解疑

Questions Answered

在《贤愚经》或《本师传》等经论中，时常有描述帝释天为了考察释迦牟尼佛的发心，在其行布施时作大违缘的情节。有人对此表示疑惑，为何帝释天要如此为难释迦牟尼佛呢？

In The Sutra of the Wise and the Fool, the Great Biography of Buddha Shakyamuni, or other scriptures, there are many stories about how the god Indra, in order to test the sincerity of Buddha’s aspiration, purposely created havoc while the Buddha was practicing the paramita of generosity. It puzzles many people: Why should Indra make so much trouble for the Buddha?

其实，这是因帝释天的发愿力所致，在释迦牟尼佛初行菩萨道时，为了释迦牟尼佛能迅速圆满资粮，帝释天与提婆达多一样发愿成为佛陀布施忍辱的殊胜对境。因布施其他东西相对而言比较容易做到，但布施身体的却寥若晨星。如果不如此示现，世人也难以了知佛陀的伟大之处。

As a matter of fact, this came about as a result of Indra’s power of aspiration. When the Buddha was on the Bodhisattva path, Indra, like Devadatta, made vows to help the Buddha accumulate merits swiftly. To do so they manifested in various forms toward which the Buddha would practice his patience or make body offerings. The deed of offering one’s own body, unlike a material offering that is relatively easy, has been achieved only as rarely as one sees stars in the daytime. However, without such a dramatic offering on the part of the Buddha, worldly people would not come to appreciate his extraordinary qualities.

又有人提出，为何佛陀时常在行布施时，为了圆满资粮，而将妻子、儿女布施与吃人罗刹，这样是否危害了其他众生呢？

Others raise the question: The Buddha often offered his own wife and children to flesh-eating rakshas in order to perfect the accumulation of merit. Aren’t such acts harmful to other beings?

首先，佛陀的这一做法，只会圆满妻子、儿女的资粮，而不会对其造成伤害。其次，这一做法的发心非为自利，而是为了早日成佛，挽救处于水深火热之中的广大有情，没有丝毫的自私自利心。《入菩萨行论》中说：“经说行施时，可舍微细戒。”又说：“勿因小失大，大处思利他。”在具有殊胜发心的前提下，可以开许身语之不善业，《观察三增上品》中云：“于大菩萨开许七种不善。”《大密方便经》中也有类似教证。

To begin with, the Buddha’s activity could only bring tremendous merit to his wife and children; there was no harm to them. Furthermore, his motivation was not in self-interest. It was wishing for swift enlightenment in order to liberate multitudes of beings from dire suffering. There was neither a single trace of selfishness nor the tiniest bit of self-serving. A Guide to Bodhisattva’s Way of Life says: “For it is taught that in times of generosity, the rules of discipline may be suspended,” and: “The great should not be supplanted by the less, and it is others’ good that is the highest goal.” Hence there are times a Bodhisattva is permitted to actually commit harmful acts of body and speech, provided the intention is pure bodhichitta. The Chapter on the Three Increasing Activities says: “The Bodhisattvas are permitted to commit the seven harmful actions.” Similar teachings can be found in The Sutra of Great Secret Skills.

为了更多众生的利益，大悲商主为令其从无边轮回中得解脱，可杀短矛黑人；乐行童子为避免他人因贪己而死，可行不净行。所以，发心极其重要。如果没有清净的发心，表面行持善法，恰如缘木求鱼。

The story of Captain Great Compassionate Heart tells how the Captain killed the Black Spearman in order to save him from incalculable sufferings in samsara and, at the same time, to benefit many other beings. Brahmin Lover of the Stars, to save a maiden madly in love with him from killing herself, broke his vow of chastity. Therefore, the most crucial point is the motivation. Doing good deeds superficially without pure motivation is like climbing a tree to catch a fish.

壬午年二月二十六日　
2002年4月8日　

26th of February, Year of RenWu
April 8, 2002