第十四讲【精进品】
Lecture 14 : Chapter Seven Enthusiasm
日期:二零零四年五月一日
前几讲已谈过,在六度中,使菩提心「已生令不退」的不放逸、护正知和安忍。当菩提心产生之后,如何令菩提心坚定稳固,就是以不放逸和护正知来守护菩萨戒;以正知和正念预防贪、瞋、痴的烦恼;而「安忍」是教我们如何将菩提心安定下来,不受外境影响。剩下来我们便要讲解如何使菩提心「日日其增上」,即是如何增长菩提心的三种波罗蜜多。在寂天菩萨看来,精进、静虑和般若三种波罗蜜多是增上世俗和胜义菩提心的互动互补方法。首先,他为精进立下定义:「进即喜于善」;对善法欢喜的心态就是精进。达到精进的结果只有一个:就是自然而然的,毋需造作用力的行持善法。相反,障碍精进的就是懒惰;而懒惰有三种:(一)所谓同恶懒惰(laziness of indolence):修行苟且,凡事耽误。寂天菩萨提出对治方法是念死、念无常;(二)耽劣事懒惰(laziness of attraction to worldly action)。寂天菩萨提出要远离世间八法,知道心是恶源,形为罪薮;心如果为外境所役,这是一切轮回痛苦的根源。只有希求正法才是一切功德的基础,把放逸的心拉回;(三)自轻凌懒惰(laziness of discouragement):过度自卑怯弱,认为自己怎样也没可能成就正觉,对自己修行感到无助,不知从何处开始。怎样改善这种懒惰?寂天菩萨先引释尊圣教量:「众生只要透过精进,必定可以成就正觉。」跟着又指出如果畏惧行持菩提心,觉得走大乘利他之道太难太长,那只是颠倒见;在大乘之道行走的人远比沉沦苦海,甚至小乘自利之道更快乐,更自在愉悦,更快成就究竟乐果。最后,寂天菩萨劝慰修行人,纵然遇上挫折逆境,也不要对生命及利生事业失去信心,感到疲厌;要放弃心厌身疲,骑着菩提心千里马,从安乐道驰向更殊胜的无上安乐大道。
(一)
忍已需精进,精进菩提住;
若无风不动,无勤福不生。
行者修习安忍后,便应该修持精进了,因为无上菩提是从精进而建立的。正如没有风,万物则不会运动一样;缺乏精进,福德(智慧)将不会产生。
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)
进即喜于善,下说其违品,
同恶散劣事,自轻凌懒惰。
何谓精进1?精进就是倾向善行的一种热诚。那么,精进的障碍是什么?同恶懒惰、耽劣事懒惰和自轻凌懒惰。
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)
贪图懒乐味,习卧嗜睡眠,
不厌轮回苦,频生强懈怠。
(心灵上)贪图懒洋洋的舒适感受,喜欢躺卧床席,爱好睡懒觉,对轮回痛苦没有积极厌离,就会经常产生强而有力的懈怠。
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)
云何犹不知,身陷惑网者,
必囚生死狱,正入死神口?
(烦恼是猎人发放出来的香饵)你已被诱入轮回的陷阱了。为何你现在仍不知道自己已在死亡边缘呢?
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)
渐次杀吾类,汝岂不见乎?
然乐睡眠者,如牛见屠夫。
你同类的生命已逐渐被毁掉了,难道你没有看见吗?但是那些贪睡的人对此竟然无动于衷,就像牛看见同类为屠夫牵去宰杀一样。
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;
此时汝何能,贪食复耽眠?
逃离的通道已被全部封死,而死神正在物色处死的对象,为何你此时仍能安心的贪着美食、耽着睡眠和满足本能呢?
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)
死亡速临故,及时应积资,
届时方断懒,迟矣有何用?
死亡很快就会降临,所以应尽早利用时间积集资粮,要是死到临头才去断除懒惰的恶习,便为时已晚了,再努力也没有用!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,或唯半成时,
死神突然至,呜呼吾命休!
往往在我们未完成这件事,或那件事刚着手去干,又或是现在只是完成了一半,死神就突然降临了,那时你只能悲叹:「噢!我真是一个可怜的人。」
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)
因忧眼红肿,面颊泪双垂,
亲友已绝望,吾见阎魔使。
看见亲友因忧伤难过,双眼哭得又红又肿,泪水不断从面颊滚落下来;此时与意志消沉、绝望悲伤的亲友分手,自己独自去见阎魔使者恐怖的脸。
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)
忆罪怀忧苦,闻声惧堕狱,
狂乱秽覆身,届时复如何?
临死前因为回忆起宿罪而痛苦,因为听到地狱中恐怖的声音,更是畏惧不已,甚至于惊狂而流出不净秽物染污自身,那时你该怎么办呢?
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)
死时所怀惧,犹如待宰鱼,
何况昔罪引,难忍地狱苦。
临死时所受的畏惧,犹如挣扎待宰的活鱼;更何况地狱众苦是由宿罪引来,其难忍的怖畏痛苦,就更不用多说了。
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)
如婴触沸水,灼伤极刺痛,
已造狱业者,云何复逍遥。
好比为沸水烫着的时候,细皮嫩肉的婴儿一定会疼痛至极。已经造下这种火烧地狱罪业的人,为何还能如此逍遥度日呢?
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,娇弱频造罪,
临死犹天人,呜呼定受苦。
不肯精进修习却希冀得到安乐成就;娇弱不能忍苦,却频繁不休地造罪;明知老死将至,但仍然如天人一样放逸度日,这三种人一定会被痛苦所折磨摧毁。
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,
此筏难复得,愚者勿贪眠。
此刻找到了宝贵的人身舟筏,帮助我们渡过生死大苦海。噢!愚子,你再不能贪睡,因为将来要再得到这艘筏,恐怕十分困难。
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)
弃舍胜法喜,无边欢乐因,
何故汝反喜,散掉等苦因?
喜爱正法是无尽喜悦之因,你为什么要舍弃这种殊胜的喜悦,反而去喜欢轻薄(散乱)和聊笑(掉举)等无尽痛苦的因呢?
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)
勿怯弃疏懒,知彼自精进,
自他勤相换,住自他平等。3
当放弃疏懒修习态度的时候,一连串如谨慎、自制、自他平等和自他相换的能力便会涌现。
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)
不应自退怯,谓我不能觉,
如来实语者,说此真实言:
我不应气馁,怯弱畏缩怀疑自己不能获证无上菩提,因为如来是实语者。
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,如是诸虫蛆,
若发精进力,咸证无上觉。
他在经文4中说过:「所有蚊虻、蜜蜂、各种昆虫和蠕蛆皆能透过其精进力,获证无上正觉。」
“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)
况我生为人,明辨利与害,
行持若不废,何故不证觉?
何况我生而为人,就有明辨是非善恶、利害得失的能力,只要我不偏离遍知者的指引,精进修持,哪有不获证觉悟的道理?
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,须舍手足等;
是昧轻与重,愚者徒自畏。
如果说虽然精进能成佛道,但在这过程中必须修持施舍手脚肢体等苦行,所以我很害怕。这是由于愚昧不知利害轻重,愚者自生无端的困惑与恐惧而已。
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)
无量俱胝劫,千番受割截,
刺烧复分解,今犹未证觉。
在无量俱胝劫的轮回中,我们曾无数次堕入地狱,受着割截、刀刺、火烧和肢解的痛苦,然而至今尚未因而证得菩提。
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;
如为除苦疾,暂受疗割苦。
今生我为了解脱而修习正法,此中所受的痛苦短暂而有限;就像病人为了除去严重腹腔病痛,而忍受开刀的短暂痛苦一样。
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)
医皆以小苦,疗治令病除,
为灭众苦故,当忍修行苦。
所有医生都会用一些轻微痛苦的疗法来治病。因此,要消除轮回中的无边痛苦,便应该忍受修行中轻微的痛苦。
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)
凡常此疗法,良医皆不用。
巧施缓药方,疗治众疴疾。
然而,这只是世间医师惯常的医疗方法,良医(此处特指医王世尊)是不会采用;祂会更善巧地使用温和的妙药良方,来治疗众生长期慢性的轮回疴疾。
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,
习此微施已,渐能施己肉。
佛陀教人首先惠施菜蔬等容易施舍的物品,等到习惯了微小的布施后,行者再一步一步去接受,直至最后能做到割肉舍身布施。
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)
一旦觉自身,卑微如菜蔬,
尔时舍身肉,于彼有何难?
对自己的身体一旦生起了像蔬菜般微不足道的感觉,那时候才布施血肉骨髓又有什么困难呢?
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,邪见罪为因。
恶断则无苦,智巧故无忧。
因为肉体的痛苦是由罪恶的行为而来,心灵的痛苦是由(执着自我)错误的概念而来;(登地菩萨)净除了罪业,故没有苦果;善巧通达了无我智慧,所以坦然无忧。
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)
福德引身适,智巧令心安,
为众处生死,菩萨岂疲厌?
广大的福德使者(菩萨)身体健康舒适,善巧的智慧更使(菩萨)内心宁静安乐;那些为了利益众生而住留生死轮回的菩萨,还有什么能滋扰他们而生疲劳厌倦之心呢?
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,能尽宿恶业,
能聚福德海,故胜诸声闻。
凭着菩提心的力量,就能消尽宿世罪业,以及能积聚如海般深广的福德,故此说大乘道要超胜声闻道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)
故应除疲厌,驭驾觉心驹,
从乐趋胜乐,智者宁退怯?
因此,要弃除对大乘菩提道的身疲心厌,欣然骑乘菩提心的千里马,从安乐道驰向到更殊胜的无上安乐,有智慧的人又怎么会退怯舍弃菩提心呢?
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?
第十四讲完
注释
1 六度各有特质,例如布施的特质在于动机;持戒的特质在于保护;安忍的特质在于不混乱;精进的特质在于为善;静虑的特质在于不动;智慧的特质在于「无分别」。
2 你在医院或老人院看到有人精勤修法吗?
3 有些人认为这句偈颂不是原文,而是后人所加,因为自他平等、自他相换是〈静虑品〉中宣说的内容,在〈精进品〉已出现,所以显得很突然,与上下亦有些不连贯。但笔者觉得没有什么不妥之处,因为精进、静虑和般若同为能增上互助世俗和胜义菩提心的方便;修行者如放弃懈怠,勤力修行,借着精进力,得禅定和般若功德,堪可主宰身心,然后才能修〈静虑品〉所说的自他平等和自他相换。
4 佛在《妙臂请问经》(Subāhu-paricchā-sūtra,梵本已佚,今传汉译本)说:「复次菩萨如是真正随学,作是思惟随于狮子虎狼雕鹫鹅鹤 乌鸦枭鸟蚊虻蜂蚋一切身中,悉能成就无上菩提,况我现得人身,宁舍生命,亦应勤精进,求证无上菩提也。」
5《未生怨王除怨悔经》中记载释尊本生故事,说明大乘证果比小乘要快的道理。于无量劫前,有佛名威严如来,一日与两名声闻弟子出城化缘。途中遇有三名孩童,他们正在玩耍。三名孩童见威严如来和两位尊者相好庄严,于是便把手中的玩具以作供养,其中一位小孩发愿要与威严如来一样,这便是日后的释尊;但另外两名小孩发愿要学跟随威严如来的两位声闻弟子,这两位孩子成为了日后的舍利弗尊者和目犍连尊者;三人发愿时间一样,供品一样,但因发心的大小区别,结果发大乘心的已成佛,发小乘心的只成就声闻道果,距成佛之道还很远。从这则故事可引证大乘道比小乘道证果快。
应用讨论问题
一)精进的定义是什么?有些密乘修行人外表虽然努力修持,但内心对法的信乐却日益减少。例如修四加行,虽然修行数目近满十万,但只图完成修行数目的任务,内心没有信乐,这是否精进呢?试依精进的定义说明。
二)有三种障碍精进的懒惰(或懈怠laziness),即同恶(of indolence)、耽劣事(of attraction to worldly action)和自轻凌(of discouragement),试分别举例说明。
三)佛经常说:「谁有懒惰,必无佛法。」心灵上懈怠(同恶懒惰)的人早把轮回之苦忘记得一乾二净,那会修行。所以要精进,便要念无常,好像处身在日渐干涸的水池的鱼,每过一日,寿命就短一日。试就这点畅论「有懒惰,无佛法」之论。
四)人为万物之灵,与禽兽主要分别在于能清楚了知自己的处境与潜在危险。死神时刻都准备把每个人的生命夺走。但现在很多人却受世间八法所迷惑:「我现在要赚钱,等若干年后才修佛法。」、「我上半生要享受五欲乐,到年老再出家修行,享受清净快乐。」这些人正好像无知的牛,毫不察觉自己的同类被屠夫拉去宰杀,而觉得死亡不会降临在自己头上,一样愚痴。试依〈精进品〉第四和第五颂阐述。
五)阿底峡尊者说:「修行人必须断除贪睡,断除懈怠,断除昏沉掉举,生起必死的定解。」很多噶当派的格西时常反观自心,以极严厉的手段对治懒散,每当发现自己执着舒适享受时,便马上呵责自己:「你为什么这样愚笨,这样贪执?」然后随即以经行、礼拜来使自己的精进保持不退。你认同这种修行方法吗?你如何确保自己精进不退呢?
六)当死亡来临时,忆记起往昔所造的恶行,心生懊悔,「死病方知身是苦,生健多为别人忙,痛苦之痛谁承当,业报来时自身偿」;这时权势、金钱、才智、亲友对你毫无帮助,方知只有正法才用得着;对生前自身有能力修持正法,却又不去修;再想到恶趣的苦,内心就更感恐惧,于是手抓胸口,但嘴口痛苦得不能言状。试引〈精进品〉第四至十颂说明之。
七)京俄瓦格西(Geshe Chengawa)一生没有睡眠,努力念诵了九亿遍不动佛心咒;上师仲敦巴劝他稍作休息,他说:「是,我应当休息;但每当我想到具足暇满人身是如何难得时,便再不想休息了。」应勤精进,如救头燃;试引〈精进品〉第十四颂以对。
八)巴楚仁波切说:「人的心识聚在散乱的色声香味触法;心为外境所役,是一切轮回痛苦的根源;希求正法是一切功德的基础。」耽于俗务,不肯修持,试引〈精进品〉第十五和第十六颂以对。
九)一切众生透过精进,顺缘助显,获证无上菩提;更何况人身难得,佛法难闻,现在获人身的你,好应该把握优势机会,比三恶道众生更早登菩提。试在你学过两部佛经中,引出一切众生皆可成佛的佛如实语。
十)世俗人对学佛抛弃世间享受,舍亲割爱,过着简朴的生活,觉得很痛苦;但与轮回苦海比较,修行时出现短暂的苦头,简直有天壤之别。三界是大苦聚,如果害怕修行之苦,就永远不能解脱,无法离苦得乐;别人认为修行痛苦,只是他们愚昧无知,不知轻重取舍而已。试引〈精进品〉有关偈颂说明这道理。
十一)《心经》说:「行深般若波罗蜜多时,照见五蕴皆空,度一切苦厄。」凡夫罪恶的行为,颠倒的邪见,令自己受尽苦头。但登地菩萨却远离苦厄,身适心安,如能「诸法观如幻,投生观花园」,就算是投生在五浊恶世,都能如同在花园中观赏风景一样,自在愉悦,没
有痛苦觉受。试引〈精进品〉第二十七和二十八两句偈颂以对。
十二)有些修行人觉得大乘要经三大阿僧祇劫才能解脱,而小乘独觉修行可能经几世便可涅槃。所以对发菩提心法门,要救渡刚强难教的众生感到疲厌。但寂天菩萨却认为这种想法不对,发菩提心胜于小乘,尤其是证果比小乘快。试引释尊本生故事,于威严如来供养成果,阐释寂天菩萨大乘胜于小乘论。