Lecture No. 0267
Global Lamrim II
Lecture No. 0267
Lamrim Volume 1: P34LL9 – P36L5
Date: 2022-07-20
Topic: Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment is like a lamp casting light on the path to enlightenment – according to the Four Interwoven Annotations
Then, what is the implicit meaning indicated in the Ornament for Clear Knowledge? “Implicit meaning”, as the name suggests, refers to the hidden or implied meaning; being implicit contrasts with what is explicit. The teachings of the Perfection of Wisdom Sutras can be divided into two parts, the explicit and the implicit. The explicit part refers to the wisdom of emptiness. While we are reciting the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra, we can easily grasp literally that the whole teaching of the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra centers on the essence of emptiness. Thus, the wisdom of emptiness is the explicit part of explanations in the Perfection of Wisdom Sutras, while the implicit part in the Perfection of Wisdom Sutras refers to the stages of the path illustrated in the Ornament for Clear Knowledge. In other words, the stages of the path presented in the Ornament for Clear Knowledge are hidden in the teachings of the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra; they are hidden in the teachings that give the guidance on the wisdom of emptiness. [00:48]
What are the stages of the path to enlightenment mentioned in the Ornament for Clear Knowledge? They encompass the whole practice on the path – what to practise first, what to practise next, and what to practise later. For instance, the essential attributes, the quantitative measurement, the systematic order etc., these contents are the stages of the path revealed in the Ornament for Clear Knowledge. In general, for us, it is impossible to grasp the stages of the path taught in the Ornament for Clear Knowledge by simply reading the scripture of the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra; ordinary beings cannot achieve it. Only by receiving the instructions from the virtuous teachers who have upheld the authentic and pure lineage can practitioners understand.. That is why the stages of the path illustrated in the Ornament for Clear Knowledge are called the implicitly graded stages. [01:31]
So, what benefits will the implicit meaning hidden in the Ornament for Clear Knowledge and the wisdom of emptiness explicitly elucidated in the Perfection of Wisdom Sutras bring for us? The implicit meaning hidden in the Ornament for Clear Knowledge refers to the encompassing stages of the path to enlightenment, pointing out how an ordinary being should practice to eventually achieve the state of Buddhahood; the entire process of cultivation on the path to enlightenment surpasses all Bodhisattvas, which is the attainment of Buddhahood. During this process, practitioners must learn the wisdom of emptiness so that they can eliminate the root of afflictions, completely liberate themselves from cyclic existence, and even attain the state of Buddhahood.. Thus, by studying the implicit meaning indicated in the Ornament for Clear Knowledge and the wisdom of emptiness explicitly elucidated in the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra, we can understand how to practise; abiding by what Buddha, past masters, and Bodhisattvas taught us, we can advance on the path gradually, and ultimately, completely eliminate all suffering and obtain all happiness. Let me repeat it again: it is a thorough eradication, meaning it is not the type of suffering that will arise again after it has been defeated. Rather, the elimination is thorough and complete; the suffering will never arise again. Besides, all happiness can be effortlessly attained, just like the gushing spring – the perfect and encompassing happiness. [02:43]
Teaching 0267: Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment is like a lamp casting light on the path to enlightenment – according to the Four Interwoven Annotations
Based on the stages of the path in the Lamrim, we must first study the graded path, which is implicitly indicated in the Ornament for Clear Knowledge; it is the groundwork for comprehending the wisdom of emptiness. Only with the groundwork laid first can we further our study to the Vipassana section. In the chapters on Vipassana [V.3 the meditative insight], we will learn about the wisdom of emptiness. Hence, the implicit meaning indicated in the Ornament for Clear Knowledge is the groundwork for comprehending the explicit one. [03:09]
When I was studying under Master’s guidance, one morning, I went to ask Master some questions. At that time, Master just finished reciting the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra. Delighted and holding the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra with both hands, he asked me, “Does the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra illustrate the stages of path as revealed in the Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment?” He inquired further, “Have you noticed there are stages of the path?” And then, Master turned to the section of the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra that he had just recited and said to me, “You recite this part.” Then, I did as told. After I finished, Master said, “You explain it to me.” Surprised, I replied, “Master, do you want me to explain it to you?” And Master replied, “Give me your interpretation.” At that time, I briefly supplicated for Master’s blessing in my mind. Since Master asked me to explain it, I began by going over the literal meaning of that section in front of him. [04:04]
That section] is actually about the stages of the path. And I take it as a condition of the dependent arising! I hope there is an opportunity for me to explain a section of the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra to you in the future. I will follow the explanations great masters in the past gave while explaining them. Please look forward to it! [04:20]
Next let’s take a look at the Introduction to the Four Interwoven Annotations Chinese text page 94.
“From the constituent aspect, the text for this work is Atisha’s Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment”; what does the word “scripture” mean? It means guidance that “enables practitioners to pacify their mind is thus named the scripture”. “Enabling practitioners to pacify their mind” means the scripture provides instructions for practitioners to pacify their mind; how does it work? The above term is known as “properly direct your attention inward” [V.3 p.15 LL.4], which suggests that the scripture guides practitioners to achieve this very highly soothing and refreshing state of mind. This is the definition of the scripture based on Master Ba-so’s annotation [Baso Chori Gyeltsen, we translated as Master Ba before]. [04:57]
If we apply a metaphor for the scripture, what would it be? What can be analogous to the Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment? The Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment is “like a lamp casting light on gold, or the like, in the darkness.” Suppose there is gold piling up on a table in a house, try to imagine the gold bricks or gold bullions as huge as you would like them to be. However, we don’t know what they are, because we can’t see them clearly. And we may think they are just some iron, copper pieces, or even wooden boxes, so on and so forth. Suppose now the lights in the room lit up suddenly, then we will discover, “Wow! So, what piled up on the table are gold! Glittering gold!” So, regarding “casting light on,” what does the lamp illuminate? The lamp casts light on gold, i.e., illuminating the stages of the path, which is as precious as gold.
Teaching 0267: Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment is like a lamp casting light on the path to enlightenment – according to the Four Interwoven Annotations
With the scripture, which is like a lamp, we are then able to recognize and see the path clearly. In the darkness without any light, even if there are gold pieces, we will not see them and we will not realise it. If a torch is lit, then we can see the gold right away: Wow! So, this is the treasure, the gold! [06:12]
By the same token, because of the Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment, what kind of path can we thus see clearly? It is the path that directs us to the state of Buddhahood. What scripture is this? It is the Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment, composed by Master Atisha. “Hence, the very author of the Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment is the author of this Lamrim text,”; “this” refers to the Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment. [06:49]
【全球广论 II 讲次: 0267】
讲次 | 0267 (2020-10-19 ~ 2020-10-21)
标题 | 《道炬论》：如灯照显菩提道（四家注）
《广论》段落 | P2-L9 ~ P2-L10 由是菩提道次引导分四……别讳共称胜阿底峡
入门段落 | 第1册 P94-L1 ~ P94-L7 别则此之教典......这里所说的“此”即《广论》
(更新日期: 2023年12月19日)
00:00
那么什么是隐义现观呢？“隐义”顾名思义就是隐藏的意涵，隐义是相对于显义来说的。《般若经》的所诠可以分为显义和隐义两个部分：显义就是指空性，我们在读《般若经》的时候，从字面上很容易看到《般若经》是在宣讲空性的内涵，所以空性就是《般若经》的显义；而隐义就是《般若经》里所含的现观的道次第，现观的次第隐藏在《般若经》里，隐藏在开示空性的经文的内涵里面。00:48
现观次第是什么呢？就是指修道的整个过程中要修什么——先修什么、再修什么、后修什么。比如说它的体性、数量、次第决定等等，这些内涵就是属于现观的次第。通常我们一般的话，不容易一读《般若经》的经文就能够明了现观的道次第，一般人是做不到的，必须要有善知识的传承教授才能了解，所以现观的次第才被称之为“隐义”。01:31
那么隐义的现观和显义的空性能为我们带来什么胜利呢？隐义的现观次第是指完整的修道次第，一个凡夫要怎么修行才能够最后到达佛地，这样整个修道的过程，超越所有的菩萨——成佛。在这个过程当中必须要修学空性，才能够断除烦恼的根本，彻底地脱离轮回，乃至成佛。所以我们透过学习隐义的现观和显义的空性，能够了解如何修行，沿着佛陀、祖师、菩萨教导我们的次第循序渐进，最后能够彻底地远离所有的苦、得到一切的快乐。我再说一遍：是彻底地远离，那种痛苦不是说把它打退了之后，过了一段时间再回来；是消灭掉，是永远不会再生起痛苦。而所有的快乐也不用费力地得到，就像涌泉一样，是圆满的、一切的快乐。02:43
按照《广论》的次第来说，我们必须要先学习隐义的现观次第，因为那是趣向空性的基础。有了前面的基础，我们才能够更进一步地学后面的"毗钵舍那"，在"毗钵舍那"的章节里我们就会学到空性。所以，隐义是显义的基础。03:09
像以前在听师父讲的时候，有一天早晨的时候，我去请问师父。师父那时候刚读完《般若经》，师父就很高兴捧着《般若经》，然后就问我说：“《般若经》有没有《菩提道次第广论》的次第呀？”又接着问我说：“你有没有读到道次第？”然后师父把刚读的那一段《般若经》，说：“你念一遍。”然后我就念了一遍。念了一遍，师父说：“那你给我讲一遍。”当时就很惊讶，说：“师父，你让我讲吗？”然后师父说：“你给我解释一遍。”当时我在心中祈求了一下，请师父加持，因为师父让我讲，我就开始照字面意思那样，在师父面前讲了一下。04:04
那一段写的其实就是道次第，那也是一个缘起吧！希望以后能讲《般若经》中的一段，我是会沿着祖师的释去讲。敬请期待！04:20
下面我们看《四家合注入门》的 94 页：
这个教典如果有个譬喻的话，就像什么呢？这个《菩提道炬论》像什么呢？“如灯照明暗中之黄金等”，如果有个屋子里桌子上堆满了黄金，那个金砖或金块，能想多大都可以。可是我们也不知道这是什么，看不清楚，可能是以为一些铁呀或者铜块，甚至是木盒子什么的。可是这个时候，如果房间里的灯突然亮起来，我们会发现说：“哇！这桌子上堆的原来都是黄金啊！闪闪发光的黄金啊！”所以这个“照”，是照什么呢？照这个金子，就是照显菩提道——如黄金般珍贵价值的菩提道。有了这个教典的灯，我们才能够认知、才能够看到。如果黑暗里没有光明的话，放了黄金也看不到、也不知道；如果在里边点燃了火炬，那我们瞬间就能看到：哇！原来这是宝藏、这是金子！06:12
同样地，因为有了《菩提道炬论》，才能完全清晰地看见什么样的道路呢？趣往佛地的道路。这样的教典是什么呢？“即是《菩提道炬》”，就是阿底峡尊者造的《菩提道炬论》。“故彼造者，亦即此之造者”。这里说的“此”就是指《菩提道次第广论》。06:49