Wednesday 31 May 2017

怎樣才是真正的讚歎佛陀? 《阿含經故事選》

  有一次,佛陀和追隨他的比丘弟子們,在印度當時的摩揭陀國境內遊化,打算從首都王舍城,前往北邊的那爛陀城。
  在佛陀與比丘們一行人的後面,有一對外道沙門師徒,正好也同路,為師的名叫「須卑」,徒弟名叫「梵達摩納」。一路上,那位老師一直不停地誹謗佛陀,也誹謗佛法與比丘們,而他的徒弟卻一直與他唱反調,不斷地稱讚佛陀、佛法與比丘們。
  這一天傍晚,大家都來到路途中的一個菴婆羅樹園內,準備在園內國王建的公共房舍過夜。即使到了這個時候,這對外道沙們師徒,還沒能停止他們謗佛、讚佛的爭論。這個情況,讓比丘們不禁對這兩位奇怪的師徒議論起來。大家都認為,相對於這位外道老師的不瞭解徒弟,佛陀的善知人們志趣,是多麼的稀有難得啊!
  佛陀知道比丘們在講堂聚集,就來詢問他們到底在議論什麼。於是,比丘們將他們議論的原委,告訴了佛陀。
  佛陀因而教導比丘們說:
  「比丘們!如果聽到別人誹謗如來、佛法和僧團,大家不要憂愁、傷心,也不要因此而憤怒,甚至懷恨在心而意圖報復,因為,這樣只會帶給大家障礙,不能如實地判斷別人所說的是有道理的,還是錯誤的。反之,聽了別人讚歎如來、佛法和僧團,也不要感到欣悅、愉快,因為,這也會帶給大家障礙,不能如實地判斷別人所說的是有道理的,還是錯誤的。」
  接著,佛陀又說:
  「比丘們!一般凡夫,都只從一些細瑣、微小、世俗的戒行,例如五戒、十善、儉樸嚴謹的正命生活、乞食、不蓄積財物等來讚歎如來而已,不能從如來所證得的深奧、微妙、大光明之法這一方面來讚歎佛陀。只有從如來所證得的深奧、微妙、大光明之法來讚歎,才是真正如實的讚歎如來。」
  什麼是如來所證得的深奧、微妙、大光明之法呢?佛陀那個時代的沙門、婆羅門們,有著種種的邪知、邪見,總括歸納起來,不外乎是全然的常見,部分的常見,無因、無緣論,有邊、無邊論,不定詭辯論,有想論,無想論,非有想非無想論,斷滅論,不正確的現法涅槃論等,共十類六十二種,稱為「六十二見」。這六十二見的歸納,就像灑在小池塘中的大漁網,網住了世間所有的邪知、邪見。而佛陀所證的深奧、微妙、大光明之法,就是遠離了這六十二見,在日常生活六根對六境的認識過程中,如實知認識與感受生起的真正原因,以及其所引發煩惱的根除方法:認識與感受,是如何地讓人們因貪愛而陷入味著,味著又如何在無常變化下轉為禍患,聖者又如何從中超越與出離。由於能超越與出離,所以聖者切斷了推動流轉到下一生的根,就像斬斷一棵枝葉茂密的大樹樹根,這棵樹就隨之枯萎,永遠不再生一樣,這就是佛陀所證的深奧、微妙、大光明之法。
  能夠從這裡來讚歎佛陀,才是真正的讚歎

漫画图片来源:菩提漫画 

Tuesday 30 May 2017

8 ZEN STORIES THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR PERSPECTIVE ABOUT LIFE

Zen is the Japanese practice of meditation and mindfulness and it's a part of ZEN BUDDHISM. Here are some great, handpicked stories to bring joy to your sense of enlightenment.

The Buddha
There once was two instructors of the Buddha’s teachings. One, Tanzan, was strict in his life style, never drinking intoxicants or eating after 11 o’clock in the morning. The other, Unsho, was loose in his discipline, eating whenever and drinking whatever he pleased.
“Hello, brother,” Tanzan greeted him. “Won’t you have a drink?”
 “I never drink!” exclaimed Unsho solemnly.
“One who does not drink is not even human,” said Tanzan.
“Do you mean to call me inhuman just because I do not indulge in intoxicating liquids!” exclaimed Unsho angrily. “Then if I am not human, what am I?”
“A Buddha,” answered Tanzan.

A Mother’s Advice
There was a Shogun master that was also famous Sanskrit scholar known through the lands. He would often give lectures to students and travelers. One day his mother wrote to him and said, “Son, I do not think you became a devotee of the Buddha because you desired to turn into a walking dictionary for others. There is no end to information and commentation, glory and honor. I wish you would stop this lecture business. Shut yourself up in a little temple in a remote part of the mountain. Devote your time to meditation and in this way attain true realization.”

How To Write A Chinese Poem
A famous Japanese poet was once asked how to compose a Chinese poem.
“The usual Chinese poem is four lines,” he explains. “The first line contains the initial phase; the second line, the continuation of that phase; the third line turns from this subject and begins a new one; and the fourth line brings the first three lines together. A popular Japanese song illustrates this:
Two daughters of a silk merchant live in Kyoto.
The elder is twenty, the younger, eighteen.
A soldier may kill with his sword.
But these girls slay men with their eyes.”

How The Trees And Grass Became Enlightened
One day a fifty year old student of the Tendai school came to the master Shinken. The master rarely received visitors and almost never answered their questions.
“I have studied the Tendai school of thought since I was a little boy, but one thing in it I cannot understand. Tendai claims that even the grass and trees will become enlightened. To me this seems very strange.”
“Of what use is it to discuss how grass and trees become enlightened?” asked Shinkan. “The question is how you yourself can become so. Did you ever consider that?”
“I never thought of it in that way,” marveled the old man.
“Then go home and think it over,” finished Shinkan.

Every Minute Zen
Zen students must learn under their masters for at least ten years before they may teach others. Tenno was recently made a master and visited his friend Nan-in, who was also a master. The day they greeted each other was rainy, and Tenno was wearing wooden clogs and had an umbrella. Later, while taking tea Nan-in asked, “I suppose you left your wooden clogs in the vestibule. I want to know if your umbrella is on the right or left side of the clogs.”
This confused Tenno and he had no immediate answer. He realized in that moment he had lost his Zen. He studied for six more years to find and keep his Zen.

Fire-Poker Zen
An old master used to tell his students about an old woman that owned a teashop. He praised her deep understanding of Zen. He encouraged them to seek her out. When she saw the students coming, she could immediately tell if they had come for tea or not.
If they came for tea she would serve them delicious tea with grace. If they came for teachings she would take them around the back. There she would strike them with a red hot poker. Nine out of ten could not escape her beatings.

Flower Shower
Subhuti was a disciple of the Buddha. He comprehended emptiness, the view point that nothing exists except in its relationship of subjectivity and objectivity.
One day Subhuti, in a mood of sublime emptiness, was sitting under a tree. Flowers began to fall about him.
“We are praising you for your discourse on emptiness,” the gods whispered to him.
“But I have not spoken of emptiness,” said Subhuti.
“You have not spoken of emptiness, we have not heard emptiness,” responded the gods. “This is the true emptiness.” And blossoms showered upon Subhuti as rain.

Everything Is Best
When Banzan was walking through a market, he happened to hear a butcher talking with his customer.
“Give me the best piece of meat you have,” said the customer.
“Everything in my shop is the best,” replied the butcher. “You cannot find here any piece of meat that is not the best.”
At these words Banzan became enlightened.

Source and courtesy: thespiritscience.net


Monday 29 May 2017

佛弟子最好每天都能誦經

佛弟子最好每天都能誦經。好比一個道場,必須天天有早晚功課,要是一個寺院,都沒有人誦經,做早晚課,那慢慢的鬼神就住進寺院里面了。沒人誦經和供養,護法神就走了,那孤魂野鬼就住進去了。大乘經典有這個不可思議的作用力。

  那同樣的,人要是三天不誦經,不吃素,那鬼神也住進來了。不要小看誦經的功德。尤其是現在人,在家庭中,家家戶戶都有電視,小孩子從小就看電視,這個很不好。人就變得很浮躁,很喜歡喧鬧,那智慧就開發不開了。現在人都喜歡動,其實靜下來才是功夫。

  人的六根能靜下來,安安靜靜的,就比較長壽。比如以前山里當農民的,沒有電視時,腦袋不會想很多問題,就知道幹活,這些人都比較長壽,而且身體健康。其實他們天天幹苦力活,但消耗的能量反而少。相反的,腦袋天天有太多想法的人,能量就消耗比較多,這就是動,動就無法生智慧。

  宇宙中,許多智慧都在靜下來時開發的。但現在人喜歡追逐聲色。老子說的,五色令人目盲,五音令人耳聾。電視里演的是豐富多彩,但往往不好。現在人靜不下來,和電視的影響有很大的關系。比如,在一個家庭中,大家有事沒事就看電視。電視演的更多的和現實生活無關的東西。

  每天腦袋就在想現實無關的東西,這樣子智慧自然就蒙蔽了。所以要念經,要是讓自己靜下來。或者偶爾看看書,這個也很好。你說,現在人福報大嗎?其實是越來越小,為什麼?首先人的根器就差了,浮躁了,從而証明人的福報小了。哪怕物質多發達,但人的根器差了,幸福感少了,這不是沒有福報嗎?

  佛弟子每天都要念經,保持內心的正念。末法時代修行,很困難。這就需要自己內心對道有一份信心。要墮落是很容易的,要修上去,卻很困難。所以無論如何,最好每天能拿出十五分鐘來安靜一下,念念經,看一看因果故事,看看菩薩感應故事,看看聖賢做事的方法,這個很好,這樣子會讓我們回歸,明白自己想要什麼。比較好。不要吵吵鬧鬧,很是開心。

Saturday 27 May 2017

修行

※ 人有業障不怕,就怕沒有慚愧心。有慚愧心,這個人肯定能發現自己的過失,肯定會改過,最後會成為一個圓滿的人。

※ 修行完美的是自己的人格,不要總受他人的影響。個人吃飯個人飽,跟別人沒有關係。你行持善法,善有善報,這是真實不虛的。

※ 修行要多修施捨,多把自己的受用或能力奉獻給他人。如果有這種精神,這樣修持,我們的團隊、社會乃至世界才會和諧。如果總是自私自利,只顧自己,哪裡都不會有和諧。

※ 很多人喜歡念《地藏經》,目的是為了消業,或者為了祛除身上不清淨的東西,並沒有去思維內容,也沒有去領會裡面所描述的真相,這樣意義就不大了。通過念《地藏經》,應該對輪迴、地獄生起信解,生起真正的出離心,這才是真正的念《地藏經》的真實意義。 ​

── 達真堪布

Friday 26 May 2017

Thursday 25 May 2017

念佛攝心 嘴唸 耳聞 心數

念佛號時,不論是默念, 出聲念, 金剛念( 雙唇微動 )皆可,沒有規定要以什麼形式來念,只要適合自己," 自然 "就好
初學者,想用個方法,使自己念佛號能更加攝心,可參考用 "字字口念清楚,字字耳聽清楚" 的方法," 慢慢就會有定慧 " !
恭錄老法師法語

Wednesday 24 May 2017

今日教言

在这个世界上,没有不关心自己的人,每一个人都愿意长寿无病。所以,大家一定要受持不杀生戒,最好是长期受持不杀生戒,如果做不到这一点,最低也应立誓在每个月的几天里断杀或者食素。——《藏传净土法》


Tuesday 23 May 2017

Prostration in Chinese Mahayana Tradition 汉传佛教礼佛方式

Prostration is not just about penance and repentance.
It is about:
- Gratitude to parents, friends and so many people (including those who hurt us)
- Appreciating this precious human life
- Understanding pain and suffering
- Impermanence in every phenomena
- Humility and our ego – Non Self
- Offering our body speech and mind
- Kindness and compassion as we bow
- Dedicating merits to others (and not collecting merits to ourselves)
Prostration is the first step of the Seven branch prayers.
(1) prostrations, (2) making offerings, (3) confessing past wrongs, (4) rejoicing in virtue, (5) requesting the buddhas to teach the Dharma, (6) supplicating the buddhas not to abandon the world, and (7) dedicating the roots of virtue.

~ thoughts on 3 steps 1 bow.

Monday 22 May 2017

【佛教故事】快樂之道

某日,無德禪師正在院子里鋤草,迎面走過來三位信徒,向他施禮,說道:“人們都說佛教能夠解除人生的痛苦,但我們信佛多年,卻並不覺得快樂,這是怎麼回事呢?”
        無德禪師放下鋤頭,安詳地看著他們說:“想快樂並不難,首先要弄明白為什麼活著。”
         三位信徒你看看我,我看看你,都沒料到無德禪師會向他們提出問題。過了片刻,甲說:“人總不能死吧!死亡太可怕了,所以人要活著。”乙說:“我現在拚命地勞動,就是為了老的時候能夠享受到糧食滿倉、子孫滿堂的生活。”丙說:“我可沒你那麼高的奢望。我必須活著,否則一家老小靠誰養活呢?”
         無德禪師笑著說:’怪不得你們得不到快樂,你們想到的只是死亡、年老、被迫勞動,不是理想、信念和責任。沒有理想、信念和責任的生活當然是很疲勞、很累的了。”
         信徒們不以為然地說:“理想、信念和責任,說說倒是很容易,但總不能當飯吃吧!”無德禪師說:“那你們說有了什麼才能快樂呢?”
甲說:“有了名譽,就有一切,就能快樂。”乙說:“有了愛情,才有快樂。”丙說:“有了金錢,就能快樂。”
         無德禪師說:“那我提個問題:為什麼有人有了名譽卻很煩惱,有了愛情卻很痛苦,有了金錢卻很憂慮呢?”信徒們無言以對。
         無德禪師說:“理想、信念和責任並不是空洞的,而是體現在人們每時每刻的生活中。必須改變生活的觀念、態度,生活本身才能有所變化。名譽要服務于大眾,才有快樂;愛情要奉獻于他人,才有意義;金錢要布施于窮人,才有價值,這種生活才是真正快樂的生活。”

Sunday 21 May 2017

今日教言

🌻2017.5.21 | 今日教言🌻

从大乘的角度来讲,受持不杀生戒确实是成佛的种子,谁的相续中有不杀生的戒律,这个人将来必定能成佛。《法苑珠林》中有这样的教证:“不杀是佛种,慈心为良药。”所以,凡是希求暂时安乐和究竟成佛之人,一定要受持不杀生戒。——《藏传净土法》


Saturday 20 May 2017

今日教言

🌻2017.5.20 | 今日教言🌻

在这个世界上,上至国家总统,下至街头乞丐,人人都愿意健康长寿,每个人的愿望虽然如此,但往往却不能如愿以偿,这就是前世的业力所致。所以,即使不谈其他的功德,仅仅为了拥有健康长寿的增上生,我们也一定要断除杀生。——《藏传净土法》


Friday 19 May 2017

Here is What Buddha Said About Good Luck and Fate

What did the Buddha teach about magic and fortune telling?
The Buddha considered such practices as fortune telling, wearing magic charms for protection, finding lucky sites for buildings, prophesising and fixing lucky days to be useless superstitions and he expressly forbade his disciples to practise such things. He called all these things 'low arts'.

"Whereas some religious men, while living off food provided by the faithful make their living by such low arts, such wrong means of livelihood as palmistry, divining by signs, interpreting dreams, bringing about good or bad luck, picking the lucky site for a building, the monk Gotama refrains from such low arts, such wrong means of livelihood".

Then why do people sometimes practise such things and believe in them?
Because of greed, fear and ignorance.  As soon as people understand the Buddha's teachings, they realise that a pure heart can protect them much better than bits of paper, bits of metal and a few chanted words and they no longer rely on such things.  In the teachings of the Buddha, it is honesty, kindness, understanding, patience, forgiveness, generosity, loyalty and other good qualities that truly protect you and give you true prosperity.

But some lucky charms do work, don't they?
I know a person who makes a living selling lucky charms. He claims that his charms can give good luck, prosperity and he guarantees that you will be able to pick three numbers. But if what he says is true then why isn't he himself a multi-millionaire? If his lucky charms really work, then why doesn't he win the lottery week after week? The only luck he has is that there are people silly enough to buy his magic charms.

Then is there such a thing as luck?
The dictionary defines luck as 'believing that whatever happens, either good or bad, to a person in the course of events is due to chance, fate or fortune'.  The Buddha denied this belief completely.  Everything that happens has a specific cause or causes and there must be some relationships between the cause and the effect. Becoming sick, for example, has specific causes.  One must come into contact with germs and one's body must be weak enough for the germs to establish themselves.  There is a definite relationship between the cause (germs and a weakened body) and the effect (sickness) because we know that germs attack the organisms and give rise to sickness. But no relationship can be found between wearing a piece of paper with words written on it and being rich or passing examinations. Buddhism teaches that whatever happens does so because of a cause or causes and not due to luck, chance or fate. People who are interested in luck are always trying to get something, usually more money and wealth. The Buddha teaches us that it is far more important to develop our hearts and minds. He says:

Being deeply learned and skilled; being well-trained and using well-spoken words - this is the best good luck. To support mother and father, to cherish wife and child and to have a simple livelihood - this is the best good luck.


FROM -  Good Question, Good Answer BY Bhikkhu Shravasti Dhammika

Thursday 18 May 2017

今日教言


🌻







2017.5.18 | 今日教言
我们一定要断除一切恶业,精进行持善法。当然,许多人毕竟是凡夫,有时候难免会生起贪嗔之心,也难免会造一些恶业。但大家要尽量断恶行善,如果偶尔产生烦恼或者造了恶业,要立即进行忏悔,能做到这样就是很好的佛教徒。
——《藏传净土法

Wednesday 17 May 2017

Question: Did the Buddha teach that abortion should be avoided?

Answer: Yes, as killing of sentient beings is generally discouraged throughout the Buddha’s teachings, while the first to eight kinds of negative karmic actions listed below in 佛为首迦长者说业报差别经 (The Sūtra In Which The Buddha For The Elder Śuka Spoke Of Karmic Retribution’s Differences) leading to shorter lives are both direct and indirect teachings against abortion. (Note that the taking of a precious human life, if not repented in time, might lead to rebirth in the hells after a shortened life too, as the negative karma created is especially grave.)   
佛告首迦:「有十种业能令众生得短命报:
“[Śākyamuni] Buddha told Śuka, ‘There are ten kinds of karmic [actions] that enable sentient beings to attain shortened lives as retribution:
一者,自行杀生;
first, is to personally do the killing of beings;
[This includes self-conducted abortion, including intentional ‘accidental’ miscarriage.]
二者,劝他令杀;
second, is to encourage others to enable killing;
[This includes encouragement of abortion as a false ‘quick fix’ to ‘absolve’ responsibility.]
三者,赞叹杀法;
third, is to praise killing’s method[s];
[This includes praising methods of abortion as being ‘safe’ and ‘efficient’.]
四者,见杀随喜;
fourth, is to see killing and accordingly rejoice;
[This includes seeing and rejoicing over abortion by doctors, nurses and anyone else.]

五者,於恶憎所,欲令丧灭;
fifth, is, from evil hatred thus, desire enabling of death and destruction;
[This includes having abortion out of resentment.]
六者,见怨灭已,心生欢喜;
sixth, is, seeing the resented destroyed already, the mind giving rise to joy;
[This includes having joy after abortion.]
七者,坏他胎藏;
seventh, is to harm others’ fetus[es] in the[ir] womb[s]; 
[This includes facilitation of actual abortion.]
八者,教人毁坏;
eighth, is to teach others to destroy and harm; 
[This includes teaching of abortion.]

九者,建立天寺,屠杀众生;
ninth, is to build and erect “heavenly” temples, [with misguided] slaughtering sentient beings [as sacrificial “offerings”];
十者,教人战鬥,互相残害。
tenth, is to teach others to have war and fight, to injure and kill each other.
以是十业得短命报。」
These are the ten karmic [actions] that attain shortened lives as retribution.'”

Source : thedailyenlightenment.com (posted by Shen Shi'an)


Tuesday 16 May 2017

今日教言











2017.5.16 | 今日教言

有些造了恶业的人,不但不发露忏悔,反而说:谁也不知道来世是什么样,现在忏悔干什么?这是非常愚痴的说法,如果因为不知道来世是什么样就不用忏悔,那现在我们也不知道明天是什么样,难道就不需要为明天的生活作准备了吗?
——《藏传净土法》

Sunday 14 May 2017

愛的供養,報父母恩

每個孩子,都是在父母的呵護、培養下健康成長的。長大以後,理應憶念父母的恩德,盡力報答。怎樣做才是報恩?要通過供養——財供養、力供養、法供養。

  財供養,就是以你的能力讓父母安度晚年。父母年紀大了,性情跟小孩子一樣,你去看看他們,買點禮物,送點東西,他們就會特別歡喜。讓他們心情愉快,這就是報恩。

  力供養,伺候父母。現在很多父母都成了孤寡老人,七八十歲了,連自理都困難,但是沒有人管。藏地老人都留在家裡,而漢地的老人都被送到養老院了。現在人心變了,沒有人願意跟老人一起過日子。其實伺候父母是理所應當的。我們不能自立的時候,是父母撫養我們。父母老了,我們要去陪伴他們,這都是應盡的責任。

  法供養,對父母最大的孝順是讓他們進入佛門,明白佛理,念咒念佛。漢地的老人,有的能打打麻將,有些人連這個能力都沒有,真是非常可憐。藏地的老人還可以,天天繞大殿,撥珠念咒,很充實。雖然老了,但是沒有太大的煩惱與恐懼,心裡有一種依靠。雖然他們不懂太多的佛理,但知道念咒、祈禱。快要面臨死亡的時候,也沒有什麼恐懼,因為他們至少有信念,對上師三寶是一心一意的。有信念的人,面對死亡或災難,不會有太大的畏懼。有些人有文化,懂得佛理多,但是對上師三寶三心二意,這不叫有信仰。信仰是一種力量,是一種堅定的信念。

  做為佛弟子,最大的孝敬、最好的報恩,就是想盡一切辦法讓父母信佛,走進佛門。最起碼有些信仰,念念佛、念念咒,若是能聽經聞法,就更好了。哪怕讓他們明白一點點的佛理,對他們的心態也有極大的幫助。有的人根本不在乎;有的人雖然有這個想法,但是怕父母不接受。你要想盡一切辦法,有佛法就有辦法,因為有智慧就有辦法。

── 達真堪布

Friday 12 May 2017

《 道德经:为人子女的,必须要尽孝 》

孝是为善的头。前贤说:忤逆子媳,便是禽兽。天报最准的,然而这点良心,人人都有,只消一唤便醒。古人说孝,心连思之,不思作不出孝的。

孝养父母,不仅要养父母的身,关心、体贴、问寒问暖、送医尝药,而且要养父母的心,不使父母有一丝毫的担忧、牵挂、伤心等事。要让父母身安,心安,颐养天年,得以善终。否则,就是大不孝啊!


罗先生曾说:孝子侍奉双亲,不可使父母有冷淡心,不可使父母生烦恼心;不可使父母有惊怖心,不可使父母生愁闷心;不可使父母有难言心,不可使父母有愧恨心。” 孝子必须要安定国家,因为国家安定了,家庭才能保安定,而家庭安定了,孝子才能够实行孝道,所以古人求忠臣,必定是在孝子门中求到的啊!而忠孝若是能够两全的话,方才是做人最高的德性。

Wednesday 10 May 2017

《 佛吉祥日 / 衛塞節 》

510日(農 五)
請大德們記得持齋念佛,廣行善事
值此殊勝日,請大德們憶念世尊,廣發善心,
行持頂禮、吃素、布施、放生、供養等種種善行,回向、祈願一切有情眾生離苦得樂,究竟圓滿。祈願佛日增輝,正法久住﹔

世界和平,國泰民安,阿彌陀佛!

Verse for Bathing Buddhas / 浴佛偈

关于以上五浊 
'此信愿庄严一声阿弥陀佛,
[1]
转劫浊为清净海会,
[2]
转见浊为无量光,
[3]
转烦恼浊为常寂光,
[4]
转众生浊为莲华化生,
[5]
转命浊为无量寿。'

- 净土宗九祖蕅益大师《佛说阿弥陀经要解》

On The Five Defilements Above:
'With such Faith and Aspiration adorning each recitation of “Amituofo”, 

[1] Transform the defilement of the kalpa into an ocean-wide assembly of purity, 
[2] Transform the defilement of views into immeasurable light [of wisdom], 
[3] Transform the defilement of afflictions into the eternal still light [of peace], 
[4] Transform the defilement of sentient beings into lotus flower transformed beings, and 
[5] Transform the defilement of [limited] lifespans into immeasurable life.'

Source : Purelanders.com posted by Shen Shi'an

Friday 5 May 2017

以善止惡即是修行  (聖嚴法師)

  一般人多半不清楚什麼是善與不善,什麼是好的心與不好的心。有一次有位先生告訴我,他什麼宗教都不信,他只知道宗教是教人做好事、存好心。

  我問他說:「沒有錯,那你有沒有宗教信仰呢?」

  他說:「像我這樣的人,還要什麼宗教信仰?我既不做壞事,也不存壞心,只有像你們這樣的人,因為常常做壞事、存壞心,才會有罪惡感,所以要信宗教。」然後我又問他:「你真的是一個好人嗎?真的是一位好心的人嗎?我才不相信像你這樣的人會是個好心的人!」

  他馬上火冒三丈:「你怎麼能証明我不是好心的人?你說,我做了什麼壞事?」

  我說:「你現在就不是個好心的人,因為你的心在生氣,對不對?」

  結果他更生氣:「我本來沒有生氣,是你讓我生氣的!」

  許多人認為生氣不是壞事、不是壞心,是別人讓他生氣,而不是他自己要生氣的。其實,人們經常都是在煩惱痛苦之中掙扎,卻還不知道自己的心有問題。貪心求不得就變成瞋,如果得到了又希望貪得更多一些;與人相比,比不過人就會妒忌,比人稍強一些就會驕傲;自己得不到而他人得到時,就認為這個世界不公平,于是產生忿怒。這種種狀況,經常在我們的身上發生,這究竟是好心呢?還是壞心?

  從佛法的修行立場來看,這都是煩惱、痛苦的心。佛法希望人們能從痛苦轉成快樂的,從煩惱轉成有智慧的,從瞋恨怨恨轉成慈悲的,從貪取轉成布施的。以善來對治不善,以善來糾正不善,這就是修行,如此,才能夠使我們的心真正的清淨,真正的安定。

Thursday 4 May 2017

Rely Upon Buddha As Best Spiritual Friend

Once, in the Sakyan country, Venerable Ananda said to the Buddha, ‘Venerable Sir, good friendship is half of the holy life.’ ‘Not so, Ananda!’ the Buddha replied. ‘Good friendship is the entire holy life. When one has a good friend, it is to be expected that he will develop and cultivate the Noble Eightfold Path – Right view, Right intention, Right speech, Right action, Right livelihood, Right effort, Right mindfulness, and right concentration – each stage is based upon seclusion, dispassion and cessation, maturing in release.

By relying upon me as a good friend, Ananda, beings are freed from birth, from aging, from illness, from death, and from sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure and despair. Thus, Ananda, it may be understood how the entire holy life is good friendship.

Therefore, you should train yourself thus: “I will be one who has good friends.” When you have good friends, you should dwell with one thing for support: diligence in wholesome states not yet arisen, abandoning unwholesome states already arisen, developing wholesome states, and maintaining wholesome states. When you are thus dwelling diligently, those around you will think, “Let us also dwell diligently, with diligence for support.” In this way, you will be guarded and protected.’

– Samyutta Nikaya 3,18


Wednesday 3 May 2017

浴佛

05/03【三】農曆四月八日
【六齋日】 【十齋日】
釋迦牟尼佛聖誕
浴佛節(佛寶節)
念藥師琉璃光如來 持齋除罪三十劫
九殿平等王千秋
具香月藥師如來殊勝功德日 善行與惡行乘一千萬倍

浴佛的由來
二千六百多年前,印度迦毘羅衛國的王后摩耶夫人,在藍毗尼花園的無憂樹下,生下了悉達多太子,也就是後來出家成道的佛陀。太子誕生後,一手指天,一手指地,說道:「天上天下,唯我獨尊。」意思是說,他已經過三大阿僧祇劫的修行圓滿,即將在人間成佛,所以,不論在人間或天上,再也沒有勝過他的人了。隨即有兩股水從天瀉下,沐浴在王子的身上。後來,佛教徒每年為慶祝佛陀誕辰就沿用此例舉行浴佛儀式。

浴佛的意義
淨化個人的身口意,我們手持淨水向悉達多太子像沐浴時,內心應當誠懇祝禱,唱頌 我今灌沐諸如來,淨智莊嚴功德聚,五濁眾生令離垢,同證如來淨法身。,願袪除貪欲、瞋恨、愚痴的污垢,讓自行身行、語言、心意都能保持潔淨,希望社會清淨安寧,沒有暴力、詐欺、邪惡等事件,環境能夠優美清淨,並且藉著浴佛的功德,淨化自己的煩惱塵垢,美化我們的社會國土,轉五濁惡世為清淨的淨土,導邪曲人心為善良菩提,這就是浴佛的真正意義。


浴佛的利益
(1)
可得無為法;(2) 可得精進力;(3) 可得大智慧;(4) 可生轉輪王;(5) 可得人天富貴;(6) 可得子孫延綿;(7) 可得無病長壽;(8) 可得善神擁護;(9) 可得無上佛道。

另外,在《浴佛功德經》中,所提及的利益有:
(1)
現受富樂,無病延年。 (2) 於所願求,無不遂意。 (3) 親友眷屬,悉皆安穩。 (4) 長辭八難,永出苦緣。 (5) 不受女身,速成證覺。