你們不用怕《華嚴經》，宣公上人在萬佛城講《大方廣佛華嚴經》的時候，他說：「你們應該認識清楚，《華嚴經》雖然是佛教裡哲理最高，講全宇宙、全法界一切的道理，卻是你們每天每天不能沒有的心理學的說明書。你們哪一天把《華嚴經》裏邊的道理跟你日用倫常之生活的問題來配合，你那天就得到不可比的解脫了。《華嚴經》能解釋你們心裡的煩惱，能講你自己的一些毛病，《華嚴經》是一種智慧的鏡子，你們每天不可少的。所以，你們要認清楚《大方廣佛華嚴經》啊！」上人這樣子鼓勵我，所以我們應該接受他這種循循勸誘的教導。
《華嚴經》到底是講什麼？什麼都講！全宇宙、全法界的道理都在裡邊。所以我們如果是受科學的教育，《華嚴經》就是我們的第一部經；應該打開看，不要回頭。那麼到底《華嚴經》跟我們現在的題目--自性的科學，有什麼關係呢？我沒說佛法歸納於一個道理嗎？什麼道理呢？是講人心的道理；是講人心講得最澈底的道理。我們若要明白自己的心，那可以說我們在佛陀釋迦牟尼佛在雪山修苦行六年的道路上，已經邁出了第一步。當我們升起那個念頭說：「到底我自己的心是怎麼回事？我昨天煩惱很重，今天又覺得飄飄然；我前天都好像是要自殺，明天說不定我又快樂起來了。我不明白我自己到底是什麼人？我到這個世界上來是為的什麼？我在這個世界上應該做什麼才算是過有意義的生活？」
我們問這些問題時，就已經走上佛的道路了，才生起眞正菩提心--覺道的心；覺悟眞理，覺悟道理的心，就是先從起那個念頭而來的；佛就是走過這條道路，問這些問題。同一樣的，科學也是從問問題而來研究世界的。
在佛教裡問「我」到底是誰？我這個「心」是什麼？可以說是研究無形的生命，研究我們生命裏邊一些無形的問題；科學是研究有形有相、有度量、有彩色、有體積（volume）、有重量、有寬度，研究一些能用儀器來度量的問題。雖然科學跟佛教所問的問題不同，不過兩者都是有系統地研究人的心。
很多人覺得奇怪，佛教用科學的方法來研究他自己的心。佛陀可以說是最完全的科學家。那麼兩者是怎麼研究呢？
科學是用方法，用methodology（方法）來研究為什麼水是濕的？為什麼光有光、有影？為什麼空氣可以透光、可以透聲？問這些問題，用方法來研究；研究之後，然後把我們實驗的結果寫下來。如果旁人再重複我的實驗，就能得到同樣的結果，那就有 intersubjectivetestability（客觀的可證實性）了。如果二個人。三個四個人都能重複那個實驗，那就變成科學的事實了。對不對？科學的方法，一定要有記錄，一定要令他人研究時也可以重複，那我的研究才可以說是可靠的。
佛陀他怎麼研究呢？他研究自己的念頭，自己的情感，他研究自己的身體，整個的生命。用的是什麼方法？用的是法。什麼法？佛法。當時有沒有佛？沒有；他就是一個法。因為釋迦牟尼佛並沒有佛在他前邊，讓他可以按照經典研究：佛並沒有《華嚴經》。他還在因地，還在當悉達太子那個時候，他就是用一些瑜伽，用一些外道的方法研究。後來他知道走極端不是中道，就回去靜坐，用戒、定、慧來實驗，像科學的方法一模一樣。他實驗成功之後怎麼樣？有沒有記錄？有！是什麼？經典。佛的經典是什麼？是他研究他自己的心的記錄。是不是？
你們打開佛經看看，那上頭就是用這個方法說：「你迴向功德，你就能減少你的我相；你能多多做法佈施--諸供養中，法供養最；你迴向就是做法佈施，這個方法能令你在菩薩道上有進步。」誰這麼說呢？普賢菩薩。十大願王第十願是什么？普皆迴向。佛說這個方法很好，他說你願意行菩薩道，你就修六種波羅蜜，這也是一個方法。所以佛的經典，是他自己研究實驗他自己身心的一些實驗記錄。實驗後怎麼樣呢？佛所留下來的道路，在印度有人誓死重複他的experiment（實驗）。中國也有人實驗他的experiment。韓國、日本、南傳的國家；現在美國、加拿大、南美、歐洲，整個世界，善男信女，有善根的人，相信他們自己發菩提心可以成功，就按照佛的道理去做，重複他的實驗，都得到一樣的結果，得到究竟的解脫。一直到現在，還是一樣。這是科學性的實驗，不過實驗室laboratory在哪裏呢？就是各位的身心。
待續 |
|
Don't be afraid of the Flower Adornment Sutra. When the Venerable Master Hsuan Hua lectured the Flower Adornment Sutra at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, he said, "You should know that, although the Flower Adornment Sutra is the highest doctrine of Buddhism and explains the truths of the universe, it is at the same time a psychology handbook that you can-not do without in daily life. The day you can use the Flower Adornment Sutra to deal with your daily problems, you will attain an incomparable liberation. The Flower Adornment Sutra can resolve all your vexations, explain all your problems. It is an indispensable mirror of wisdom. You should clearly recognize this Great Means Expansive Flower Adornment Sutra for what it is."
We should certainly listen to the Master's earnest exhortation. Well, what does the Flower Adornment Sutra talk about? It talks about everything. All the truths of the universe and the Dharma Realm are contained within it. If you have had a science-based education, the Flower Adornment Sutra is the first Sutra you should read. Don't worry that you won't understand it. But what does the Flower Adornment Sutra have to do with our topic, the "Science of Our Own Natures"? All of Buddhism goes back to the study of the mind. If we wish to understand our minds, we have already taken the first step on the path that the Buddha walked when he went to cultivate for six years in the Himalayas. We may have asked the questions: "What is the mind? Yesterday I was afflicted, but today I'm on top of the world. The day before yesterday I felt like committing suicide, but maybe tomorrow I'll be happy again. I don't understand who I am, or what I've come to this world for, and what I should be doing to make my life meaningful."
By asking these questions, we have already started on the path that the Buddha walked. The Buddha asked these same questions, and then he resolved to seek enlightenment. He vowed to understand the truth. It all started with a thought. Science likewise begins with questions in its investigation of the world.
Buddhism asks: "Who am I? What is my mind?" It investigates the immaterial aspect of life. Science investigates the material aspect-that which has form, color, volume, weight, and other measurable properties. Though the questions they ask are different, they are both the systematic study of the human mind.
Many people may be surprised to hear that Buddhism uses the scientific method to study the mind. The Buddha could be considered the perfect scientist.
Science uses a methodology to investigate why water is wet, why light creates shadows, why air can transmit light and sound, and then records the results of its experiments. If the experiments can be duplicated, then there is "intersubjective testability." That is to say, if a second, third, and fourth person can get the same results, then they become scientific facts. Scientific experiments must be recorded and repeatable. The Buddha investigated his own thoughts, emotions, body, and life. He also used methods-dharmas. Shakyamuni Buddha did not have the teachings of a previous Buddha to follow. He followed the teachings of unorthodox schools and realized that they led to extremes, not the Middle Way. Then he meditated and used morality, concentration, and wisdom-those were his scientific methods. And when his experiment succeeded, the results were recorded in the Sutras. The Buddha's Sutras are records of his investigation of his own mind.
Open the Sutras and take a look. They say, "If you transfer merit, you can lessen your sense of self. Among all gifts, the gift of Dharma is supreme. Transfering merit is a form of giving Dharma, and this method can help you advance on the Bodhisattva path." Who said this? Universal Worthy Bodhisattva. His tenth great vow is to universally transfer all merit and virtue. The Buddha praised that method. He said that if you want to walk the Bodhisattva path, you should cultivate the Six Paramitas—those are also methods. Thus, the Buddha's Sutras are records of his research on his own physical and mental being.
The path that the Buddha left behind was like an experiment that has since been repeated by people in India, China, Korea, Japan, the Theravadan countries, and now the United States, Canada, South America, and Europe. Throughout the world, I believe that people with good roots who decide to repeat the Buddha's experiment and follow his path will ultimately succeed and attain liberation. This is just like a scientific experiment. However, the laboratory is our own body and mind.
To be continued |
