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頓悟禪那。修進聖位。增上妙理。心慮虛凝。
「頓悟禪那」：這個禪那也是印度語，翻到中文叫「思惟修」。怎麼叫頓悟呢？頓悟是很快地就開悟了，即刻就開悟了「修進聖位」：修行向那個聖位，就是聖人的果位，就是佛位。「增上妙理」：都增加他們這種的智慧，這妙理也就是智慧，增加他們每一個人的智慧。「心慮虛凝」：心裡這個思慮也都沒有了；虛凝，就空空洞洞的，幾幾乎就到如來藏性這個本體上了，叫虛凝。
斷除三界。修心六品。微細煩惱。
這時候，阿難也證得二果了，「斷除三界」：這欲界、色界、無色界，斷除這個八十八品的見惑，「修心六品」：又斷盡欲界的六品煩惱，「微細煩惱」：這個微細煩惱就是不容易察覺的，很微細很微細的這種煩惱。這種煩惱在你自性裡頭，不容易覺察到的，但是阿難現在把這個煩惱也都斷了。
即從座起。頂禮佛足。合掌恭敬。而白佛言。大威德世尊。慈音無遮。善開眾生微細沉惑。令我今日。身心快然。得大饒益。
阿難當時「即從座起」：就從座起來，他因為聽見佛所說的法，斷除微細的煩惱，所以就從座起來，「頂禮佛足，合掌恭敬，而白佛言」，「大威德世尊」：佛啊！大威能折伏眾生。怎麼叫折伏呢？本來眾生很剛強的，什麼也不相信，不信因果，不信輪迴，不信報應，什麼也都不信的，佛能以善巧方便，用這一種的威德––威，就是有威可畏，令眾生折伏。這個德呢？德就是攝受。這折、攝二門，折伏法、攝受法。折伏，就是折伏剛強的眾生；攝受呢，就攝受這一種信受的眾生––信佛的，就是這種不剛強的。不剛強的眾生，佛就用一種攝受的法門。就好像那個磁石吸鐵似的，這兒有磁石，那個鐵自然就吸來了；這個攝受就是這種的意思。所以有德就可以攝受一切的眾生，有威就可以折伏一切眾生，這是世尊。
「慈音無遮」：這個慈悲的音聲沒有限量，沒有遮限的這麼樣子；就是普度、普遍的，而沒有限量。「善開眾生」：善自開化一切眾生的「微細沉惑」：本來眾生對於這個微細的沉惑不明白，佛就這麼給指出來。「令我今日」：使令我阿難今天，「身心快然」：我身也覺得快樂，心也覺得快樂，說不出那麼快樂了，「得大饒益」：得著我生平沒有的這麼大的益處。
待續 |
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Sutra text from last issue: They received the Thus Come One's instruction in the secret seal...
Sutra:
They were suddenly enlightened to dhyana, advanced in their cultivation to the sagely position, and increased their understanding of the wonderful principle. Their minds were focused and serene.
Commentary:
They were suddenly enlightened to dhyana.“Dhyana” is a Sanskrit word which means “cultivation of thought.” “Suddenly enlightened” means that their awakening was immediate and swift. They advanced in their cultivation to the sagely position. The “sagely position” refers to the ultimate one--Buddhahood. They increased their understanding of the wonderful principle. This means that their wisdom increased. Each person's wisdom became further developed. Their minds were focused and serene. There was nothing cluttering their minds. They were clear and open. They were about to reach the fundamental substance of the nature of the Treasury of the Thus Come One.
Sutra:
Ananda cut off and cast aside six sections of subtle afflictions in his cultivation of the mind in the triple realm.
Commentary:
At this point, Ananda is certified to the second fruition of Arhatship. Ananda cut off and cast aside six sections of subtle afflictions in his cultivation of the mind in the triple realm--the desire realm, the form realm, and the formless realm. He has already cut off the eighty-eight view-delusions, and now he severs the first six sections of the desire realm’s thought-delusions. These afflictions are called “subtle” because it is not at all easy to detect them. It’s hard to perceive them within one’s self-nature, but now Ananda has been able to cut away some of this affliction.
Sutra:
He arose from his seat, bowed at the Buddha’s feet, placed his palms together respectfully, and said to the Buddha, “The great, awesome and virtuous World Honored One, whose compassionate sound knows no limit, has well instructed living beings as to their extremely subtle submersion in delusion and has caused me on this day to become blissful in body and mind and to obtain enormous benefit.
Commentary:
Because he had cut through some of his subtle afflictions upon hearing what the Buddha had to say, Ananda arose from his seat, bowed at the Buddha’s feet, placed his palms together respectfully, and said to the Buddha. “The great, awesome, and virtuous World Honored One, whose compassionate sound knows no limit, has well instructed living beings.” “Great awesomeness” subdues living beings. Many living beings are stubborn and obstinate. They don't believe anything you tell them. They don’t believe in cause and effect, they don’t believe in the cycle of rebirth, they don’t believe in retributions. So the Buddha, devising good and clever expedients, uses awesome virtue. With his awesomeness, which can be overwhelming, he subdues living beings. Virtue, on the other hand, gathers in living beings. So this phrase represents the two aspects of subduing and gathering in. He subdues obstinate living beings and gathers in living beings who have faith and are receptive. His virtue is like a magnet that attracts iron filings, which represent the living beings he gathers in. The Buddha’s compassionate voice has no limits. It is unhindered, reaching everywhere to rescue all. He has well instructed living beings as to their extremely subtle submersion in delusion. Originally living beings didn’t even realize they were hindered by subtle delusions, so the Buddha pointed it out to them. “And he has caused me, Ananda, on this day to become blissful in body and mind. I am experiencing physical and mental joy. I am unspeakably happy. And he has caused me to obtain enormous benefit. I’ve never known such tremendous benefit.”
To be continue |
