Lecture No. 0358
Great Ocean of Lamrim
Lecture No. 0358
Lamrim Volume 1: P46-L25 ~ L27
Date: 14 Mar 2022
Topic: Helping others, my own Pure Land is established
[Let’s] listen on the following.
[5B 24:37 ~ 5B 26:43]
Here, we, Mahayana practitioners, should form the accurate concept from the very beginning. Bodhisattvas help people wherever they can. Why? We might use the simplest way to motivate ourselves – while I am helping others, my own Pure Land is established, and it is just that simple, so simple! We might as well take the businessman in the secular world for example. They help others in any way they can – you want a car, they will transport it from the Yu-long [a Taiwanese automaker] factory in Taipei; you need a car made in America, they import it from America; you need a German car, they ship it from Germany. Why do they bother to work so hard to get whatever you want for you? To make a profit! Just like that, right? Everything in this mundane world is no exception. Thus, we should have this recognition right from the very beginning if we are really serious about learning the Buddha Dharma: the profit we intend to make is not worldly wealth but Dharma wealth. Once you have this proper understanding, you will engage in meditating on the teachings with great joy, very joyfully! I will not further elaborate this topic here. [01:15]
So, when facing some people who are unwilling to study this or that, then [despite the fact that] the encompassing teachings is readily available, [of which Master told us that] those practitioners putting the encompassing teaching into practice are known as Bodhisattvas. Then, Master assertively posited and brought forth his proposition: “Here, we, Mahayana practitioners, should form the proper concept.” Listen carefully! [Master said this concept should be developed] “from the very beginning.” May I ask you all what is this proper concept? What did Master follow by saying? [He] succinctly summed it up as: “while I am helping others, my own Pure Land is established, and it is just that simple!” [01:54]
Reading or hearing Master’s explanation, the part that surprises me very much is the analogy that Master used to describe those practitioners [aspiring and] taking on the Bodhisattva path, [wherein he] equate them to the businessman of the automaker [in the secular world]. Have you all noticed how the Master summed it up in regard to the practitioners on the Bodhisattva path? “You will engage in meditating on the teachings with great joy, very joyfully!” Why? [Because] all he does is to satisfy the others’ demand, [as demonstrated in the example Master used:] I need a German made vehicle, [then the businessmen would import it from Germany], I want a car from America or anywhere in the world … For business people, wherever there is the demand, they will do their best to satisfy the needs of the customers. By doing so, it results in them successfully fulfilling [their own purpose as well – making] a profit. [02:28]
Master said: We, [as true Mahayana practitioner] should have this recognition right from the very beginning if we are really serious about learning the Buddha Dharma: the profit we intend to make is not worldly wealth but Dharma wealth. Question to you all: how to earn the Dharma wealth? That is, by helping others – this is the preparatory work we should establish right from the beginning of the Bodhisattva path, like a kind of prime to embark on the path. Thus Master said: “Once you have this proper understanding, you will engage in meditating on the teachings with great joy, very joyfully!” So, let me ask you all in turn: we do not feel any joy [while meditating on the teachings or helping others], is it because we do not have proper understanding? Are you certain about this? Or is it because we also know that doing so is beneficial but not profitable! So what a profit is this? [Does it refer to our] joyful feeling? After we have helped someone, would we be joyful? Or would we accumulate the provisions for attaining Buddhahood? And such provisions would enhance our speedy advancement to omniscience. [03:20]
My take on this passage [of Master’s commentary] is, by means of such correlation, to me, it sounds like [the path] is impeccable; what is your excuse for not taking the Bodhisattva path? Helping others [would help] to establish my own Pure Land - while providing the needs to others, i.e., customers, you make a big profit eventually. This is a matter that is totally self-benefiting and at the same time benefiting others, [so] why not do it joyfully? Master explained the Bodhisattva path by using an analogy of doing business, such profound concept is explained in simple terms! Is it very profound? It seems also simple enough [so that we can all relate to], yet, [as indicated in this analogy,] the [meaning] within contains the starting point from which we will receive the greatest benefit. Besides, the most important point is, what should [we] do in the very beginning? Right from the very beginning, [we] should be well prepared, right? Mahayana practitioners should establish and form proper perception and accurate concept right from the very beginning. [04:05]
Hence, the aspiration upon rising every morning must be founded and predicated based on the Mahayana inspiration. Such aspiration should also be established even when we are studying the Lamrim, for this also serves as a kind of preparatory work - Whatever we do, our aspiration from the beginning is to learn the Bodhisattva path! [Take heed;] you see here Master is guiding us again. However, he did not [explicitly] say you must learn the Bodhisattva path, right? Did he say so? No, he didn’t! [He] just explained that after we have gained such understanding, we would be very joyful. [04:33]
Great! Let’s finish off the last paragraph of this section.
So, we should know that the aspiration of the Mahayana practitioners is to completely resolve all the issues in the cyclic existence. For this reason, they also begin their first step by meditating on the worldly matters and advancing from that point on. For the sake of resolving all the issues in the cyclic existence, all sentient beings are … please excuse me to put it this way, practitioners can’t say, “This is the way I know of; I am just….” No! This is not how it works. People are born with various capacities; they are categorized into three types of persons. This is what is called in the text - the three lineages [V.1 P.46]; they are the intended recipients of the Buddha Dharma, which will be covered later in the text: the three types are the small, medium, and great scopes. If the Mahayana practitioners are aspired to help other living beings, they need to understand these concepts. Otherwise, how can they be of help to others? So the learning of the Mahayana practitioners should be well rounded to cover everything. [05:34]
What is the actual goal the Mahayana practitioners should aspire for? [The aspiration is to] “completely resolve all the issues in the cyclic existence.” After hearing this statement, would all your attention pause and contemplate: “the aspiration of the Mahayana practitioners is to completely resolve all the issues in the cyclic existence,” meaning their goal is to resolve all the issues in the cyclic existence. Is it true that this advice can only be heard from the scriptures or from virtuous teachers? Would we demand ourselves to perfectly resolve all the issues in the cyclic existence? Who has the capability to [ultimately] resolve all the issues in perfection? We would not even be able to completely and perfectly resolve the issues we encounter for the day, from the time [we] wake up till the time [we] go to bed, let alone completely resolving all the issues in perfection within the cyclic existence, right? My own emotions, the emotions of other people… [we] cannot even thoroughly resolve the issues related to [life’s daily necessities/essentials i.e.,] firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, tea, and the like in perfection, is this correct? [06:23]
[Also] pay attention to the word “completely” in this statement of “to completely resolve all the issues in the cyclic existence”, [it suggests that] all issues resolved, without exclusions nor regrets. For us ordinary beings, it is extremely difficult to begin thinking of such a proposition, for who would dare to think of it in this manner? Who has the capability to completely and perfectly resolve all the issues in the cyclic existence? Basically, it is absolutely impossible for ordinary beings to put forward such a proposition and aspire to fulfill such goal. However, this is what Bodhisattvas should do. Therefore, although in the beginning of this teaching, the example Master used is selling cars and it sounds very light-hearted, yet the aspiration of the Bodhisattva is, to our surprise, “completely resolve all the issues in the cyclic existence.” Thus, “they also begin their first step by meditating on the worldly matters and advancing from that point on,” what is the initial aspiration? The aspiration is to “perfectly resolve all the issues in the cyclic existence.” [7:10]
【广海明月 讲次: 0358】
讲次 | 0358
标题 | 帮人，最后建立了自己的净土
《广论》段落 | P9-L2 ~ P9-L3 此中诸菩萨所欲求事者……故须学习彼等诸道。
音档 | 5B 24:37 ~ 5B 26:43
手抄页/行 | 第1册 P159-L2~P159-LL1 ( 2016 南普陀版：P159-L4~P160-L3 )
手抄段落 | 在这个地方……都要学。
(更新日期: 2022年3月14日)
00:00
往下听。
在这个地方，大家修学大乘佛法的人，有一个正确的概念应该一开始建立起来。菩萨们处处地方帮别人忙，为什么啊？我们不妨用一个最简单的方法来策励自己──帮了别人忙，把我自己的净土建立起来了，就这么简单，就这么简单！你不妨拿一个世间那个眼前的做生意的人来看。做生意的人处处地方给大家帮忙，你要汽车，他就把汽车从台北的裕隆工厂搬到这里来；你要美国货，他从美国的贩得来；你要德国货他从德国贩得来。他为什么辛辛苦苦地弄这些东西弄给你们？赚钱嘛！就这样。对不对？而且没有一个例外的。所以我们真正修学佛法的一开头要有这个认识，我们要赚的不是世间义利，要求法财，等到你有了这个正确的认识以后，你会做得非常愉快，非常愉快！这个这里不深谈。01:15
那么面对有的人这个也不愿意学、那个也不愿意学，然后又有圆满的教法摆在这里，那些修行圆满教法的人叫菩萨。接着师父就大刀阔斧地提出他的宗：“在这个地方，大家修学大乘佛法的人，有一个正确的概念”，注意听！“应该一开始建立起来。”请问大家，这个正确的概念是什么？师父在下面说是什么？非常简单的那个总结：“帮了别人忙，把我自己的净土建立起来了，就这么简单！”01:54
读到师父的解释、听到师父的解释，让我感到很惊讶的部分，师父用做生意的譬喻，用做汽车生意的人，来喻那些学菩萨道的人。大家有没有注意到学菩萨道的人，后来师父总结是什么？“做得非常愉快、非常愉快！”为什么呢？他都是满足别人的需要，说：我要一个德国车就从德国来，我要美国车、从哪儿……就都是这样有一个需求，而那个做生意的人就是满足他的需求，结果他圆满了自己的利益。02:28
师父说：真正学习佛法的人一开头要有这个认识，我们要赚的不是世间的利益，要求法财。问大家：法财怎么赚啊？就要帮忙别人──要建立菩萨乘最初的这样一个预备，像一个预备动作一样，所以师父说：“等到你有了这个正确的认识之后，你就会做得非常愉快、非常愉快！”那反过来再问大家一个：我们做得很不愉快，是因为没有正确的认识吗？你确定吗？还是因为也知道这样做是好的，没赚到钱！那钱是什么啊？是欢喜心吗？当我们帮了一个人之后，我们有欢喜心吗？还是我们会积到成佛的资粮？而那笔资粮会让我们更快地趣向于一切智智。03:20
这一段，我会觉得透过这样一个连结之后，我自己听起来有一点无懈可击的感觉：你不走菩萨乘，你有什么理由吗？帮人，建立了自己的净土──你给别人买东西，最后你就赚了大把的钞票。这完全是一个自利、利他同时完成的事情，何乐而不为呢？师父就把这个菩萨乘，用一个做买卖的事情讲得深入浅出吧！会深入吗？好像也都很浅的，在这里边却蕴含着一个其实自己会得到最大利益的开始，而且最重要的一点，一开始就要什么？一开始就要准备好，对不对？大家修学大乘佛法的人，正确的概念一开始要建立起来。04:05
所以每天早起之后的发心，一定要安立大乘的意乐，乃至我们在研讨《广论》的时候也要安立这样的意乐，因为这也是一个预备动作──我们做什么事最开始的发心，就是要去学菩萨乘！你看看，师父在这个地方又开始引导我们了。但是师父有没有说你必须学菩萨乘啊？有没有这样？也没有，只是告诉我们说了解了之后会非常愉快的。04:33
好！把最后一段听完。
所以这是我们要了解，佛法大乘行者真正要求的是圆满解决一切问题，所以他也从世间的下脚的第一步开始，这样地上去。因为要解决这个，所以这个世间的对象啊，对不起，不能说：“我这个就是这样，我就是……。”不是，有各式各样的根性，那么各式各样的根性把它统摄起来，归纳成三种类型的人。这个所以叫三种种性，这个要所化的，这个就是下面讲的，下、中、上三类。你要去帮忙他们，你必定要懂得这个道理，你自己不懂，你怎么行？所以他要学一切，都要学。05:34
佛法大乘行者真正要求的是什么目标？“圆满解决一切问题。”听完了这句话之后，大家的注意力会停下来吗？说：“佛法大乘行者真正要求的是圆满解决一切问题。”真正要求的是圆满解决一切问题。这个消息是不是从经典上、从善知识的法音里才能听到？我们自己会要求圆满解决一切问题吗？谁可以有本事圆满解决一切问题？不要说圆满解决一切问题，就今天一天从早到晚遇到的问题能圆满解决掉吗？自己的心情、他人的心情，甚至柴、米、油、盐、酱、醋、茶这里边的问题，都是不能圆满解决的，对不对？06:23
这里边注意哦，他的解决一切问题还有个“圆满”呢！没有什么缺憾的，一切问题都解决了。这个命题，对我们来说一开始就会觉得一个凡夫很难想到这样的命题，因为谁胆敢这样想？谁有这样的能力会圆满解决一切问题？这个命题基本上对于凡夫来说是一个完全不可及的目标，但是菩萨就是要这样的。所以，虽然前面讲的是卖汽车，看起来挺高兴的，但是这个菩萨的志愿居然是──“佛法大乘行者真正要求的是圆满解决一切问题”，所以“他从世间下脚的第一步开始”，就是想什么呀？想“圆满解决一切问题”。07:10