同步證入 林鈺堂

願心後先雖互異,證入必然皆同步;
佛陀眾生跡俱泯,實無人我方契如。

依傳統教示,菩薩發心有三種,依其發願成佛在眾生成佛之後、同時或之先而分別喻如牧者、船夫及太子。喻雖三種,而菩薩需具備渡眾之能力則為一致之處。

成佛之剎那,亦即證入「無我相、無人相、無眾生相、無壽者相」之際,而無有佛陀及任何眾生之跡相可尋,一切融為無限之一體。因此,不論誰先証、誰後証,任一證入即一切同步證入。未證入前,有眾生可渡而發願渡之。既證入已,實無眾生可渡而已渡盡。

至於成證之後示現渡生事業,實無預存之意圖,而只是證悟中自然流露的回應與舉止。


                     二○○二年五月廿四日
                     養和齋    於加州


Simultaneous Attainment Yutang Lin

Sooner or later to attain Bodhi varies with aspirations;
Realization of limitless oneness must be simultaneous.
Characteristics of Buddhas and beings all disappeared;
Originally there is no real distinction of self and others.

Comment:

According to traditional Buddhist teachings there are three kinds of aspirations for Bodhisattvas. Depending on when they wish to attain Buddhahood, whether after, at the same time or before all other sentient beings' attaining Enlightenment, the aspirations are referred to as that of a shepherd, a boatman or a crown prince. Even though there are three types of aspirations, their common feature is that the Bodhisattva needs to have the capability to carry out salvation of sentient beings.

At the instant of attaining Buddhahood the state of "no concept of self, no concept of others, no concept of sentient beings, and no concept of living beings" is realized, and there is neither traces of Buddhas nor traces of any sentient beings; all merge into limitless oneness. Therefore, no matter whoever had attained Bodhi earlier or whoever will attain Bodhi later, the attainment of any one means the simultaneous attainment of all. Before attainment of Bodhi a Bodhisattva recognizes that there are sentient beings to be saved, and hence the Bodhisattva aspires toward their salvation. Having realized Bodhi there is in reality no sentient beings as independently existing and hence, in this sense, there are no sentient beings to be saved. Furthermore, all sentient beings that were previously falsely recognized as existing independently have been saved through the correct recognition that their existence is due to nominal designation.

As to salvation activities of Buddhas after their attainment, there are indeed no preconceived intentions, but only natural outpouring of responses, actions and inaction from full awakening.


Written in Chinese on May 24, 2002
Translated on May 25, 2002
El Cerrito, California


[Home][Back to list][Simultaneous Attainment]