深思 Deep Reflections

深思

Deep Reflections

名副其實的大德們修行時，從不希求名聲、財富及世間妙欲。恆常以身體力行來斷除世間貪欲，希求來世解脫。

Sublime beings who are worthy of their names never seek fame, wealth, or other worldly enjoyment on their spiritual path. Instead, they always practice what they preach in order to cut off mundane desires and attain liberation.

藏傳佛教噶舉派大譯師慈祥(綽迫羅雜瓦1173-1225)，曾到印度、尼泊爾依止克什米爾班智達等大成就者，其間風餐露宿、夜以繼日地精進研學，終得精通顯密教言。回藏地後，廣建寺院、弘揚佛法，使佛法之精妙甘露得以沐浴四方。他說：「不知身壽似水泡，不念死主已迫近，縱然修善極眾多，仍為此生之武器。不曉名利乃幻化，未棄貢高利牽縛，縱然被奉為聖者，仍為八法之僕役。今生殘體未放棄，縱然勵力勤修善，終將赤手奔來世，前途渺茫真可憐！不懂輪迴之過患，欲妙享樂不知厭，夸夸其談空口言，亦為狡詐偽君子。」

Tsultrim Trophu Lotsawa (1173－1225), a master translator of the Kagyu lineage, went to India and Nepal to study Buddhism under the tutelage of great siddhas such as Pandita Kashmir. During that period, he endured severe hardships of deprivation and hunger, yet around the clock his incredible diligence never flagged. In the end, he became vastly proficient in the teachings of exoteric and esoteric schools. Upon returning to Tibet, he founded many monasteries and spread the Dharma, nourishing people in various places with the exquisite nectar of Buddhism. He has taught:

Failing to see that life is just like a bubble, one is oblivious of the imminence of death. Although one performs numerous good deeds, the intention is to better this life only. Failing to see fame and wealth as illusions, one covets prestige and is ensnared in profit making. Being respectfully regarded as supreme, yet one still succumbs to the eight worldly concerns. Striving to do good deeds without first renouncing the corporeal body, one inevitably heads to future lives empty-handed. How downright miserable is this bleak prospect! Unaware of the defects of samsara, one craves worldly enjoyment untiringly. Prattling hollow words all the time, one is nothing but a deceitful hypocrite.

他的大弟子《布頓佛教史》作者布頓仁波切在《自我教言》中也說：「為了即生親怨之利益，貪嗔積財攝受諸眷屬，死時眷屬受用不跟隨，業果苦痛唯有己承受。梵天帝釋轉輪之王等，所獲輪迴樂果不穩固，死時未必不會墮惡趣，當于輪迴生厭仁親哲(布頓名)！」

His main disciple Buton Rinchen Drub, the author of The History of Buddhism in India and Tibet, also says in his Self-Instructions: For the sake of friends and foes in this life, you amass wealth and retinues with avarice and aversion. None of your subjects will follow you when you die, you must bear the painful karma all by yourself. Brahmins, Indra, or Universal Monarchs enjoy great pleasures that are unreliable samsaric happiness. When they die, there is no guarantee to avoid lower realms, so become weary to samsara, Rinchen Drub!

讀到這些言教，聯想到自己一生中雖然表面行善，但仔細觀察，歸根結底往往是為了自己今生的利益。為眾生、為來世的成分究竟有多少，沒有很大把握。前輩大德們的高尚心行真令人羨慕。

Reading these, I reflected carefully on the seemingly good deeds I have done so far. Most of them boiled down to self-serving for this life only; I am not even sure what portion of them has been devoted to others or to future lives. How I admire the high realization and conduct of the accomplished sages!

與其臨淵羨魚，不如退而結網。從現在做起，也許還不是很晚。

The adage goes: 「Instead of wasting time longing for the fish by the pond, it』s better to go back and prepare fishing nets.」 I may as well take actions from now on; perhaps it』s still not too late!

壬午年二月初七 2002年3月21日

7th of February, Year of RenWu March 21, 2002