「今天看到新聞,英國有位老人捐了一枚腎臟給病人。這位老人本身長期捐血,一生都想救人,雖然年紀已經有八十三歲了,但檢驗出來腎臟的生理年齡卻才四十歲,不知道是如何保養的?實在是不可思議啊!他說他這一生過得很滿足,為了回饋他這一生的滿足,只要身體有功能就不斷的付出。」
大錯易改 小過難除
證嚴上人無比讚歎這種知足的人生。不過,世間能真正滿足的人不多,就是因為習性難改。尤其是大過易改,小過才是難除。
「去年入經藏之後,大家天天接觸道理,就像一面鏡子時時反省自己。看到許多人大懺悔犯了許多大錯,這些大錯要改有時比較容易,反倒是小錯的習氣要改卻不容易。」
上人形容有些人講得滿口的道理,也很懺悔,說得好像已經跟過去完全不一樣了。但就像有些人過去脾氣暴躁,已經懺悔改過了,但平日和人講話,說著說著,突然脾氣又「爆炸」起來了。只不過是火氣小了一點,「爆炸」的頻率也比較少了。
「總之,習氣要改不容易,小錯要去除需要時間。但要多久呢?有時候時間拖久了,又難改變了。」
持續精進 對治惡習
上人提起晨語時,談到佛陀真實的「一乘法」,就聯想到某些人的小習氣,也是真的很難改。
「人的習性就是這樣啊!難怪佛陀要懷抱在內心、呵護在內心,久久於無法把這樣微妙、一乘的真實法說出來。因為知道說出來,人人很難接受,講久了就沒有價值感了。有時候人家說「常罵不怕」,真理聽久了也會厭煩。」
上人感慨要用什麼樣的方法,來對治人們內心這種習性的小毛病呢?其實就是要持續精進!法要入心,還要入行。
「看到這位八十多歲的老人家,一生抱持平靜生活,很滿足。他的滿足是來自於持續不斷的付出。像捐血,在臺灣年過幾歲就不能捐血,但他在英國還是照樣捐血,他的腎臟八十三歲了,還可以捐給年輕人,這實在是很不可思議,就是因為日常抱持那樣的平常心。」
悲智印記 浸潤法中
在臺灣,去年配合入經藏,法譬如水的讀書會開始起步。其中經藏演繹僅僅呈現了三分之一的歌詞內容,還有三分之二沒有演繹。因此上人呼籲人人要靈山法會不散,將法譬如水的歌詞內容,一字一字的背下來,總共有四千多字,然後讀書會繼續進行。
「他們說今年一定要把它完成,我心裡就想:今年背誦完了,明年要他再背什麼呢?背過了就過了,那不就是把經文拋在腦後了嗎?不是應該人人要放在內心裡嗎?」
因此,今年在大愛臺啟動開設一個「悲智印記」節目,希望透過手語,讓人們逐字記住,並且要訓練到,手就是在說法。希望人人更專心、更用心,浸潤在法中。法入心、更要法入行,這都是我們還要繼續努力的。」
浴佛孝親 稚子能解
讀書會是一種精進的方式,浴佛也是一樣。一整個五月,全球各地浴佛還在陸續地進行中,海地也將在五月底舉行浴佛。
「浴佛不是只有五月中而已,五月是浴佛、孝親、還有全球慈濟日三節合一,行孝行善不能等,還要感恩佛陀到人間,增長我們的慧命,給很豐富的法水。所以五月就是感恩月,要感恩父母的親恩;要感恩佛法的法水滋潤之恩;我們要感恩天下慈濟人用心、用愛在付出。所這些都是為自己來祝福,所以慈濟人全球推動三節合一。」
近期臺南、高雄、花蓮教育志業的孩子們陸續舉辦浴佛典禮,同時也表達孝親的概念。
「幼稚園的孩子用心描述他們所理解的孝親,感恩媽媽、感恩爸爸,每一個都有他們的心得。浴佛也懂得佛陀的教育,素食愛護動物、尊重生命,他們都很能理解,看到這樣的教育,真的是很美。」
同時,海外的馬來西亞,也是以讀書會、浩大的陣容演出「父母恩重難報經」(音樂手語劇),表達出對孝親的那一分感恩。
「奉茶的時候,父母感動得哭成這樣。孩子只是對父母一句感恩的話,媽媽就說:『這樣都值得了。』父親說:『所有的辛苦都消解了。』看,這種的天下父母心,所求不多,孩子一個笑容,輕輕地捶一下背,他們就已經很滿足了。」
上人慈示,對所有的人都要用父母心來面對,不要跟他計較,只要他有一點點的回饋,我們就要感恩。「所以有感恩心,你才會有恆久的愛心。就像在對待孩子一樣,這一種的父母心來對待眾生,這叫做菩薩心;菩薩心如父母心,你甘願為他付出,這實在是我們要學習的。」
精而不懈 長者典範
除了菩薩心如父母心之外,上人勗勉大家更要精進,有精進才能持久這一分愛的能量,假如沒有精進,很快就會懈怠掉。
「我們看到了加拿大有一位林玉如老菩薩,八十五歲了,為了既定每個禮拜的讀書會,他絕不缺席。今年三月有一天,大雪紛飛,非常寒冷,很多人都不敢出門。大家都認為:天氣這麼的寒冷,老菩薩不會來了。可是他還是堅持一定要來,冒著大雪、踏著深深的雪印,他還是出現在讀書會裡,大家都被他的認真所感動。」
林玉如告訴大家:「感恩慈濟,讓我日子很充實。讓我在這樣的年紀,還可以讀書,還可以瞭解道理。」
「所以他用感恩心。所以,哪怕雪下得再大,他也要把握機會。這種的精進,我真的是讚歎得自己也很慚愧。」
另一位七十歲吳文義老菩薩也是一樣,都是不斷地參加讀書會、不斷地把握機會來懺悔。
「他懺悔過去習性很暴躁,稍稍有一點不如意,會把這個氣,發在他的妻兒上,只要他不高興,妻兒就受災殃。所以,當他參加讀書會以後,句句的法都深入心坎裡,因此他用真誠的心來懺悔,不放棄任何一場讀書會,這都是精進。」
一乘真實 戒習可獲
上人開示,我們總是小習性很難改,有時候覺得讀書會,今天沒聽到沒關係,我聽錄音帶就好;暫時停下來也沒關係、下一刻也差不多。但是這種差不多的心態,就是讓我們沒有辦法重視佛法的主要原因。
「我們時時都可以認為:我已經聽了,有聽到了,我會記住,我已經能夠去告訴別人了。但有聽到、記住了,這樣的人實在是很多,他可以跟很多人做分享。但是你要他真的很有耐心,浸潤在法裡,可不簡單。師父早上不是說,法是從聲音出來的,有人聽進去,聲聞,這樣不是很好?一個能說,一個能聽,就是用這樣的法。」
上人感概一直想把法華經裡面「一乘」的真實法傳給大家,但就是差了這一層,很難說破,也很難被理解。
「一直我都很難說破那一層,那樣最微妙的那一層--就是妙有的法、一乘的真實法。就是在那一點上,因為我們的心,無法浸潤在佛陀想要說的那個最重要的法,所以我們天天都要繞在這裡:你聽懂了嗎?我聽懂了!我知道了!但是你真的瞭解嗎?我瞭解!你做得到嗎?這就比較困難一點。就是那一點,那一點點而已,總而言之,人生矛盾的很多。所以大錯易改,小習性真的是很難除。」
時時聆法 學習典範
上人期許大家,唯有靠著讀書會,或是時時聽法。聽了以後,雖然我能為別人說,但是也要自我警惕,時時反省精進。
上人繼續開示:「前面有這樣老人家讓我們做典範,就是我們要學習的,要不然的話,孩子的心多變,雖然我們一直讚歎這孩子很乖,能體諒,不過他的生長的過程,會不會又被這個社會污染回去,我們都不知道?我們還是要盡心教育。」
看到一般人總是說自己有改變、有反省,上人詢問大家:但是習氣是不是真的有改?「我們可以向老人家學習,這是很固定的,他絕對不會變的,這樣的精進,那樣的真誠。感恩的事情也是,聽來好像沒有什麼,可是要做到不容易,總是我們要以精進的人來做典範。」
Learning and Practicing the Dharma Diligently
以父母心視眾生
浴佛教孝謝親恩
照見自性滌無明
年邁菩薩恆精進
人間典範,在英國一位83歲的老人家,最近捐出了一顆腎臟幫助別人,醫生表示這位老先生的腎臟,生理年齡只有40歲,而在加拿大,85歲的慈濟志工,為了參與讀書會,不惜冒著大雪,踏雪而來,證嚴上人在今天的志工早會也提到,老人家們這樣付出、求法若渴的精近,值得人人學習。
定期的精進共修,加拿大的慈濟志工林玉如從不缺席,雖然已經85歲,但仍然把握機會參與共修精進活動,就算大雪紛飛,但林玉如道心不退,反而感恩慈濟充實她的生活。
人間典範,在英國,高齡83歲的克雷斯,捐出了一顆腎臟助人,醫生驚訝的表示,克雷斯的腎臟生理年齡僅有四十歲,雖然克雷斯的年紀已經很大,但還是歡喜為世間人付出,這樣的長情大愛,令人佩服。
向老人家學習,從小朋友做起,在北加州,小朋友們實踐孝親精神,幫母親洗腳,從小就培養孩子感恩尊重愛的觀念,讓孩子們使未來的社會更祥和、更有希望。
We see that some places are continuing to hold the Buddha Day Ceremony.
五月是孝親跟佛誕的三節合一的,慈濟人就開始在推動「行善、行孝不能等」。
May is the month of Mother's Day, Buddha Day, and Tzu Chi Day. So, Tzu Chi volunteers have been promoting the idea of filial piety and doing good deeds.
We also saw our kindergarteners participating in the Buddha Day Ceremony and being filial to their parents.
還有在馬來西亞,他們也是在弘揚孝親,也都是表達出了那一分的感恩。奉茶的時候,父母感動得哭成這樣。
In Malaysia, our volunteers also held events that promote filial piety and teach children to express their gratitude to their parents. When the children served tea to their parents, the parents were moved to tears.
I was so happy I cried. Today, I received my biggest gift. Participating in the Buddha Day Ceremony with my child is my gift.
Mommy, I love you.
See, such is the heart of a parent. They don't ask for much. A smile or a massage from their child will make them very happy and content.
我們人人都對所有的人都是用父母心來面對,不要跟他計較。只要他有一點點的回饋,我們就要用感恩。所以有感恩心,你才會有恆久的愛心,這一種的父母心來對待眾生,這叫做菩薩心。
If we can treat everyone with the heart of a parent and don't get petty with people. If they do even the tiniest nice thing for us, we should harbor gratitude toward them. Only by having gratitude can we continue to have love for people. Treating people with the heart of a parent is what it means to have the heart of a bodhisattva.
這實在是我們要學習的。要精進,我們有精進才能持久這一分愛的能量。假如沒有精進,很快就會懈怠掉。
This is what we need to learn. We need to be diligent. Only with diligence can we keep this spirit of love in our hearts. Without diligence, we would slack off very quickly.
Look at our study groups in the community. This started in Taiwan due to the sutra adaptation last year. Actually, the sutra adaptation only covered one-third of the verses composed on the Water Repentance Text. There are two-thirds left.
So, all of us should continue to study and practice. I hope everyone can learn all the verses or lyrics to the point that you can recite them. You furthermore need to learn its meaning.
This is all in the hope that everyone can take the Dharma to heart and live it out in their actions. So, we need to continue this.
所以讀書會也看到了好幾個國家都同時在推動。
Now we see that there are similar study groups in several countries.
There is an elderly female volunteer from Canada who is 85 years old. In March, when it was still snowing heavily, many people stayed at home and did not go out. However, for the weekly study group, she never missed a meeting.
那一天大雪紛飛,人人都認為老菩薩不會來。這麼的寒冷,可是她,她還是堅持這一天一定來。冒著大雪,踏著深深的雪地,她還是出現在讀書會裡,大家都被她感動。
On one of the meeting days, snow was falling heavily. Everyone thought that this elderly volunteer wouldn't come due to the freezing weather. But she still came. She was insistent on coming. She braved the fast falling snow, walked across the high snow accumulation, and still showed up at the study group. Everyone was moved by her.
I want to say I'm sorry. I was never late. This morning at 8:45 AM, I went to the bus stop to wait for the bus. Snow covered me from head to toe. Thank you, Tzu Chi, for enriching my life. Thank you very much.
There's also a 70-year-old male volunteer. He also participates in the study group and repents continuously.
I don't like to talk. I used to be very temperamental and physically punished my children often. It's after joining Tzu Chi that I understand. Confucius' saying about how it takes courage to feel ashamed. To feel ashamed is to repent for our wrongs. This is my interpretation of feeling ashamed. Courage means diligence. In other words, we need to repent first before we can cultivate diligently.
So, after he joined the study group, every teaching he learns about gets deeply imprinted into his mind. So, he sincerely repents. He never misses any meetings for the study group. This is diligence.
我們人,總是小習性很難改。
But it's very difficult for us to change our personal habits.
也曾經有聽說很懺悔,這個人真的是很…跟過去都是不一樣的。
I've heard stories of people who said they really repented for their bad temper so they tried to change.
But one day, during a group meeting, they suddenly lost it and exploded in fury. "I thought you said he's changed a lot," I'd ask. "He has," they'd assure me. "When he used to lose his temper, it was a lot worse." I'd reply, "Alright, so he's going to do it gradually. He is getting better." they'd say. "He explodes less frequently now." So, it was still an improvement.
總而言之,習氣要改並不那麼的簡單。小小的錯,常常都想要改過,真的是很困難。
In summary, it's not easy for people to change, especially when it comes to personal habits. People really have difficulty with it.
不過大錯要改,那就是比較容易;小錯要去除,真的要給他時間。
It's easier for them to give up major vices; as for the minor ones, they need time to work on it.
可是有的人,有時候會覺得「讀書今天沒聽到沒關係,我聽錄音帶就好。」「這一刻就是停下來也沒關係,再下一刻也差不多。」我們人都有這種差不多的心態,所以沒有辦法那樣的重視佛法。
There are some people who think that it's alright to skip the Dharma talk because they can just listen to its recording later. They think there's not much of a difference. We all pretty much have such an attitude. We don't really value the Dharma.
所以,時時都可以認為「我已經有聽到了,我會記住,我能去告訴別人。」有聽到,記住了,這樣的人實在是很多;他可以跟很多人做分享,但是你要他真的很耐心浸潤在法裡可不簡單。
And we think that having heard the teaching, we already know it and can share it with others. There are many people who are like this. They can talk about the Dharma with people. But it's hard for them to have the patience to keep their minds immersed in the Dharma.
因為我們的心無法浸潤在佛陀的想要說的那一個最重要的法。所以我們天天都要繞在這樣的「你聽懂了嗎?」「我聽懂了,我知道了。」「但是你了解嗎?」「我了解。」「你做得到嗎?」「這有比較困難一點。」就是那一點,那一點點而已。
It's because we cannot keep our minds immersed in the Buddha's most essential teaching. So, every day we do not make much spiritual progress. When asked if they understand, people all say yes, they understand. They even say they get the teaching. But can they practice it? The people will hedge and say it's a bit difficult. So, there's always something that keeps people from embracing the teaching and really practicing it.
People can be rather contradictory. They can change major vices, but have a hard time changing small habits. It takes participating in study groups or listening to many Dharma talks. After hearing the teaching, people tend to preach to others but they should remember to remind themselves to practice. If they do this continually, over time, it's like what I've said before, "Fake the good behavior for a long time and it'll eventually become genuine." So, we should really emulate the elderly people we spoke of today who are still so diligent in learning and practicing goodness.
要不然的話,這種孩子心多變!雖然一直讚嘆,這孩子很乖,能體會,不過他的生長的過程會不會又被這個社會污染過去?我們都不知道。不過我們盡心教育。
Children, on the other hand, change quickly. Like the children we just praised, though they are well-behaved now, during their growing up, they might still get tainted by social influences and develop a different mentality. But, we do our best to educate them. So, when it comes to really changing our ways and turning over a new leaf, we should take the elderly as our model.
若是一般人說:「他有改變,有反省。」但是習氣是不是有改,我們可以向老人家這是很固定的、他絕對不會變的這樣的精進、那樣的真誠,我們要向他們學習。好,感恩的事情也真的是…
Once they change, they won't fall back into their old ways. That is how diligent and earnest they are in learning and changing for the better. We should learn from them.
聽來好像沒有什麼,可是要做到不容易。總是我們要以精進的人來做典範。
There are many good deeds that seem like nothing on the surface but are actually not so easy to do. So, we ought to follow the example of these diligent practitioners.
No comments:
Post a Comment