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Global Lamrim II

Lecture No. 0258

Lamrim Volume 1:  Pg 36L5

Tape No | 4B 09:34 ~ 14:35

Date: 2020-09-17 ~ 2020-09-20

Topic: Perfection of Wisdom Sutra • Non-discrimination: Immeasurable blissful merits by rejoicing Bodhisattva Mahasattvas

In the previous teaching, we reviewed the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra which is in the second assembly of the Great Perfection of Wisdom Sutra, Chapter 63, “Non-discrimination”. I will recite the middle part [on how Indra made offerings by sprinkling flowers]; as for the beginning part of this chapter, you can read it on your own. It says that Indra sprinkled flowers as offerings, and then he asked Buddha some questions described as follows: [00:22]

“World-honored One! If Bodhisattva Mahasattvas already have the peerless aspiration of the spirit of enlightenment, I wish that their aspiration can increase many folds, and they will quickly attain the ultimate enlightenment. I wish those Bodhisattva Mahasattvas recognizing various sufferings in the cyclic existence, and for the sake of benefiting beings in deity, human, and asura realms, can be inspired with various steadfast aspirations: ‘Since I have crossed the ocean of cyclic existence, I should also diligently help others to cross this ocean. Since I am liberated from the bondage of cyclic existence, I should also diligently help others be liberated. Since I am freed from the fear of birth and rebirth, I should also diligently help others to be freed from such fear. Since I have attained non-abiding nirvana, I should also diligently help those who have not attained to have the same attainment.’” These are the grand and steadfast aspiration, starting from “Since I have crossed the ocean of cyclic existence” to “I should also diligently help those who have not attained to have the same attainment.” [01:32]

Then, Indra asked again, “World-honored One! Suppose noble men and noble women rejoice at the good qualities and virtuous roots of the entry-level Bodhisattva Mahasattvas who are aspired with the spirit of enlightenment. How many blissful merits can they accumulate? Suppose they rejoice at the good qualities and virtuous roots of the Bodhisattva Mahasattvas, who aspired to obtain the spirit of enlightenment for a long time. How many blissful merits can they accumulate? If they rejoice at the good qualities and virtuous roots of the Bodhisattva Mahasattvas who have attained the stage of irreversible thought, how many blissful merits will they accumulate? If they rejoice at the good qualities and virtuous roots of the Bodhisattva Mahasattvas who are bound to be the next Buddha to come, how many blissful merits will they accumulate?” [My take is that] Indra was helping us by asking Buddha that: if we rejoice the good qualities and virtuous roots of the [different levels of] Bodhisattvas, i.e. those entry-level, those who have long aspire [to obtain spirit of enlightenment], those who have attained the stage of the irreversible thought [V. 2 p.65, LL5], and those who are bound to be the next Buddha to come, how many blissful merits will we accumulate? [02:25]

Here is the answer, “Then, Buddha told Indra: Kausika! The area of the four continents can be measured.” How big are the four continents? You can know the answer after weighing them gram by gram. [However, the sutra says,] “The blissful merit accumulated by these noble men and noble women in their practice of spontaneous rejoicing is immeasurable. Kausika! Even if the universe of three billion world systems can be measured, the blissful merits accumulated by these noble men or noble women in their practice of rejoicing is immeasurable. Kausika! If the universe of three billion world systems were an ocean, and the drops could be measured by splitting one hair into one hundred parts, by taking one part of it to dip into the ocean; however [by such quantitative comparison], the blissful merits accumulate by these noble men or noble women in their practice of rejoicing are immeasurable.” That is, supposing the universe of three billion world systems were an ocean, how many oceans are there? Such calculation is seemingly far beyond the boundary we can compute with our mathematics knowledge. [03:28]

At this moment, having heard such a reply from Buddha, again, Indra asked Buddha, “Then, Indra asked Buddha again, ‘World-honored One! If the living beings do not rejoice at the virtuous roots and good qualities of Bodhisattva Mahasattvas, we should know that they are enchanted by demons. World-honored One! If the living beings do not rejoice at the good qualities and virtuous roots of the Bodhisattva Mahasattvas, we should know they are friends of the demons. World-honored One! If the living beings do not rejoice at the good qualities and virtuous roots of Bodhisattva Mahasattvas, we should know that they were reborn from the demonic world. So what should we do? Bodhisattva Mahasattvas aspire to attain peerless enlightenment and do various deeds as Bodhisattva Mahasattvas should do; thus, if living beings can rejoice at the good qualities and virtuous roots of such Bodhisattva Mahasattvas and make the dedication, they can destroy all demonic army, demonic palaces, and demonic retinues. World-honored One! Suppose the living beings sincerely venerate the Three Jewels of Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, often wishing to meet Buddha, often wishing to listen to the Dharma, and often wishing to encounter the Sangha wherever they were born. In that case they should rejoice at the good qualities and virtuous roots of those Bodhisattva Mahasattvas. Having rejoiced those Bodhisattva Mahasattvas, they should dedicate their merits to attaining the peerless enlightenment without having the thought of either duality or non-duality. By so doing, they can quickly attain peerless enlightenment and bring benefit and happiness to all living beings, thus destroying the demonic army.” [05:07]

Buddha thus replied, “Then, Buddha told Indra, ‘That is so! That is so! It is just like what you have said.’” Indra said something that might sound shockingly horrifying to us – if [we] don’t rejoice, then [we] could belong to the demon family and were reborn from the demonic realm! We can [reflect on it and introspect ourselves], this could be an alerting wake-up call to our apathetic attitude! After Indra asked the question, Buddha agreed with Indra’s viewpoint by saying, “That is right; it is just like what you have said.” [05:36]

Then, Buddha continued, “Kausika! Suppose living beings rejoice at the good qualities and virtuous roots of Bodhisattva Mahasattvas from the depth of their hearts and dedicate such merits to the peerless enlightenment. In that case those living beings can quickly perfect their Bodhisattva deeds and quickly attain their peerless enlightenment. That is if living beings rejoice at the good qualities and virtuous roots of Bodhisattva Mahasattvas, from the depth of their hearts and dedicate such merits to the peerless enlightenment,” Pay attention to the following statement, “those living beings will be endowed with great strength, often being able to attend to all Buddhas and virtuous teachers, always listening to many profound scriptures of the Prajnaparamita, and well comprehending the intended meaning.” That is, they can understand Prajna [or the Wisdom]. “Kausika! If those living beings can achieve the merits and virtuous roots by practicing rejoicing and making dedication, wherever they are born, deities, humans, and asuras would often make offerings to them, venerate and praise them; they will not see unpleasant sights, hear unpleasant voices, smell unpleasant scents, taste unpleasant flavors, feel unpleasant touches, unpleasant thought would not cross their mind; they will not be far away from all Buddhas and the World-honored One; they will travel from one Buddha realm to another, get close to all Buddhas to plant virtuous roots, help all living beings to attain enlightenment, and purify the Buddha realm.” And then the following statement described, “Why is that so?” How so? [06:56]

“Kausika! If those living beings can rejoice at the good qualities and virtuous roots of numerous entry-level Bodhisattva Mahasattvas from the depth of their hearts, and dedicate such merits to the peerless enlightenment, if from the depth of their hearts, they can rejoice at the good qualities and virtuous roots of numerous Bodhisattva Mahasattvas, starting from the entry-level all the way to the tenth level, and dedicate such merits to their peerless enlightenment, if from the depth of their hearts, they can rejoice at the good qualities and virtuous roots of numerous Bodhisattva Mahasattvas who are bound to be the next Buddha to come and dedicate such merits to their peerless enlightenment, those living beings can increase their virtuous roots and quickly attain peerless enlightenment due to the above-said causes and conditions. Since they have attained peerless enlightenment, they can benefit limitless living beings in the future and help them to dwell in nirvana without residue. Therefore, Kausika! Those noble men and noble women who abide by the Bodhisattva path should rejoice at the good qualities and virtuous roots of all Bodhisattva Mahasattvas at the entry-level, the good qualities and virtuous roots of all seasoned Bodhisattva Mahasattvas, the good qualities and virtuous roots of all the Bodhisattva Mahasattvas who have attained the stage of irreversible thought, the good qualities and virtuous roots of all the Bodhisattva Mahasattvas who are bound to be the next Buddha to come, and dedicate such merits to their peerless enlightenment. While practicing rejoicing and making dedication, one should not be attached to such a mental attitude; one should detach oneself from such attitude while practicing rejoicing and making dedications. If one can be freed from such attachment while engaging in the practice of rejoicing and making dedication, one’s training of the Bodhisattva Mahasattva deeds can quickly help him, or her attain peerless enlightenment; thus, one can bring benefit and happiness to limitless living beings in the future and help them attain their final nirvana.” [08:25]

 I find this paragraph section very marvellous [and awe-inspiring], and I am deeply moved after reading it. Because Master would actually recite one chapter of the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra every day even when he was not feeling well. For instance, he had a stomach-ache one time, yet he endured the pain and discomfort and finished reciting that chapter of the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra. After that, he was very, very pleased and happy! [I] often noticed  Master smiling with exceptional radiance after he finished chanting the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra. [I remembered when I] opened the door to his [study] room, Master would turn back and look at me, and he would always say, “Ah, Zhen Ru, you are here! I just finished reciting the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra.” He was extremely happy, and then he would tell me the content that he had just read. [09:00]

Because of Master’s empowerment, whenever I recite the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra and read the wonderful/excellent content, I would think of Master’s smiling face. Just like the conversation of Indra seeking Buddha’s advice, we would all like to find out, “Exactly how many virtuous roots can one obtain?” Actually, even if Buddha did give us the answer, it is still hard for us to fathom how much it could be, other than knowing it seems boundless. The practice of rejoicing would amount to such astronomical merits! If we can maintain the attitude of non-discrimination and the non-inherent existence - later on when we study the Vipassana section - during our practice of rejoicing and making dedication, the merits accumulated by [such rejoicing and making dedication] are even unimaginably incredible! [09:29]

Thus, if we can rejoice genuinely from the depth of our hearts while studying the Life of Master Atisha, or rejoice at Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and lineage masters’ [practices and attainments] while studying their biographies, it is doubtless that the merits generated would be definitely inconceivable and incredible! [Why?] Because, to Buddha, the law of cause and effect is just like viewing the amalaka fruit in his palm – he is omniscient. For some cause and effect whose logical inference is impossible for us to fathom, all we have to do is rely on Buddha’s words and cultivate faith in him! For example, having faith in the Three Jewels, having faith in Buddha’s teaching of the law of cause and effect, paying deep veneration to Buddha’s teachings, and practicing accordingly as Buddha instructed, then we will be rewarded with commensurate effect. Let’s work hard together! [10:07]

讲次 | 0258 (2020-09-17 ~ 2020-09-20)

标题 | 《般若经》“无分别品”：随喜圣者功德无量

《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: 2021年5月19日)

上一讲我们讲到《般若经》，是在《大般若经》第二会中的〈无分别品第六十三〉。这里边前面先不说，你们可以自己去阅读一下。中间天帝释散花供养，散花供养之后他就问佛，说了这样一段话：00:22

“世尊！若菩萨摩诃萨已于无上正等菩提心生欲乐，我愿彼心倍复增进，疾证无上正等菩提。愿彼菩萨摩诃萨众见生死中种种苦已，为欲利乐世间天、人、阿素洛等，发起种种坚固大愿：我既自度生死大海，亦当精勤度未度者。我既自解生死系缚，亦当精勤解未解者。我于种种生死怖畏既自安隐，亦当精勤安未安者。我既自证究竟涅槃，亦当精勤令未证者皆同证得。”这是坚固大愿，从“我既自度”到“亦当精勤令未证者皆同证得”。01:32

然后天帝释就又问了，说：“世尊！若善男子、善女人等，于初发心菩萨摩诃萨功德善根起随喜心，得几许福？于久发心菩萨摩诃萨功德善根起随喜心，得几许福？于不退转地菩萨摩诃萨功德善根起随喜心，得几许福？于一生所系菩萨摩诃萨功德善根起随喜心，得几许福？”天帝释在帮我们问佛陀：如果我对初发心的、久发心的、不退转地菩萨，还有一生补处的菩萨随喜，到底会得多大的福报呢？02:25

接下来就讲了：“尔时佛告天帝释言：憍尸迦！四大洲界可知两数。”四大洲有多大呢？用一两一两的都可以秤完、都可以知道。“此善男子、善女人等随喜俱心所生福德不可知量。憍尸迦！乃至三千大千世界可知两数，此善男子、善女人等随喜俱心所生福德不可知量。憍尸迦！假使三千大千世界为一大海，有取一毛析为百分，持一分端沾大海水可知滴数，此善男子、善女人等随喜俱心所生福德不可知量。”三千大千世界为一海，那得有多少个海？这样算一算，好像已经远远超越我们的数学知识能运算的边界了。03:28

这个时候，听完了佛陀这样的回答，天帝释又跟佛说：“时天帝释复白佛言：世尊！若诸有情，于菩萨摩诃萨功德善根不随喜者。当知皆是魔所魅着。世尊！若诸有情于菩萨摩诃萨功德善根不随喜者，当知皆是恶魔朋党。世尊！若诸有情于菩萨摩诃萨功德善根不随喜者，当知皆从魔界中没来生是间。所以者何？若菩萨摩诃萨求趣无上正等菩提，修诸菩萨摩诃萨行，若诸有情于彼菩萨摩诃萨众功德善根随喜回向，皆能破坏一切魔军、宫殿、眷属。世尊！若诸有情，深心敬爱佛法僧宝，随所生处常欲见佛，常欲闻法，常欲遇僧，于诸菩萨摩诃萨众功德善根应生随喜。既随喜已，回向无上正等菩提，而不应生二、无二想。若能如是，疾证无上正等菩提，利乐有情，破魔军众。”05:07

接着佛陀就回答：“尔时佛告天帝释言：如是！如是！如汝所说。”天帝释说了这样一个我们听起来可能很惊悚的事情──没有随喜就是堕魔党类，从魔界中来的！我们可以自己对照一下，对自己那种麻木的心情可能是一个警醒！天帝释问完了之后，佛陀赞同了他的观点，说：“是这样的，正像你说的。”05:36

接着佛陀又说：“憍尸迦！若诸有情于菩萨摩诃萨功德善根深心随喜，回向无上正等菩提，是诸有情速能圆满诸菩萨行，疾证无上正等菩提。若诸有情于菩萨摩诃萨功德善根深心随喜，回向无上正等菩提”，注意听下面的：“是诸有情具大威力，常能奉事一切如来应正等觉及善知识，恒闻般若波罗蜜多甚深经典，善知义趣。”就是能懂《般若》。“憍尸迦！是诸有情成就如是随喜回向功德善根，随所生处，常为一切世间天、人、阿素洛等供养恭敬、尊重赞叹，不覩恶色，不闻恶声，不齅恶香，不尝恶味，不觉恶触，不思恶法，常不远离诸佛世尊，从一佛国趣一佛国，亲近诸佛种诸善根，成熟有情，严净佛土。”这后面又讲了：“何以故？”为什么会这样呢？06:56

“憍尸迦！是诸有情能于无数最初发心菩萨摩诃萨功德善根深心随喜，回向无上正等菩提。能于无数已住初地乃至十地菩萨摩诃萨功德善根深心随喜，回向无上正等菩提。能于无数一生所系菩萨摩诃萨功德善根深心随喜，回向无上正等菩提。由此因缘，是诸有情善根增进，速证无上正等菩提。既证无上正等菩提，能尽未来如实利乐无量无数无边有情，令住无余般涅槃界。以是故，憍尸迦！住菩萨乘诸善男子、善女人等，于初发心菩萨摩诃萨功德善根，于久发心菩萨摩诃萨功德善根，于不退转地菩萨摩诃萨功德善根，于一生所系菩萨摩诃萨功德善根，皆应随喜，回向无上正等菩提。于生随喜及回向时，不应执着即心、离心随喜回向，不应执着即心修行、离心修行。若能如是无所执着，随喜回向，修诸菩萨摩诃萨行，速证无上正等菩提，能尽未来利益安乐诸有情众，皆令安住究竟涅槃。”08:25

非常地精彩，读了之后很感动。师父原来每天都会读一卷《般若经》。即使在生病，比如有一天胃疼，他也忍着胃疼把那一卷《般若经》读完，读完的时候还非常非常高兴！也常常看到师父诵完《般若经》之后，笑得非常非常地灿烂。把门打开的时候，师父就坐在椅子上回头看着我，每次都说：“啊，真如你来了！刚诵完《般若经》。”师父非常非常开心，然后就会跟我讲一下在《般若经》上诵到了什么内容。08:59

因为得到了师父的加持，看《般若经》的时候，看到这些精彩的内容，就会想像师父的笑脸。像天帝释请问佛陀的内容，我们都想问：到底能得多少善根？其实佛陀说了，我们也不知道是多少，但是会知道好像无量无边。随喜有这么大的功德！如果能以一个无所住的心、能以一个缘念无自性的心──以后学习“毗钵舍那”──去随喜回向的话，那就更加地不可思议！09:28

所以如果我们听了《阿底峡尊者传》，听了佛菩萨、祖师的传记，能够深生随喜的话，不要怀疑它所生的功德，绝对是不可思议的！因为对因果这件事，佛陀就像观掌中庵摩罗果，他是遍智。对微细因果这件事，没有什么逻辑和推理，就是依靠圣言量，然后生信！比如信三宝、信佛所说的因果，深生敬信，如佛陀所说的那样修行，我们就能够得到那样的果报。我们一起努力！10:07