Lecture No. 0391
Great Ocean of Lamrim
Lecture No. 0391
Lamrim Volume 1: P47-L16 ~ L23
Date: 21 Feb 2022
Topic: Enhancing Aspiration is Also a Success
When we begin to learn how to get things done, our concern is very much on task-oriented success. If the task is to help others, and when that person accepts our help willingly, with his or her improved condition, then we would have a sense of accomplishment, feeling very happy about it! Evidently, such sense of accomplishment is built on the recipient being helped. Please pay attention! The teaching here is about enhancing our aspiration; as far as this point is concerned, since the other party accepts our suggestion, has the condition of this person improved? He or she did improve. However, our aspiration is strengthened because of the improvement of that person. What if that person has not improved? And the condition of that person we intended to help is still backsliding; he or she does not appreciate our kind intention; reject our help; some even become hostile. When facing such arising conditions, where can we derive our sense of accomplishment? [01:02]
At moment like this, would we feel totally in great despair, toil to no avail? We have devoted effort and time [to helping that person]; we literally drained all our energy, totally exhausted, with all the effort and time spent vainly, and there is no positive effects at all; how should we posit our sense of values at this moment? Where should it be established? The sense of accomplishment is based on the external success or the strengthening of our aspiration? If it is the former, we did not accomplish the expected effect! We fail to define what is success and [our help] seems not to be working out! What should be the course to follow in life? What about strengthening of our aspiration? Has the aspiration been forgotten? Let me repeat it again: we forgot about our aspiration, right? The aspiration being abandoned! We go all out to help people; we are so focused in helping that we forget the purpose of this effort is to enhance our aspiration. We allow the external circumstances to determine our state of mind - if external circumstances correspond [to what we expected], we are pleased; otherwise, we feel disheartened. Take notice! If the effect is discouraging, [the effort of] helping others is extremely disappointing, we thus consider giving up the thought of helping other living beings, this is breaching the Bodhisattva vows, and this can be very detrimental! [02:32]
Then let us analyze it: just because we have encountered a few ungrateful people, or perhaps they have not yet been able to pull themselves out from the suffering condition and realize the effort we have put into, we actually violate the Bodhisattva vows [we have committed] because of this. Is this for real? Is this worth it? Is this the right thing to do? But, it is heartrending! We violate our own precepts due to feeling heartbroken? Then, what should we do with the feeling of sadness? [One way to fix it] is to sort it out from the heartbreaking reasoning! Why would we feel heartbroken, there must be a rationale behind this! Let us analyze how we came up with this feeling of disheartened? Is this reasoning supported by proper views? If not, why would we apply such perception? So, what we should keep in mind is this: we need to enhance our aspiration! We are the one who want to achieve Buddhahood, so we must safeguard this aspiration! How can we blame others? How can we expect others to take responsibilities for us! [03:43]
Therefore, is this reminder from Master here meant to rescue us? May I ask: are you willing to be guided by such train of thought? If you are, then you should remember it, keep it in mind! Only when we bear it firmly in mind will this piece of advice come in handy when we are driven into a corner in our mind, or when facing arising conditions! [Not until then will we be able to] say: “Wow! It is right! I should enhance my aspiration; I need to train my mind to become stronger!” If we [remember to] apply the advice to the arising conditions we are facing, will we accumulate more experiences in persevering when facing adversities and strengthening of aspiration? Definitely! Besides, once we gain a successful experience, we would automatically replicate this experience. Feeling desolate in a desperate situation, the reasoning of strengthening the aspiration serves as a streak of light shining into the hell-like sadness! We follow and climb up the guiding light [like a] “ladder”; and as we emerge, we would suddenly discover the spaciousness and the joy [to be out of the desperate situation], discover a sense of accomplishment - right! That strengthening aspiration is what I want. Right now, I am unable to help you out. But I will enhance my ability and strengthen my aspiration, and eventually I will definitely be able to help you one day, because I want to achieve omniscience. [05:05]
Look! Is such reasoning beautiful or not? What a beautiful line of reasoning! With every setback we experience, there is one moment of splendid light enhanced. We advance accordingly and steadily by taking one step at a time, will we succeed? [ Master said,] at the juncture of whether to take a step forward or backward, please move one step forward! [Master always addressed himself as the “constant defeated general;”] despite constant failure, the integrity of the general always remains! Because he keeps combatting tirelessly, never will he stop fighting against his self-centred desire, and he persists in enhancing this aspiration. Will such effort lead to success? We should constantly reinforce our inner strength, instead of choosing to recoil in the dark cell of sadness, we have to help and salvage ourselves, correct? When we help others, and first knock ourselves down to the hell of dispair, so, we definitely have to salvage ourselves! We have to rely on our mental strength to rescue ourselves. But how? It is to apply the Dharma teachings given by our gurus! [06:04]
“To safeguard this aspiration and to reinforce such effort.” If we have guarded [this mind], would we succeed in the effort? We will be successful! If we have strengthened the aspiration, will we succeed? Even though the outcome may not appear to be successful, can this be a way to build up a sense of accomplishment? The sense of accomplishment can be established in this manner, right? This is why we need to study! Is this a new set of values? It is the esteemed values of the Bodhisattva; we are practicing the values of the Bodhisattva. If we are unfamiliar with it, for sure we will fail at the beginning of the practice. Then, what should we do? Bear this in mind: get back on your feet and try it again; get back on your feet and practice more. Remember! Put this teaching into practice while facing the arising conditions, as what Master often said, “train our mind through handling tasks”! In other words, keep the advice from Master in mind and put it into practice when facing the arising conditions. What to practice? “To safeguard this aspiration and to reinforce such effort.” [07:08]
We have to pay specific attention to the systematic order while studying. [Speaking of] the sequential order of learning, Master used the example of the crown prince – the son of the king. So how would the prince be trained? In the beginning of the training, “the royal training will be different [from that of the ordinary civilians]. But the training process is pretty much the same as that of an ordinary civilian”. Pay attention to these words: “gradually enhance his abilities. The only difference.... is that the prince is groomed to become a king”. Let us contemplate further: what are other civilians reinforcing? Their effort is to make a living; this is the difference between the training of the prince and that of a civilian, correct? What causes such differences? It is because of the goal setting, right? That is, the initial aspiration we make in the beginning. While having discussed the difference between Mahayana vehicle and Hinayana vehicle, we bring up this topic: are we eager for self-renunciation or intense yearning to liberate all living beings from cyclic existence and even help them to achieve Buddhahood? [08:12]
Master pointed out these two capacities: one is to become a king while the other is to earn a living; the difference lies in the abilities between the two, right? Hence, the systematic learning order to achieve such ability remains very important. If we are to take the Mahayana path, we must understand the sequential order of the Bodhisattva path so that we could perfect and fulfil the quality and quantitative measurement we set in the beginning. Therefore, is the systematic order important? Can the steps be mixed up? Can we come up with our own script and act on it accordingly? We still need to learn from those who already succeeded on this path, right? So, who is the most successful teacher in guiding living beings to ultimate happiness? It is the Buddha, right? As well as the lineage masters in the past! Hence we must study the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment![09:08]
【广海明月 讲次: 0391】
讲次 | 0391 (2022-01-03 ~ 2022-01-05)
标题 | 增广发心即是成功
《广论》段落 | P9-L10 ~ P9-L12 趣入大乘道者……其因相者亦即此也。
音档 | 6A 20:50 ~ 6A 23:08
手抄页/行 | 第1册 P173-L6 ~ P174-LL6 ( 2016 南普陀版：P173-L8 ~ P174-LL6 )
手抄段落 | 它那个戒经上面就告诉我们……到后面他会有详细说明。
(更新日期: 2022年2月21日)
00:00
我们在开始学习做事的时候，我们都非常在意这个事情的成败。如果是帮助别人的，那个别人接受了，并且他的状况有好转，那我们就会很有成就感、很开心！很显然，成就感建立在那个被帮的对境上。请注意！此处是让我们发心的力量增广，如果就这一点来说，眼前那个被帮的人他有没有进步啊？他进步了。但是，他进步了我们发心的力量才会增广；那如果他没有进步呢？我们帮的人他依然在下滑，甚至会不理解我们的善意，很反弹帮忙，有的还会嗔恨，这样的对境，那我们的成功点放在哪里呢？01:02
多半这种时候，大家是不是会觉得自己一败涂地、劳而无功？自己花了精力、花了时间，甚至体力已经没有了，精疲力竭了，一点成效也没有，此时如何建立价值观啊？我们的价值观要建立在哪里呢？是境上的那个成功，还是心上的增广？境上的成功没有啊！我们没有成立出来，没有帮好呀！那人生何去何从啊？心上的发心力量的增广呢？心被忘了吧？我再说一遍：自己的心被忘了吧？被遗弃了！我们全力以赴地投入到帮忙别人的这个对境上，可是却忘失了要增广发心的这件事，完全地随境转──境好我们就高兴，境界那方面不顺，我们就悲哀。注意！如果不顺，帮忙别人非常地不顺利，我们生起了弃舍有情的念头，我们就会破坏菩萨戒，是非常地危险的！02:32
那我们可观察一下：因为我们碰到了几个不知道感恩的人，或者说他还没能从他的痛苦中抽出心力来看到我们的付出，我们居然为此要毁坏了菩萨戒，这是真的吗？这值得吗？这样做对吗？可是伤心啊！伤心就破坏自己的戒律吗？那伤心怎么办呢？从伤心的理路里出来啊！为什么会伤心，一定有一个伤心的理路支撑呀！去观察一下，那伤心的理路是怎么运转的？是不是如理作意啊？如果不是如理作意的话，要它何用呢？此处应该记得：要增广发心啊！是我们自己要成佛的，是我们自己一定要保护这个心的！这件事岂能怨别人呢？岂能让别人为自己负责！03:43
所以师父此处的提醒，是不是在救我们啊？请问：你愿意被这样的理路所救吗？如果愿意的话，应该记住、记住它！记住了之后，在境界上、在我们的心里边走投无路的时候才能用啊！说：“哇，对啊！我是要增广发心的，我要练我这个心的强大！”如果我们在境界上应用的话，会不会累积到遇难不退、增广发心的这个经验啊？一定会的！而且其实只要有一次的成功，我们就会自动地复制这个经验。在伤心的绝境里，这个增广发心的理路真的犹如一道光芒，照进了伤心的地狱啊！我们沿着光芒的这个阶梯爬、爬出来，突然发现了辽阔、发现了欢喜、发现了成就感──没错！是增广发心，那才是我要求的；现在帮不了你，我增广我的能力、增广我的发心，有一天我一定帮得了你，因为我要希求一切遍智。05:05
看！这理路美不美？多美的理路啊！被挫折一次，就光芒一次。这样一步步走上来，会成功吗？可上、可下的时候，请上一步！常败，但依然是将军！因为他不停地战斗，他不停止对自我私欲的战斗，一直要增广这个发心。这样会成功吗？每次都增广自己内心的力量，不选择蜷缩在伤心的、黑暗的监狱里，我们得救自己，对不对？当我们救人的时候，先把自己打进了绝望的地狱，所以一定要救自己啊！一定要靠自己的这个心力，然后把自己救出来。怎么救呢？用上师的法语！06:04
“保护这个心，增强这个力量。”如果我们保护了，会成功吗？成功！如果我们增强了，你成功了吗？事相上虽然没有成功，可是可以这样建立成功感吗？应该这样建立，不是吗？所以我们才要学习呀！这是不是一个新的价值观？是菩萨的价值观，练习一个菩萨的价值观。如果我们不熟练的话，那一定一开始练习的时候会败下阵来。怎么办？你要记着：再起来、再练，再起来、再练。记住！对境练，就是师父常常讲的那个“历事练心”啊！就是记住师父的理路，然后在对境上练习。练习什么？“保护这个心，增强这个力量。”07:08
在我们的学习中要特别地注意次第、这个学习次第，师父举了王子──就是国王的儿子，怎么样学习呢？要学习的时候，“开始的教育不一样，至于说过程跟平常人还是一样的”，注意那几个字：“一步一步增长他的能力。不过他这个能力是要做国王的能力。”那再想一想：而别人增长的是什么呀？只是自己糊口的能力，这才是它的差别，对不对？那这个差别源于哪里呢？就是源于目的，对不对？就是源于最初的发心。我们在大小乘这个问题上说：急求自己从生死中出离，还是强烈地渴望要救所有的人从生死中出离，乃至究竟成佛？08:12
师父说这两种能力：一个是要做国王，一个是要自己糊口，这两个能力才是它的差别，对不对？所以达成这个能力的学习次第依然是很重要的，我们要走大乘的话，一定要了解菩萨道的次第之后，才能够圆满我们开始所定下来的质和量。所以次第重不重要呢？次第能不能错乱呢？能不能自己想一出就是一出呢？还是要跟成功的人学，对不对？那最成功利乐有情的导师是谁啊？是佛陀是吧！是祖师们，所以我们要学习“菩提道次第”！09:08