Lecture No. 0272
Global Lamrim II
Lecture No. 0272
Lamrim Vol. 1: Pg40 LL17
Tape No | 4B 24:13 ~ 26:18
Date: 3 Jul 2022
Topic: Learn the Gurus’ good qualities of taming afflictions and respecting the Sangha
Master strongly emphasized that one must internalize the Buddha’s teaching in our minds and use it to tame our mind. The restraint of our mind is primarily embodied by the application of the three trainings which are: ethical discipline, meditative stabilization, and wisdom insight. As we all know, to tame this unbridled mind, we must apply the precepts to restrain the wild horse, hoop it with the rope of ethical discipline, suppressing it with the power of meditative stabilization, and finally uprooting it with the wisdom sword. Thus, just like how Master specifically stressed on the systematic stages of meditation practice, the Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment comprises the entire framework arranged into stages that a pudgala needs to practice in order to achieve Buddhahood. After which, Master abided by these stages of the path rigorously in his own application, when he guided his disciples, he also did so accordingly. [00:49]
The taming of our afflictions can be analogized to our need to consume food when we are hungry. If we cook up a feast because we are very hungry, yet we do not eat it, it will not be able to ease our hunger. The example of our ability to prepare a sumptuous meal is trying to describe our competency in obtaining a clear understanding of the scriptures. Not putting the Teachings we have understood into practice, is akin to cooking good food but not consuming them, it will not do us any good if we don’t consume it. So then, use discerning wisdom to observe, recognizing what is right and what is wrong. After distinguishing and analysing each matter; we must sum them up and instil them into our training. [01:30]
So what is defined as training? It is developing the skill that can suppress the force of our afflictions, equipping us with the method to remedy afflictions. Just as all major or minor arising conditions that we encounter daily, Master would always remind us to “train our mind through handling tasks”, that is, taming afflictions that surface through the arising conditions. Master often said, “You can fool everyone but never yourself.” The level of skilfulness of your meditation practice/cultivation will correspond to the extent of effectiveness when you attempt to counteract afflictions. Hence, the values of Master’s practice in working inwardly and taming afflictions, highly correspond to this statement quoted in Lamrim, “all of the scriptures are instructions for practice”. Which means, every teaching in Lamrim can be applied to tame our minds. Master’s meditation practice/cultivation also exemplified this in numerous instances, this is a very distinctive trait amongst all of Master’s good qualities! [02:19]
In addition, Master led a very simple life; he also hoped that the monastics in the Sangha could be contented and have less desires, enforcing exceptionally stringent restrictions on high-tech products. Our Sangha still continues to uphold the same value – omitting the use of high-tech products where possible, and channelling our energy towards studying the scriptures, analysing the three trainings [i.e. ethical discipline, meditative stabilization, and wisdom], taming our minds, or engaging in service to the masses. Master’s instructions for this point were extremely clear. [02:50]
And also, there are instructions among *Rinpoche’s teaching with regards to showing veneration for the community that is evidently remarkable! You can observe from many instances, Rinpoche applying the prescriptive precepts of taking refuge, namely the part on venerating the community. Rinpoche frequently educates us saying, to venerate the community, we start with respecting the ones close by to us. If you are surrounded by monastics, then you should start with venerating the monastics around you. Do not only venerate monastics living far away, or those you have not met, and yet not respect those right before you. We should respect the community right by our side! [03:23]
[*https://bwsangha.org/news/d/537-07019] Like me, I was fortunate to witness Rinpoche, even towards young novice monks, he would kneel down when making offerings to them. He was already an eminent master, some of his disciples would say to him, “Ah, Master you are my crown jewel!” However, he would kneel down in front of the seemingly young novice monks, respectfully holding the pens or the like above his head with both hands to hand it to them. Once, we arrived at a monastery and it was already nightfall. A group of young novice monks sat in a circle reciting the sutra. Seeing this, Rinpoche began to make full prostrations toward them from far away. Under the dim light, it would be hard to recognize him if you are not standing close by; others would not know who this was. Rinpoche was walking at the front of our entourage, he prostrated immediately, paying respect to the young novice monks who were reciting the sutra. [04:11]
And there is my Excellent Teacher, I have also once observed another Teacher of mine, he would never step over the shoes of the monastics! I have shared this story with everyone before [Global Lamrim II Discourse #115]; not sure if you still remember? My Teacher’s Teacher summoned him when he was giving us a lesson. My Teacher immediately took off to see his Teacher who was upstairs. However, there were many shoes belonging to the monastics scattered at the entrance, he bended forward … At that time, he was still receiving medical treatment for his lower back and legs; he bended forward and swiftly shifted the shoes to both sides respectfully. In actual fact, he could have strode over the shoes, but he did not choose to do that. He made a small walkway for him to pass. With an urgent and rapid pace, he walked past, but with great respect setting aside the shoes of the monastics. [04:53]
Having seen these scenes, as a disciple, they left a deep and vivid impression in my mind, the exemplary manifestations of my Teachers, and disciple should follow accordingly. Thus in this section, seeing that Master Atisha mastered all the good qualities of his Teachers; how remarkable is such meditation/cultivation practice! Like our Excellent Teachers have so many great qualities, we cannot even master one, even striving very hard, it is still difficult to learn. Hence, how unimaginable and remarkable were Master Atisha’s achievements! [05:22]
【全球广论 II 讲次: 0272】
讲次 | 0272
标题 | 效学上师调伏烦恼、恭敬僧之功德
《广论》段落 | P6-L1 于圣教所作事中分二……藏中所作事理。 今初
音档 | 4B 24:13 ~ 26:18
手抄页/行 | 第1册 P126-L5 ~ P127-L3 ( 2016 南普陀版：P126-L7 ~ P127-L6 )
手抄段落 | 那么最后我也说……这个只是在自利。
(更新日期: 2022年7月3日)
00:00
师父他就非常强调佛法一定要结合内心、向内调伏。向内的调伏其实也最主要的被戒定慧三学所摄，大家都知道调伏这颗狂心，一定要用戒律钩住那个疯狂的马，用戒律之绳钩住它，接着再用禅定的力量压伏它，最后才用智慧宝剑把它的根本拔除掉。所以像师父就特别强调一个修行的次第，比如说《菩提道次第广论》，将一个补特伽罗成佛的修行次第全部都编排在一起，然后他自己是非常认真地在沿着这个道次第修行，引导弟子也是这样做的。00:49
要向内调伏烦恼，就比如像我们饿了需要食物，如果肚子很饿的时候做了很多美味大餐，但是不吃的话，对止息饥饿是毫无帮助的。会做美味的食物，就好比是能够清楚地了解教典的内容；对这些完全不去做修持的话，就好像会做好吃的食物，做好了却不食用，如果不吃的话是没有帮助的。那么用抉择慧观察，了知何者是、何者非，然后各别去分别判断之后，全部要集中起来化作自心的修持。01:30
那么什么叫修持呢？就是能够压伏自心的烦恼势头，成为对治烦恼的一个方便。像在大大小小的境中，师父都会提醒我们历事练心，就是要对境调伏烦恼。师父常常说：“你能骗得了别人，是骗不了自己的。”自己的那个功夫到什么程度，调伏烦恼的力度就是那样子。所以师父在向内调伏、压伏烦恼的这个宗风，也非常合乎于道次第的“一切至言现为教授”，就是全部都可以拿来向内调伏。在师父修行的示现中比比都是这样的例子，这是在师父的功德之中非常耀眼的一个！02:19
另外师父的生活非常地简朴，也非常希望僧团的法师们少欲知足，尤其是对于高科技产品的强力防范。现在我们僧团也在延续这个宗风，就是尽可能不用的就不用，然后把精力用在教典上、用在研究三学、向内调伏，甚至是承事大众。这一点师父的教授是非常、非常明晰的。02:50
那么还有像仁波切的教授之中，恭敬僧的这个部分就是非常显耀的！你可以在很多、很多的事例中，看到他实践皈依学处，就是恭敬僧的这个部分。因为仁波切也常常教育我们说，恭敬僧就是从身边的人开始恭敬——如果你身边都是出家人的话，你就要从身边的人开始恭敬；不是眼前的僧众在眼前都不去恭敬，然后去恭敬天边的、不认识的出家人，就是你熟悉的这些人！03:23
像我就有幸亲眼得见在那些年龄很小的沙弥面前，如果上师他去供僧的话，他都是跪下来。他是一个大上师了，就像有一些弟子说：“啊，上师您是我的顶严！”但是他会在可能看起来很小的沙弥面前跪下来，然后把那个铅笔呀什么都捧过头顶来给他们。有一次到了一个寺院，那个寺院天色已经渐晚了，一群小沙弥围成一圈在背经，仁波切在很远的地方他就开始对他们大礼拜。那个有点夜色，如果不是跟在旁边是有点看不清楚他是谁，没人知道他是谁。他走在我们这个队伍的最前面，他就直接磕大头，礼敬那些正在背经的小沙弥。04:11
还有我的善知识，我也曾经看到我的另一位上师，他绝对不会从出家人的鞋上迈过去！这个以前我有给你们讲过，不知道还记得否？就是我的上师的上师叫他，他正在给我们上课，他马上就要去见他的老师，在楼上，可是门口有很多出家人的鞋子，他就弯下腰来——那时候他的腰腿是不怎么好的，正在治病——他弯下腰来，用飞快的速度把那个鞋非常恭敬地拨到两侧，其实他一步是可以迈过去，他没有选择迈，然后留出一条小路他自己走过去。迈着非常急促的步子走过去，但是非常恭敬地拨开了出家人的鞋子。04:53
这些镜头，作为弟子的我看了之后都会深深地刻在自己的心中，上师是怎么样示现的，弟子就要如是地行。所以在这一段中，看到了阿底峡尊者把他所有的老师的长处都学会了，这是一个何等的修行！像我们的善知识那么多的功德，我们一个都学不会，拼死拼活地都很难学，所以这是何等了得的事情！05:22