家贼难防

It's Hard to Stay on Guard against Thieves inside Your Own House

终日随六根、六尘向外跑，不能回光返照，这就叫做漏。

All day long, our six sense faculties lead us in external pursuit of the six defiling objects,

so that we are unable to reflect upon ourselves. This is called having outflows.

自无始劫以来，凡夫的六根，随着外边的六尘跑，寻声逐色，造成很多不清净的业。人的眼、耳、鼻、舌、身和意，就像六个奸媒，勾引贼人，打劫我们自性的家珍。我们都以为眼耳鼻舌身意，是自己的好帮手，其实这六种都是坏东西，招贼入室，劫去我们自性的法宝，而我们自己还不知道，这真是家贼难防！

Since time immemorial, ordinary people's six sense faculties have been following the six external defiling objects, seeking for sounds and chasing after forms, creating tremendous impure karma. Our eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind are like six treacherous accomplices inside our house, who let the thieves in to plunder the family treasures of our own nature. We consider the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body and mind to be our good helpers, but these six are actually villains who let the bandits come and rob the Dharma treasures of our own nature, and we're not even aware of what's going on. It is truly hard to stay on guard against thieves inside our own home.

现在就拿眼和耳来说：「眼不见，口不馋；耳不听，心不烦。」一看见人家吃好东西，口里就想尝尝，生出贪吃的念头。耳朵听见顺耳的好声音，便生欢喜；听到逆耳不合听的话，就生出瞋怒。不要以为眼睛是好东西，帮忙你看见，就是因为它的帮忙，才生出种种的烦恼；好像看见美色而贪美色，贪到手也烦恼，贪不到手也烦恼。其他鼻舌身意，也是一样，会使你生起种种烦恼。

Take the eyes and ears as an example: “If the eyes don't see it, the mouth won't be greedy for it; if the ears don't hear it, the mind won't be afflicted.” When we see people eating delicious things, our mouths want to have a taste, and so the mind entertains greedy thoughts about food. Pleasant sounds make us happy, while unpleasant sounds make us upset. Don't think that the eyes are that great, just because they help us see things. It's exactly because of their help that we give rise to all kinds of afflictions. For instance, when we see an attractive person of the opposite sex, we become greedy for sex. If we get what we want, we'll be afflicted, and if we don't, we'll also be afflicted. The other faculties, nose, tongue, body and mind are the same way. They make one give rise to many afflictions.

你一生烦恼，就失去自性法宝，所以说：「千日砍柴一朝焚」，砍了千日的柴，一朝就把它烧尽了。修养了千天的坐禅功夫，得到轻安境界，忽然生了烦恼，就把你的功夫都烧去了。所谓「星星之火，烧尽功德之林。」所以修道人要──

眼观形色内无有，

耳听尘事心不知。

Once affliction arises, one loses the Dharma treasures of one's own nature. That's why it is said, “The firewood chopped over a thousand days can be burned up in a single morning.” This is like skill in meditation that has been cultivated over a thousand days, resulting in a light and peaceful state. But when affliction suddenly arises, the skill is burned out. It is also said, “A tiny spark of fire can burn down a forest of merit and virtue.”

有这样的定力，就不会被劫去家宝；要不然，终日随着六根、六尘向外跑，不能回光返照，这就叫做漏。漏到哪里？漏落在三恶道里，永无了期，这岂不是很可怕！所以我们要断烦恼，必定要先寻求根源。

Therefore cultivators must have the samadhi power where “the eyes see shapes and forms, but inside there is nothing; the ears hear mundane affairs, but the mind does not know.” Then the family treasure won't be plundered. Otherwise, our six sense faculties lead us in a constant, external pursuit of the six defiling objects, so that we are unable to reflect upon ourselves. This is called having outflows. We flow out and fall into the three evil paths for an endless length of time. Isn't this terrifying? So we should cut off affliction and look for the original source.

佛说六识是家贼，就是因为六根和它串通，由六根对六尘而引发六识，所以便起惑造业。所以六根就是媒人，有如介绍人一样，勾引我们去做恶事。

The Buddha called the six consciousnesses thieves inside the house, because the six sense faculties collude with them. When the six faculties meet with the six defiling objects, the six consciousnesses are brought forth, causing delusions to arise and karma to be created. The six faculties are matchmakers, enticing us to do evil things.

什么是你的家宝？家宝就是如来藏常住真心，妙觉明性，而不是世间有为有相的金银财宝。你的自性具足了佛宝、法宝和僧宝，这才是真正的财宝；还有勤修戒定慧，成就三无漏学，这也是你真正的宝贝。有人说：「这种财宝看不见，不足相信。」这也难怪，因为它无形无相，看不见；但是这还是可以感觉到的，有慧根的人便会知道，无慧根的人就不知道，因为他的根性还未成熟，所以不能明白，也不能生出信心。

What is your family treasure? It is the eternal true mind of the Treasury of the Thus Come One, the wonderful enlightened bright nature. It is not a worldly treasure which has forms and marks. Your own nature is replete with the Buddha treasure, the Dharma treasure, and the Sangha treasure—these are the real treasures. The accomplishment of the three non-outflow studies of precepts, samadhi, and wisdom through diligent cultivation is also your true Dharma treasure. Some people say that this kind of treasure isn't visible and thus cannot be believed. Well, I can't blame them. Since it has no form or appearance, it can't be seen. But you can still feel it. People with wisdom roots will know. People who have no wisdom roots won't know, because their potential has not ripened yet. That's why they can't bring forth a mind of faith and understanding.