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Global Lamrim II

Lecture No. 0238

Tape: Newer Version 03 04:43 ~ 06:20

Date: 2020-07-09 ~ 2020-07-12

Topic: Practice how to listen and explain the teachings, don’t look at the literal meaning of the text

Vol. 1 of Master’s discourse handbook

[Newer Version 03 04:43 ~ 06:20]

Concerning the third part, even though we have such great and eminent teachers, and they give us such encompassing teachings, both will not serve the purpose if we are short on qualifications. Thus the third part is about “how to listen to and explain the teachings”: the qualifications of the teachers, the qualifications of the disciples, how to study Lamrim if we have the qualifications, and how to study if we are short on the qualifications. By studying Lamrim in such a manner, we will ultimately obtain the benefits of the encompassing teachings. Only after we realize what preliminary qualifications are needed to study Lamrim will the author start to explain the authentic and sublime teachings. [00′40″]

After we have the above understanding, in the course of our future learning, we can constantly apply this [what is taught in the third part] as a yardstick. Elementary or superficial, though what we can understand now is at an elementary or superficial level, we can still apply what we have learned to calibrate our daily practice. On the one hand, contemplation and analysis are beneficial to us, on the other, we are also putting the teaching into practice step by step, this would help in elevating ourselves. Right at the beginning, we should not just look at the text and their literal meaning. If, in our initial learning, we don’t exert ourselves in actual practice and gradually deepen our learning, it will be very difficult for us to learn the teachings well in the future. It is precisely because we are short on qualifications, we should start our practice at the elementary level and do whatever we can to improve. When we start to gradually deepen our studies, we will be able to advance step by step in a systematic order. [01′38″]

Master said in the newer version of Lamrim commentary that, “even though we have such great and eminent teachers and they give us such encompassing teachings, both will not serve the purpose if we are short on qualifications. Thus the third part is about “how to listen to and explain the teachings”: the qualifications of the teachers, the qualifications of the disciples, how to study the Lamrim if we have the qualifications, and how to study if we are short on the qualifications. By studying Lamrim in such a manner, we will ultimately obtain the benefits of the encompassing teachings. Only after we realize what preliminary qualifications are needed to study the Lamrim will the author start to explain the authentic and sublime teachings.” This paragraph is still on “how to explain and listen to the teachings” but with more emphasis. [02′27″]

Master continued, “After we have the above understanding, in the course of our learning in the future, we can constantly apply this [what is taught in the third part] as a yardstick to gauge our learning. Though what we can understand now is rather at an elementary or superficial level, we can still apply what we have learned to calibrate our daily practice. On the one hand, contemplation and analysis are beneficial to us, on the other hand, we are also putting the teaching into practice step by step, this would help in elevating ourselves.” And Master followed by saying, “Right at the beginning, we should not just look at the text and their literal meaning. If, in our initial learning, we don’t exert ourselves in actual practice and gradually deepen our learning, it will be very difficult for us to learn the teachings well in the future. It is precisely because we are short on qualifications, we should start our practice at the elementary level and do whatever we can to improve it. When we start to gradually deepen our studies, we will be able to advance step by step in a systematic order.” [03′36″]

Many of you might wonder, “How to listen to the teachings - is it really that important in learning Buddha Dharma? This Dharma category should be something at the beginner’s level, right! Besides, it seems very easy to understand, nothing particularly difficult!” However, though the meaning is easy for us to grasp if we lack the motivation to put it into practice, can we claim that we really understand it? [Why?] Because studying and contemplating the teachings are the most important factors in learning Buddha Dharma; listening to the teachings motivates the contemplation; contemplating the teachings actuates our analytical capability, and analytical capability will inspire us to put what we have learned into practice. They are a sequential array of connected analytical processes. If after we listen and think that we have understood this concept, but consider it unfeasible or even unnecessary to apply it, does that mean we have truly grasped its key points? [04′20″]

The key point is: you consider it easy, but are you able to put it into practice? Are you able to put this seemingly easy and basic teaching into daily practice in your life? Sounds easy, is it just as easy for us to put it into practice? If it is easy to put [the basic part] into practice, then why are we are not doing it? Hence, Master said, “If, in our initial learning, we don’t exert ourselves in actual practice and gradually deepen our learning, it will be very difficult for us to learn the teachings well in the future.” Therefore, this is what the saying means, “if you mistake the date from the first day of the lunar month, the error lasts until the fifteenth day [V.1, P.67].”, this is the problem. Right at the beginning, we are only looking at the literal meaning of the teachings, without putting it into practice; naturally, the result would not be what we have expected. So, what exactly is the reason that causes us to fail? We failed at the starting line – the very first two minutes, the very first minute! That is where we failed – how to listen to the teachings! [05′05″]

Master repeated this point again and again, “It is precisely because we are short on qualifications; we should start our practice at the level we are able to so.” If we can do this, it means we are putting Buddha Dharma into practice, and if we make improvement every step during the course, we will attain the ultimate goal! Therefore, we must complete the part that we had not done so. Do not feel that this seemingly basic teaching is not worthy of our practice. If so, could it be the arrogance within us? Or is it what Master referred to as negligence? [05′37″]

Very well! I hope that by explaining this part, everyone will still use it to properly analyze your own mind stream, then transform it into a driving force. [05′49″]

讲次 0238

标题 实践讲闻轨理，莫当文字看

音档 新版03 04:43 ~ 06:20

日期 2020-07-09 ~ 2020-07-12

手抄页/行 凤山寺版：第1册 P65-L4 ~ P65-LL1

手抄段落 第三个，有这样好的老师……一步一步地跟得上去。

00:00

第三个，有这样好的老师，讲这样圆满的法，但是我们条件如果不够，那没有用。那么就说明，所以第三个“如何讲、闻”──讲的人要什么条件，听的人要什么条件，我们够了应该如何、不够应该怎么学。如果经过了这样，然后我们就可以得到究竟圆满的法。有了这个条件，最后才正规地把那正分究竟圆满的法来告诉我们。00:40

那么当我们对这个了解了以后，向后在我们学习过程当中，我们可以常常拿这个标准。浅、这个粗浅，虽然学得粗浅，可是我们能够用那个粗浅的法，在平常我们去衡准。一方面思惟观察对我们有帮助，一方面对法我们有步步的实践当中，能够提升我们自己。这个不要刚开始的就把它当做文字看，如果我们刚开始不在实际上面努力，渐渐地深入，对我们将来就很难学得好了。正因为我们现在条件差，所以我们浅的地方，跟我们能做到的地方做，当我们渐渐深入的时候，我们就会很有次第地一步一步地跟得上去。 01:38

师父在新版的《广论》手抄有这样一段话，说：“有这样好的老师讲这样圆满的法，但是我们条件如果不够，那没有用。那么就说明，所以第三个‘如何讲、闻’──讲的人要什么条件，听的人要什么条件，我们够了应该如何、不够应该怎么学。如果经过了这样，然后我们就可以得到究竟圆满的法。有了这个条件，他最后才正规地把那正分究竟圆满的法来告诉我们。”这一段还是在“如何讲、闻”加大这个力度。02:27

接下来师父又说：那么当我们对这个了解了以后，向后在我们学习的过程中，我们可以常常拿这个标准。虽然学得粗浅，可是我们能够用那个粗浅的在平常去衡量。一方面思惟观察对我们是有帮助的，一方面对法我们也有步步的实践当中，能够提升我们自己。接着师父又讲一句：“这个不要刚开始的时候就把它当做文字看，如果我们刚开始不在实际上面努力，渐渐地深入，对我们将来就很难学得好了。正因我们现在条件差，所以我们浅的地方跟我们能做到的地方做，当我们渐渐深入的时候，我们就会很有次第地一步一步地跟得上去。”03:36

很多人可能会觉得：“怎么听法这件事，在佛法里有那么重要吗？它应该是比较浅的法吧！而且好像一听就懂，没什么难度啊！”可是就这样一听就懂，没什么难度，如果缺乏实践的推动力，那我们是听懂了吗？因为佛法最重要的还是闻思，闻推动我们思，思推动我们去修，它是一向连贯的过程。如果我们听了这个道理一听就懂了之后，觉得它好像不能做，甚至不用做，那我们真的懂了其中的要窍吗？04:20

最重要的是：你觉得浅，但是有实践力吗？能把这个好像浅的法实践在生命中吗？听起来容易，做起来是不是也容易呢？如果做起来容易，我们为什么没有去做呢？所以师父说：如果刚开始不在实际上面努力、渐渐深入，那对我们将来就很难学得好了。所以“初一若错乃至十五”就是这个问题，一上手就把它当文字看，没有去实践，那么结果肯定不是我们预先想的那样。但是我们到底输在哪里了呢？我们就是输在起跑线上，最初那两分钟、最初那一分钟！我们就输在了那里，就是怎么听法！05:05

所以这个点，师父再再地说：正因为我们条件差，所以我们在我们能够做到的地方做。这一步做到了就是在实践佛法，那么步步都做到了那就成了！所以一定要在没做到的这个地方把它做到，不要觉得这好像是很浅的法，自己好像不屑修似的。这样会不会我们内心中也有一种——是慢心吗？还是师父说的那个——忽略？05:37

好！希望讲这一段，我们大家还是要拿它好好地观察自己的心续，把它变成是一种行动力。05:49