Lecture No. 0254
Global Lamrim II
Lecture No. 0254
Lamrim Volume 1: Pg 36L5
Tape No: 4B 02:56 ~ 05:09
Date: 2022-07-31
Topic: Grand and Ceremonious Introduction to The Life of Master Atisha and The Life of Lama Tsong-kha-pa
Next, Master said, “If you are really inspired by Master Atisha, let me introduce a book to you.” Regarding this statement, I’d also like to ask [you] question - [this reminds me that] when [I was] studying under Master’s guidance, I often raised hand to ask lots of questions - can you still read the book [recommended by Master] if you are not truly inspired by Master Atisha? May I have all your answers? What do you all think? [00:28]
Then, let’s contemplate: are we truly inspired by Master Atisha? Or are we not that impressed? While studying until this section, would you pause here and start to contemplate this question in the class? Could you understand the way Master expounded? It should be as such, [only] after we have read The Life of Master Atisha then we would be inspired by Master Atisha. If so, then why is it that the [Master] would say if you are really inspired by Master Atisha, you should read this book? Do you have an answer to it? [00:57]
Immediately afterward, Master said, the book “is available at the Buddhism bookstore [in Taipei].” He pinpointed the exact bookstore for us! Then, Master continued, “In fact, for serious readers,” what should they read? Master said, “There is another book, the Life of Lama Tsong-kha-pa.” He continued, “The Collection of Lama Tsong-kha-pa’s Life Stories is also available at the same bookstore.” He followed by saying that the book was “written in modern colloquial Chinese.” Have you noticed that? If we really like to read The Life of Master Atisha, there was another book, The Collection of Lama Tsong-kha-pa’s Life Stories, written in modern colloquial Chinese which was also available in the Buddhism bookstore. Master continued, “Since the author who actually composed this Lamrim is Lama Tsong-kha-pa, if you can read both The Life of Master Atisha and the Life of Lama Tsong-kha-pa, then you will know….” What follows is the conclusion, “Ah, these authors are exceptionally marvellous!” [01:51]
Do you [still] remember Master’s tone of voice [in teaching #253] when he said, “exceptionally marvellous”? His tone of voice was all of a sudden raised higher. That tone of voice would leave a very deep impression in our minds, right? This is the reason I recommend that you listen more to the recording [as often as possible] because you could [deeply feel and] keep in memory Master’s tone of voice when he described these authors as exceptionally marvellous. Are you able to sense how remarkably delighted Master was when introducing [these books] to us? On top of that, [it was quite an understatement] when Master said if you are really inspired by Master Atisha, [Master] was quite reserved and courteous, wasn’t it? [He was] worried that we might reject it. Was he afraid of us [disciples] being aversive, hence he said it this way? You can ponder on it. [02:28]
Master continued, “These two eminent Masters, one from India, the other from Tibet, were recognized as ‘Shakyamuni the second’ by their contemporaries as well as by their future generations for hundreds of years… ‘Ah! They were believed to have been the manifestations of Buddha, the true manifestations of Buddha!’” [02:43]
Although this short paragraph has only few words, we can [still] sense his exceptional eagerness and joyfulness as Master introduced these two books to us. [Think about this]: At that time it was about thirty years ago, how many of us and the Buddhists [in the Chinese Buddhist community] have ever heard about The Life of Master Atisha ? Most of us probably never heard of it before. [If so,] will we have the aspiration for wanting to read The Life of Lama Tsong-kha-pa and learn from it? [I remembered] at that time, upon hearing the Master’s introduction - I hurriedly looked for this book, searching all over the available and accessible bookstores and distribution channels, with the sole determination to get hold of this book. [03:26]
At that time, if whoever had a copy of The Life of Master Atisha, I would have even forgo sleeping to copy it down and then savour it gradually and attentively, because this book was absolutely rare at that time, almost to the point of unable to find it! I have thought that, if we still couldn’t get one, we would first borrow from whoever had the book, and everyone in the class could copy a few pages for fear that the heavy load of transcribing the whole book might wear down the hand of a single transcriber. Upon hearing the introduction as such from Master, I was especially and truly inspired to read the books. [I want to find out,] [since] Master introduced this eminent great master to us, who was born as a prince, with deep veneration and joy, what marvellous feats had he achieved after all? Equally inspired [was I to know] what Lama Tsong-kha-pa [had contributed to Buddhism]? Back then, while we studied this section, such great boundless admiration indeed arose in our hearts! [04:08]
Besides, there is one more question, which I wonder whether have you all thought about it? That is while introducing The Life of Master Atisha, after Master described the excellent lineage of which Master Atisha took rebirth in, he then introduced to us another book, The Life of Lama Tsong-kha-pa. In this short passage alone, Master introduced to us two books. I would feel that the rhythm was shiningly bright while Master introduced The Life of Master Atisha, as we would be [inspired by] the topic “how he took rebirth in an excellent lineage”, and thus would like to understand all the good qualities of Master Atisha. Since the author of this [Lamrim] text is Lama Tsong-kha-pa, we would also like to learn more about Lama Tsong-kha-pa. Therefore, for those disciples who are really aspired to understand the deeds of the eminent lineage Masters, the introduction of these two books by Master is no doubt analogous to withering seedlings in desperate need of water being suddenly [and timely] doused by Master with water. Think about those who yearn to study but simply can’t get a hold of the books; they would search high and low [throughout the universe] but could not find the book they are looking for; that is a truly restless and agitated fidgeting feeling. My take is that [Master’s introduction] had quenched the thirst for many people who yearned for knowing more from The Life of Master Atisha. [05:19]
You all must have the [same] experience too, when you are so eager to find a book, you have tried so hard to search far and wide, asking people for help, but to no avail. However, you just couldn’t let go of this book. The strong yearning [for finding the book] weighs on you, lingering on your mind day and night throughout your life. At this juncture, if there is a teacher telling you where to find this book, such words are just like a lifesaver. [Because] by reading this book, you can resolve the paramounting issues [all sentient beings facing]! Sometimes we may be facing a grave risk or a giant hurdle in our lives, but due to we have read this book, the issue/hurdle is overcome. How could it be resolved/overcome? For [we] rejoice in the good qualities of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. The good qualities of rejoicing is tremendously huge! Just as we are reading The Life of Master Atisha and The Life of Lama Tsong-kha-pa, we would constantly and repeatedly rejoice the sages for their marvellous deeds! While we are rejoicing [their good qualities], we are also accumulating great stores of virtuous karma so that we can probably transcend the suffering we are facing. [06:07]
[Master] introduced [the two biographies to us] at the very beginning of the teaching; if you all can read them, then you can accumulate lots of virtuous karma by rejoicing the [good qualities] of the sages. It is very possible that the hurdles of being unable to continue with Lamrim study, or lack of faith, or having obstacles in learning can all be overcome. Why? Because of the great store of virtuous karma we accumulate by reading these two books! Don’t you agree? I believe it is a good opportunity to accumulate merits! [Master] did not introduce these two books to us adventitiously, it is not like that. Rather, [Master] introduced these books with exceptional grandeur and ceremoniousness. Such introduction was not something unpremeditated. [06:42]
【全球广论 II 讲次: 0254】
讲次 | 0254 (2020-09-03 ~ 2020-09-06)
标题 | 隆重介绍尊者传与宗大师传
《广论》段落 | P2-LL1 ~ P2-LL1 其殊胜分三……得已于教所作事业。 今初
音档 | 4B 02:56 ~ 05:09
手抄页/行 | 第1册 P114-LL3 ~ P115-LL3 ( 2016 南普陀版：P114-LL4 ~ P115-LL3 )
手抄段落 | 所以圆满的教法……这两位尊者的景仰。
(更新日期: 2022年7月31日)
00:00
讲到这里的时候，师父说了这样一句话：“如果说大家对阿底峡尊者真正地欢喜的话，我介绍你们一本书。”在这个地方，我又想问问题——因为跟师父学习的时候，常常会举手问问题——那对阿底峡尊者不是真正地喜欢的话，不能看这本书吗？大家的回答是什么？你们怎么想？00:28
那我们就想：我们是对阿底峡尊者真正地欢喜的呢？还是不欢喜的？你们研讨的时候会在这儿停下来吗？师父这样讲能理解吗？应该是学了《阿底峡尊者传》之后，才会对阿底峡尊者真正地欢喜，那为什么说如果大家对阿底峡尊者真正地欢喜的话，就去读这本书呢？你们有答案吗？00:57
师父接着马上说：“佛教书局有。”地点告诉你了！接着又一句话：“其实真正要看起来的话”，看什么呢？看书。“还有一本书──《宗喀巴大师传》。”又说了：“现在佛教书局已经出了一本《宗喀巴大师应化因缘集》”，而且接着说，“是用白话写的”。有没有发现？说你要真正地喜欢看《阿底峡尊者传》的话，还有一本书就是《宗喀巴大师应化因缘集》，而且也在佛教书局、是用白话写的传。接着又进一步说：“真正造本论的这个造者是宗喀巴大师，你能够把《阿底峡尊者传》跟《宗喀巴大师传》两个都看一看，那时你才晓得”，这一句结论：“这个造者的殊胜真是不得了！”01:51
师父“不得了”那个语气记得吧？那语气突然提高。那个语气会让我们内心留下很深刻的印象吗？这就是我比较建议大家听带子的原因，因为你会把师父讲这一句话的语调的感觉记在心里边。能不能感觉师父在非常非常欢喜地给我们介绍？而且他说如果大家对阿底峡尊者真正欢喜的话，还是有点客气，会不会？害怕我们排斥。是怕我们排斥才这样说的吗？你们可以自己考虑一下。02:28
接着说：两位一位在印度，一位在西藏。当时乃至后几百年中都被称为“第二能仁”呀！实实在在地是佛陀再来。02:43
这一小段并不是很多字，我们可以感受到师父非常非常热切、非常非常欢喜地给我们介绍这两本书。对于我们学佛的弟子来说，那个时候三十多年前，有听过《阿底峡尊者传》吗？我们应该不知道。我们会对《宗喀巴大师传》生起想要去学的这种欲乐吗？师父这样一句介绍的话——我那个时候听到这里就赶快去找这本书，翻遍能接触到的书店还有流通处，就要去找到这本书。03:26
那个时候如果谁有一本《阿底峡尊者传》，我都想不睡觉把它抄下来，然后一点一点看。因为那个时候这本书实在是很稀有，几乎找不到的！有时候想如果没有的话，就大家先把书借来，然后每个人分几页抄，免得一个人抄到手都不能动。听到师父这样介绍的话就特别特别想看，师父这么这么尊敬、这么欢喜的心，给我们介绍的这位王子出身的祖师，到底有怎样令人惊叹的事迹？还有宗喀巴大师到底是怎样的？那时候这一段真的是让我们的内心生起了无限的渴仰！04:08
而且还有一个问题，不知道你们想没想过？这是介绍《阿底峡尊者传》，师父在介绍阿底峡尊者的圆满种中受生的这样的一段之后，接着就把《宗大师传》在这个地方介绍出来，在这段里就介绍了这两本书给我们。我会觉得在介绍《阿底峡尊者传》这样的一个节奏感中，就显得非常地明亮，我们会从“圆满种中受生”，而想去了解阿底峡尊者所有的功德；那么因为本论的作者是宗大师，我们还会想去了解那宗大师是怎样的。所以对于那些特别特别想了解祖师行谊的弟子来说，师父这两本书的介绍，无疑就像一个干渴的小苗突然被师父浇到了水一样。不然那个想读书的人读不到，天茫茫、地茫茫，找不到要找的书，那真是坐卧难安的焦虑感。我会认为解决了很多人很想要去了解《阿底峡尊者传》的那种渴望。05:19
诸位一定也有经历过，当你特别想找一本书，天南海北到处求人也找不到，可是你也不能把这本书忘记；它就一直在白天里、在黑夜里，在你的生命成为一种很强烈渴望的那种痛苦。这个时候如果有一位老师跟你说哪哪哪有这本书，这一句话就跟救命一样，你看了这本书可以解决很大的问题！有的时候可能生命正遭逢一个很大的风险或者很大的一个坎，但是因为看了这本书的缘故就过了。怎么过的呢？因为随喜佛菩萨的功德。随喜功德非常大！像我们看《阿底峡尊者传》、看《宗大师传》，我们就一直随喜圣者的这种行谊呀！一边随喜、一边造集广大的善业，可能生命的那点痛苦就径直飞越过去了。06:07
在这么开始的时候介绍书，大家如果能看，就可以在随喜圣者的这个过程之中造集很多的善业，可能就把学《广论》学着学着就中断、或者没有信心、或者出一些障碍的这件事就过了，就因为阅读这两本传造集太多善业了！你们认为呢？我认为是一个积资粮的好机会！不是说着、说着说到两本书，然后就给我们介绍两本书，不是那样的，是特别特别隆重介绍的！不是随意介绍的。06:42