緣起法:
本來沒有這個名稱。這是過去佛為了說明宇宙一切的起緣，按事實過程取名為「緣起法」。緣起法無人掌握，但經久不息。這種道理非佛出世，人類是無從得知的。佛說諸行無常，諸法無我，涅槃寂靜，全都証實宇宙間所有萬事萬物沒有永久存在的；宇宙間所有萬事萬物沒有自體「我」，都是「依他起」的。例如人身依六大假合組成的，去掉假合，什麼都沒有。亙古以來，沒有第二個人能說宇宙實體。它的關係涉及全宇宙，就是說不論大小，宇宙內的一切都涉及到；人，更是主要的，以後慢慢細說。
先直解「緣起法」；就是「因緣」生一切萬事萬物及一切現象。「因」，是生起事物的根據；「緣」，是生起事物的條件。因緣和合，即根據與條件交合而有事物生起。這就是「因緣生法」；並無主宰；法從因緣生，即隨因緣變異，隨因緣消滅，除因緣勢力之外，別無自體可得，這叫「自性空」。《中論》云：因緣所生法，我說即是空；亦為是假名，亦是中邊義。所以說一切萬事萬物及現象都是因緣和合，並無實體，所以萬有皆空。
「緣起法」包括一切，能把緣起法學通學懂，佛學知識就有了基礎。凡事物之生起都是有因的，絕沒有無因而生的事物；既有因生，就必有結果，是相對的。所以佛說：「若此有，則彼有；若此生，則彼生。若此無，則彼無；若此滅，則彼滅。」意思是說不論同時異時，因緣所生之法是相對的，互存的關係。例如有學生（此有），必有先生（彼有）；沒有學生（此無），則不成其為先生（彼無）；同樣的，沒有先生（此滅），哪裡來的學生（彼滅）？以上同時互有關係。
又如種子和秧苗的關係：因為有了種子才有秧苗；因為有這秧苗，才成已過的種子；這是異時互相依存的關係。從另一方面看，由秧苗之生而種子異滅，而種子異滅正是秧苗之生；這是異時互存關係。
相對關係，就是因果關係。因果關係是全宇宙緣起法作用的實際過程。當然是極錯綜複雜，但因果報應是絲毫不爽的。
問：你說沒有人管；沒有主宰，這麼錯綜複雜，又是全宇宙性的因果報應，怎能絲毫不爽呢？
答：我也這樣想過，後來看到一些自然現象，最後悟出了科學道理，才打消懷疑，堅定確信了。你看花草都是青枝綠葉，開的花不但各有不同，而且鮮艷各異，那些美麗的顏色是誰給的？哪裡來的？鴿子灰色的多，很樸素，但也有各樣黑色花紋，是由每根羽毛上帶點黑毛拼到一起才構成的。鴿子自己不會修飾，當然不會做花紋，而各個不同的花紋是怎麼有的？再看雞蛋，一層硬殼包裝乾淨無疵，裡面蛋青裹著蛋黃。這種東西，若不是母雞自然所生，恐怕世界上所有的工廠也製造不出來。這有人管嗎?
再請你到醫院解剖研究室看看各種人的研究模型。由大腦起而週遍全身的神經系統；以心臟為中心的心血管循環系統。身體的毛細血管有的比牛毛還細，非常錯綜複雜。這都是誰設計的？誰施工的？有人管嗎？自然是不可思議的！佛的話沒有錯。我心中這麼琢磨著，忽然來了靈感，明白這是最科學的。
待續 |
|
Dharma of Conditioned Arising
Originally there was no such term as “arising from conditioned causation” (Sanskrit: pratityasamutpada). This term was coined by the Buddhas of the past to describe how everything in the universe arises from conditions. Such arising from conditions is not controlled by anyone, but it occurs ceaselessly over the course of time. If no Buddha appeared in the world, humankind would not be able to realize this principle on its own. When the Buddha said, “all things are impermanent,” “all things are devoid of a separate and independent nature,” and “Nirvana is still quiescence,” he was confirming that none of the myriad phenomena in the universe exists forever. Nothing in the universe has an independent being—everything arises dependent on something else. For instance, the human body is formed from a temporary combination of the six elements. Without such combining, nothing can exist. From ancient times until now, no other individual has been able to offer a coherent explanation of the actual nature of the universe in a way that takes into account everything in the universe, whether great or small, especially human beings, who play a major role. This will be discussed in detail later on.
First, let us explain the principle of conditioned arising. Conditioned arising refers to all the myriad things coming into being due to causes and conditions, and their various manifestations. Causes are the basis upon which things arise; conditions are the requirements for their arising. When the causes and conditions meet--that is, when the basis and the requirements come together--things come into being. This is the principle of arising from conditioned causation, in which there is no Lord or Creator. All things are born from causes and conditions, and change and perish according to causes and conditions. Aside from the power of causes and conditions, there is no other entity to be found. That's what is meant by "empty in nature." The Madhyamika says: "Things born of causes and conditions, I say are empty; they are also false names, and also the meaning of the Middle Way." That's why all the myriad things and appearances are said to be causes and conditions coming together, and have no nature of their own. Thus, "all existing things are empty."
The Dharma of conditioned arising is all-encompassing. One who can truly master this Dharma will have a good foundation for studying Buddhism. All things come into being due to a cause; it's impossible for something to come into being without any cause. Since there is a cause, there will be a corresponding result. And so the Buddha said, "If this exists, that exists. If this arises, that arises. If this does not exist, that does not exist. If this is gone, that is gone." The meaning is that, regardless of whether we are talking about events that occur simultaneously or at different times, conditioned arising is a relationship that connects them. For example, if there are students (this exists), there must be a teacher (that exists). If there are no students (this doesn't exist), a person cannot be considered a teacher (that doesn't exist). Similarly, if there is no teacher (this is gone), how could there be students (that is gone)? These are relationships of simultaneous co-existence.
Another example is the relationship between seeds and sprouts. It's because there are seeds that there can be sprouts. And the existence of sprouts confirms the prior existence of seeds.This is a relationship of mutually dependent existence at different times. From another viewpoint, the emerging sprouts signify the change and disappearance of the seeds, and the change and disappearance of the seeds also mark the emergence of the sprouts. This is a relationship of mutual existence at different times.
There is also the dual relationship of causes and effects. The relationship of causes and effects is the actual process of how conditioned arising functions throughout the entire universe. Of course the process is extremely complicated, but the operation of the law of causes and effects is never off by the tiniest bit.
Question: You say there is no one controlling it—no Lord or Creator—yet given the complicated nature of causes and effects and the universal scope of their operation, how can it never be off by the tiniest bit?
Answer: I had the same question before, but through the observation of certain natural phenomena, I finally understood the scientific principle behind it, overcame my doubts, and strengthened by faith. You see that plants have green leaves and blossoms of all different colors. Who gave them those colors? Where did the colors come from? Most pigeons are gray and rather plain-looking, but their feathers also have some black patterns formed from a little bit of black on each of the feathers. Pigeons themselves cannot make these patterns, so where did they come from? Also, look at how clean and flawless the shell of a chicken's egg is, with the egg white wrapping the egg yolk inside. If this were not produced from a hen, probably no factory in the world could produce it. Is this controlled by humans?
Next, please visit the autopsy room in a hospital and observe the physical features of different people—the nervous system that starts in the brain and spreads throughout the body; the circulatory system of blood vessels coming directly from the heart; and the extremely complex network of tiny blood vessels finer than oxhairs throughout the body. Who designed these things? Who made them? Was it done by humans? Nature is incredible! The Buddha's words were not wrong. After pondering all this in my mind, I had an insight and realized that they were completely scientific.
To be continued |
