宗喀巴_三主要道英文版及解释-第12章
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to achieve that; and the reason … to liberate all sentient beings from suffering and the causes of suffering。
So then if we contemplate the Buddha – what is it about the Buddha that has the ability to release all sentient beings from suffering? So if we look at the qualities of the Fully Enlightened One; we can look at the qualities of the body; the speech; the mind and the enlightened activity。 For example with regard to the physical form of the One Thus Born; then we have the thirty two major and eighty minor marks; the mere sight of which causes liberation。 Then we have the inconceivable speech。 So it is said that if a hundred people in their own languages ask a hundred different questions; each and every one of them will be satisfied with regard to the answer they receive from one utterance from the enlightened speech of the Fully Awakened One。 And with regard to the mind; there is a division of knowledge and love。 So with regard to knowledge: in a single instant; the Fully Awakened One knows all actions; all dharmas; of the past; the present and the future simultaneously。 And with regard to love: Viewing all sentient beings in an equal fashion; regardless of those beings' views toward the Fully Awakened One; whether they be massaging perfume into one of the hands or cutting the other hand with a sword; then the Buddha himself views all sentient beings as a mother views her only child。 And with regard to the enlightened activity … the enlightened activity is one which is pletely limitless and spontaneously works to bring about the benefit of sentient beings。 So this state of existence; this state of Buddhahood; is that which one strives to achieve so as to be able to bring about the benefit of all sentient beings。 This is what is known as the 'king…like' bodhicitta; 'king' in the sense that a king can decree laws and so forth which will bring about benefit to his subjects; so in the same way if one achieves this status; one can bring about the benefit of all sentient beings。
Exchanging self for others
We have gone through the six cause and one effect method of generating the awakened mind; but there is also another method of generating such a mind aspiring to highest enlightenment; which es through Manjushri and Shantideva and such masters。 This is known as 'the equalising and exchanging of self for others'。 So it is said that through this contemplation; one necessarily meditates upon the six cause and one effect。 However if one contemplates the six cause and one effect method of generating the awakened mind; it doesn't necessarily follow that one engages in the practice of equalising and exchanging self for others; so there is a difference there。
So then the starting point is to develop a mind which views all sentient beings as being equal – equal in the sense of all sentient beings wanting happiness and all sentient beings wising to avoid suffering。 What follows then is the meditation of giving and taking; where one visualises taking upon oneself the suffering of others and then giving one’s qualities to others。 Although this in and of itself is not the main purpose of this profound meditation technique … the profundity here then es about through changing one’s attitude
…through contemplating this mistaken attitude and this beneficial attitude; one can truly engage in this particular practice through changing one's attitude towards oneself and others。
The exalted remembering the kindness of sentient beings
In order to develop this mind; one needs remembering the kindness of others in an exalted way。 This is to say that one doesn't just dwell upon the kindness which was shown to one in a previous existence where one had the parental relationship with a particular individual; but rather what one dwells upon is that all sentient beings at all times are being useful and kind to us。 If we consider our enjoyments; for example the clothes we wear … if we have a nice woollen sweater that keeps us warm; then let us consider where this sweater came from: Initially the wool had to e from a sheep which was kept by a farmer; then there was the sheep…shearer who took the wool; then the wool was cleaned; then the wool was made into spinning wool; then from that wool a sweater was made which was then dyed; then taken to a shop; then sold to us; and then we can enjoy this sweater。 So through the kindness of many individuals in the manufacture of our sweater then we are able to enjoy this product。
So in the same way when we eat food; whether it be rice or barley or whatever; then that doesn't just e from nowhere or just e from the cook that has put it on a plate for us。 Rather if we consider that a field has to be sown; a field has to be ploughed; then the seed; whether it be rice or barley; has to be sown; then the crop has to be taken care of (watered; fertilised and so forth); then has to be harvested; then the chaff has to be taken away; and then the rice is processed; then it's packaged; then it's taken to a shop; then it's put on the shelf; then we are able to take that from the shelf and then cook it。 So all along the way; there are countless kind individuals who are aiding us to enjoy these products; countless individuals involved in their production。 So then one contemplates their kindness in aiding us to enjoy various products。 So through this contemplation; we develop the exalted remembering the kindness of sentient beings。 This is extremely important and without this; it is very difficult to actually engage in the main part of this pith instruction or meditation。
This is the same for any situation in which we find ourselves。 For example; now we are all sitting here enjoying the Dharma teaching in this beautiful building。 So this building didn't e from nowhere and it certainly didn't e about through our efforts。 Rather countless individuals in the past … hundreds or perhaps even thousands … were involved in the planning of this building; the building of the foundations; then of the actual building itself; putting the windows in and whatever … so that now we can just e to this building and enjoy the Dharma teaching which Rinpoche is giving。 But if we contemplate that hundreds or thousands of individuals have been instrumental in bringing about this Dharma talk we are now enjoying … it's not just those of us who are assembled here; rather hundreds and thousands of kind mother / father sentient beings have aided us; whether knowingly or not; in the past by having built this court…house。
So all of our enjoyments are brought about through the kindness of sentient beings。 Our body came into existence through the bined efforts of our mother and father and the union of the white and red fluids。 Then everything we own; every possession which we have; came into existence; came into our possession; through the kindness of sentient beings。 In fact everything we can imagine came into being through the kindness of other sentient beings … so thus we should contemplate。
The faults of self…cherishing and the benefits of cherishing others
So then after this contemplation; we need to bring to mind the next step which is contemplating on the faults of self…cherishing and the benefits of cherishing others more than oneself。 So it is said that self…cherishing leads one by the head; as it were; into all kinds of dissatisfaction or suffering。 So let us understand what is meant by self…cherishing: If we think of certain situations which we might find ourselves in … let us say we want to have some particular object; a table or whatever。 Then if we don't have the money to purchase such an item; then really wanting the best for ourselves and thinking that this 'best' will only be achieved through having such an object (in this instance; the table); then we will engage in the practice of stealing。 Then; wishing the best for ourselves; we may think that if we kill an enemy we may have greater status or greater peace or whatever … then we may engage in the practice of killing another; purely through wishing to have the best for ourselves。 Again for example; we might wish somebody to perform an action for us; and in order to bring that about; we may confuse that person or lie to that person so that they engage in such a negative action; through which we might engage in some temporary benefit。
But in all three of these examples; through wishing the best for ourselves; what we have generated is negative karma; the ripening results of which; that is to say rebirth in the lower realms of existence; are thus to be experienced in the future。 Thus it is said that this attitude … wishing the best for oneself; cherishing oneself above everything else … is that which is going to lead one to into all states of dissatisfaction And then cherishing others more than oneself is said to be the basis or the ground of all good qualities。 So if we talk from the point of view of generating the various spiritual grounds and paths; whether they be of the greater or the lesser vehicles; all of this es about through relating with others in a positive way。 For example; if we wish to engage in the practice of the various perfections … the perfection of giving then is only possible through the kindness of others。 Then if we talk about engaging in the practice of morality; which is the cause of achieving human existence … this is only possible through relations with others。 So we can see that all good qualities; all positive karmas; are brought about through viewing one's kind parent sentient beings in a positive light; and thoroughly ridding oneself of wanting the best for oneself; of this self…cherishing attitude。
So these qualities are enumerated in great detail in Shantideva's book The Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life (Bodhicaryavatara) where he says that
All happiness and joy in the world es about through cherishing others;
whereas all suffering in the world es about through cherishing oneself。
So as we have seen; having this attitude which puts oneself above all others is one which is just going to lead one to engage in negative actions; the ripening results of which are nothing but that which one is trying to escape … the state of dissatisfaction The Bodhicaryavatara gives manifold reasonings for the benefit of cherishing others and how terrible it is to engage in this attitude which holds oneself above others。 And in essence it concludes with
What need is there for many words?
Full enlightenment es about through the attitude of cherishing others;
whereas all states of woe e about through cherishing oneself。
So we can see through this last quotation that the state of Buddhahood with the incredible qualities which are contained therein; es about solely through cherishing others; whereas all the states of suffering; in their various forms; e about through this self…cherishing attitude。
So if we wish to achieve positive states; positive qualities; then we should engage in this attitude of cherishing others; and if we wish to thoroughly abandon the causes of ddissatisfaction then we should thoroughly understand what is meant by self…cherishing; then contemplate the faults of that and then strive to change that attitude。
So these quintessential instructions … the six cause and one effect; and this equalising and