The Three Turnings of the Dharma-wheel (Part 1)
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學佛就是要先知道道理，我們就是要追求道理所以才來學佛。
To learn Buddhism, we must first learn principles. We must seek out the principles, then we can learn Buddhism.
佛陀所說的千經萬論，開頭還是一個苦。苦就是人間的真道理，人生十有八九不如意，既然有這麼多的求不得，那是不是苦呢？所以我們應該要知道苦，我們若能夠透徹苦的道理，我們才能夠承受世間的種種困難，所以這個世間稱為「堪忍世間」。
All the Buddhist Sutras and treatises start with the idea of suffering. Suffering is a truth of life. Many things in our lives go against our wishes. We cannot have many things that we want. Isn't that a kind of suffering? We should know the truth of suffering. Only when we fully realize it can we endure life's various difficulties. So this world is called the World of Endurance.
若不能堪得忍耐，那就無法在這個世間生活下去了。我們若能夠了解苦的道理，那怕它是真的很辛苦，還是同樣可以轉苦為福，那就增長慧命了。
If we are unable to endure, we truly cannot go on living in this world. If we can realize the truth of suffering, even when we have a hard life, we can turn our suffering into blessings. Thus our Wisdom-life will grow.
若能透徹苦的道理
甘願接受
即使辛苦也是甘苦
不甘願就會苦上加苦
The world is full of suffering. When one truly realizes the truth of suffering and accepts it willingly, one can withstand any hardship without any all feelings. If one is not willing to accept, one suffers even more.
常常聽草根菩提的老菩薩大家都說：「把吃苦當成吃補。」意思就是說，有這個苦，我們若能夠承擔、去接受，「不經一事、不長一智」，吃過了這樣的苦，他就能夠得到一份的甘。所以我們常說「辛苦、甘苦」，應該不是辛苦，辛苦就是過得很艱難；我們應該要說「甘苦」，在苦中也是有甘。其實甘中也有苦，甘草若是很濃厚，甘中裡面也是一樣有帶苦。
The recycling volunteer Bodhisattvas often say, "Take suffering as a tonic" If we can endure and accept suffering, our wisdom grows with each experience. After suffering, there is joy. In Taiwanese, "difficulty" can also be written, "bitter-sweet". Instead of feeling the suffering of hardship, if we take suffering as "bitter-sweet", we find that there's joy in suffering, and there's suffering in joy as well.
所以甘願的人無論是受了什麼樣的苦，那都還是甘苦；但若是不甘願的人，那就是辛苦了。
If you have too much licorice, it will taste bitter as well as sweet. So those who willingly accept suffering in life will feel joy as well. Those who do not, only experience the hardship.
所以人生要知道，人生生活的哲學，真的是苦不堪言。我們從前面就已經知道了十一遍使、十二入、十八界，這些煩惱無不都是在我們的日常生活中，在我們的周圍，在我們的人事物當中，我們的心態容易被外面的境界驅使；也因為緣著外面的境界，所以才會覺得有很多的不如意，就積了很多的煩惱。
So, we must know that human life can be suffering beyond words. We have talked about the Eleven Universal Agents, the Twelve Entrances and the Eighteen Realms. All these afflictions are found in our everyday lives and our surroundings. In dealing with people and things, our minds are often driven by external conditions, and cling to those conditions. Often things do not go as we wish, which makes us more afflicted.
這就是說，我們應該要提高警覺，不要讓心受到了外塵的纏縛，若是受到了纏縛，就會產生很多煩惱。其實外面有什麼好計較？
So we should always be alert and mindful, and not become entangled by external conditions, which cause afflictions to arise. What is worth taking issue over?
前面《靜思晨語。法譬如水。菩蕯清淨法》也說過了十一空，我們若能將假象看得透徹，人生的苦在哪裡呢？人生本來就只是彼此之間一個舞台而已，在這個人生當中，角色扮演完了，還不是一樣要下台。來生再扮演的是什麼？都不知道了。所以我們今生要扮演的角色，和這場戲在互動當中，我們要配合得好一點，來生才能結好緣，轉阻礙為助力。這也是我們日常對人、對事都要注意，這也是我們處世的哲學，也是佛陀教育我們「空」，空的道理。
We have talked about the Elevenfold Emptiness. If we can see through the illusions, there will be no suffering. Life is but a play on a stage. When we have finished our part, we must bow out. What role will we play in our next life? We do not know yet. So we must play our role in this life well, and cooperate with our co-players. Then we will have good affinities next life, and turn obstructions into helpful conditions. We should be mindful when interacting with people and things. In the philosophy of how of handle things, the Buddha taught us the truth of Emptiness.
所以在真空當中，就是有一分的妙有。不要說：「都已經空了，我就不要理他就好了。」這樣也不對。要學習如何圓融？因為我們人都是在因緣果報當中，在人的心中種下了什麼樣的因，這顆種子同樣留在對方的八識田中；他有什麼樣的不滿，如果我們沒有接受過來、化解掉，那份的怨、恨、不好的緣的種子，就都放在我們的心中，一樣沒完沒了，生生世世都很辛苦。
True Emptiness there if Wondrous Existence. Don't think that Emptiness means nothing exists, so you can just ignore your co-players. This is wrong. We must try to get along with others, for everyone has karmic causes and effects. The seeds we plant in another's mind will be stored in that person's Eighth Consciousness. If the person does things to us, and we do not let go of our grudges and hatred, the seeds of negative affinity will not be eliminated and will stay in our minds, life after life. If will be truly miserable.
日常生活圓融處事
轉惡緣為善緣
心才能自在
方能轉十二行法輪
We should understand the truth of suffering and emptiness, and live in harmony every day to transform evil affinities good connections. Thus we will be at peace and able to turn the Dharma-wheel of the Twelve Applications.
所以雖然人與人之間有什麼樣的壞緣，我們在這一生當中有把它圓融過去，這樣才能轉惡緣為善緣。這就是要相信－－「在世間沒有什麼，不用計較，把它空掉；有一個很奧妙的道理，就是因的種子，我們要知道這就是妙有。若常常和它連結住了，來生來世還是常常會糾纏在一起，由不得自己。」所以在空中還有妙有存在，圓滿了一場惡緣，能產生未來的善緣，這才是真的。
So if we have bad affinities with others, we should make peace with them in this life and transform negative affinities into good ones. We should believe that the world is actually empty. There is no need to dispute over anything. There is a subtle truth. These karmic causes, or "seeds" are a part of Wondrous Existence. If we are always attached to them, we will have no control over our future lives. So in Emptiness there is Wondrous Existence. Eliminating an evil affinity can bring good ones in the future. This is the truth.
有的人說：「我修行，我知道，這些都是空的。既然是空的我就不要和他計較，不和他計較就是不要理他。不理他就是不計較。」不是這樣，還要去設法圓融他。所以若如此，我們的心才能自在，才能轉十二行的法門。
Some people say, "I am a practitioner, I know everything is empty. So there is no need to get upset with that person, I'll simply ignore him." This is not right. We should think of how we can get along with them, so that our minds are at peace and we are able to truth the Dharma-wheel of the Twelve Applications.
前面已經說過了，我們要先知道苦，知苦之後才能了解苦的道理是怎麼來的；我們在人生當中的互相對待，才能夠看得清楚。所以我們若要真正守於中道，了解真實的道理，就是要知苦了！
We need to know the truth of suffering. Then we can understand ifs causes and see things in our daily lives more clearly. So, if we want to truly abide by the Middle Way and realize the genuine truth, we have t know the truth of suffering.
所以佛陀覺悟之後，到鹿野苑去為五比丘說法，第一場在人間的說法，他就是以四諦法－－「苦集滅道」來講述。
After the Buddha attained enlightenment, He went to Deer Park to expound the Dharma for the five Bhiksus. He first lecture in the human world was on the Four Noble Truths, the truth of suffering, the cause of suffering, the cessation of suffering, and the Way.
開始的時候說「苦集滅道」，一次就能夠了解嗎？還是無法了解，所以佛陀就要說三遍「苦、集、滅、道」這四項，三次。所以就叫做三轉十二行法輪，這就是修行者要去透徹的。
Could the Bhiksus understand after one lecture? They could not. So the Buddha had to lecture three times on the Four Noble Trths. These are the Three Turnings of the Dharma-wheel. A practitioner must fully realize the Buddha's first turning of the Dharma-wheel.
第一次轉法輪，就是佛陀在覺悟之後，想到：「這些道理，我應該要去和什麼人分享？」
After enlightenment the Buddha though, "With whom can I share the Dharma?"
就想到當他修行的時候，他的父王不放心，將家族當中五位年輕人派他們來。本來是要來勸他回去，但是勸不回去，後來他的父王就希望這五位可以追隨著太子修行。這五位也很貼心，隨著太子修行。但是悉達多太子覺得，這一條路走過來，好像知道了一些道理，但是沒有很透徹；所以他才想改變一個方式，光是一味的苦行不是辦法，所以他要轉變一下修行的方式，讓他已經知道的道理，能夠有更深刻的體悟。只是了解沒有體悟還是沒有辦法深入，所以他就離開的鹿野苑，想要去換一種方式來好好思考。
He remembered that during His spiritual practice, His father, the King, was worried and sent five young men in the family after Him. The king's original purpose was to persuade the Buddha to come home. Since the Buddha was determined, the king hoped that the five men could follow the prince in spiritual cultivation. They were very close with him and followed the prince in spiritual cultivation. But Prince Siddhartha felt that after his journey of practice, he seemed to know the truth, yet did not seem to realize it fully. So he wanted to change his method of practice. Ascetic practice by itself did not work. He wanted to find a different way to further realize the truth. Knowing the truth without experiencing it would not do. That was why he left Dear Park, to reflect on the truth in a different way.
因為多年來都是苦行，身體虛弱，所以沐浴了之後，從河中爬起來就昏倒過去了。得到牧羊女的救助，就是羊乳的提供，所以恢復了體力，就此就單獨在樹下思考。
He took a bath, but because he had led an ascetic lifestyle for years he was physically weak and fainted when he got up from it. A shepherd girl came to his aid and offered him some goat milk. He regained strength, and sat alone under a tree, reflecting on the truth all by himself.
為什麼會單獨呢？因為這五位比丘，在找他們的太子，結果看到太子接受那位牡羊女餵他羊乳，大家心中起疑，以為太子失去了道心，想：「既然太子失去了道心，就不值得我們再跟隨下去。」但是這五位他們也認為要繼續修行，所以就離開他了，回到鹿野苑的地方，繼續修他們的行。
Why was he alone? Because the five Bhiksus who had been looking for him saw him from afar being fed goat milk by the shepherd girl and suspected that the prince had lost his will to practice and was no longer worthy of being followed. They wanted to continue with their practice, so they left him and returned to Deer Park to continue with their spiritual cultivation.
太子單獨一個人在樹下靜坐，他覺得要在很靜寂清澄的境界當中好好思考。雖然過去有訪問過很多的婆羅門教，了解很多印度修行者的道理，但是知道這些道理都不究竟，所以他希望能夠透徹究竟，所以才想找一個方向。既然恢復了體力，就開始在此樹下開始用功。體力恢復，智力也恢復了，就在那邊三七日靜坐。
The prince sat alone under the tree, meditating. He felt that he wanted to be in a clear, serene contemplative state. Though he had visited many Brahmins and learned the ways of Hindu practitioners, he knew these principles were not the ultimate. He hoped to fully realize the ultimate truth so he changed his methods. He gradually regained strength under the tree. He also regained his mental strength. Thus he sat there meditating.
到了一天，他突然間夜睹明星。大家都知道，佛陀在十二月八日夜睹明星，突然間心境就開闊了，他的一念心和大地宇宙好像結為一體，當時心完全明朗了。所以了解了一切萬物真理，他覺悟了。覺悟了之後，他就想：「世間如此奧妙，人類也是如此奧妙，人人應該都有共同一項，就是和佛與覺者一般同等的智慧、覺性，那就是如來的本性。應該大地眾生都有這個共同如來的覺性。」
On the 21st night, he saw a bright star. Everybody knows that he saw s star on the eighth day of the twelfth month and His mind suddenly opened wide. His mind and the universe seemed to become one. His mind was totally clear and He realized the truth of everything. He attained enlightenment. He thought that the world was wonderful, and so were human beings. Everyone must have the same wisdom and enlightened nature as the Buddha, the Enlightened One. This is the Buddha-nature. All living beings on Earth have the same enlightened nature as the Buddha.
所以在他看過那顆明星之後就說了：「奇哉！奇哉！大地眾生皆有如來的覺性，只是一念的無明，所以墮入三途。」覺和無明只是在一念間，所以佛陀的覺性一起，大地眾生一切的真理都呈現在他的眼前。甚只所有眾生，人人皆有覺性，他也完全明朗了，很歡喜。我們應該能夠體會那種法喜充滿的感覺。
So after He saw the bright star, the first words He said were, "How amazing! How amazing! All beings have the Buddha's enlightened nature. But because of a single thought of ignorance, they fell into the Three Destinies." Enlightenment and ignorance are one thought apart. So when the Buddha's enlightened nature arose, the Truth of the whole universe came to Him. The fact that all living beings and all people have enlightened natures was totally clear to Him. He was filled with the joy of Dharma, which we can also experience.
既然已經這樣覺悟了，要去和誰分享呢？開始時，覺得：「法這麼深，到底誰聽得懂呢？」
With whom could He share the joy? At first He felt, "The Dharma is so profound, who would be able to understand it?"
依據經典中的記載，在佛初覺悟的時候，天、人、十方諸佛都出現來祝福。但是佛陀開始要為這些天人說法，天人都聽不懂。佛陀一度很沮喪，覺得：「天人都聽不懂了，我所說的法到底有誰可以聽懂呢？」所就想要取入滅了。
According to the record of the Sutras, after the Buddha attained Buddhahood, many heavenly beings and all Buddhas of the Ten Directions appeared to congratulate Him. But when the Buddha began to expound the Dharma to these heavenly beings, they could not understand. The Buddha was disappointed for a time, thinking that if heavenly beings could not understand the Dharma, who could? So He thought of entering Parinirvana.
那時諸佛菩薩，開是出來鼓勵他，「修行最重要的就是度眾生啊！眾生迷茫就是需要大覺者覺悟後，趕緊去度眾生。」所以這位覺者，就是釋迦牟尼佛，娑婆世界的教主，他開始想：「既然這樣，我就是要踏出這個道場，我應該要去度眾生。」到底要從誰先開始呢？「應該要從這五位最早跟隨我修行的人開始，要趕快去和他們分享。」
At that time, all the Buddhas and Bidhisattvas emerged to encourage Him and remind Him that what is most important is to transform sentient beings. Sentient beings are confused and lost and need the Great Enlightened One to save them. So the Enlightened One, Sakyamuni Buddha, Fundamental Teacher of the Saha World, began to think, "In that case, I must go out into the world to save sentient beings. But whom should I start with?" He thought He should start with the five practitioners who had followed Him.
到了鹿野苑的地方，大家都有一個共同的感覺：「這位不清靜的修行者，在那個地方已經受苦到忍不下去了，所以才回來找我們，大家都不要理他。」所以說好就是不再接受他。
When He arrived at Deer Park, they all shared the same thought "The impure practitioner could not endure suffering and came back to look for us. Let's ignore him." Everyone agreed not to welcome him back.
但是佛慢慢走過來，很自然一步一步接近。當他走到身邊的時候，這五位不由自己同時向著佛；忽然間每個人的心都受到了震動，那種圓滿莊嚴的德相，這五位內心同時都受到了震動，不由自己地跪下去頂禮膜拜。那種恭敬頂禮，就是被這種的圓滿德相所攝受了。這就是佛陀已經接近這五位修苦行者，緣又已經接上了。
But when the Buddha slowly approached, drawing closer, step by step, the five men automatically faced Him all at once. Suddenly their hearts were moved by His dignified, perfect and virtuous appearance. Together they automatically knelt down, prostrated, and paid respect to Him, awed as they were by His virtuous appearance. Thus He approached the five ascetic practitioners, and reestablished His connection with them.
常常在說修行的功德。修行要能有功德，就是要內修，於外才能有德。你的內心有修，外面就現出了這分的德相，自然你都不必說話，只是慢慢走過來到身邊，自然德相現前，就能夠降服眾生的心。所以我們不可以輕視內修。
We often talk about the merit of practice. When one has inner cultivation, it shows outwardly as virtue. If you cultivate within, your outward demeanor becomes virtuous. You do not have to say anything, just walk slowly toward people, and your virtuous demeanor subdues their minds. So we should not underestimate inner cultivation.
內修要修什麼呢？就是在我們的日常生活當中，人、事、物的接觸，六根隨著六塵，在六識當中不要受到十一遍使的驅使，讓我們的心染上煩惱；有了煩惱就會造業。
What is our inner cultivation? I have just said that in our daily living we come into contact with people and things. As the Six Roots connect to the Six Dusts, do not let the Six Consciousnesses be driven by the Eleven Universal Agents, causing our minds to be infected by afflictions. With afflictions, we create negative karma.
所以我們若能了解前面的法，我們要注重在日常生活，人、事、物當中，不要犯錯。先淨化我們的心，內就能夠用功。諸位，只要能夠內修，外就能夠顯現出那分德相。
So if we understand the Dharma explained earlier, we should pay attention when dealing with people and things, and not make mistakes. We should purify our own minds first. This is inner cultivation. If you cultivate within, the virtues will show outwardly.
想要度眾生也要有眾生緣，看過去釋迦牟尼佛和彌勒菩薩在過去修行過程當中，因為釋迦牟尼佛的眾生緣比較先成熟，所以能夠超越彌勒菩薩早成佛，這段故事大家也都已經知道了。內修很重要，所以我們才能夠啟動眾生的緣。
To help transform others, we must connect well with them. For the Buddha and Maitreya Bodhisattva, it was important to form good connections with others over the course of many lifetimes of spiritual practice. You already know this. It is very important to cultivate within and to create good affinities with sentient beings.
所以已經講到佛陀來到鹿野苑了，即將要三轉十二行法。大家要多用心啊！
When the Buddha returned to Deer Park, He turned the Dharma-wheel three times. So everyone, please always be mindful.
