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Global Lamrim II

Lecture No. 0288

Lamrim Volume 1:  P38L4 – L8

Tape No: NA

Date: 15 Jun 2022

Topic: The Three Higher Trainings are like Precious Jewels

Evidently, “precious jewels” are extremely hard to come by and they are very rare. For instance, there was a king in the past, offering a giant sapphire, which was huge and rare, to a Buddha stupa in Sri Lanka. There are also some exceptional big diamonds, and the like which were all very rare, so much so that such big jewels were very precious. Thus, “hard to come by,” and “rare” are two attributes used to describe the precious jewels. Then, are the Tripitaka and the three trainings hard to come by? And are they very rare? [In fact, they are] also very hard to come by and very rare as well! [03:59]

Since they are endowed with inconceivable good qualities and benefits, they are as “valuable” as the precious jewels. If we are able to uphold the Tripitaka and the three trainings in our practice, we would be liberated [from the cyclic existence] and achieve the effect stage of Sublime Wisdom of Omniscience, thus they are indeed very “beneficial” to us. Due to being able to protect other sentient beings from all the afflictions-induced sufferings in all of their cyclic existence, hence [Tripitaka and the three trainings] could also protect [sentient beings] from harm. Because [they can help us] to achieve the effect stages of human and deities in [our] consecutive high-status [of fortunate existence] and liberation, as well as the effect stage of Sublime Wisdom of Omniscience in [our] ultimate certain-goodness, hence [Tripitaka and the three trainings] also “induce joyfulness”. Precisely, these Tripitaka and the three trainings can bring consecutive high-status in our lives, and consecutive high status is clearly the fortunate path of humans and deities, [suggesting] there are excellent conditions [for us] to engage in studying and practicing Buddha Dharma; Liberation is to be exempted from cyclic existence; Not to mention, the effect stage of Sublime Wisdom of Omniscience as it is yearned for by all living beings in their dreams. The effect stage of  Sublime Wisdom of Omniscience is [a state] where there is not even a speck of suffering and all happiness is fulfilled. Thus, that is how the Tripitaka and the three trainings can “induce joyfulness”. Because all six attributes [of Tripitaka and the three trainings] align with [the characteristics of] precious jewels, [they] are termed as precious. [05:14]

Having studied this short paragraph, we all can contemplate, we often talk about taking refuge in the Three Jewels, [but] while we are taking refuge in the Three Jewels, would [we] ponder on: why is that Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, the Tripitaka and the three trainings are all described as precious? Here, [Rinpoche] explained on these few points. For instance, while we are prostrating to Buddha, or reciting in refuge taking, or when we are studying the Dharma teaching or scriptures, if our mind is slightly muddled and apathetic, [we] can reflect on their similarities to these [six attributes/]characteristics of the precious jewels. That will allow our mind to transit from the state of feeling muddled as to what to adopt/practice and what to abandon/forsake to become very clear and lucid, then we would come to understand why we need to take refuge in the Three Jewels, why we need to learn the Tripitaka, and even why we need to study and practice the three trainings of the ethical discipline, concentration and wisdom. [Why?] Because all scriptures and sutras are to point out the path for our mind training, [they are] like the beacon or lamp enlightening us from where we could find happiness, where the light [of hope] is, and where the warmth [of compassion] is. [As such, they are] like treasured gems. It is said that there is a type of jewel that will glow at night, [metaphorically speaking,] in the dark nights of cyclic existence, there are many luminescence, [for instance,] vinaya is one, so is the spirit of enlightenment, not to mention, wisdom of emptiness as it can lift and dispel the [total] darkness [of samsara] in the cyclic existence. [06:37]

Therefore, even though this is a very short passage, if [we] can come to a realization that aligns with the essence of the Tripitaka and three trainings – for us [Buddhists] these are the higher three trainings -  realizing that they are hard to come by, they are very rare, they are valuable, they are beneficial, they can protect us from harm, and they can induce joyfulness, that will undoubtedly benefit us very substantially, both in the present life and in our future lives. This is [just] one of the advantages. [07:04]

讲次 | 0288 (2020-12-31 ~ 2021-01-03)

标题 | 犹如珍宝的增上三学

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(更新日期: 2022年6月15日)

00:00

“珍宝”很显然是很难得、很稀有的；就像以前在斯里兰卡一个佛塔上，有一个国王供了一颗特别大的蓝宝石，非常大，那是很稀有的。还有一些很罕见的大钻石等等，都是很稀有的。“难得、稀有”这两点形容珍宝。那么三藏和三学难得吗？稀有吗？也是很难得、也是非常地稀有！03:59

由于具足了不可思议的功德与利益，所以它像珍宝一般“贵重”。如果自己能够修持三藏与三学，就会得到解脱及一切智的果位，所以对自己是非常有“饶益”的。对他人由于能救护从烦恼所出生的一切轮回的痛苦，所以也是“救护损害”。由于能获得人天果位的增上生及解脱，还有一切智果位的决定胜，所以它“引生喜乐”。就是这些三藏和三学，它能够给我们生命带来增上生，增上生很显然是人天胜道，就是人天道，它会有很多学习佛法的殊胜条件；解脱就解脱轮回了；一切智的果位就更不要谈了，那是所有的有情梦寐以求的。一切智的果位就是一丝丝的痛苦都没有、所有的快乐都圆满，所以说三藏、三学是“引生喜乐”的。由于有六种功德与珍宝相顺，故称为宝。05:14

学了这一小段，大家可以想一想，我们常常说皈依三宝，皈依三宝的时候会不会去思考一下：为什么佛、法、僧三宝，三藏和三学都称为宝？这里边解释了这几点。比如说拜佛的时候，或者自己念皈依的时候，或者学法、学教典的时候，如果心思稍稍有点模糊和麻木的话，可以想一想它犹如珍宝的这几种特色。让我们的心从那种取舍模糊的状态变得很清晰，就会知道我们为什么会皈依三宝，为什么会学习三藏，乃至为什么会修行戒定慧三学。因为所有的教典都是为了指示内心的一条路，像灯一样，让我们知道哪里是快乐、哪里是光明、哪里是温暖，所以犹如珍宝。说有一种宝石晚上会发光，在轮回的黑夜里可以发出光芒的有很多啊，律仪是可以的，还有菩提心宝也是可以的，那空性就更不用说了，它完全是照破轮回的黑暗。06:37

所以看这字数是很小一段，但是如果能够对三藏、三学——我们是增上三学——生起难得、稀有、贵重、饶益、救护损害，还有引生喜乐，跟它的本质相应的一种觉受的话，那无疑对我们的现世和来生都是非常有饶益的。这是其中的一个饶益。07:04