前幾講已談過,在六度中,使菩提心「已生令不退」的不放逸、護正知和安忍。當菩提心產生之後,如何令菩提心堅定穩固,就是以不放逸和護正知來守護菩薩戒;以正知和正念預防貪、瞋、癡的煩惱;而「安忍」是教我們如何將菩提心安定下來,不受外境影響。賸下來我們便要講解如何使菩提心「日日其增上」,即是如何增長菩提心的三種波羅蜜多。在寂天菩薩看來,精進、靜慮和般若三種波羅蜜多是增上世俗和勝義菩提心的互動互補方法。首先,他為精進立下定義:「進即喜於善」;對善法歡喜的心態就是精進。達到精進的結果只有一個:就是自然而然的,毋需造作用力的行持善法。相反,障礙精進的就是懶惰;而懶惰有三種:(一)所謂同惡懶惰(laziness of indolence):修行苟且,凡事耽誤。寂天菩薩提出對治方法是念死、念無常;(二)耽劣事懶惰(laziness of attraction to worldly action)。寂天菩薩提出要遠離世間八法,知道心是惡源,形為罪藪;心如果為外境所役,這是一切輪迴痛苦的根源。只有希求正法才是一切功德的基礎,把放逸的心拉回;(三)自輕凌懶惰(laziness of discouragement):過度自卑怯弱,認為自己怎樣也沒可能成就正覺,對自己修行感到無助,不知從何處開始。怎樣改善這種懶惰?寂天菩薩先引釋尊聖教量:「眾生只要透過精進,必定可以成就正覺。」跟著又指出如果畏懼行持菩提心,覺得走大乘利他之道太難太長,那只是顛倒見;在大乘之道行走的人遠比沉淪苦海,甚至小乘自利之道更快樂,更自在愉悅,更快成就究竟樂果。最後,寂天菩薩勸慰修行人,縱然遇上挫折逆境,也不要對生命及利生事業失去信心,感到疲厭;要放棄心厭身疲,騎著菩提心千里馬,從安樂道馳向更殊勝的無上安樂大道。
(一)
忍已需精進,精進菩提住;
若無風不動,無勤福不生。
行者修習安忍後,便應該修持精進了,因為無上菩提是從精進而建立的。正如沒有風,萬物則不會運動一樣;缺乏精進,福德(智慧)將不會產生。
Having patience, I should develop enthusiasm; for Awakening will dwell only in those who exert themselves. Just as there is no movement without wind, so merit does not occur without enthusiasm.
(二)
進即喜於善,下說其違品,
同惡散劣事,自輕凌懶惰。
何謂精進1?精進就是傾向善行的一種熱誠。那麼,精進的障礙是什麼?同惡懶惰、耽劣事懶惰和自輕凌懶惰。
What is enthusiasm? It is finding joy in what is wholesome. Its opposing factors are explained as laziness of indolence, laziness of attraction to worldly action and laziness of discouragement.
(三)
貪圖懶樂味,習臥嗜睡眠,
不厭輪迴苦,頻生強懈怠。
(心靈上)貪圖懶洋洋的舒適感受,喜歡躺臥床蓆,愛好睡懶覺,對輪迴痛苦沒有積極厭離,就會經常產生強而有力的懈怠。
Because of attachment to the pleasurable taste of idleness, because of craving for sleep and because of having no disillusion with the misery of cyclic existence, laziness grows very strong.
(四)
云何猶不知,身陷惑網者,
必囚生死獄,正入死神口?
(煩惱是獵人發放出來的香餌)你已被誘入輪迴的陷阱了。為何你現在仍不知道自己已在死亡邊緣呢?
Enmeshed in the snare of disturbing conceptions, I have entered the snare of birth. Why am I still not aware that I live in the mouth of the Lord of Death?
(五)
漸次殺吾類,汝豈不見乎?
然樂睡眠者,如牛見屠夫。
你同類的生命已逐漸被毀掉了,難道你沒有看見嗎?但是那些貪睡的人對此竟然無動於衷,就像牛看見同類為屠夫牽去宰殺一樣。
Do I not see that he is systematically slaughtering my species? Whoever remains soundly asleep (surely behaves) like a buffalo with a butcher.
(六)
通道遍封已,死神正凝望;
此時汝何能,貪食復耽眠?
逃離的通道已被全部封死,而死神正在物色處死的對象,為何你此時仍能安心的貪著美食、耽著睡眠和滿足本能呢?
When having blocked off every escape route, the Lord of Death is looking for someone to kill, how can I enjoy eating? And likewise how can I enjoy sleep?
(七)
死亡速臨故,及時應積資,
屆時方斷懶,遲矣有何用?
死亡很快就會降臨,所以應儘早利用時間積集資糧,要是死到臨頭才去斷除懶惰的惡習,便為時已晚了,再努力也沒有用!2
For as long as death is actually approaching then I shall accumulate merits even if I then put a stop to laziness, what will be the use? That is not the time!
(八)
未肇或始作,或唯半成時,
死神突然至,嗚呼吾命休!
往往在我們未完成這件事,或那件事剛著手去幹,又或是現在只是完成了一半,死神就突然降臨了,那時你只能悲歎:「噢!我真是一個可憐的人。」
When this has not been done, when this is being done and when this is only half finished, suddenly the Lord of Death will come. And that the thought will occur, “Oh no, I am done for!”
(九)
因憂眼紅腫,面頰淚雙垂,
親友已絕望,吾見閻魔使。
看見親友因憂傷難過,雙眼哭得又紅又腫,淚水不斷從面頰滾落下來;此時與意志消沉、絕望悲傷的親友分手,自己獨自去見閻魔使者恐怖的臉。
Their faces flowing with tears and their eyes red and swollen with sorrow, my relatives will finally lose hope and I shall behold the vision of the messengers of death.
(十)
憶罪懷憂苦,聞聲懼墮獄,
狂亂穢覆身,屆時復如何?
臨死前因為回憶起宿罪而痛苦,因為聽到地獄中恐怖的聲音,更是畏懼不已,甚至於驚狂而流出不淨穢物染污自身,那時你該怎麼辦呢?
Tormented by the memory of my evils and hearing the sounds of hell, in terror I shall clothe my body in excrement. What virtue can I do in such a delirious state?
(十一)
死時所懷懼,猶如待宰魚,
何況昔罪引,難忍地獄苦。
臨死時所受的畏懼,猶如掙扎待宰的活魚;更何況地獄眾苦是由宿罪引來,其難忍的怖畏痛苦,就更不用多說了。
If even in this life I shall be gripped with fear like that of a live fish being rolled in hot sand, why even mention the unbearable agonies of hell that will result from my unwholesome deeds?
(十二)
如嬰觸沸水,灼傷極刺痛,
已造獄業者,云何復逍遙。
好比為沸水燙著的時候,細皮嫩肉的嬰兒一定會疼痛至極。已經造下這種火燒地獄罪業的人,為何還能如此逍遙度日呢?
How can I remain at ease like this when I have committed the actions (that will bear fruit) in my delicate infant’s body encountering boiling acids in the hell of tremendous heat?
(十三)
不勤而冀得,嬌弱頻造罪,
臨死猶天人,嗚呼定受苦。
不肯精進修習卻希冀得到安樂成就;嬌弱不能忍苦,卻頻繁不休地造罪;明知老死將至,但仍然如天人一樣放逸度日,這三種人一定會被痛苦所折磨摧毀。
Much harm befalls those with little forbearance and those who want results without making any effort. While clasped by death they shall cry like the gods, “Oh no, I am overcome by misery!”
(十四)
依此人身筏,能渡大苦海,
此筏難復得,愚者勿貪眠。
此刻找到了寶貴的人身舟筏,幫助我們渡過生死大苦海。噢!愚子,你再不能貪睡,因為將來要再得到這艘筏,恐怕十分困難。
Relying upon the boat of a human (body), free yourself from the great river of pain! As it is hard to find this boat again, this is not time for sleep, you fool.
(十五)
棄捨勝法喜,無邊歡樂因,
何故汝反喜,散掉等苦因?
喜愛正法是無盡喜悅之因,你為什麼要捨棄這種殊勝的喜悅,反而去喜歡輕薄(散亂)和聊笑(掉舉)等無盡痛苦的因呢?
Having rejected the supreme joy of the sacred Dharma this is a boundless source of delight. Why am I distracted by the causes for pain? Why do I enjoy frivolous amusements and the like?
(十六)
勿怯棄疏懶,知彼自精進,
自他勤相換,住自他平等。3
當放棄疏懶修習態度的時候,一連串如謹慎、自制、自他平等和自他相換的能力便會湧現。
Without indulging in discouragement, I should gather the supports (for enthusiasm) and earnestly take control of myself. (Then by seeing) the equality between self and others I should practice exchanging self for others.
(十七)
不應自退怯,謂我不能覺,
如來實語者,說此真實言:
我不應氣餒,怯弱畏縮懷疑自己不能獲證無上菩提,因為如來是實語者。
I should never indulge in discouragement by entertaining such thoughts as, “How shall I ever awaken?” For the Tathāgatas who speak what is true have uttered this truth.
(十八)
所有蚊虻蜂,如是諸蟲蛆,
若發精進力,咸證無上覺。
他在經文4中說過:「所有蚊虻、蜜蜂、各種昆蟲和蠕蛆皆能透過其精進力,獲證無上正覺。」
“If they develop the strength of their exertion, even those who are flies, mosquitoes, bees and insects will win the unsurpassable Awakening which is so hard to find.”
(十九)
況我生為人,明辨利與害,
行持若不廢,何故不證覺?
何況我生而為人,就有明辨是非善惡、利害得失的能力,只要我不偏離遍知者的指引,精進修持,哪有不獲證覺悟的道理?
So, if I do not forsake the Bodhisattvas’ way of life why should someone like myself who has been born in the human race not attain Awakening, since I am able to recognize what is beneficial and what is of harm?
(二十)
若言我怖畏,須捨手足等;
是昧輕與重,愚者徒自畏。
如果說雖然精進能成佛道,但在這過程中必須修持施捨手腳肢體等苦行,所以我很害怕。這是由於愚昧不知利害輕重,愚者自生無端的困惑與恐懼而已。
But nevertheless it frightens me to think that I may have to give away my arms and legs without discriminating between what is heavy and what is light, I am reduced to fear through confusion.
(二十一)
無量俱胝劫,千番受割截,
刺燒復分解,今猶未證覺。
在無量俱胝劫的輪迴中,我們曾無數次墮入地獄,受著割截、刀刺、火燒和肢解的痛苦,然而至今尚未因而證得菩提。
For over countless myriads of aeons I have been cut, stabbed, burned, and flayed alive innumerable times. But I have not awakened.
(二十二)
吾今修菩提,此苦有限期;
如為除苦疾,暫受療割苦。
今生我為了解脫而修習正法,此中所受的痛苦短暫而有限;就像病人為了除去嚴重腹腔病痛,而忍受開刀的短暫痛苦一樣。
Yet the suffering involved in my Awakening will have a limit; it is like the suffering of having an incision made in order to remove and destroy greater pain.
(二十三)
醫皆以小苦,療治令病除,
為滅眾苦故,當忍修行苦。
所有醫生都會用一些輕微痛苦的療法來治病。因此,要消除輪迴中的無邊痛苦,便應該忍受修行中輕微的痛苦。
Even doctors eliminate illness with unpleasant medical treatments, so in order to overcome manifold sufferings I should be able to put up with some discomfort.
(二十四)
凡常此療法,良醫皆不用。
巧施緩藥方,療治眾痾疾。
然而,這只是世間醫師慣常的醫療方法,良醫(此處特指醫王世尊)是不會採用;祂會更善巧地使用溫和的妙藥良方,來治療眾生長期慢性的輪迴痾疾。
But the Supreme Physician does not employ common medical treatments such as these, with an extremely gentle technique he remedies all the greatest ills.
(二十五)
佛陀先令行,菜蔬等布施,
習此微施已,漸能施己肉。
佛陀教人首先惠施菜蔬等容易施捨的物品,等到習慣了微小的布施後,行者再一步一步去接受,直至最後能做到割肉捨身布施。
At the beginning, the Guide of the World encourages the giving of such things as food. Later, when accustomed to this, one may progressively start to give away even one’s flesh.
(二十六)
一旦覺自身,卑微如菜蔬,
爾時捨身肉,於彼有何難?
對自己的身體一旦生起了像蔬菜般微不足道的感覺,那時候才布施血肉骨髓又有什麼困難呢?
At such a time when my mind is developed to the point of regarding my body like food, then what hardship would there be when it came to giving away my flesh?
(二十七)
身心受苦害,邪見罪為因。
惡斷則無苦,智巧故無憂。
因為肉體的痛苦是由罪惡的行為而來,心靈的痛苦是由(執著自我)錯誤的概念而來;(登地菩薩)淨除了罪業,故沒有苦果;善巧通達了無我智慧,所以坦然無憂。
Having forsaken all evil there would be no suffering and due to wisdom there would be no lack of joy; but now my mind is afflicted by mistaken conceptions and my body is caused harm by unwholesome deeds.
(二十八)
福德引身適,智巧令心安,
為眾處生死,菩薩豈疲厭?
廣大的福德使者(菩薩)身體健康舒適,善巧的智慧更使(菩薩)內心寧靜安樂;那些為了利益眾生而住留生死輪迴的菩薩,還有什麼能滋擾他們而生疲勞厭倦之心呢?
As their bodies are happy due to their merits and their minds are happy due to their wisdom, even if they remained in cyclic existence for the sake of others why would the Compassionate Ones ever be upset?
(二十九)
以此菩提心,能盡宿惡業,
能聚福德海,故勝諸聲聞。
憑著菩提心的力量,就能消盡宿世罪業,以及能積聚如海般深廣的福德,故此說大乘道要超勝聲聞道5。
Due to the strength of his Awakening Mind, the Bodhisattva consumes his previous evils and harvests oceans of merit; hence he is said to excel the Śhrāvakas.
(三十)
故應除疲厭,馭駕覺心駒,
從樂趨勝樂,智者寧退怯?
因此,要棄除對大乘菩提道的身疲心厭,欣然騎乘菩提心的千里馬,從安樂道馳向到更殊勝的無上安樂,有智慧的人又怎麼會退怯捨棄菩提心呢?
So, having mounted the horse of an Awakening Mind that dispels all discouragement and weariness, who, when they know of this mind that proceeds from joy to joy, would ever lapse into discouragement?
第十四講完
註釋
1 六度各有特質,例如布施的特質在於動機;持戒的特質在於保護;安忍的特質在於不混亂;精進的特質在於為善;靜慮的特質在於不動;智慧的特質在於「無分別」。
2 你在醫院或老人院看到有人精勤修法嗎?
3 有些人認為這句偈頌不是原文,而是後人所加,因為自他平等、自他相換是〈靜慮品〉中宣說的內容,在〈精進品〉已出現,所以顯得很突然,與上下亦有些不連貫。但筆者覺得沒有什麼不妥之處,因為精進、靜慮和般若同為能增上互助世俗和勝義菩提心的方便;修行者如放棄懈怠,勤力修行,藉著精進力,得禪定和般若功德,堪可主宰身心,然後才能修〈靜慮品〉所說的自他平等和自他相換。
4 佛在《妙臂請問經》(Subāhu-paricchā-sūtra,梵本已佚,今傳漢譯本)說:「復次菩薩如是真正隨學,作是思惟隨於獅子虎狼鵰鷲鵝鶴 烏鴉梟鳥蚊虻蜂蚋一切身中,悉能成就無上菩提,況我現得人身,寧捨生命,亦應勤精進,求證無上菩提也。」
5《未生怨王除怨悔經》中記載釋尊本生故事,說明大乘證果比小乘要快的道理。於無量劫前,有佛名威嚴如來,一日與兩名聲聞弟子出城化緣。途中遇有三名孩童,他們正在玩耍。三名孩童見威嚴如來和兩位尊者相好莊嚴,於是便把手中的玩具以作供養,其中一位小孩發願要與威嚴如來一樣,這便是日後的釋尊;但另外兩名小孩發願要學跟隨威嚴如來的兩位聲聞弟子,這兩位孩子成為了日後的舍利弗尊者和目犍連尊者;三人發願時間一樣,供品一樣,但因發心的大小區別,結果發大乘心的已成佛,發小乘心的只成就聲聞道果,距成佛之道還很遠。從這則故事可引證大乘道比小乘道證果快。
應用討論問題
一)精進的定義是什麼?有些密乘修行人外表雖然努力修持,但內心對法的信樂卻日益減少。例如修四加行,雖然修行數目近滿十萬,但只圖完成修行數目的任務,內心沒有信樂,這是否精進呢?試依精進的定義說明。
二)有三種障礙精進的懶惰(或懈怠laziness),即同惡(of indolence)、耽劣事(of attraction to worldly action)和自輕凌(of discouragement),試分別舉例說明。
三)佛經常說:「誰有懶惰,必無佛法。」心靈上懈怠(同惡懶惰)的人早把輪迴之苦忘記得一乾二淨,那會修行。所以要精進,便要念無常,好像處身在日漸乾涸的水池的魚,每過一日,壽命就短一日。試就這點暢論「有懶惰,無佛法」之論。
四)人為萬物之靈,與禽獸主要分別在於能清楚了知自己的處境與潛在危險。死神時刻都準備把每個人的生命奪走。但現在很多人卻受世間八法所迷惑:「我現在要賺錢,等若干年後才修佛法。」、「我上半生要享受五欲樂,到年老再出家修行,享受清淨快樂。」這些人正好像無知的牛,毫不察覺自己的同類被屠夫拉去宰殺,而覺得死亡不會降臨在自己頭上,一樣愚癡。試依〈精進品〉第四和第五頌闡述。
五)阿底峽尊者說:「修行人必須斷除貪睡,斷除懈怠,斷除昏沉掉舉,生起必死的定解。」很多噶當派的格西時常反觀自心,以極嚴厲的手段對治懶散,每當發現自己執著舒適享受時,便馬上呵責自己:「你為什麼這樣愚笨,這樣貪執?」然後隨即以經行、禮拜來使自己的精進保持不退。你認同這種修行方法嗎?你如何確保自己精進不退呢?
六)當死亡來臨時,憶記起往昔所造的惡行,心生懊悔,「死病方知身是苦,生健多為別人忙,痛苦之痛誰承當,業報來時自身償」;這時權勢、金錢、才智、親友對你毫無幫助,方知只有正法才用得著;對生前自身有能力修持正法,卻又不去修;再想到惡趣的苦,內心就更感恐懼,於是手抓胸口,但嘴口痛苦得不能言狀。試引〈精進品〉第四至十頌說明之。
七)京俄瓦格西(Geshe Chengawa)一生沒有睡眠,努力念誦了九億遍不動佛心咒;上師仲敦巴勸他稍作休息,他說:「是,我應當休息;但每當我想到具足暇滿人身是如何難得時,便再不想休息了。」應勤精進,如救頭燃;試引〈精進品〉第十四頌以對。
八)巴楚仁波切說:「人的心識聚在散亂的色聲香味觸法;心為外境所役,是一切輪迴痛苦的根源;希求正法是一切功德的基礎。」耽於俗務,不肯修持,試引〈精進品〉第十五和第十六頌以對。
九)一切眾生透過精進,順緣助顯,獲證無上菩提;更何況人身難得,佛法難聞,現在獲人身的你,好應該把握優勢機會,比三惡道眾生更早登菩提。試在你學過兩部佛經中,引出一切眾生皆可成佛的佛如實語。
十)世俗人對學佛拋棄世間享受,捨親割愛,過著簡樸的生活,覺得很痛苦;但與輪迴苦海比較,修行時出現短暫的苦頭,簡直有天壤之別。三界是大苦聚,如果害怕修行之苦,就永遠不能解脫,無法離苦得樂;別人認為修行痛苦,只是他們愚昧無知,不知輕重取捨而已。試引〈精進品〉有關偈頌說明這道理。
十一)《心經》說:「行深般若波羅蜜多時,照見五蘊皆空,度一切苦厄。」凡夫罪惡的行為,顛倒的邪見,令自己受盡苦頭。但登地菩薩卻遠離苦厄,身適心安,如能「諸法觀如幻,投生觀花園」,就算是投生在五濁惡世,都能如同在花園中觀賞風景一樣,自在愉悅,沒 |