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達摩祖師最初從廣州到南京去度化梁武帝，梁武帝就問了，說：「我這一輩子造了很多廟，我度了很多和尚出家，也供僧。我這個有什麼功德呢？」
你要知道，梁武帝這個人，什麼都願意第一的，所以他見到達摩祖師，他不求法，先盡想請達摩祖師來讚歎他一下，來給他戴幾個高帽子。所以他恐達摩祖師不知道他造寺、度僧、布施、設齋這個功德，不知道他這些好處，於是乎他就自我介紹，說：「你看我，造了幾百處廟，又有這個廟，又有那個廟，所有廟裏都住著很多和尚，這些和尚都是我一手成就他們出家的。我又做了多少布施，供養多少僧，你說我這功德怎麼樣啊？」這個意思就是自我介紹，自己說：「噢！你看我，我這個做皇帝不是和其他皇帝一樣的，我這個皇帝是專門做好事的，做功德的，你說我這有什麼功德呢？」他這不是想要求法了生死，先要炫示炫示自己的功德。
好像某某大護法：「你們看，知道我嗎？我是護持佛教最有力量的，我有錢我都供養三寶了。」其實他去玩女人那個錢，比供養三寶多出幾千萬倍；那個他不講，他只說他供養三寶了，玩女人的錢也都說是供養三寶了。你說顛倒不顛倒？的確的啊，真事啊！你看哪一個他去花天酒地，他不說他用了多少錢，在廟上用了一塊錢：「我去布施了一塊錢，你知道嗎？」這都是梁武弟的徒弟，我告訴你。他做功德將來都可以做皇帝。
達摩祖師聽梁武帝這樣子自我陶醉，自我這麼介紹，自我炫示功德，自我賣廣告，自我來說自己有什麼什麼好處，自己讚歎自己。達摩一聽，你看一個聖人怎麼會說拍馬屁的話？普通人一聽皇帝這麼講，就：「啊！你有功德啊，你的功德真大囉！你的功德世界上沒有的。」這是一般的人這樣子講。達摩是個祖師，他根本怎麼能有阿諛奉承的這種行為呢？所以就說：「沒有功德，沒有功德。」實無功德，實實在在地沒有功德。
你不要疑惑這個祖師所說的話。武帝心裏不正當，他只知道沽名釣譽，只知道求名。他不知道求正法。「造寺度僧，布施設齋，名為求福」，這都是求福，在福田種福。不可以將這個福就做為功德，就說是功德了。功德在你的法身裏邊。不是在你這個修福能有功德的。
當時達摩祖師本來預備救度梁武帝，但是梁武帝也就因為自視太大，自己看自己太大了，是個皇帝，已經有無量的功德了。他造了很多廟，度了很多僧，又布施了很多錢，又供養三寶，認為是很大的功德，所以菩提達摩想破他這種執著，就說他沒有功德。
那麼說他沒有功德不要緊，這梁武帝當時一聽這話，就不歡喜了，所以也就不睬達摩，達摩祖師再講什麼法，他也不聽了：「我何必要聽你講呢！」因為不聽，所以達摩祖師想要救度他，想要對他有一種慈悲心，但是他不接受，也沒有法子了。於是乎達摩祖師就走了，走了，過了一個時期，果然梁武帝最後死的時候是餓死的。
你們大家想一想，如果他有功德，怎麼會餓死？因為沒有功德，所以就餓死了。達摩祖師當時就想挽救，不教他餓死，令他能生一種覺悟的心，可惜梁武帝吾我太大了，所以就是達摩祖師也不能救，也救不了他。
所以你做善事要把它忘了，不要總想著：「我布施出五百塊錢，我布施出一千塊錢來幫助人。喔！我功德不小了，我現在功德很大了，我的功德把天都頂破了，幾幾乎就跑到三十三天的上邊去，我的功德有那麼大了！」你有這麼個心，這就沒有智慧囉！這就是愚癡了！這就和梁武帝是一樣的了。 |
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When Patriarch Bodhidharma first went from Canton Province to Nan Qing to save the Emperor Wu of Liang, the Emperor said to him,“Throughout my entire life I have build many temples, sponsored many left-home people, and have made offerings to the Sangha. How much merit and virtue have I amassed?”
Now you should realize the Emperor Wu was a person who wanted to be first in everything. That’s why when he met Patriarch Bodhidharma, he didn’t seek the Dharma. He first wanted to hear a few words of praise from the Patriarch. He wanted to be given a tall hat to wear. Concerned that the Patriarch might not have known about all the good things he had done, like his building of temples, sponsoring of Sangha, and his vegetarian offerings, the Emperor introduced himself: “Let me tell you about myself. I’ve constructed over a hundred temples-such-and-such temple, so-and-so monastery. Each monastery is filled with left-home people. It was I who sponsored those monks. I’ve also done a tremendous number of good deeds and made ample offerings to the Sangha. How much merit and virtue would you say I have?” The point of introducing himself was to make it clear:“Ha! You see! I am an emperor unlike any other emperor! I am a magnanimous and beneficent emperor! I specialize in doing meritorious and virtuous deeds. Tell me, how much virtue would you say I've got?” It didn’t occur to him to ask for the method to end birth and death. He had to first show off his own merit and virtue.
He was like certain strong supporters who say:“Do you know who I am? I am Buddhism’s most powerful Dharma protector. I offer my money to the Triple Jewel.” Actually the money he spends enjoying women surpasses the amount he offers to the Triple Jewel by several tens of millions.
Really something, huh? He never mentions how much he spends on his nightlife, but when he gives a dollar to the temple, he makes a big deal of it.“Do you know I offered a dollar?” I’m telling you, he’s a disciple of the Emperor Wu of Liang. Any of you who create merit and virtue may end up as emperors.
When Patriarch Bodhidharma heard Emperor Wu of Liang being so infatuated with himself, giving himself a royal introduction, showing off his virtue, advertising his merits, listing all his good points and in general praising himself, he just listened. How could a sage possibly say flattering things? An ordinary person, upon hearing the emperor talk like that would say things like:“Ah! You are certainly virtuous! What tremendous merit you have! There’s nothing like it in the world!” That’s what most people would say. But Bodhidharma was a patriarch. How could he possible bow and scrape? And so he replied,“None. You don’t have any merit and virtue.” Actually he didn’t have any merit and virtue. In fact he didn’t have any merit and virtue.
You shouldn’t be skeptical about the patriarch’s answer. Emperor Wu’s mind was not proper.His biggest concern was fishing for a name and hooking himself a reputation. He was only interested in fame, he wasn’t interested in seeking the Proper Dharma.“Building temples, sponsoring Sangha, and making vegetarian offerings is defined as seeking blessings.” All those belong to the category of seeking blessings; of planting blessings in the field of blessings.Blessings are not the same as merit and virtue. Merit and virtue are found within your Dharma body.Cultivating blessings does not amass merit and virtue.
Originally Patriarch Bodhidharma wanted to save Emperor Wu of Liang. But the emperor’s ego was too inflated-his view of self was horrendous. He thought his position of emperor automatically endowed him with infinite merit and virtue.He thought that his deeds of building temples, sponsoring Sangha, donating a lot of money, and making offerings to the Triple Jewel gave him even greater merit and virtue. Hoping to break through the emperor’s attachment to that, Patriarch Bodhidharma said he didn’t have any merit and virtue at all.
Well, saying that he didn’t have any merit and virtue wasn’t such a big deal, but when the emperor heard that he was furious. After that, the emperor refused to acknowledge the patriarch. No matter what Dharma the patriarch spoke, the emperor refused to listen.“Why should I have to listen to you!” was his attitude. ince the emperor wouldn’t listen, then even though Patriarch Bodhidharma wanted to be compassionate and rescue him, his efforts were to no avail. Since the emperor was not receptive, the patriarch decided to leave. He left him, and in the end Emperor Wu of Liang died of starvation.
Think about it. If he really had merit and virtue, how could he have starved to death? It was just because he didn't have merit and virtue that he died of starvation. Patriarch Bodhidharma had wanted to turn the tide and keep him from starving. He wanted to wake him up. Too bad the emperor was so arrogant that the patriarch had no way to save him!
And so, do good deeds and forget about them. We shouldn't always be thinking,“Wow! I donated $500. I also gave $1000 to help others! I’ve got a lot of merit and virtue. It’s higher than the heavens!” Thoughts like that lack wisdom. That’s to be no smarter than the Emperor Wu of Liang. |
