⊙慧炬之光：智慧能照無明之暗，使能知道避開險難，通佛化眾之智慧門。
⊙「其智慧門難解難入，一切聲聞辟支佛所不能知」。《法華經方便品第二》
⊙智慧門者，謂了知一切諸法，即是實相。門以能通、能入為義，是為智慧門。
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【證嚴上人開示】
諸佛智慧就如慧炬之光，「智慧能照無明之暗，使能知道避開險難，通佛化眾之智慧門。」
慧炬之光：
智慧能照無明之暗
使能知道避開險難
通佛化眾之智慧門
因為我們眾生的無明，一念起，前途茫茫，何去何從，自己都不知道。所以時時一念偏差，千里之錯誤，這就是凡夫因為心地黑暗。
所以若能得到佛陀的智慧，慧炬之光，那就能照入我們的心地裡。心地若得到智慧之光明，自然在黑暗的內心裡，路就能光明，自然我們就能避開了險難。心的無明若撥開，事事就懂得戒慎、懂得虔誠。
「戒」能防非止惡，預防我們非分之想，也能停止我們行動中的惡行。這是我們有佛的智慧，入我們的心裡，自然我們就能通達，佛所化度眾生的智慧之門。
我們要能瞭解智慧，其實戒很重要。佛陀在人間化度，就是要來教育我們，什麼是該做，你要精進；什麼是不該做，你要及時防止。我們若能及時防止不該做的事情，心行正，「一正破千邪」。
過去有這樣的一段故事。有一個小鄉村的地方，在一天將要黃昏了，一個小家庭忽然間，就來了一位面目清秀的一位年輕人，看起來好像很累，來了就向這個家庭的主人說：「我走得很累，是不是您這間屋子，若還有空間，借我住一晚？」
這位主人就說：「年輕人，我看你好像真的很累，你是從哪裡來？」
這位年輕人就這樣說：「我是從舍衛國來。因為舍衛國全國的人民，很多人都是信佛、持五戒之人。我的家庭父母是更加虔誠。」
有一次，我出外做生意時，我不小心就喝酒了。回到家裡，父母聞到我的酒味，很生氣，說我是「五戒」不具足，破了酒戒，汙辱了家門，所以盛怒將我趕出門，要我到遠方好好去反省。
這位主人聽了，何謂「五戒」？他也不知道，但是看到這位年輕人很善良。主人很好禮，就趕緊準備一間房間。
但是，這位年輕人安置好了，主人開始忙。在忙什麼呢？這是每一天，這位主人必定要例行，就是要很鋪張祭鬼神，供養三位財神鬼。因為財神鬼，會常常從外面搬財物來，財產用不盡。他認為這是三位財神鬼給他的福，所以他就每天都這樣鋪張、這樣供養。
果然到了晚上，這位年輕人在靜靜的房間裡，用心在思考佛陀的五戒，一直在懺悔。這期間，這三個鬼，來到屋子外圍那個地方，遠遠就有一股正氣，所以鬼無法靠近，就趕緊回頭就要跑了。
主人看到這三位財神鬼，轉頭就要跑，趕緊叫喚道：「為什麼三位財神爺，你怎麼還沒有來用供物就要跑？」他就邊追邊叫，很恭敬。
鬼也在前面邊跑邊回頭說：「因為你的家裡，有一位你的上賓、貴賓，有很多護法(神)在那裡，我無法靠近。」所以邊說邊跑，很惶恐。
這位主人感覺奇怪！天亮，主人就問這位年輕人。這位年輕人就說：「佛陀所說的五戒就是正法，我雖然受五戒之中，破了一個酒戒，不過其他的四戒，我還是很虔誠，我不斷在懺悔。可能因為如此，所以周圍有護法神。
這當中，主人就開始問：「到底佛法是什麼道理呢？」
年輕人就將他所知道的一點點，告訴主人。他就說：「我所知的不多，但是你可以到舍衛國，親身見佛及僧。」
這位主人決定了：「好，我要去看看，難道真的道理那麼通徹？」從這樣那天起，開始他就準備，上路了。這位年輕人又再往前一個城市走，這位主人就往舍衛國走。」
這位主人，走了一天，遠遠有一戶人家，他就走近到那間人家扣門。來開門的是，一位長得很端莊的女人，一位婦女，就問他：「有什麼事嗎？」
他說：「我想要去舍衛國，路途還很遠，天色已經暗了，前面(也)沒有人家了，想在此向您借宿。」
這位女人面有難色，很猶豫，後來她就說：「我老實告訴你，不是不肯借你，這裡很危險，因為我的先生，我的丈夫是一個噉人鬼，就是吃人的惡魔。你要趕緊離開此處，晚點他會回來。」這位女人一直婉拒他，但是這位(尋佛者)苦苦要求，所以她就讓他住(進)一個房間。
到了晚上，果然噉人鬼惡魔也回來了。遠遠要進他的家門，就有二十多位的護法天神在他家的周圍，他嚇到了，根本無法靠近這一股的正氣，所以就離開了。
平安過了一晚，這位婦女就向這位來借宿的人說：「你要趕緊離開，你很幸運，不知道是什麼福，能遇到我的丈夫沒有回來。你趁現在趕緊離開。」
踏出門時，看到許多人的白骨頭，他自己嚇到了！又想，這麼漂亮的女人，她的先生若是一個噉人鬼，她與這個噉人鬼在一起，也是很危險。我本來在家裡就是享受每一天的生活，我何苦還要再向前走，要求什麼樣的五戒？雖然我的心，是一直很好樂五戒，一直在想年輕人對我說的五戒，但是感覺再去的路很遠。
這個心念一轉，感覺他應該要回去了，不如也將這個漂亮的女人帶離險地。所以他又回頭，向這位女人說：「我還是很累，能再借宿一晚嗎？我很想與妳說話。」這位女人一直拒絕他，但是他就是不肯離開。
果然太陽下山後，先生很倉皇地回來，太太看到先生已經快到家了，趕緊將那個人藏在酒甕裡。噉人鬼回來時，他就說：「家裡怎麼有新鮮人的氣味呢？血肉的氣味很新鮮，來，來，趕緊拿來。」
這位女人就說：「哪有，家裡空空的，沒有(人)。倒是你為何昨晚沒有回來？」就用很撒嬌、或者是生氣的形態，來責問他為何昨晚未歸？
他就趕緊解釋：「我昨晚有回來，就是好像有天神正氣，在我們家的內外，所以我無法靠近，我趕緊離開，就說。」
這位女人就想到，那位男人曾說過，他是為了要去見佛，為了去求受五戒。到底五戒是什麼？「五戒」，只是在我家這樣說而已，連先生也會怕？所以她就問：「你知道什麼是五戒嗎？」
他說：「我知道，但是我不能說。」
「為什麼不能說？你一定要說給我聽！」
所以這位噉血鬼，禁不起他的太太哀求，說出了五戒。
五戒說了之後，他的太太內心，就趕緊默念佛，自己發心。躲在酒甕裡的這個人，也開始懺悔，應該要再向前前進，求佛受五戒。所以當他們二人內心都有，同時想要求取五戒這當中，天神又再恢復回來了，加倍了，之前有二十幾位天神，現在有五十多位天神，一時湧現。噉血鬼又禁不起這股正氣，又消失了。
過後，這位婦女趕緊將這個人叫出來，她說：「你是很好運，我的惡魔丈夫已經離開了，你要趕緊趁此時離開。」
他已經相信了，所以就說：「既然佛的五戒，有這麼大的正氣，妳何不也同樣去皈依佛？」
這當中，這位婦女也認為，她每天過的都是很痛苦的日子，現在知道有一條正路，所以她與這位就去了。
在途中，遇到四百九十八人，一大群人從舍衛國走出來。他們將要接近舍衛國，就問這群人：「你們來自何方？」
他們就說：「來自舍衛國。」
「舍衛國，現在佛陀不也是在舍衛國裡？」
這群人就說：「對啊，但是佛陀說的法我們就是聽不懂，所以要離開。」
這二人將他們的經過，持五戒的正氣，就前後說給這四百九十八人聽。每個人聽完後，覺得佛在我們自己的國度裡，我們怎麼聽不懂？原來這樣傳出去的五戒，只要內心虔誠接受，就能夠得到這麼大的功德啊！所以看到這二人要往舍衛國，這四百九十八人，也隨他們回頭，回到舍衛國，佛的精舍裡，五百人虔誠皈依佛。
五百人虔誠皈依佛，佛陀就向他們五百人說法。大眾比丘感到不可思議，聽他們說經過，感覺到「戒」真的是很不可思議的力量。佛陀就說，佛的智慧難知、難解，唯有人人一心信受，一心信受，持戒自然護法。
所以，佛之「智慧門難解難入，一切聲聞、辟支佛所不能知。」
其智慧門難解難入
一切聲聞辟支佛
所不能知
《法華經方便品第二》
不是簡單的人就能夠理解。我們要知道，佛法，佛的智慧，他能在宇宙萬物之理，開一扇正氣之門，就是正道菩提門，這條路是多麼康莊！
我們學佛之人，若能依照這個門入，這個智慧門就是「知一切諸法即是實相」。
智慧門者
謂了知一切諸法
即是實相
門以能通
能入為義
是為智慧門
很多實相的智慧門，我們一定要入。這個實相是一股正氣的門路，所以我們應該要好好深入。我們若能入這個門，就能通達很多很多的道理，這就是入智慧門。
所以，智慧門是一個心念。從這個故事，我們就能瞭解，學佛就是靠一念心，你這念心很虔誠，自然正氣就在你周圍，所以叫做「一念破千災」，這也就是這樣的道理。
所以我們時時要相信佛陀的智慧，佛的智慧，其實也是我們眾生的智慧，我們眾生人人本具。所以時時要多用心。
Explanations by Master Cheng-Yan
Subject: Entering the Wisdom-Door through Precepts (信受持戒入智慧門)
Date: December. 05. 2013
The wisdom of all Buddhas is like the light from a torch. “Wisdom can illuminate the darkness of ignorance, help us realize how to avoid dangers and understand the wisdom-door that the Buddha has opened to transform sentient beings.”
When an ignorant thought arises in sentient beings, the road ahead becomes unclear. We do not know where we came from nor where we are going. Thus at any moment, if one thought goes astray, we may end up thousands of miles off-course. This is how we ordinary people are. Our minds are filled with darkness, but if we can receive the Buddha’s wisdom, the light from His torch of wisdom will illuminate the state of our minds. If our minds can receive the light of wisdom, the roads in our darkened minds can be illuminated. Then naturally we can avoid dangers. If we can sweep away the ignorance in our minds, we will be disciplined and reverent as we deal with things. Precepts can guard against wrongs and help evils, prevent us from having unwholesome thoughts and stop us from committing evil acts. Therefore, when the Buddha’s wisdom has entered our minds, naturally we can thoroughly understand the wisdom-door the Buddha used to transform sentient beings.
Indeed, to understand this wisdom, [upholding] precepts is very important. The Buddha came into the world to transform us, to teach us how to diligently do the things we should do and immediately refrain from the things we should not do. If we can stop ourselves in time from doing things we should not do, our minds and conduct will be upright. “One upright thought destroys 10,000 deviant ones.”
There is a story about wisdom and precepts that took place in a small village. One day around dusk, a handsome young man suddenly appeared [at the door] of a small house. He looked exhausted and told the man of the house, “I am very tired from walking. Do you have any space in your house where I can stay for a night?” The man of the house said, “Young man, I can see that you are very tired. Where did you come from?” The young man said, “I came from the Kingdom of Sravasti. Many people in my country are Buddhists who uphold the Five Precepts. My parents are even more devout than others; One time, I went away for business and I was careless and took a drink. When I returned home, my parents smelled the alcohol on me. They angrily told me that I did not uphold the five precepts and that by violating the one against drinking, I brought shame to the family.So in rage, they threw me out and told me to go far away to self-reflect.”
The man of the house did not know what the Five Precepts were, but he felt that this young man was kindhearted.The man was very hospitable and quickly prepared a room for the young man.After he helped the young man settle in, the owner busily got to work.What was he busily doing?
Every day, this man held lavish ceremonies to make offerings to the three ghosts of wealth, as they would bestow wealth upon the house.His wealth was inexhaustible, therefore, he believed these were blessing conferred upon him by the three ghosts of wealth.So, he made lavish offerings every day.
That night the sky was full of stars, and they young man stayed in his quiet room to mindfully contemplate the Buddha’s Five Precepts.He kept repenting.At this time, the three ghosts had arrived.They were about to reach the house when they could feel a virtuous aura from afar.Therefore, they could not get closer, and they quickly turned around and ran away.
The man of the house saw these spirits of wealth turning and running away, so he quickly called after them, “Oh, you ghosts of wealth, why are you running away without talking the offerings?”As he chased after them, he respectfully asked this question.As the spirits ran away they replied, “Because in your house, there is an honored guest.There are many Dharma-protectors there, so we cannot go near.”
As they spoke and ran, they were terrified.
The man of the house was mystified, so in the morning he asked the young man.The young man said, “The Buddha’s Five Precepts are Right Dharma.Although I broke the precept against drinking, one out of the Five Precepts, I still very reverently uphold the other four and have been continually repenting.Perhaps this why I am surrounded by Dharma-protectors.”
So, the man of the house asked, “What are the principles of the Buddha-Dharma?”
The young man told him what little he knew.Then he said, “I don’t know a lot but you can go to the Kingdom of Sravasti to see the Buddha and the Sangha for yourself.”
The owner decided, “All right, I will go see them.Is it possible that the true principles are so penetrating?”
One that day, he made preparations and then began his journey.The young man moved on to the next city as the man of the house started walking toword Sravasti.
After a day of walking,he saw a single house in the distance.So,he went and knocked on the door.The woman who opened the door looked very proper.She asked him, “What is your business？”He said, “ I want to go to Sravasti.I still a long way to go,but it is getting dark and there are no other houses close by.So,I want to ask you for lodging.”The woman looked reluctant and was very hesitant.Eventually she said, “Honestly,it is not that I am unwilling to help you.but this place is very dangerous.My husband is a man-eating ghost,a demon that eats people. You must leave here as soon as possible, he will come back soon.” The woman kept declining his plea, but he persisted in his request, so she let him stay in a room. In the evening, indeed the man-eating ghost came home. From far away he saw over 20 Dharma-protectors surrounding his house. He became frightened and could not further approach this virtuous aura, so he left.
After the night passed peacefully, the woman told the man who came for lodging, “You must leave quickly. You are very fortunate and blessed that my husband did not come back. So, you must take this opportunity to leave now.”As he stepped outside, he saw many human bones. He became very scared. Then he thought, “This woman is very beautiful if her husband is a man-eating ghost, staying with him must be very dangerous for her. “At home, I have been living in luxury every day. Why should I treacherously continue forward to seek the Five Precepts, whatever they are? Although I want to learn about the Five Precepts, and I have been thinking about what the young man told me, the journey seems so far.”
Once he changed his mind. He decided that he should go home and he might as well take this beautiful woman away from this dangerous place. So, he turned back and said to her, “I am still very tired, can I stay for one more night? I really want to talk to you.” The woman tried refusing him again. But he still refused to leave. Indeed, after the sun set, her husband hurriedly rushed back. The woman saw that her husband was almost home, so she quickly told the man to hide in a wine jar. When the man-eating ghost came back, he said, “Why is there a new human smell here? The scent of this flesh is very fresh, bring it to me quickly!” The woman said, “What do you mean? The house is empty. There are no humans here. As for you, why didn’t you come home last night?” She alternated between a firty and angry tone to accusingly ask him about not coming home.He quickly explained, “I did come home last night, but there was a virtuous aura of heavenly spirits inside and around our house, so I could not come close. I had to leave in a hurry.”The woman then remembered that the man spoke of going to see the Buddha and seeking to receive the Five Precepts. Just what are these Five Precepts? Is just mentioning the Five Precepts enough to scare my husband? So she asked, “Do you know what the Five Precepts are?” He said, “I do, but I cannot say them.”“Why not? You must tell me”
This man-eating ghost could not withstand his wife’s imploring, so he told her abut the Five Precepts. After he explained them, his wife began to recite the Buddha’s name in her mind and developed spiritual aspirations. The man hiding in the liquor barrel also began to repent, realizing that he should have journeyed toward to seek the Five Precepts from the Buddha. So when both of them thought about seeking the Five Precepts at the same time, the heavenly spirits appeared again in over twice their original numbers. Previously, there were about 20, now there were more than 50. They appeared all at once. The man-eating ghost could not endure the aura of virtue, so he disappeared again.
Then this woman called for the man to come out of hiding. She said, “You are very fortunate. My evil husband has left again, you must leave right now.” Now he believed her, so he said, “Since the Buddha’s Five Precepts can bring about such an aura of virtue, why don’t you take refuge with the Buddha, too?” By this time, the woman also realized that every day she lived in great suffering. Now that she knew there was a right path, she [decided to] leave with this man.
On their journey, they met a group of 498 people leaving the Kingdom of Sravasti. They asked the group, “Where are you coming from?”The group said, “We come from the Kingdom of Sravasti. Doesn’t the Buddha reside in Savasti right now?”These people said, “Yes, but we cannot understand His teachings, so we left.”The two of them shared their experiences about how an aura of virtue came from upholding the Five Precepts. After these 498 people heard the story, they thought, “The Buddha is residing in our own kingdom; why can’t we understand Him? As it turns out, if we reverently receive the Five Precepts that are taught, we can attain such great merit and virtue.” So, when they saw that these two people were walking toward Sravasti, these 498 people also turned around to follow them back to Sravasti.
At the Buddha’s abode, these 500 people reverently took refuge with the Buddha. After they took refuge, the Buddha began giving them teachings. The bhiksus found their incredible as they described their experiences. They felt that precepts truly have very inconceivable powers. So, the Buddha told them that a Buddha’s wisdom is difficult to understand. Only when people wholeheartedly believe in, accept and uphold the precepts will Dharma-protectors naturally appear.
So, the Buddha’s “wisdom-door is difficult to understand and enter. It cannot be known by any Heaters or Pratyekabuddhas.”
This is not something easy to understand we should know that the Buddha’s teachings and the Buddha’s wisdom can open the door to the principles of all things in the universe. This is the Bodhi-door to the Right Path. This path is so very broad.
If we Buddhist practitioners can pass through this door, this wisdom-door is “the knowledge and understanding of all things, which is ultimate truth.” We must pass through the wisdom-door to reach the ultimate truth.
This ultimate truth is the gateway to the aura of virtue. So, we must deeply penetrate it. If we can pass through this door, we can thoroughly understand many principles. So, the wisdom-door is a mindset. From this story, we can understand that practicing the Buddha’s Way depends on our minds. If we are reverent, an aura of virtue will surround us.
Therefore, “one thought can destroy all disasters” is also based on the same principle. So, we must always trust in the Buddha’s wisdom. Actually, the Buddha’s wisdom is also the wisdom of sentient beings. We intrinsically have it. Therefore, we must always be mindful.
(Source: Da Ai TV - Wisdom at Dawn program – Explanation by Master Chen-Yen)
⊙「其智慧門難解難入，一切聲聞辟支佛所不能知」。《法華經方便品第二》
⊙智慧門者，謂了知一切諸法，即是實相。門以能通、能入為義，是為智慧門。
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【證嚴上人開示】
諸佛智慧就如慧炬之光，「智慧能照無明之暗，使能知道避開險難，通佛化眾之智慧門。」
慧炬之光：
智慧能照無明之暗
使能知道避開險難
通佛化眾之智慧門
因為我們眾生的無明，一念起，前途茫茫，何去何從，自己都不知道。所以時時一念偏差，千里之錯誤，這就是凡夫因為心地黑暗。
所以若能得到佛陀的智慧，慧炬之光，那就能照入我們的心地裡。心地若得到智慧之光明，自然在黑暗的內心裡，路就能光明，自然我們就能避開了險難。心的無明若撥開，事事就懂得戒慎、懂得虔誠。
「戒」能防非止惡，預防我們非分之想，也能停止我們行動中的惡行。這是我們有佛的智慧，入我們的心裡，自然我們就能通達，佛所化度眾生的智慧之門。
我們要能瞭解智慧，其實戒很重要。佛陀在人間化度，就是要來教育我們，什麼是該做，你要精進；什麼是不該做，你要及時防止。我們若能及時防止不該做的事情，心行正，「一正破千邪」。
過去有這樣的一段故事。有一個小鄉村的地方，在一天將要黃昏了，一個小家庭忽然間，就來了一位面目清秀的一位年輕人，看起來好像很累，來了就向這個家庭的主人說：「我走得很累，是不是您這間屋子，若還有空間，借我住一晚？」
這位主人就說：「年輕人，我看你好像真的很累，你是從哪裡來？」
這位年輕人就這樣說：「我是從舍衛國來。因為舍衛國全國的人民，很多人都是信佛、持五戒之人。我的家庭父母是更加虔誠。」
有一次，我出外做生意時，我不小心就喝酒了。回到家裡，父母聞到我的酒味，很生氣，說我是「五戒」不具足，破了酒戒，汙辱了家門，所以盛怒將我趕出門，要我到遠方好好去反省。
這位主人聽了，何謂「五戒」？他也不知道，但是看到這位年輕人很善良。主人很好禮，就趕緊準備一間房間。
但是，這位年輕人安置好了，主人開始忙。在忙什麼呢？這是每一天，這位主人必定要例行，就是要很鋪張祭鬼神，供養三位財神鬼。因為財神鬼，會常常從外面搬財物來，財產用不盡。他認為這是三位財神鬼給他的福，所以他就每天都這樣鋪張、這樣供養。
果然到了晚上，這位年輕人在靜靜的房間裡，用心在思考佛陀的五戒，一直在懺悔。這期間，這三個鬼，來到屋子外圍那個地方，遠遠就有一股正氣，所以鬼無法靠近，就趕緊回頭就要跑了。
主人看到這三位財神鬼，轉頭就要跑，趕緊叫喚道：「為什麼三位財神爺，你怎麼還沒有來用供物就要跑？」他就邊追邊叫，很恭敬。
鬼也在前面邊跑邊回頭說：「因為你的家裡，有一位你的上賓、貴賓，有很多護法(神)在那裡，我無法靠近。」所以邊說邊跑，很惶恐。
這位主人感覺奇怪！天亮，主人就問這位年輕人。這位年輕人就說：「佛陀所說的五戒就是正法，我雖然受五戒之中，破了一個酒戒，不過其他的四戒，我還是很虔誠，我不斷在懺悔。可能因為如此，所以周圍有護法神。
這當中，主人就開始問：「到底佛法是什麼道理呢？」
年輕人就將他所知道的一點點，告訴主人。他就說：「我所知的不多，但是你可以到舍衛國，親身見佛及僧。」
這位主人決定了：「好，我要去看看，難道真的道理那麼通徹？」從這樣那天起，開始他就準備，上路了。這位年輕人又再往前一個城市走，這位主人就往舍衛國走。」
這位主人，走了一天，遠遠有一戶人家，他就走近到那間人家扣門。來開門的是，一位長得很端莊的女人，一位婦女，就問他：「有什麼事嗎？」
他說：「我想要去舍衛國，路途還很遠，天色已經暗了，前面(也)沒有人家了，想在此向您借宿。」
這位女人面有難色，很猶豫，後來她就說：「我老實告訴你，不是不肯借你，這裡很危險，因為我的先生，我的丈夫是一個噉人鬼，就是吃人的惡魔。你要趕緊離開此處，晚點他會回來。」這位女人一直婉拒他，但是這位(尋佛者)苦苦要求，所以她就讓他住(進)一個房間。
到了晚上，果然噉人鬼惡魔也回來了。遠遠要進他的家門，就有二十多位的護法天神在他家的周圍，他嚇到了，根本無法靠近這一股的正氣，所以就離開了。
平安過了一晚，這位婦女就向這位來借宿的人說：「你要趕緊離開，你很幸運，不知道是什麼福，能遇到我的丈夫沒有回來。你趁現在趕緊離開。」
踏出門時，看到許多人的白骨頭，他自己嚇到了！又想，這麼漂亮的女人，她的先生若是一個噉人鬼，她與這個噉人鬼在一起，也是很危險。我本來在家裡就是享受每一天的生活，我何苦還要再向前走，要求什麼樣的五戒？雖然我的心，是一直很好樂五戒，一直在想年輕人對我說的五戒，但是感覺再去的路很遠。
這個心念一轉，感覺他應該要回去了，不如也將這個漂亮的女人帶離險地。所以他又回頭，向這位女人說：「我還是很累，能再借宿一晚嗎？我很想與妳說話。」這位女人一直拒絕他，但是他就是不肯離開。
果然太陽下山後，先生很倉皇地回來，太太看到先生已經快到家了，趕緊將那個人藏在酒甕裡。噉人鬼回來時，他就說：「家裡怎麼有新鮮人的氣味呢？血肉的氣味很新鮮，來，來，趕緊拿來。」
這位女人就說：「哪有，家裡空空的，沒有(人)。倒是你為何昨晚沒有回來？」就用很撒嬌、或者是生氣的形態，來責問他為何昨晚未歸？
他就趕緊解釋：「我昨晚有回來，就是好像有天神正氣，在我們家的內外，所以我無法靠近，我趕緊離開，就說。」
這位女人就想到，那位男人曾說過，他是為了要去見佛，為了去求受五戒。到底五戒是什麼？「五戒」，只是在我家這樣說而已，連先生也會怕？所以她就問：「你知道什麼是五戒嗎？」
他說：「我知道，但是我不能說。」
「為什麼不能說？你一定要說給我聽！」
所以這位噉血鬼，禁不起他的太太哀求，說出了五戒。
五戒說了之後，他的太太內心，就趕緊默念佛，自己發心。躲在酒甕裡的這個人，也開始懺悔，應該要再向前前進，求佛受五戒。所以當他們二人內心都有，同時想要求取五戒這當中，天神又再恢復回來了，加倍了，之前有二十幾位天神，現在有五十多位天神，一時湧現。噉血鬼又禁不起這股正氣，又消失了。
過後，這位婦女趕緊將這個人叫出來，她說：「你是很好運，我的惡魔丈夫已經離開了，你要趕緊趁此時離開。」
他已經相信了，所以就說：「既然佛的五戒，有這麼大的正氣，妳何不也同樣去皈依佛？」
這當中，這位婦女也認為，她每天過的都是很痛苦的日子，現在知道有一條正路，所以她與這位就去了。
在途中，遇到四百九十八人，一大群人從舍衛國走出來。他們將要接近舍衛國，就問這群人：「你們來自何方？」
他們就說：「來自舍衛國。」
「舍衛國，現在佛陀不也是在舍衛國裡？」
這群人就說：「對啊，但是佛陀說的法我們就是聽不懂，所以要離開。」
這二人將他們的經過，持五戒的正氣，就前後說給這四百九十八人聽。每個人聽完後，覺得佛在我們自己的國度裡，我們怎麼聽不懂？原來這樣傳出去的五戒，只要內心虔誠接受，就能夠得到這麼大的功德啊！所以看到這二人要往舍衛國，這四百九十八人，也隨他們回頭，回到舍衛國，佛的精舍裡，五百人虔誠皈依佛。
五百人虔誠皈依佛，佛陀就向他們五百人說法。大眾比丘感到不可思議，聽他們說經過，感覺到「戒」真的是很不可思議的力量。佛陀就說，佛的智慧難知、難解，唯有人人一心信受，一心信受，持戒自然護法。
所以，佛之「智慧門難解難入，一切聲聞、辟支佛所不能知。」
其智慧門難解難入
一切聲聞辟支佛
所不能知
《法華經方便品第二》
不是簡單的人就能夠理解。我們要知道，佛法，佛的智慧，他能在宇宙萬物之理，開一扇正氣之門，就是正道菩提門，這條路是多麼康莊！
我們學佛之人，若能依照這個門入，這個智慧門就是「知一切諸法即是實相」。
智慧門者
謂了知一切諸法
即是實相
門以能通
能入為義
是為智慧門
很多實相的智慧門，我們一定要入。這個實相是一股正氣的門路，所以我們應該要好好深入。我們若能入這個門，就能通達很多很多的道理，這就是入智慧門。
所以，智慧門是一個心念。從這個故事，我們就能瞭解，學佛就是靠一念心，你這念心很虔誠，自然正氣就在你周圍，所以叫做「一念破千災」，這也就是這樣的道理。
所以我們時時要相信佛陀的智慧，佛的智慧，其實也是我們眾生的智慧，我們眾生人人本具。所以時時要多用心。
Explanations by Master Cheng-Yan
Subject: Entering the Wisdom-Door through Precepts (信受持戒入智慧門)
Date: December. 05. 2013
The wisdom of all Buddhas is like the light from a torch. “Wisdom can illuminate the darkness of ignorance, help us realize how to avoid dangers and understand the wisdom-door that the Buddha has opened to transform sentient beings.”
When an ignorant thought arises in sentient beings, the road ahead becomes unclear. We do not know where we came from nor where we are going. Thus at any moment, if one thought goes astray, we may end up thousands of miles off-course. This is how we ordinary people are. Our minds are filled with darkness, but if we can receive the Buddha’s wisdom, the light from His torch of wisdom will illuminate the state of our minds. If our minds can receive the light of wisdom, the roads in our darkened minds can be illuminated. Then naturally we can avoid dangers. If we can sweep away the ignorance in our minds, we will be disciplined and reverent as we deal with things. Precepts can guard against wrongs and help evils, prevent us from having unwholesome thoughts and stop us from committing evil acts. Therefore, when the Buddha’s wisdom has entered our minds, naturally we can thoroughly understand the wisdom-door the Buddha used to transform sentient beings.
Indeed, to understand this wisdom, [upholding] precepts is very important. The Buddha came into the world to transform us, to teach us how to diligently do the things we should do and immediately refrain from the things we should not do. If we can stop ourselves in time from doing things we should not do, our minds and conduct will be upright. “One upright thought destroys 10,000 deviant ones.”
There is a story about wisdom and precepts that took place in a small village. One day around dusk, a handsome young man suddenly appeared [at the door] of a small house. He looked exhausted and told the man of the house, “I am very tired from walking. Do you have any space in your house where I can stay for a night?” The man of the house said, “Young man, I can see that you are very tired. Where did you come from?” The young man said, “I came from the Kingdom of Sravasti. Many people in my country are Buddhists who uphold the Five Precepts. My parents are even more devout than others; One time, I went away for business and I was careless and took a drink. When I returned home, my parents smelled the alcohol on me. They angrily told me that I did not uphold the five precepts and that by violating the one against drinking, I brought shame to the family.So in rage, they threw me out and told me to go far away to self-reflect.”
The man of the house did not know what the Five Precepts were, but he felt that this young man was kindhearted.The man was very hospitable and quickly prepared a room for the young man.After he helped the young man settle in, the owner busily got to work.What was he busily doing?
Every day, this man held lavish ceremonies to make offerings to the three ghosts of wealth, as they would bestow wealth upon the house.His wealth was inexhaustible, therefore, he believed these were blessing conferred upon him by the three ghosts of wealth.So, he made lavish offerings every day.
That night the sky was full of stars, and they young man stayed in his quiet room to mindfully contemplate the Buddha’s Five Precepts.He kept repenting.At this time, the three ghosts had arrived.They were about to reach the house when they could feel a virtuous aura from afar.Therefore, they could not get closer, and they quickly turned around and ran away.
The man of the house saw these spirits of wealth turning and running away, so he quickly called after them, “Oh, you ghosts of wealth, why are you running away without talking the offerings?”As he chased after them, he respectfully asked this question.As the spirits ran away they replied, “Because in your house, there is an honored guest.There are many Dharma-protectors there, so we cannot go near.”
As they spoke and ran, they were terrified.
The man of the house was mystified, so in the morning he asked the young man.The young man said, “The Buddha’s Five Precepts are Right Dharma.Although I broke the precept against drinking, one out of the Five Precepts, I still very reverently uphold the other four and have been continually repenting.Perhaps this why I am surrounded by Dharma-protectors.”
So, the man of the house asked, “What are the principles of the Buddha-Dharma?”
The young man told him what little he knew.Then he said, “I don’t know a lot but you can go to the Kingdom of Sravasti to see the Buddha and the Sangha for yourself.”
The owner decided, “All right, I will go see them.Is it possible that the true principles are so penetrating?”
One that day, he made preparations and then began his journey.The young man moved on to the next city as the man of the house started walking toword Sravasti.
After a day of walking,he saw a single house in the distance.So,he went and knocked on the door.The woman who opened the door looked very proper.She asked him, “What is your business？”He said, “ I want to go to Sravasti.I still a long way to go,but it is getting dark and there are no other houses close by.So,I want to ask you for lodging.”The woman looked reluctant and was very hesitant.Eventually she said, “Honestly,it is not that I am unwilling to help you.but this place is very dangerous.My husband is a man-eating ghost,a demon that eats people. You must leave here as soon as possible, he will come back soon.” The woman kept declining his plea, but he persisted in his request, so she let him stay in a room. In the evening, indeed the man-eating ghost came home. From far away he saw over 20 Dharma-protectors surrounding his house. He became frightened and could not further approach this virtuous aura, so he left.
After the night passed peacefully, the woman told the man who came for lodging, “You must leave quickly. You are very fortunate and blessed that my husband did not come back. So, you must take this opportunity to leave now.”As he stepped outside, he saw many human bones. He became very scared. Then he thought, “This woman is very beautiful if her husband is a man-eating ghost, staying with him must be very dangerous for her. “At home, I have been living in luxury every day. Why should I treacherously continue forward to seek the Five Precepts, whatever they are? Although I want to learn about the Five Precepts, and I have been thinking about what the young man told me, the journey seems so far.”
Once he changed his mind. He decided that he should go home and he might as well take this beautiful woman away from this dangerous place. So, he turned back and said to her, “I am still very tired, can I stay for one more night? I really want to talk to you.” The woman tried refusing him again. But he still refused to leave. Indeed, after the sun set, her husband hurriedly rushed back. The woman saw that her husband was almost home, so she quickly told the man to hide in a wine jar. When the man-eating ghost came back, he said, “Why is there a new human smell here? The scent of this flesh is very fresh, bring it to me quickly!” The woman said, “What do you mean? The house is empty. There are no humans here. As for you, why didn’t you come home last night?” She alternated between a firty and angry tone to accusingly ask him about not coming home.He quickly explained, “I did come home last night, but there was a virtuous aura of heavenly spirits inside and around our house, so I could not come close. I had to leave in a hurry.”The woman then remembered that the man spoke of going to see the Buddha and seeking to receive the Five Precepts. Just what are these Five Precepts? Is just mentioning the Five Precepts enough to scare my husband? So she asked, “Do you know what the Five Precepts are?” He said, “I do, but I cannot say them.”“Why not? You must tell me”
This man-eating ghost could not withstand his wife’s imploring, so he told her abut the Five Precepts. After he explained them, his wife began to recite the Buddha’s name in her mind and developed spiritual aspirations. The man hiding in the liquor barrel also began to repent, realizing that he should have journeyed toward to seek the Five Precepts from the Buddha. So when both of them thought about seeking the Five Precepts at the same time, the heavenly spirits appeared again in over twice their original numbers. Previously, there were about 20, now there were more than 50. They appeared all at once. The man-eating ghost could not endure the aura of virtue, so he disappeared again.
Then this woman called for the man to come out of hiding. She said, “You are very fortunate. My evil husband has left again, you must leave right now.” Now he believed her, so he said, “Since the Buddha’s Five Precepts can bring about such an aura of virtue, why don’t you take refuge with the Buddha, too?” By this time, the woman also realized that every day she lived in great suffering. Now that she knew there was a right path, she [decided to] leave with this man.
On their journey, they met a group of 498 people leaving the Kingdom of Sravasti. They asked the group, “Where are you coming from?”The group said, “We come from the Kingdom of Sravasti. Doesn’t the Buddha reside in Savasti right now?”These people said, “Yes, but we cannot understand His teachings, so we left.”The two of them shared their experiences about how an aura of virtue came from upholding the Five Precepts. After these 498 people heard the story, they thought, “The Buddha is residing in our own kingdom; why can’t we understand Him? As it turns out, if we reverently receive the Five Precepts that are taught, we can attain such great merit and virtue.” So, when they saw that these two people were walking toward Sravasti, these 498 people also turned around to follow them back to Sravasti.
At the Buddha’s abode, these 500 people reverently took refuge with the Buddha. After they took refuge, the Buddha began giving them teachings. The bhiksus found their incredible as they described their experiences. They felt that precepts truly have very inconceivable powers. So, the Buddha told them that a Buddha’s wisdom is difficult to understand. Only when people wholeheartedly believe in, accept and uphold the precepts will Dharma-protectors naturally appear.
So, the Buddha’s “wisdom-door is difficult to understand and enter. It cannot be known by any Heaters or Pratyekabuddhas.”
This is not something easy to understand we should know that the Buddha’s teachings and the Buddha’s wisdom can open the door to the principles of all things in the universe. This is the Bodhi-door to the Right Path. This path is so very broad.
If we Buddhist practitioners can pass through this door, this wisdom-door is “the knowledge and understanding of all things, which is ultimate truth.” We must pass through the wisdom-door to reach the ultimate truth.
This ultimate truth is the gateway to the aura of virtue. So, we must deeply penetrate it. If we can pass through this door, we can thoroughly understand many principles. So, the wisdom-door is a mindset. From this story, we can understand that practicing the Buddha’s Way depends on our minds. If we are reverent, an aura of virtue will surround us.
Therefore, “one thought can destroy all disasters” is also based on the same principle. So, we must always trust in the Buddha’s wisdom. Actually, the Buddha’s wisdom is also the wisdom of sentient beings. We intrinsically have it. Therefore, we must always be mindful.
(Source: Da Ai TV - Wisdom at Dawn program – Explanation by Master Chen-Yen)
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