前期提示：這一年：韋陀菩薩做了一年的工，來幫助我們，成就我們的道業。 |
所以各位，無論出家人、在家人都應該想一想，我們是佛教徒，對韋陀菩薩，我們應該時時刻刻恭敬才對。我們拿這韋陀菩薩，都不當一回事了，這怎麼能算是報佛恩呢？這怎麼能算報法的恩？怎麼能說報僧的恩？對於「三寶」，我們根本就馬馬虎虎的。我們今天，在韋陀菩薩的生日應該隆重舉行慶祝，最低限度由十點就應該開始誦經，禮拜韋陀菩薩。
為什麼要說這個呢？因為我們佛教徒對於菩薩和佛的紀念日，一定應該要清楚一點，這一點小事情都不明白，都不能去很如法的做；那麼你想做大事情，怎麼可以的？
有佛菩薩誕辰的時候，我們每一個人要存一個必恭必敬的心，把其它的任何事情都應該放下。所以以前我已經說過，在lecture（講經）的時候，如果不知道有什麼重要的電話，你不要聽，有什麼儀式也是這樣子。
提婆達多品第十二
提婆達多，也是佛的一個堂弟，但是佛所做的一切事情，他專門反對佛。有的人就說他和佛是冤家，有仇恨怨。不是！釋迦牟尼佛成佛，就是提婆達多幫助他成的，不單幫助他一世，提婆達多生生世世，都是幫助釋迦牟尼佛，不過他是反面上幫助，幫助的道路不同，在相反的那個道路上幫他，所謂「逆助」，不是「順助」。
怎麼叫逆助呢？好像現在，有一個人發心修道，有一個人一天到晚就給他麻煩，不是罵他一頓，再不就笑他一頓，再不然就是給他一點苦頭吃，總而言之，就是總給他麻煩。給他麻煩，這正是怎麼樣呢？這正是反面來試驗，我還記得果遵說過，說是：「我要試驗人可不可以？」我說不可以。你要是證得果了，知道你一試驗他，他就成道了，那麼可以的；你若沒有證果，你就不要試驗人。你要試驗人，人家也要試驗你。你試驗人，人受不了，就墮落；人家試驗你，你也受不了，也墮落了。
提婆達多又不同了，提婆達多這境界是不可思議的境界，他的神通和佛是一樣大的，所以他來反面幫助佛，看這一品就知道了。那麼釋迦牟尼佛成佛，是過去聽提婆達多給他講《法華經》，他才到現在成佛。
提婆達多這個名字是什麼意思？前幾天我不是告訴你們了嗎？提婆達多，翻譯過來就叫「天熱」，因為他在世的時候，盡反面來幫助人，令人心裡覺得熱，天也自然就熱了。這是以因緣為名，以這個天熱的因緣，所以他的名字叫天熱。那他為什麼又對釋迦牟尼佛這樣子來反面上幫助他成道業呢？這也有一個因緣，現在我先講一講這個因緣。
→待續
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From last issue:
This year, Wei Tou Bodhisattva has been working for a whole year to help us accomplish our work in the Way.
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All of us, whether we are left-home people or laypeople, should give this some consideration: as Buddhist disciples, it is only right that we show respect to Wei Tou Bodhisattva at all times. If we treat Wei Tou Bodhisattva as a nobody, how can that be considered repaying the Buddha's kindness? How can that count as repaying the Dharma's kindness? How can that be called repaying the Sangha's kindness? We are basically treating the Triple Jewel in a perfunctory way. On Wei Tou Bodhisattva's Birthday today, we should hold a formal celebration. At the very minimum, we should have recited the Sutras and bowed to Wei Tou Bodhisattva beginning at ten o'clock.
Why I am saying all this? It's because as Buddhist disciples, we should be more clear about the dates for commemorating the Bodhisattvas and Buddhas. If you don't even understand how to carry out such a small affair in a way that accords with the Dharma, how can you expect to accomplish great matters successfully?
When there is a ceremony going on, or when it is the anniversary of a Buddha or Bodhisattva, every single one of us should bring forth a mind of utmost reverence and respect. We should set aside all other matters. In the past I said that unless you are expecting an important call, you shouldn't answer any phone calls that come in during lecture time. This applies to ceremonies as well.
Chapter 12, Devadatta
Devadatta was the Buddha's cousin, but he made a point of opposing everything the Buddha ever did. Some people say that he was the Buddha's enemy, that he harbored hatred for the Buddha, but this is not the case. When Shakyamuni Buddha became a Buddha, it was actually Devadatta who helped him accomplish Buddhahood. Not only did Devadatta help Shakyamuni Buddha in one life, he helped him in life after life. However, he did so in a back-handed way. His way of helping was different, it was to help him by coming from the opposite direction. He helped Shakyamuni Buddha by opposing him, not by going along with him. How does this work? Say, for instance, someone resolves to cultivate the Way, but another person gives him trouble all day long, by either scolding him, or ridiculing him, or making him suffer. In general, that person gives the cultivator a hard time. Actually, this opposition serves as a test. I still remember one of my disciples once asking, "Is it okay for me to give people tests by scolding them?" I said, "No. If you have certified to the fruition and know that your testing will help them realize the Way, then it's okay. If you haven't certified to the fruition, then don't test other people. If you test others, others will test you. If you test people and they fail, then they will fall. If people test you and you fail, then you will fall.
The situation with Devadatta was different, however. Devadatta's state was inconceivable. His spiritual powers were as great as those of the Buddha, and he helped the Buddha by opposing him, as you will see when you read this chapter. Shakyamuni Buddha was able to realize Buddhahood in part because he had listened to Devadatta's lecture on the Dharma Flower Sutra in the past.
What does the name Devadatta mean?
As I mentioned a few days ago, Devadatta is translated as “fever of the gods." When he was alive, he specialized in "helping" people by opposing them. This would lead to some heated emotions on the part of the recipients of his generosity, and so the heavens naturally became warm as well. Why did Devadatta oppose Shakyamuni Buddha in order to help him realize the Way? Now I will explain the causes and conditions behind this.
→To be continued
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