Lecture No. 0368
Great Ocean of Lamrim
Lecture No. 0368
Lamrim Volume 1: P47-L1 ~ L4
Date: 25 Feb 2022
Topic: What Bodhisattvas aspire is to benefit all sentient being in entirety
[6A 05:51 ~ 6A 07:39]
Thus, the text says, [00:03]
Therefore, if you have not ascertained something exactly, you cannot teach it to others. [V.1 P. 47]
What the text says here has just been explained. Very well! Now, let’s read the next paragraph; it says:
By stating, “Those benefactors of beings who accomplish the good of the world through the knowledge of paths…,” [V.1 P. 47]
The aspiration or the objective of Bodhisattvas is to help all sentient beings with various dispositions. Thus, their study has to cover all aspects. Then, the content of their study is also divided into levels, or what we call the three vehicles, like sravaka and so on. [The living beings Bodhisattvas aim to help] may have different dispositions; say they are inclined to the path of sravaka, pratyekabuddha, or Bodhisattva. Since living beings have different dispositions, Bodhisattvas act accordingly. This is what we call the path – the truth of path, where we apply meditation practice. Bodhisattvas have to acquaint themselves with these different vehicles; that is, they have to be conversant with all these expedient or skillful means. We now misapply these expedient means: we take them as an easy way out. What does it mean? It is like cutting corners. Alas! This is awful, and terrible! The expedient means the Buddha expounded are meant for guiding sentient beings on an accurate path all the way to the intended destination – [the state of Buddhahood]. [01:51]
Great! In the above passage, first, let us see what is the objective that Bodhisattvas try to accomplish? [Their aspiration or objective] is to help sentient beings with various dispositions, and because of that, they have to study and understand all aspects. In fact, [to understand this, we] can repeatedly contemplate on what the text says, for “Those benefactors of beings who accomplish the good of the world through the knowledge of paths”, pay attention! Herein stated an honourable name, that is the “benefactors of beings” which refer to the Bodhisattvas. What is the objective of Bodhisattvas? [Since their aspiration is to help all sentient beings to attain the state of Buddhahood,] Bodhisattvas request to study, and what is the scope of their study? [The scope of their] study encompasses all aspects. Why do [they] need to study all aspects? [That is] because [they are] aspired “to help all sentient beings” [with various dispositions]. [02:43]
Let us read [what the Master said, Bodhisattvas are aspired to] “Help all sentient beings with various dispositions”, we can actually reflect on ourselves with regard to this phrase, “help all sentient beings [with various dispositions]”, from the perspective of our own experience, this should be something more unfamiliar to us, right? Because, more often than not, we have our individual preference when we come into contact and have dealings with other people, that is, my viewpoints and habitual tendencies are very clear – I am partial to and fond of certain kinds of people yet strongly dislike other types of persons. However, Bodhisattvas are not like this, their aspiration is to help sentient beings of various dispositions, that is, Bodhisattvas are non-selective, rather they have to help all sentient beings for the benefit of all. Therefore, from this angle, we can notice clearly that our current state of mind and that of the Bodhisattvas’ aspiration are totally and fundamentally different in terms of the outset, motivation and aspiration. [03:43]
Typically, before we start training in applying [Mahayana] aspiration, [very] likely [we are] more self-centred or self-oriented, we especially care about what we like and what we dislike, what we feel like learning and what we do not, such discrimination based on [individual] preference and favouritism, i.e., attachment and aversion are quite obvious. However, once we have determined to benefit sentient beings, [we] need to know what wisdom, and skillful means we need to equip ourselves with in order to benefit others. Thus [we] have to learn, and learn all aspects! Why do [we] have to learn everything comprehensively? Because we are aspired to learn all the means/approaches on how to help all living beings to sever suffering and to attain happiness. Therefore, I hope you all would not read and regard the phrase “help all sentient beings” in a perfunctory manner, instead, when seeing this term, please pay more attention, pause for a while, and contemplate: what does it mean? Such that Master used “help all sentient beings”, in addition to “with various dispositions.” [04:52]
Hence, from the objective the Bodhisattvas aim to accomplish, we can notice that they have completely changed from their personal like or dislike - to a goal aiming to help all sentient beings alleviate suffering and attain happiness. The phrase, all sentient beings, indicates all sentient beings of various dispositions, Hence, what Bodhisattvas aspire to do is to base on the sufferings of all sentient beings, regardless of how diverse the afflictions are, they have to acquire all the encompassing expedient means to resolve all of those sufferings in existence. Hence, Bodhisattvas would be able to help all sentient beings of various dispositions. From this perspective, would you all feel that the minds of the Bodhisattvas are very broad and capacious? Whether you would describe the minds of the Bodhisattvas as cosmic as the universe, that they can accommodate all sentient beings, their minds, once applied, are as boundless and vast as the sea and the sky. That is why they need to study the limitless and vast scopes in existence. [05:54]
Wouldn’t you all see this is very clear? Here, Master explained to us why comprehending the path of the three vehicles [sravaka, pratyekabuddha, and Bodhisattva] involves all skillful means the Bodhisattvas have to learn? The reason is that Bodhisattvas have to face and handle the sentient beings of various dispositions, and Bodhisattvas aspire to help all those sentient beings of various disposition; thus the coverage is all-inclusive. So, how can [they] benefit all sentient beings of various dispositions? [They] have to learn the teachings from the Buddha, thus, Bodhisattvas need to learn all the Dharma categories that can help all sentient beings. [06:26]
【广海明月 讲次: 0368】
讲次 | 0368 (2021-10-07 ~ 2021-10-10)
标题 | 菩萨所求是周遍饶益一切有情
《广论》段落 | P9-L4 ~ P9-L6 自若未能如实决定……即是成办菩萨求事所有方便。
音档 | 6A 05:51 ~ 6A 07:39
手抄页/行 | 第1册 P165-LL1 ~ P166-LL4 ( 2015、2016 南普陀版 )
手抄段落 | 所以下面就解说……一个正确的办法。
(更新日期: 2021年10月10日)
00:00
所以下面就解说，00:03
自若未能如实决定，不能宣说开示他故。
就是刚才说的这个话。那么好，现在我们继续下去，看第二段，第二段。00:15
了知三乘道者，即是成办菩萨求事所有方便。
说，菩萨要求的，他目的是要遍摄这个各式各样的根机，所以他要学一切。那么这个所学的内容呢，也把它分层次，这个层次所谓三乘，这个声缘根性的等等，声闻、缘觉、菩萨这样的根性的人。那么他每一个不同的根性，有他们相应的道路，这个道路平常我们说道谛，这是修道、修道就是这个，那么这个东西正是菩萨所要学的善巧、方法。方便就是一种善巧的方法，这个方便，现在我们把它误解了：开一个方便。这是什么？走小路。欸，这个是真糟糕，真糟糕。佛法里边给我们的方便哪，是一条正确的方法，通达到你要达到地方去的一个正确的办法。01:51
好！在这一段先看第一个，那菩萨要求的是什么？是遍摄各式各样的根机，所以他要学一切。其实这句话是可以反复地看一下的。因为“了知三乘道者，即是成办菩萨求事所有方便”，注意！在这里边列出了一个尊贵的名字，就是“菩萨”。菩萨要求的是什么呢？菩萨要求的是学，学多少？学一切。为什么要学一切呢？因为要“遍摄”。02:43
大家可以看到“遍摄各式各样的根机”，在这个“遍摄”两个字里，其实我们可以观察一下自己，在我们的经验来说，它应该是比较陌生的吧！因为平常我们跟人打交道都是有一个喜好，就是我偏好什么类型的人、讨厌什么类型的人，这个观点和习惯是非常明晰的。而菩萨不是这样的，他是周遍地摄受各式各样的根机，就是他是没有选择性的，他必须周遍地去饶益一切有情。所以从这样的一个角度来说，我们可以清楚地看到我们的现行和菩萨要求的事，出发点根本就是不一样的。03:43
通常我们还没有开始练习发心的时候，可能会把自己看得比较重，会特别在意自己喜欢什么、不喜欢什么、喜欢学什么、不喜欢学什么，这个爱恶亲疏是比较明显的。但是一旦你决定了要利他之后，就要知道为了利他我们需要具备什么样的智慧或者善巧方法，那就要学，学一切！那为什么要学一切呢？因为我们想周遍地把所有的有情离苦得乐的这件事是怎么做到的都要学会。所以这个“遍摄”这两个字，我希望大家不要轻松地放过，看到这两个字的时候请专注一下、停顿一下，想一想：这是什么意思？师父用了“遍摄”，还有“各式各样的根机”。04:52
在这里边我们就会看到菩萨要求的事，他要求的事已经完全改变了他自己喜欢什么、不喜欢什么──他要求的事就是要令一切众生离苦得乐。那一切众生就包含着各式各样根机的有情，普同地、全部地都要离苦得乐。所以菩萨要做的事情，就是从众生的痛苦、有多少类型的痛苦，他就要去学多少种解决痛苦的办法，所以他会遍摄各式各样的根机。从这样的角度来看，大家觉得菩萨的心胸是不是非常地辽阔？你说承载宇宙也好，你说承载所有的有情也好，他一出手的时候，胸襟实在是海阔天空，所以他才需要学那么无边无际的、那么广阔的东西。05:54
大家会不会看到这个是非常清楚的？师父在这里边，给我们解释了为什么了知三乘道者即是成办菩萨要求的所有方便呢？因为菩萨要面对的是各式各样的根机，要遍摄各式各样的根机。那么要怎么样去饶益各种根机的有情呢？就要跟随佛学习，所以菩萨要学一切饶益众生的法门。06:26