學佛的整體性   林鈺堂       簡繁轉換 - 繁體

 

 

學佛不只是懂得佛法的道理,還需要加以領會成自己的心得,並且應用於修法及生活中。這樣全身心在生活中的融通,才是真正的學佛以達證悟,以渡如母的一切有情。這就是此篇題目所謂的「學佛的整體性」。

一般學佛者難免積習深重,因而在學佛的過程中,往往忽略了佛法的中心教示:無常、無我、去執、利他,甚至處處顯露以自我為主的言行。難怪有「學佛日久,離道日遠」的評語。

本篇將略為點出一些常見的失誤,以供認真修行者做為自檢的借鏡;作者並無指責他人之意圖。

一、不重師示
雖然皈依佛法的教師,依然以自己的判斷做為行止的決定。甚至在佛法的問題上,也以自己的瞭解為基準。這樣的心態無從領受久修者經驗的果實,反而極易斷絕與法師的因緣。不先虛己,如何證入「無我」?

二、爭寵排他
認定尊重及供侍法師的重要,固然正確;但是在以自我為重的習氣作祟之下,爭先恐後,甚至排擠他人,則反而更加重「我執」,背道而馳了。他人也都是學佛者欲令其得證悟的如母有情之一,若與彼等對立,又如何能令一己出輪迴、達解脫?更不用提「成佛」了。

三、孤芳自賞
學佛固然宜於遠離世俗、獨處專修以期早日證悟,而後能廣利有情;但是在修行中,參預弘法利他的活動,可以避免自己的菩提發心淪為口號,並且積集資糧與功德,也是助成正德的重要因緣,不應偏廢。若是久修形成孤僻,在行止上顯示自視頗高,而逐漸不重師長、不喜合群,則誤入牛角尖矣!

四、冷熱兩面
在同一群體內,對自己認為重要的、有利的則十分友善熱絡,而對其餘則冷面以待,錙銖必較——稍覺侵犯,就如臨大敵。這樣如何修成對眾生的平等慈悲?眼前數人尚不能平等寬懷,又要如何以慈悲包容一切有情?

希望經過上述的提醒,能助認真修行的人,多多注意基本的佛示:無常、無我、去執、利他,而得以從「我執」的積習中醒悟脫出,進而得以真正嚐到佛法的真實利益。

 

                     二○一六年七月廿九日
                     養和齋    於加州


 

 

Totality of Dharma Practices

Yutang Lin

 

Practicing Dharma is not merely comprehending Dharma theories, one needs to absorb the teachings into one’s own central views, and then apply them in Dharma practices and into daily life activities. Thus harmonizing one’s body and mind whole-heartedly in life constitutes genuine Dharma practices aiming at attainment of Enlightenment and salvation of all mother-like sentient beings. This is the meaning of the title of this work.

 

Dharma practitioners in general could hardly avoid the heavy burden of accumulated habitual tendencies, and hence during the course of their Dharma practices they often overlook the central teachings of Dharma: impermanence, non-self, no grasping, and altruism, and they even exhibit self-centered behaviors in many ways. No wonder there is criticism on this, that goes as saying: The longer one practices Dharma, the further away one deviates from the enlightenment path.

 

In this essay some frequently observed mistakes will be pointed out, so as to provide a mirror for serious practitioners to reflect on themselves; the author has no intention to criticize anyone.

 

1. Paying No Heed to Teacher’s Words

 

Even though having taken refuge in a Dharma teacher, one still decide on one’s actions based on personal judgments. Even on matters related to the Dharma, one still sets the standards according to one’s comprehension. This kind of attitude cannot receive the fruits born of long-term practitioner’s accumulated experiences, but can easily sever the causal connections with Dharma teachers. Without humbling oneself first, how could one realize ″non-self″?

 

2. Competing for Attention and Blocking Others

 

Of course it is correct to recognize the importance of revering, attending, and making offerings to Dharma teachers; however, under the spell of the habit of self-esteem, one eagerly pushes oneself forward for attention and favors, and even tries to block others, thus one is enhancing grasping to one’s ″self″ and embarking on the opposite direction to enlightenment. Others are also among the mother-like sentient beings that a Dharma practitioner would like to help attain full enlightenment; If one stands up against them, how could one then render oneself being escaped from Samsara and attained emancipation? Not to mention attaining Buddhahood.

 

3. Indulging in Self-esteem

 

It is certainly proper for a Dharma practitioner to stay far away from worldly engagements and live in solitude to concentrate on Dharma practices, so that one may sooner attain realization of attainments and then be able to benefit sentient beings on an extensive scale. However, during the course of one’s Dharma practices participation in Dharma activities that could benefit others is also very important and should not be ignored. This is because such activities could help one develop genuine Bodhicitta, instead of mere verbal expressions, and help one accumulate stocks of merits; and these are also important causal conditions that will help attainment of full enlightenment. If, after long years of engaging in Dharma practices, one becomes prone to staying alone by oneself and displaying an aloof attitude toward others, and gradually showing lack of respect for one’s teachers and displeasure in joining others, then one has deviated into the tip of an ox horn!

 

4.  Cold and Warm Faces

 

Among a Dharma group of fellow practitioners, to those whom one considers as important and beneficial one is very friendly and warm, while to the rest one shows a cold face and haggle over minute matters—any slight violation sensed will be treated as enemy invasion. How could the Great Compassion which is universally fair to all sentient beings be cultivated in this way? If one could not open one’s mind equally to a few that is right here in front of one, how could one have Compassion to embrace all sentient beings?

 

May reminders cited above help serious Dharma practitioners to reflect more often over the key points of Dharma teachings: impermanence, non-self, no grasping, and altruism, and thereby help awaken them from their habitual tendencies of ″grasping to self″! Only then will they be able to taste the genuine fruits of practicing Dharma.

 

 

Written in Chinese and translated into English on July 29, 2016
El Cerrito, California

 


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