前期經文提示：
如來劫海修諸行，一切諸力皆成滿。
能隨世法應眾生，此普照神之所見。
你們知道這個果逾，以前也是糊裡糊塗的一個人。他不知道在這兒學佛法這麼重要，現在他出去一個月，天天那麼三步一拜、三步一拜，這可以說是他開悟了，比以前明白得多了，他知道他錯過這個機會了。不但他錯過機會，他拐帶這個果道也錯過這個機會，這是他開悟的地方。所以他希望你們都注意學佛法，他希望你們幫著他學一點佛法。那麼他現在這個樣子，相貌和以前都改了，不一樣了。你看以前像個希特勒似的那個樣子，現在他真是……。我雖然沒有去，但是，是不是他樣子有點改了？你沒有注意？我看他樣子是比以前不同了。
就是果道也和以前不同了。你們上次到那地方，有沒有覺得有這個情形？我看他樣子是比以前不同了，這個看一看就知道。不要看，就聽那個聲音就知道；說話聲音也和以前不同了。所以這叫功不唐捐，他以前絕對寫不出來這麼一封信。你不要看旁的，就看這個信裡邊，他已經開一點悟了。不是開大悟，但是開了一點小悟。
還有一個消息告訴大家，以後每個禮拜五是十二點半到二點半，這個期間我們開一個正法研究會。無論他哪一個旁們外道，我們都歡迎，你們切記的這一點。我們不怕旁們外道，我們不怕魔王。那個魔王來了，那個旁們外道來了，我們盡量歡迎他。只要他們願意研究，我們都願意和他來共同研究這個真理。
我們也不要對誰發脾氣，我們就歡歡喜喜地來看誰哪個對，我們大家共同來研究，清清楚楚一點一點地研究。你說你那個道理有道理嘛，我們大家來研究；我這個有道理嘛，我們也大家來研究。看看哪個是真的？哪個是假的？我們來開會，誰都可以參加的。外邊哪一個人願意來我們都歡迎。但是歡迎可是歡迎，我們有我們的宗旨，他來了，我們就歡迎；他要不來呢，我們不會去請他去。我們不需要說，請某一個人來。我們這兒就是研究「正法真理研究會」。
我們大家研究這個真理。你要把我這個理論研究倒了，我可以隨著你那個；我把你研究倒了，你應該隨著我的。我們不怕哪一個人是最高的，最高的他來了是最好的，他不講道理嘛，也是最好的。我們來慢慢和他講道理。好像那狗，一見到人牠就咬，咬來咬去，你和牠熟了，牠就不咬了。度牠也要教化牠，你不能說是魔王啊，你不要來，我不度你，不能這樣說。我們也請老外道來，他要拉一拉你們這些個青年的人，這沒有用的。所以所有的人，我們都歡迎他。
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「復次普光焰藏主火神，得解脫一切世間闇解脫門。普濟光幢主火神，得能息一切眾生諸惑，漂流熱惱苦解脫門。大光遍照主火神，得無動福力，大悲藏解脫門。」
「復次」：再把前邊沒有說完的意思再說一說。又有一位主火神叫「普光燄藏」：他這光明能以遍照，他這個燄光是重重無盡的，所以叫做藏。那麼這一位「主火神」他得到去除「一切世間闇解脫門」。他因為這普光燄藏，所以把世界一切的黑暗都能給除去，能驅除世界一切的黑暗，他得到這種的解脫門。
「普濟光幢主火神」：這一位主火神他的名字叫普濟光幢，他這個火光能聚集到一起，猶如寶幢一樣，所以叫普濟光幢主火神。他得到能息一切眾生的諸惑，漂流熱惱苦，他能熄滅一切眾生的諸惑，就是種種的迷惑，種種的無明，種種的愚癡暗障。
「漂流熱惱苦」：熱惱就是在六道輪迴裡頭又做人、又做鬼、又做畜生、是又做修羅；忽然而天、忽然而地，所以這叫漂流熱惱，地獄裡頭是最熱惱的。「苦」：苦沒有窮盡的時候，得到這種的解脫門。
「大光遍照主火神」：這一位主火神叫大光遍照，他這個火光遍照一切世界。他得到「無動福力大悲藏解脫門」：怎麼叫無動福力呢？這個福力是永遠的、是不斷的、是不動的，所以他修這種的福力「大悲藏」：得到這個大悲藏，就是悲心切切來教化眾生。他以自己的福力，來護持一切的眾生。令一切眾生都得到他這一種的無動福力大悲藏，他得到這種的解脫門。
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比丘尼前幾天要求禮拜六、禮拜天我到華盛頓街（國際譯經院）去吃飯，我想那麼一天也可以，不要兩天。所以明天聽經還是在這金山寺，下禮拜聽經就在華盛頓街。
本來要求禮拜六和禮拜天都不到這兒來吃飯，就在那兒吃囉！她們不願在那兒來回跑，但是我沒有回答；我沒有說可以，也沒有說不可以。現在我一想，這一天可以，就禮拜天看看她們，以後就不可以了。她們要是吃馬馬虎虎的，那麼看他們行的苦行怎麼樣？有人會這樣說：「她們在那兒吃好的？吃不好的？也沒有人知道。」這麼今天我也到那兒吃去，吃好的我知道；吃不好的我也知道。吃好的，吃得不錯，我就不講；她們吃的要不好呢？我就說不行了，就回來了。
誰有什麼意見沒有？因為那兒廚房也小，沒法子做什麼，要是願意做，還是到這兒來。這兒這個地方大，人也多，不需要到那個地方去。供養就應該供養比丘和比丘尼，不是單單供養比丘尼，不供養比丘，我們這兒不可以有這個規例的。單單供養比丘尼，比丘會忌妒的，就造罪了。本來我們這兒的比丘看了不願意的，說這個師父是一個最愚癡、最沒智慧的一個師父，為什麼教人教得這麼糊塗－－供養比丘尼不供養比丘？
還有我們現在金山寺的比丘、比丘尼、優婆塞、優婆夷，都非常非常好，可以說是：「在世界上沒有的人！」，可以說是：「將來領導世界的人。」，但是就現在還差一點點，不能領導。什麼呢？就是 too much temper，要沒有這個煩惱了，沒有這個脾氣了，我們現在都是世界最高的，能教化人的大導師。就這一點點，因為有脾氣，所以現在到外面還不行。我們能以每一個人一點火也沒有了，對人說話這麼很溫和的，沒有脾氣的樣子，對誰都是這麼一個樣子，他發我們的脾氣，我們不發他的脾氣；他對我們生煩惱，我們對他不生煩惱。能以這個樣子，這就叫有定力了。不能個樣子，和任何人一談話，就無明火發出來三千丈這麼高。這個不但不能教化世間人，就自己的這種的無明也沒能降服了。這是最要緊、最要緊，我們就是要選拔這種人才，看看誰能沒有火氣、沒有無明、沒有瞋恨心，要找這種人。我們每一個人，現在到這個時候了，都應該鍛鍊自己，把這個瞋心去了，要能沒有瞋心了，就慈悲心與萬物合體了。
我們以前不是有鴿子可以在手裡吃東西嗎？你要真沒有殺心了、沒有瞋心了，所有的雀鳥，不是我們自己養的，牠都會飛到你的手裡來吃東西。所有的飛禽、走獸都不怕你了。老虎見到你，牠也不會咬你了，所謂「道高龍虎伏，德重鬼神欽。」
待續 |
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Sutra text from last issue:
The Tathagata for seas of kalpas cultivated all conducts,
And totally perfected all the powers.
He accords with worldly dharmas to respond to living beings.
This what the Spirit Universally Shining sees.
You all know Guoyu. He used to be a muddled person. When he was here, he did not realize how important our study of the Buddhadharma was. Now he has been gone for a month, bowing once every three steps day after day. Bowing once every three steps seems to have brought him an awakening. He is more clear than he used to be. He knows he is missing this opportunity. Not only is he losing this opportunity, he is causing Guodao to also miss this chance. That is what he has had an awakening about. Thus, he hopes all of you will attentively study the Buddhadharma and wishes you would help him study some Buddhadharma as well. Already his physiognomy has changed. It is different. Before he resembled Hitler, now he is really different. Although I have not gone to see them, haven’t you found him to be different? Did you notice? I feel that he is not the same as he used to be.
Guodao is different from the way he used to be too. Last time you went to see them, were you aware of what I am referring to? I see he is different from before. You can tell at a glance. Even without looking when you listen to his voice you know; the sound of his voice is different from before. Their work is not being done in vain. Before he would absolutely never write letters. Now, when you read this letter he has written you can know that he has had some awakenings. I am not talking about a major enlightenment, but small awakenings.
There’s another piece of news. From now on, every Friday from 12:30 to 2:30 PM we’ll be conducting a Seminar on Proper Dharma. Anyone is welcome to attend, including those of externalist paths and cultish persuasions. You should all pay attention to this: we are not afraid of cults or externalists--or even of demon kings. If kings of demons or members of externalist religious groups externalist religious groups arrive, we will do our best to welcome them. Provided they really want to participate in the investigation, we are willing to investigate true principle with them. We should not get angry with them. Rather, in a pleasant fashion, we will see who is right, looking into the principles together and clarifying them bit by bit. Do you claim your principle is reasonable? All of us will consider it. Is mine reasonable? We will investigate it as a group and determine which is true and which is false. It will be “open talking.”
Anyone from outside can attend, even (names some well-known San Francisco Bay Area teachers of the early l970’s). We will extend our best welcome to whoever comes. After this, we will welcome all who want to come. Yet although we welcome anyone, we still have our own principles. We welcome them if they come, but unless they come on their own, we won’t invite them. It’s not necessary for us to ask any particular person to come to investigate with us. Ours is a Seminar on Proper Dharma and True Principle, in which we investigate true principle. If our investigation refutes my theory, then I can follow yours. Or if I refute yours, you should follow mine. We won’t be afraid of someone’s being in the top ranks. For someone of the highest rank to come is best of all. If what he says is unreasonable, that’s also excellent. We can gradually get him to be reasonable. For example, the first time a dog sees someone, the dog wants to bite him. But once the dog is familiar with the person, it won’t bite anymore. You need to teach and transform them. You can’t say, “You’re a demon king and I’m not having anything to do with you.” That’s not it. Even if elder externalist masters come and try to lure people away from here, their attempts will be futile. We welcome everyone.
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Sutra:
Furthermore, the Fire-Ruling Spirit named Treasury of Universally Blazing Light obtained the liberation door of totally dispelling all the darkness in the world. The Fire-Ruling Spirit named Banner of Universally Assembled Light obtained the liberation door of eradicating all living beings’ sufferings due to delusions of aimless drifting and scorching torment. The Fire-Ruling Spirit named Great Light Shining Everywhere obtained the door of liberation of a treasury of Great Compassion and Steadfast Power of Blessings.
Commentary:
Furthermore indicates that what was said before was not all, and more is to be said, namely that there was also the Fire-Ruling Spirit named Treasury of Universally Blazing Light. His light shines everywhere; its blazing brilliance is multi-layered and unending, and so is called a treasury. This Fire-Ruling Spirit obtained the liberation door of totally dispelling all the darkness in the world.
Since his is a treasury of universally blazing light, he is therefore able to eliminate every instance of darkness in the world, getting rid of it all. He obtained that kind of door to liberation.
The next Fire-Ruling Spirit is named Banner of Universally Assembled Light. The lights from his fires can mass together to resemble a jeweled banner--hence his name, “Banner of Universally Assembled Light.” He obtained the liberation door of eradicating all living beings’ sufferings due to delusions of aimless drifting and scorching torment. He can eradicate all living beings’ delusions--all types of confusion, every form of ignorance, and all variations of the darkness of stupidity, and their “sufferings due to delusions of aimless drifting and scorching torment.” This means the burning agony of revolving in the six paths of existence--at times, being a person , then a ghost, becoming an animal, then turning into an asura, suddenly being in the heavens, and suddenly returning to earth. That’s the reference in “aimless drifting and scorching torment.” The scorching torment is worst in the hells, where the sufferings are unending. He obtained that kind of door to liberation.
The subsequent Fire-Ruling Spirit is named Great Light Shining Everywhere. His fires’ lights shine throughout all worlds. He obtained the liberation door of a treasury of great compassion and steadfast power of blessings. What is steadfast power of blessings? This kind of strength of blessings is everlasting and never terminated. Such power of blessings is steadfast and unmoving, hence he cultivates this kind of power of blessings, and he obtained a treasury of great compassion, earnest and compassionate teaching and transforming of living beings. He employs his own power of blessings to sustain and help all living beings, enabling them all to attain this kind of steadfast power of blessings and treasury of great compassion. That’s the door to liberation which he obtained.
A few days ago the Bhikshunis asked if I would go to Washington Street (International Institute for the Translation of Buddhist Texts) on Saturdays and Sundays for lunch. I think going one day is enough. Tomorrow the lecture will still be at Gold Mountain Monastery. Starting next week the lecture will be at Washington Street.
Originally they asked me to go there to eat on Saturdays and Sundays because they do not want to come back and forth. But I didn’t answer them; I didn’t say whether it was all right or not. But now that I’ve thought it over, just this coming Sunday should be enough. I will go over and take a look. But not any more. If they eat simple food, then I will see how their ascetic practices are going. Some people wonder: “Do they eat well there? Do they not eat well? Nobody knows.” Well, today I am going there to eat and so I will know if they eat well or not. If they eat well, then I won’t say anything; if they don’t eat well, then I’ll say, “Forget it!” and I’ll come back.
Does anyone have any opinions? Because the kitchen is small it is hard to cook things there, so if you want to make things, it’s better to stay here. This is a big place and there are lots of peoplehere, there’s no need to go there. Offerings should be made to both the Bhikshus and Bhikshunis. It should not be that offerings are made only to the Bhikshunis and not to the Bhikshus. We do not want a division like that here. If offerings are made to the Bhikshunis only and the Bhikshus get jealous, then there are offenses created. Basically the Bhikshus here do not like the situation. This teacher is really stupid. This teacher does not have any sense at all. Why does he teach people to do muddled things like making offerings to Bhikshunis and not to Bhikshus?
There’s something else. At present the Bhikshus, Bhikshunis, Upasakas, and Upasikas of Gold Mountain Monastery are exceptionally fine. You could say there is no one like them in the world, and that in the future they will be the world’s leaders. But for the moment they are lacking in one respect and cannot yet be leaders. In what respect? They have too much temper. If it were not for those afflictions and that temper, they would already be the world’s most lofty teachers, great guiding masters for the world. It’s just due to that small deficiency, namely because of our tempers that right now it won’t work for us to go outside. If each of us could manage not to have any fire and when speaking with people be very cordial; if we never display any anger, but were the same to all; if we never responded with anger when others were angry with us; if we remained unaffected toward others when others became afflicted with us—if we could do that, we could be said to have the power of samadhi. So long as we are unable to be that way, and instead, when speaking to anyone, our fire of ignorance flares up 30,000 feet, not only are we unable to teach and transform the people in the world, we can’t even subdue our own ignorance. This is extremely important. Now we need to look for people with such skills, and see who can manage not to have a blazing temper, ignorance, anger or hatred. We need to find such people. The time has now come for all of us to train ourselves to be free from anger. When in place of anger you have great compassion and join in substance with the myriad creatures—as when the pigeons ate from people’s hands; when you have no thoughts of killing or anger, then even birds who are not your pets will come to eat from your hand. Birds and beasts won’t fear you. Tigers who see you will not bite you, as in the saying:
When one’s Way is lofty, dragons and tigers are subdued.
One is weighty in virtue gains respect from ghosts and spirits.
To be continued |
