every minute! Once we have accumulated enough merits, then whatever virtuous object of meditation we aspire to practice, it would definitely arise in our mental stream. Hence, everyone, please keep up the good work! [08:10]

讲次 | 0257 (2020-09-14 ~ 2020-09-16)

标题 | 尊者依师成就、成十八部共主

《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 09:34 ~ 14:35

手抄页/行 | 第1册 P118-L6 ~ P121-L2　( 2016 南普陀版：P118-L6 ~ P121-L3 )

手抄段落 | 然后呢他以后……这地方我把那个大纲说一下。

(更新日期: 2023年11月15日)

00:00

我们接着听师父讲阿底峡尊者的事迹，今天讲到阿底峡尊者的善知识们。00:11

然后呢他以后，家里这么好，这个条件之好啊，怎么劝他也劝不住──要我们现在想的话，要怎么舍也舍不得──换句话他宿生的善根，以后呢他出了家，亲近的老师。他亲近的老师都是当年最了不起的大德，不管是性宗的、相宗的，是第一位、第一位是胜敌婆罗门，然后呢阿嚩都帝，然后呢一步一步上去，这个明了杜鹃论师，这个大明杜鹃论师是龙树菩萨的三传、不晓得四传弟子，那个时候这样的人喔，这样。譬如说现在对我们来说，真正讲教理方面是中观、瑜伽两派，大家说最高的就是中观，那中观的正宗是月称论师，就是月称的弟子，亲传弟子哦，这么高的高人！而且都是证得什么？至少都是证得加行位以上的。01:12

这个加行位这是相宗所判的位次，拿我们中国的祖师们来说起来，我们晓得的有一个人，是天台智者大师的老师──慧思禅师，他是加行位上的人，你可想而知这个加行位何等地高明！现在我们祖师们都是大彻大悟，对不起，大彻大悟有很多很高的喔！佛到最后也是大彻大悟，但是很多大彻大悟的祖师还是凡夫，这我们要了解。不要拿我们的话来说，譬如憨山大师，他当年大彻大悟，人家就问他：“哎呀，你比之于祖师怎么样，譬如天台智者大师？”“喔，我怎么可以跟大师相比，这种人高不可攀哪，我只是了悟心中啊！”喏，你看，一个明末四大师之首，最了不起大彻大悟的，他尚且把他推崇备至。这我们不晓得位次，所以你真的晓得位次，这个加行位上的菩萨是高不可言！02:11

阿底峡尊者有几十员大善知识是他的老师喔！他最最起码是加行位上的，而且最后阿底峡尊者还说，他是说他老师的功德，他一一都具足。从这个上面上去看的话，他超过了所有的老师。为什么？他具足一个老师，那跟他平，他所有的老师都具足，其他的老师倒不一定耶！拿我们中国具足这个条件的人是谁啊？祖师，佛教当中找不到，世间有一个──孔老夫子。孔老夫子是广学各家，所以各家的他都有，变成功什么？集至圣大成。所以阿底峡尊者当年印度也是一样，他所有的印度的教派宗主就是他。02:56

印度当年有个习惯，所有的这个大庙，它有不同的很多宗派，那个每一个庙有它的宗派。譬如说拿我们目前国内来说，这个是禅宗，这个是净土，那禅宗的又是临济、又是曹洞。每一个宗派当中，它有一个我们这一派当中最高成就者，这派的宗主，那么有一个表示，什么表示呢？就是这个钥匙，这个大庙的钥匙交给这个头，就这样。阿底峡尊者到最后他身上掌管的钥匙，临离开这个印度到西藏去的时候，不晓得是一百零八把，还是八百把，我就弄不清楚了，这个翻译上面。总之当年印度大庙所有的钥匙都在他身上，十八部哪一部最彻底圆满认识的就是他。所以不管是哪一部，反正有诤论了、有问题了，你只要问到他，他都给你解决。小乘，小乘也是他，大乘，大乘也是他；性宗，性宗也是他，相宗，相宗也是他，他有这么了不起的喔！03:56

在我们中国的的确确找不到，你可以说：“喔唷，杜顺和尚很了不起，他贤首宗开宗创派的大师。”欸，对不起，天台这不一定哪！只是觉得：欸，这个人很了不起，不一定最佩服他喔！拿我们现在来说，我们现在常常看见，譬如说：啊，民国以后几位了不起的大师，我们通常说虚云老和尚啊、印光大师啊、太虚大师啊，乃至于什么啊！我就曾经听见过有一个大法师，那个现在这种大法师，都是年纪很老的老法师。我们平常说某某大师，他就说：“印光，这个老和尚......”欸，为什么？他参禅的，所以他对念佛的人不一定赞成；反过来说，念佛的人说：“虚云老和尚这个真是了不起，可是啊现在的人不一定合适。”就是我们中国的的确确历史上面，没有一个说当代、后代大家宗仰他的。可是阿底峡尊者在整个的印度，是哪一宗、哪一派都是这样，一直到他后来到了西藏去了，居然还有不远万里跑得去，要去问他问题的人。这个详细的这个内容，我想我不仔细说，不过这地方我把那个大纲说一下。05:15

好！这一段我们可以知道这么精彩绝顶聪明的阿底峡尊者，他也是殷勤地追随大善知识、承事善知识──大家都知道他跟金洲大师学习的那个辛苦过程。他的几十位大善知识都是传承祖师级的人物，绝顶聪明的人值遇了这么绝顶的大善知识，一定是出现一个绝顶的时代，所以他才会成为各宗各派的宗主。05:52

师父说印度各大寺院所有的钥匙都在他身上，有一百零八把钥匙都挂在腰间，不管是大乘、小乘，性宗、相宗，有问题都去问圣尊阿底峡尊者，达到了这么高的成就！我们现在学的三主要道，就是他的法流啊！流到了你我的眼前。师父说阿底峡尊者的善知识都是高不可攀的善知识，而且阿底峡尊者具足了他所有的老师的功德，可以想像这是什么样的一件事情！06:35

等到法师翻译完了稍广一点的《阿底峡尊者传》，我们会把《阿底峡尊者传》再详细地讲一下，那个时候我们可以实践师父对我们的叮咛，就是要好好地看一看、好好地学习一下《阿底峡尊者传》。希望大家能对这么精彩的大善知识──腰间有一百零八把钥匙的传承祖师生起净信，因为师父这样讲就是让我们能生起净信。我们要去随喜他绝顶聪明，十五岁的时候就可以代表佛教辩论；也可以随喜他有这么多精彩的大善知识；也可以随喜他居然具足了他老师一一的功德，而且各宗各派的问题他都可以回答，成为所有宗派的最厉害的导师、大善知识。07:27

在《般若经》上佛陀都屡次地提醒我们：如果我们能够随喜菩萨的功德的话，那么我们将积聚不可思议的资粮；如果不知道随喜的话，在《般若经》上讲的还满严重的──有可能是你被魔障障蔽了，或者是堕入魔党。大家可以看《般若经》的那一品。如果听祖师、佛菩萨的传记，能在内心中生起渴仰、生起随喜的话，这样的一分一秒的时光，我们会累积到不可思议的资粮！我们的资粮累积足够了的话，那我们想要修的善所缘一定会在自己的心中生起来。所以请大家加油！08:10