1998/04/01
http://tbsn.org/chinese3/news.php?cid=29&csid=34&id=701
今天我們聽蓮城法師他談「信心跟恆心」,他這個講,是講得很好。
Today, Lian Cheng fashi talked about [Faith & Perseverance Mindset], this is a good topic well spoken.
關於信心跟恆心,我們都談了很多。
In the past, Sakyamuni Buddha has said that the most precious, or most important Foot, stepping on the ground, belongs to the foot of the elephant.
那麼最尊貴,也最重的一個念頭,是「念死」,這是釋迦牟尼佛本身講的。
Therefore the most precious, and important thought is [Think of Death], this is what Sakyamuni Buddha personally said.
談到信心跟恆心,其實那一個「念」的問題。
We, common people, this [Thought], is Ever changing and non constant, that is Thought often change here and there, also cannot escape these words of [Non-constant or Impermanence].
有形的身體,逃不過「無常」兩個字。
This Formless Thought, likewise is Countlessly changing within instances.
所以談到「信心」跟「恆心」,難免每一個人,都會有所變化。
Thats why when we talked about [Faith] & [Perseverance], it is inevitable that each person will also undergo changes.
那麼剛才我提到釋迦牟尼佛講的「最尊貴的念頭是念死」,這是釋迦牟尼佛講的。
Recently, I keep saying [I want to die already], actually I am thinking of Death. Think, that is to think of Death.
旁邊的人聽到說「我要死了」,他們回答的是:「不會啦!」
People by my side when they hear me saying [I want to die already], their reply is : Won’t happen la!
經常跟我講:「不會啦!」
Often told me: Won’t happen la!
我說:「怎麼不會?」
I said: Why not?
我常常這樣子想:「我要死了。」
I often think this way: I want to die already.
旁邊的人就講:「不會啦!不會啦!」
People by my side said: Won’t happen la! Won’t happen la!
不會死嗎?
Under the sky (Means on Earth), where to find one person that won’t die?
佛陀時代,有一個婦人,拿著她死掉的一個小孩子,希望釋迦牟尼佛把他救活。
In Buddha’s time, there was a lady that brought a dead child, hoping that Sakyamuni Buddha can revive him to life.
釋迦牟尼佛說:「好!我可以救妳的小孩。你到城裡面去找一家人,哪一家人的親屬沒有死的,向他討一點種子來,我就可以幫妳這個小孩子不會死。」
Sakyamuni Buddha said: Good! I can save your child. You go inside the city and seek a family, whereby their kins never die, ask for some seeds, then I can’t help your child in not dying.
結果她到城裡去,每一家每一家找,每一家都有死過人,沒有一家沒有死的。
In the end, she went to the city, looking at household by household, each household also has death, none of them don’t have death.
所以死是不可避免,不是不會,不要搞錯了,所以師尊是經常念死的。
Therefore, death cannot be prevented, it is not won’t, don’t be mistaken, thats why I often think of death.
所以我每一次吃飯,我走過去我就講:「我要死了!」
Thats why every time I eat, I walk over and said: I want to die already!
他們說:「不會。」(師尊笑)
They said: Won’t happen. (GM laugh)
怎麼不會呢?
Being diligent in cultivation daily, that is for [Our Dying one day], else what is your purpose?
今天大家在努力修行是為什麼?
That is for dying one day, need to have Attainment, need to pass away, need to transmigrate to succour sentient beings, all efforts for this [Death] .
怎麼不會死呢?一定要死。
所以講到無常,你念無常,你就會精進。你念死,佛陀講:「最尊貴。」
Thats why when we talk about Impermanence, you think of Impermanence, you will be diligent. you think of death, Buddha said: Most Precious.
生命是什麼?釋迦牟尼佛講,秋天的雲,今天有,明天就沒有了。
Sakyamuni Buddha said Life is Cloud in the Autumn sky, today you see it, tomorrow not present anymore.
所以一個人要產生信心跟恆心,要常常想到「死」,要念死,最尊貴。
So each one that wants to develop Faith & Perseverance, needs to always think of [Death], have to think of death, it is most precious.
GM said his kins, have undergone surgery for various ailments.
大家知道現在我的母親也中風,那麼中風的情況不是很樂觀,剛才也是幫她祈福,希望她能夠康復,這也是無常啊!
You all know that my mother suffered a stroke, and her prognosis not good, just help her to seek blessing hoping that she will be healthy, this is also Impermanence!
你看我母親的身體,她一向是最好的,從來很少感冒。
You see my mother’s health, always the best, hardly have common cold.
中風最嚴重的,會變成植物人。
Some immediately die after a stroke.
那麼再輕一點,就是一手一腳,大家知道的。
We all know that the lighter ones, affect one hand and leg.
所以我自己本身來講,我自己本身也念這個。
As for myself, I also think of this.
甚至中風、高血壓、膽固醇,這個也是會遺傳的。
These all can happen suddenly, suddenly to you body.
所以我常常在念死,念死你就會精進,把握今天,趕快唸佛、趕快持咒、趕快修禪定,修出他的定力。
Thats why I frequently think of death, doing so you will be diligent, grasping hold of today, quickly chant Buddha, quickly chant mantra, quickly cultivate meditation, cultivate to develop steadfastness.
然後在死的時候,你能夠轉識成智,把你的意識轉成智慧,轉成宇宙的光明。
Then upon time of death, you can transform consciousness to wisdom, and become light of the universe.
我們每天都是在等待這一刻,這一刻能夠轉識成智。在死的時候,能夠成就,都是在等待這一刻的,這個是要有恆心的。
We all await this moment daily, this moment that can transform consciousness to wisdom. Upon death can reach attainment, all waiting for this moment, this is having perseverance mindset.
所以釋迦牟尼佛講「念死是最尊貴的」,你能夠天天念死,你就能夠有恆心。
You can think of Impermanence, you will have Faith, you will not run to other places, like doing some comparison of mysterious matters.
你因為念無常,你才能夠精進,才能夠對你的上師的言行,產生一種信心、信念出來。
As you think of Impermanence, you can be diligent, then able to develop faith in your Guru’s words and actions.
你念死,你就會有恆心,因為時日不多嘛!
You think of death, you will have perseverance mindset, as time is running out!
其實人生,真的是時日不多的。
年紀大的人,三十幾歲還沒有感覺,四十幾歲、五十幾歲、六十幾歲,開始的時候,就會哪一個同學「走」了、哪一個朋友「走」了。
六十幾歲的時候,親人「走」了、同學「走」了、朋友「走」了,那時候就覺得那個「死」,愈來愈逼近,愈來愈近了,時日無多。
In your 60s, kins; school mates; friends; passed away, then will feel that [Death] getting closer and closer, not much time left.
所以人生,老了、病了、死了,都是自然的現象。
Ageing, sickness, death, are natural phenomenon and we don’t feel surprise about them.
但是你要經常想:「再來就輪到自己了。」
But you have to think often: next will be my turn.
年輕人當然比較不曉得,因為他車子剛剛出來,還是新的。
Car when used for a long period, faults and mild functions all appeared!
很快就到的,一眨眼,你就是年紀一晃就過了。
Have to think of death, think of impermanence, think often of sentient realm’s impermanence, think often of: Very soon, this death will arrive.
常常這樣子想,你就會有恆心去修行。
If do not think like this, you still think of money, cars, houses, your name and benefits.
告訴大家,這一點,也就能夠產生你自己修行的恆心,跟你自己的信心。
Let me tell you all, this point can develop your perseverance in cultivation, and your faith.
嗡嘛呢唄咪吽
Om Mani Pad Me Hom
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