附錄四告訴我們菩薩戒的殊勝，及菩薩戒的相關資料和編者的話。這是簡單分析報告《在家菩薩戒手册》的內容，希望大家研讀時能掌握方向。現在我們談有關不殺害眾生方面，這一條第一個重戒是殺戒。佛教談「同體大悲」，有人說這個調子太高太遠了。「他是他，我是我，怎麼同一體？」「我的錢是我的，他的錢是他的，這怎麼能同一體呢？我的錢不給他用，他的錢給我用還可以。」好！我們不談同一體。
既然你是你，我是我，我們都有一個共同的執著，就是愛護自己的身體。你愛護你的身體，他也愛護他的身體；你把他的身體傷了，你心理會好過嗎？不會。被你傷害的人會高興嗎？會願意嗎？不會吧！眾生還是多少有憎恨心。這樣的話，那冤冤相報是沒有了的時候，這就是為什麼有這麼多戰爭的原因。
講到究竟圓滿之處，我與眾生同一法身，為什麼要互相破壞？殺害對方，也就是殺害自己圓滿的法身。就近而言，我們將心比心，我們是製造敵人了。這是持不殺戒的基本態度。
現在請看殺戒的果報。
第一短命報。我們念過《地藏經》，經中光目女的母親以殺害、譭罵兩業受報，只活了13歲，這就是短命報。其他經典上也講得非常清楚。
第二多病報。大家知道佛陀背痛。為什麼？這個故事我講一下。
在無量劫以前佛陀是勇士，功夫非常好。當時的國家就像古羅馬有競技場一樣，勇士們要比武，贏的得獎品或勛章。佛陀當時是第一勇士，沒有敵手。一天外面來了一個勇士，也號稱天下無敵。一山不容二虎，國王叫他們倆比賽，誰贏就得獎金，於是他們倆就在擂台上比賽。
一交手，外來的勇士發覺佛陀（即無量劫前的勇士）功夫非常高。當即小聲說，「你不要打敗我，我們打個平手，私下我把獎金給你，你給我留個面子。」佛陀當時也很慈悲，大家都是朋友嘛，於是就放水打了平手。但是外來的勇士沒守諾言，沒將他那一半獎金還給佛陀，私下就用了。佛陀當時很不高興，但也沒有理由要回來。
過了一段時候，國王一想，一山還是容不下二虎。到底誰贏呢？便叫他倆再次比武決勝負。
兩人一上擂台，那外來的勇士又說，「老兄老兄，上次我不得已，因為我有些債沒還，這次我一定給你。你放我一馬，我絕對不忘你的大恩大德。」佛陀想一想，「好吧！既然你這麼求我。」於是又放水打了平手，獎金各分一半。結果怎麼樣？這外來的勇士又沒把錢給佛陀。佛陀心裡真是很不高興了，心想，「你騙我。」但又不好公開說出來。這是欺騙國王啊！可能要砍頭的，只好不講了。
不久這國王又想了，「奇怪！這到底誰是第一呢？」又把他們倆找出來比賽。這時侯外來的勇士又故技重施，又說，「這一次我絕對不說謊，絕對把獎金給你。」這個勇士－－佛陀的前生－－信不信呢？不信了。
待續 |
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Appendix Four tells us of the supremacy of the Bodhisattva Precepts; it also contains other related reference material, in addition to a postface from the compiler.
This is a general summary of the contents of the Handbook of Bodhisattva Precepts for the Laity.
Now we will discuss the precept against taking life and harming living beings. The first major precept is the precept against killing. In Buddhism we speak of "Being one substance with all is called Great Compassion." People may say that we are attempting the unattainable. "Other people are other people and I am I, how could we be one substance? My money belongs to me and their money belongs to them, how can we be of the same substance? I will not permit others to use my money, but on the other hand, I can use other people's money." Okay! That's fine, we won't talk about it.
So it is said that you are you and I am I; therefore we share the same attachment, that is, all of us cherish and protect our bodies. You cherish and protect your body, likewise other people also cherish and protect their bodies. If you harm other people, can you live with your conscience? No. Would the one that is being harmed by you be happy about it? Would he or she be a willing victim? Certainly not! However, living beings more or less still harbor a mind of hatred. Therefore, in this way mutual enmity and vengeance will never cease; this is the reason why there are so many wars.
But in the perfect sense, we and living beings are of one Dharma substance. Why do we want to mutually harm and destroy one another? When we kill or harm the other party, we are also killing and harming our perfect Dharma body. On a personal level, we should put ourselves in others' positions; thus if we kill we end up creating enemies. This is the basic attitude regarding upholding the precept against killing.
Now let's take a look at the retributions for violating the precept against killing.
The first retribution is that of a short life span. Those who recite the Earth Store Sutra know that the mother of Bright Eyes lived for thirteen years due to her karma of killing and slandering. This is one example. Other Sutras also point this out clearly.
The second retribution is that one is beset with illness. Everyone knows that the Buddha's back hurt. Why was this so? I will now speak of this story.
Limitless eons ago, the Buddha had been a great knight; his skills as a warrior were incomparable. The country at the time resembled that of ancient Rome, in which competitive races were held and knights had to compete against one another; the winner was rewarded with trophies or medals of honor. The Buddha was known to be the greatest knight of all time, no other knight could compare to him. One day along came a foreign knight who was also known as the incomparable one. Now it is said there cannot be two incomparable knights in one place. So the king told them to engage in competition, the winner to receive money as a reward. Thus, they engaged in combat on the platform.
During the competition, the foreign knight discovered that the Buddha (the knight countless eons ago) possessed great fighting skills. He then whispered to the Buddha, "You don't have to defeat me, we should have a tie, afterwards I will split the money evenly with you; in this way, you can save face for me." The Buddha was also very compassionate at the time, thinking that both of them were friends, therefore he just let it go and left it at a tie. However, the foreign knight did not keep his words; he did not share half of the reward money with the Buddha but instead use it all for himself. At the time, the Buddha was not very happy, but he had no reason to ask for the money back.
After a time, the king thought once more, there cannot be two incomparable knights in one place. Ultimately, who is the winner? He asked them to compete once again to determine the winner and the loser.
The two of them once more ascended the platform, the foreign knight said again , "Old brother, old brother, I could not help it the first time because I had to pay back some debts. This time for sure I will share it equally with you. Please let me go this one time, I certainly will not forget your great kindness and compassion." The Buddha thought, "Okay, since you have earnestly begged me." Therefore, once again he just let it go, and they ended in a tie. But what happened then? Once again, the foreign knight did not share the reward money with the Buddha. The Buddha was not happy at all. He thought, "You have cheated me." But he did not publicly say it, because if he implied that the other knight had cheated the king, that other knight could be beheaded. Therefore the Buddha kept silent.
After a time, the king thought again, "Strange, ultimately, who is the foremost knight?" He then sought out the two of them and told them to once again compete with each other. This time, the foreign monk reverted to the same old scheme. He said, "This time for certain I will not lie, I will give you the money." Did this knight who was the Buddha's former incarnation believe him or not? No, he was no longer taken in.
To be continued |
