⊙佛世時親受佛教，隨機巧施方便法，慈心本懷待機宜，棄三乘教施一乘。
⊙「世尊法久後，要當說真實，告諸聲聞眾，及求緣覺乘，我令脫苦縛，逮得涅槃者。」《法華經方便品第二》
⊙告諸聲聞眾：為佛之小乘法中弟子，聞佛之聲教，悟四諦之理，斷見思之惑，為佛道中之最下根。
⊙聲聞者：小根由聲從教立名。聞聲傳道，信受佛語，依教奉行，自淨其意，獨善其身，執小偏空。
【證嚴上人開示】
在佛世時代，能夠親近佛所教法，佛能夠隨機巧施方便法，尤其是「慈心本懷待機宜，棄三乘教施一乘」。
佛世時親受佛教
隨機巧施方便法
慈心本懷待機宜
棄三乘教施一乘
這是佛陀的時代，能夠在那個時代親近佛陀，佛陀親身為他們說法。那個時候，佛陀還是，同樣不斷地隨機巧施，用真正權巧的方法來教育，這就是「方便施教法」。
不過，佛陀還是慈心本懷，那個慈悲的心，他的本懷，想要暢演，想要說的話，還是在待時機，什麼時候應該說了？什麼樣的根機，應該接受？所以佛陀的慈悲，心心念念，都不放棄這時機的來臨，要向大家普被，真正普遍，施以內心本懷的教法，所以佛陀等待得很辛苦。
眾生根機鈍劣，佛陀的慈悲就要循循善誘，等待這個時間，大家聽得懂的時候，他必定要說一乘實法。一直等到時間到了，所以棄掉了三乘的教法，將它去除，現在就是施一乘法，開始就要說出來了，所以佛陀法久後，要當說真實。這段(經)文再說：「告諸聲聞眾，及求緣覺乘，我令脫苦縛，逮得涅槃者」。
世尊法久後
要當說真實
告諸聲聞眾
及求緣覺乘
我令脫苦縛
逮得涅槃者
《法華經方便品第二》
這也就是要向大家說，現在在場，佛陀，最重要的，就是要讓那些，聲聞要更加瞭解。因為聲聞，多數都是以清淨心出家，常隨佛聽法之人。那緣覺呢？也是一樣，他求道懇切的心，對這天地宇宙萬物真理，就是有心要去探討。像這樣根機的人，佛陀就是在這段，將所心懷的真實法，就要傳授出去了，所以在此處「告諸聲聞眾」。
過去「佛告舍利弗」，佛陀就是叫一位，在這僧團中智慧第一，人人所承認的舍利弗來對機。現在已經向大家說得很清楚了，過去這方便權巧的法，現在要去除了，人人要知道，要學佛就要真正很體會，佛心、佛知、佛見。佛的心懷，大家要知道；佛的知見，大家應該要能夠所見的，要與佛同樣的境界。
佛陀他能夠看得很遠、很開、很闊，宇宙萬物沒有一項佛不知道的，所以也希望人人的這個見解，與他平等的視線，都能夠看得見，能夠了徹。這是佛陀最期待的。所以佛陀的心真的是很慈悲，慈悲的本懷，大家要知道。
所以佛陀開始要很用心，不斷警惕大家：「你們大家本具的佛性，要趕緊找出來，不要只藉外面的法在瞭解。用法來瞭解法，這不是永久的。要從內心真如的本性，裡面的清流泉水，要自己來洗滌，同時也能洗滌他人。」這是佛陀著急之處，希望人人要趕緊接受。
過去用很長的時間，要來警惕大家。除了文殊菩薩，佛陀的靜坐中，發光現瑞，這段時間，啟發人人的疑心，到底佛陀今天的形相與過去，怎麼都不一樣？佛陀到底要說什麼樣的大法？這就是開始要讓當場的人，起一念要追求、想要知道如何能啟開這個疑問？
等到佛陀出定之後，開始要講法，就一再(向)對機(者) ，是舍利弗，就要讓這些隨佛修行者，聲聞、緣覺，要知道責任重大了，佛陀現在要傳法，將他的內心本懷的法，毫無保留，整個都要說出來，大家應該要心理準備，要接受佛陀這些法，將來就是要傳承。所以，這是一而再，再而三，向這些聲聞、緣覺。即將說話之前，最先以舍利弗做代表，到此時就直接(說)：大家應該要生起大信力。
佛陀，佛保護著此法已經很久，現在開始要暢演出來，所以現在直接就「告諸聲聞眾」，開始直接向聲聞眾說話了。
告諸聲聞眾：
為佛之
小乘法中弟子
聞佛之聲教
悟四諦之理
斷見思之惑
為佛道中之最下根
我們現在來看，聲聞與緣覺的根機。來，「告諸聲聞眾」，那就是佛小乘法中的弟子。佛陀其實平等說法，不過大家還未堪得接受，佛陀開始就用小乘法，先讓大家自己先瞭解自己。所以讓大家知道，在這「六凡四聖」中，先施教於六凡中，這六道輪迴之苦。大家聽到：「哇！這麼苦啊！」由不得自己，因緣果報，在這六道中就是苦不堪。
「四諦法」中，瞭解這種因緣果報的可怕，在一念間造了很多的業，集中了很多的業力，隨著果報來受苦。大家聽了，「有道理，瞭解了，我要趕緊懂得害怕，不要再去造這些惡業，不要再結因，結這個因、緣，結怨連仇，不要了。」所以大家提高警覺，所以斷去世間的緣，所以捨愛、割愛出家。
這就是初步，將世間會牽累、掛慮的煩惱，情、愛，先斷，斷了這個情、愛，才能斷了仇、恨。所以這是小乘，斷掉了恩愛情恨，將這些斷掉了，這叫做小乘。
捨棄了愛恨情仇、恩恩怨怨，開始出家了，心無牽掛，那就是一心，能聽佛所說法。將自己內心，將此法往內洗滌心念，所以與世無爭、與人無爭、與事無爭，這樣就是與理無爭了，所以就瞭解了道理，能夠瞭解，這就是隨佛出家的聲聞眾。所以，佛的小乘法中的弟子，叫做聲聞，就是聞佛的聲音所教育。
佛陀的智慧，發自他的心、發自他的聲，所以來教育，隨身(隨他)修行的人人，所以這叫做聲聞。他受持的佛教，每一次佛陀若講經說法之後，大家聽完之後，「歡喜奉行，作禮而退」，每一場，聽了都是很歡喜。
佛所說的法，就是在這世間，人人所看不開的道理，經過佛陀分析之後，看開了，道理瞭解了，心不需要再執著，這樣降伏了內心那分的剛強。
我們人人的剛強，都是因為貪、瞋、癡，就會生出了我慢、貢高的形態出來。所以，這些隨佛修行之人，第一步驟，就是要降伏，降伏這個貪、瞋、癡的念頭，在外面待人對事，更要再去除貢高、驕傲的習氣。這就是隨佛的言教，這樣來體悟，這是聲聞弟子。
同時也要體悟「四諦」的道理。「四諦法」我們要能瞭解，除了苦、集、滅、道，我們要觀身、觀受、觀法、觀心等等，我們都要能更加瞭解。這就是佛陀對弟子開始說法，這種要如何調伏內心，分析道理，「四諦法」苦、集、滅、道，之後還要再斷見思之惑。
我們人人的見解很複雜，佛陀說法之後，大家將此見解，大家趕快調，調好了我們的見解。「見」要正見，「解」要正知、正解，要善解。所以這種見解，我們要好好調伏。
所以「見」，世間一切的見解，人人每一個人的見解都不同；還有思考，這個思考，人人內心的想法都不同。這全都是「惑」，就是無明，就是無明的見解、無明的思想，所以無明、看不開的煩惱。所以，隨佛修行，第一步驟，瞭解了「四諦法」，之後，就要斷除「見思惑」。這就是佛，佛道中的下根。
應該就是有「三根」，上、中、下三根。上根是菩薩，中根是緣覺、辟支佛，下根就是聲聞。聽完後才知道，知道後才來修，這算是下根，這就是聲聞。
聲聞者：
小根由聲從教立名
聞聲傳道
信受佛語依教奉行
自淨其意
獨善其身
執小偏空
所以聲聞就是以「小根由聲從教立名」。因為我們要靠聲音，聽完之後，我們才能夠瞭解，這叫做小根，小根機之人。「聞聲傳道」，從這個聲音聽來了，「我知道了，佛傳給我，我要再告訴別人」。「信受佛語，依教奉行」，我們要相信佛的道理，這全都是聲聞。你既然要聽，你就要相信，相信，聽完之後，要依教奉行。
要行什麼？「自淨其意，獨善其身，執小偏空」，這就是小根器的人，就是聲聞。他知道，我要依教奉行，我要獨善其身，自淨其意。那就是獨善其身。他就是偏執，執著在什麼都沒有，現在我還要再修什麼呢？修自己，不要再六道輪迴。只相信這樣，還沒有立大志，還沒有立弘誓願的人；隨佛修行，還沒有立弘誓願：「眾生無邊誓願度……」，還沒有立此願，所以這叫做偏小執空、執小偏空，這種就是自淨其意、獨善其身的人，這叫做聲聞。
希望大家能夠瞭解，就是聲聞，也應該要用心，信受奉行，第一步，自淨其意，這也很重要。若沒有自淨其意，我們的心無法淨化。但是，必定還要再進一步，不是獨善其身，更不能執小偏空。所以現在佛陀，就是要向這一類的弟子，開始用心說法，希望人人還要再跨出一大步。所以學佛，我們要用心，把握時間，時時用心。
Explanations by Master Cheng-Yan
Subject: Hearers Carry Out the Teaching(聲聞依教奉行)
Date: January.27. 2014
When the Buddha manifested in this world, people could draw near to His teachings. The Buddha could teach skillful means according to capabilities. Moreover, with His original intention, He kindly waited for the right opportunity to set aside the Three Vehicles for the One.
When the Buddha manifested in this world, people who lived in that era could approach Him and personally receive His teachings. At that time, the Buddha was still constantly teaching skillful means according to capabilities. He gave them provisional teachings. This was how He “cleverly taught skillful means”. But the Buddha always kept His original intent. Out of compassion, He waited for the right opportunity to freely express what He originally wanted to teach. When should He expound it and what capabilities would be needed to accept it? Out of His compassion, He never abandoned hope that the moment for teaching it would come. He wanted to universally give the teachings He originally intended to give.
But, He had to wait a very long time. The capabilities of sentient beings were dull, so out of His compassion, He patiently and carefully guided them. He waited for the moment when everyone could understand [His teachings] to teach the True Dharma of the One Vehicle. He waited until this time arrived. Then He set aside the Three Vehicles teachings and instead gave the One Vehicle teachings. He finally began to teach them.
So, after the Buddha taught for a long time, “the true and real had to be spoken.” This passage goes on to state, “He told all Hearers and those who sought the Pratyekabuddha-vehicle, I will enable you to cast off the bonds of suffering and achieve Nirvana.”
This also conveys to us that, at that assembly, the most important thing the Buddha did was enhance the understanding of Hearers. This was because Hearers were those who became monastics with pure mindsets and constantly listened to the Buddha’s teachings. And Solitary Realizers? They were the same. They sincerely sought the Path and wanted to examine the truths of all things in the universe. For people of these capabilities, the Buddha wanted to give them the True Dharma He originally intended to teach.
Therefore, here it says, “He told all Hearers,” whereas in the past, “the Buddha told Sariputra.” The Buddha called on the one acknowledged as foremost in wisdom in the Sangha, Sariputra, to receive His teachings. He had already clearly told everyone that He was about to set aside the skillful means of the past.
He was about to set aside the skillful means of the past.We should know that, to learn the Buddha’s Way, we must realize the Buddha’s mind, knowledge and views.We must know His original intent.To realize His knowledge and views, we must be able to see the same world as the Buddha.The Buddha’s sight is far-reaching, open and broad.Of all things in the universe, there is nothing the Buddha does not understand.So, He also hopes that our understanding will be equal to His, that we will have the same vision as Him so that we can see and understand all things.This is what He hopes for most.
So, the Buddha is truly compassionate and wants everyone to know [His original teaching].
So, the Buddha began to put His heart into giving us this warning, “You must find your intrinsic Buddha-nature as quickly as possible.You cannot simply rely on external teachings to understand the Dharma.This will not last.You must use the pure spring water from your Buddha-nature to cleanse yourself.At the same time, you can also cleanse others.”This is what the Buddha urgently hoped people would quickly [realize].
In the past, He spent a long time alerting us to this.While the Buddha sat in meditation, radiated light and manifested auspicious appearances, Manjusri Bodhisattva [addressed] the doubts that arose during this time.[People wondered], “Why does He look different from the way He did in the past?What great teaching is He about to give?”[This light and the signs] inspired questions in people at the assembly so that they would seek the answers.
After the Buddha emerged from Samadhi, He began expounding the Dharma.Once again, the target of His teachings was Sariputra.This was because He wanted these Buddhist practitioners, Hearers and Solitary Realizers, to recognize their great responsibilities.
The Buddha was about to completely and unreservedly give teachings that He had originally intended to teach.So, they all need to be mentally prepared to receive this Dharma from the Buddha and pass it onto future generations.
This is why, over and over again, before He spoke to Hearers and Solitary Realzers, He first spoke to Sariputra, their representative.Finally, He told them directly that they must give rise to great Power of Faith.The Buddha guarded these teachings for so long but was now about to freely speak them.So, now He spoke directly to them.“He told all Hearers” means that He directly spoke to the Hearers.
He told all Hearers:
The Buddha’s disciples of the Small Vehicle listen to the Buddha’s teachings and realize the principles of the Four Noble Truths to eliminate delusions of views and thinking.
They have the most limited capacity on the Buddha-path.
Now let us we examine the capabilities of Hearers and Solitary Realizers.So, He came and “told all Hearers,” disciples who follow Small Vehicleteachings.The Buddha actually gave all His disciples the same teachings, but not everyone could accept them.
So, He began by giving Small Vehicle teachings to first help them understand themselves.
He told them that among all the beings in the Six Unenlightened and Four Noble Realms.
He taught those in the unenlightened realms first.He taught the suffering of cyclic existence.
So, people learned about suffering, how they had no control over it because the law of karma meant that live in the Six Realms was filled with unbearable suffering.
Through the Four Noble Truths, they understood the frightening nature of the law of karma and how a single thought could create much karma. These accumulated karmic forces then lead to retribution and suffering. After listening, these people said, “This makes sense. I understand. I must immediately be afraid of and refrain from creating bad karma. I cannot create these [bad] karmic conditions or perpetuate cycles of revenge”. So, they heightened their vigilance and cut off their secular relationships by leaving their loved ones to become monastics. This was the first step. They began by eliminating afflictions caused by entanglements and worries, as well as affection and craving. Only after they eliminate affection and desire can they eliminate vengeance and hatred. So, Small Vehicle practitioners eliminate affection and hatred. This is what Small Vehicle practitioners do. They let go of [these complicated relationships] starting by becoming monastics. With hearts free of hindrances, they could wholeheartedly listen to the Buddha's teachings and use this Dharma to cleanse their minds. Then they had no conflicts in this world, over matters or with others. Thus they were not in conflict with the principles which means they understood them. Those who understood were the Hearers who left home to follow the Buddha.
So, the Buddha's Small Vehicle disciples were call Hearers, meaning those who learned by listening to His teachings.The Buddha's wisdom arose from His heart and spread through His voice. This was how He taught those who followed Him in spiritual practice. They were called Hearers. They accepted the Buddha's teachings, and each time He finished giving teachings, “They happily upheld them, paid their respects and left”. At each assembly, after listening to teachings they were very joyful. The Buddha's teachings addressed principles in this world that people did not understand. After the Buddha analyzed them, people understood and accepted those principles and no longer had attachments in their hearts. This is how He overcame their stubbornness. We humans are unyielding because our greed, anger and ignorance lead us to become proud and arrogant.
So, as spiritual practitioners who follow the Buddha, the first thing we must do is to subdue our greed, anger and ignorance. And as we deal with people and matters, we also have to get rid of our tendency to be arrogant and proud. This is how we follow the Buddha's teachings to attain realizations. This is how we are like Hearers. At the same time, we also have to realize the principles of the Four Noble Truths. Aside from understanding the truths of suffering, causation, cessation and the Path, we must also contemplate the body, its feelings, all thing, the mind and so on. We must enhance our understanding.
Thus, the Buddha first taught His disciples ways to control their minds and analyze principles. After [learning] the Four Noble Truths, they also had to eliminate delusions of views and thinking. Our views and understanding are very complex. After listening to the Buddha’s teachings, we must quickly adjust our views and understanding.
Our “views” must be Right Views. Our “understanding” must be Right Knowledge, and we must also be understanding of others. Therefore, we really need to develop our views and understanding. Everyone has different views and understanding.
There is also the issue of thinking. We all think differently. These delusions come from ignorance views and understanding and ignorant thinking. So ignorance [leads to] afflictions because of [a lack of understanding]. Therefore, when we engage in spiritual practice, the first step is to understand the Four Noble Truths. Next, we must eliminate delusions of views and thinking. This is [the path for] those with limited capabilities.There are three levels of capabilities: superior, average and limited.Bodhisattvas have superior capabilities. Solitary Realizers and Pratyekabuddhas have average capabilities. Hearers have limited capabilities. They only understand after listening; they only practice after understanding. Therefore, they are considered Hearers, those with limited capabilities.
Hearers: Those of limited capabilities are called such because they follow the teachings they hear. They listen to and spread the Path. With faith, they accept and practice the Buddha’s teachings to purify their minds. They focus only on their own awakening and are attached to the Small, biased toward emptiness.
Those of limited capabilities are named [Hearers] “because they follow the teachings they hear.” Because they rely on hearing something to achieve a limited understanding, they are considered people of limited capabilities. “They listen to and spread the Path.” Once they listen to teachings, they know they must pass on what the Buddha taught them. “They faithfully accept and practice the Buddha’s teachings” because they believe the Buddha’s principles. This is what they as Hearers.
Since they want to listen, they must believe, and then practice the teachings. What did they practice? “Purifying their minds, focusing only on their own awakening, attached to the small and biased toward emptiness.” This is what people of limited capabilities do. They are Hearers.
They know, “I must practice the teachings, focus on my awakening and purify my mind.” They only focus on themselves, so they are biased and attached. They cling to the idea that since nothing exists, there is nothing that they need to do, besides engage in self-cultivation to avoid cyclic existence in the Six Realms. This is all they believe in, so they have not made [the Four Great Vows]. They follow the Buddha but have not vowed, “There are countless sentient beings, and I vow to deliver them all.” They have not made such vows, so they are “attached to the small” and biased toward emptiness. These people only purify their own minds and focus on their own awakening. They are known as Hearers.
I hope that all of you can understand that as Hearers, they must faithfully accept and practice teaching. Their first step is to purify their minds. This is also very important. If we do not purify our minds, our minds will never be pure. But we must also take the next step. We cannot just focus on our awakening, and we definitely cannot be attached to the small or biased toward emptiness.
Therefore, now the Buddha began to mindfully teach this category of disciples. He hoped they would take another big step forward. To learn the Buddha’s Way, we must be mindful.
(Source: Da Ai TV – Wisdom at Dawn program – Explanation by Master Chen-Yen)
⊙「世尊法久後，要當說真實，告諸聲聞眾，及求緣覺乘，我令脫苦縛，逮得涅槃者。」《法華經方便品第二》
⊙告諸聲聞眾：為佛之小乘法中弟子，聞佛之聲教，悟四諦之理，斷見思之惑，為佛道中之最下根。
⊙聲聞者：小根由聲從教立名。聞聲傳道，信受佛語，依教奉行，自淨其意，獨善其身，執小偏空。
【證嚴上人開示】
在佛世時代，能夠親近佛所教法，佛能夠隨機巧施方便法，尤其是「慈心本懷待機宜，棄三乘教施一乘」。
佛世時親受佛教
隨機巧施方便法
慈心本懷待機宜
棄三乘教施一乘
這是佛陀的時代，能夠在那個時代親近佛陀，佛陀親身為他們說法。那個時候，佛陀還是，同樣不斷地隨機巧施，用真正權巧的方法來教育，這就是「方便施教法」。
不過，佛陀還是慈心本懷，那個慈悲的心，他的本懷，想要暢演，想要說的話，還是在待時機，什麼時候應該說了？什麼樣的根機，應該接受？所以佛陀的慈悲，心心念念，都不放棄這時機的來臨，要向大家普被，真正普遍，施以內心本懷的教法，所以佛陀等待得很辛苦。
眾生根機鈍劣，佛陀的慈悲就要循循善誘，等待這個時間，大家聽得懂的時候，他必定要說一乘實法。一直等到時間到了，所以棄掉了三乘的教法，將它去除，現在就是施一乘法，開始就要說出來了，所以佛陀法久後，要當說真實。這段(經)文再說：「告諸聲聞眾，及求緣覺乘，我令脫苦縛，逮得涅槃者」。
世尊法久後
要當說真實
告諸聲聞眾
及求緣覺乘
我令脫苦縛
逮得涅槃者
《法華經方便品第二》
這也就是要向大家說，現在在場，佛陀，最重要的，就是要讓那些，聲聞要更加瞭解。因為聲聞，多數都是以清淨心出家，常隨佛聽法之人。那緣覺呢？也是一樣，他求道懇切的心，對這天地宇宙萬物真理，就是有心要去探討。像這樣根機的人，佛陀就是在這段，將所心懷的真實法，就要傳授出去了，所以在此處「告諸聲聞眾」。
過去「佛告舍利弗」，佛陀就是叫一位，在這僧團中智慧第一，人人所承認的舍利弗來對機。現在已經向大家說得很清楚了，過去這方便權巧的法，現在要去除了，人人要知道，要學佛就要真正很體會，佛心、佛知、佛見。佛的心懷，大家要知道；佛的知見，大家應該要能夠所見的，要與佛同樣的境界。
佛陀他能夠看得很遠、很開、很闊，宇宙萬物沒有一項佛不知道的，所以也希望人人的這個見解，與他平等的視線，都能夠看得見，能夠了徹。這是佛陀最期待的。所以佛陀的心真的是很慈悲，慈悲的本懷，大家要知道。
所以佛陀開始要很用心，不斷警惕大家：「你們大家本具的佛性，要趕緊找出來，不要只藉外面的法在瞭解。用法來瞭解法，這不是永久的。要從內心真如的本性，裡面的清流泉水，要自己來洗滌，同時也能洗滌他人。」這是佛陀著急之處，希望人人要趕緊接受。
過去用很長的時間，要來警惕大家。除了文殊菩薩，佛陀的靜坐中，發光現瑞，這段時間，啟發人人的疑心，到底佛陀今天的形相與過去，怎麼都不一樣？佛陀到底要說什麼樣的大法？這就是開始要讓當場的人，起一念要追求、想要知道如何能啟開這個疑問？
等到佛陀出定之後，開始要講法，就一再(向)對機(者) ，是舍利弗，就要讓這些隨佛修行者，聲聞、緣覺，要知道責任重大了，佛陀現在要傳法，將他的內心本懷的法，毫無保留，整個都要說出來，大家應該要心理準備，要接受佛陀這些法，將來就是要傳承。所以，這是一而再，再而三，向這些聲聞、緣覺。即將說話之前，最先以舍利弗做代表，到此時就直接(說)：大家應該要生起大信力。
佛陀，佛保護著此法已經很久，現在開始要暢演出來，所以現在直接就「告諸聲聞眾」，開始直接向聲聞眾說話了。
告諸聲聞眾：
為佛之
小乘法中弟子
聞佛之聲教
悟四諦之理
斷見思之惑
為佛道中之最下根
我們現在來看，聲聞與緣覺的根機。來，「告諸聲聞眾」，那就是佛小乘法中的弟子。佛陀其實平等說法，不過大家還未堪得接受，佛陀開始就用小乘法，先讓大家自己先瞭解自己。所以讓大家知道，在這「六凡四聖」中，先施教於六凡中，這六道輪迴之苦。大家聽到：「哇！這麼苦啊！」由不得自己，因緣果報，在這六道中就是苦不堪。
「四諦法」中，瞭解這種因緣果報的可怕，在一念間造了很多的業，集中了很多的業力，隨著果報來受苦。大家聽了，「有道理，瞭解了，我要趕緊懂得害怕，不要再去造這些惡業，不要再結因，結這個因、緣，結怨連仇，不要了。」所以大家提高警覺，所以斷去世間的緣，所以捨愛、割愛出家。
這就是初步，將世間會牽累、掛慮的煩惱，情、愛，先斷，斷了這個情、愛，才能斷了仇、恨。所以這是小乘，斷掉了恩愛情恨，將這些斷掉了，這叫做小乘。
捨棄了愛恨情仇、恩恩怨怨，開始出家了，心無牽掛，那就是一心，能聽佛所說法。將自己內心，將此法往內洗滌心念，所以與世無爭、與人無爭、與事無爭，這樣就是與理無爭了，所以就瞭解了道理，能夠瞭解，這就是隨佛出家的聲聞眾。所以，佛的小乘法中的弟子，叫做聲聞，就是聞佛的聲音所教育。
佛陀的智慧，發自他的心、發自他的聲，所以來教育，隨身(隨他)修行的人人，所以這叫做聲聞。他受持的佛教，每一次佛陀若講經說法之後，大家聽完之後，「歡喜奉行，作禮而退」，每一場，聽了都是很歡喜。
佛所說的法，就是在這世間，人人所看不開的道理，經過佛陀分析之後，看開了，道理瞭解了，心不需要再執著，這樣降伏了內心那分的剛強。
我們人人的剛強，都是因為貪、瞋、癡，就會生出了我慢、貢高的形態出來。所以，這些隨佛修行之人，第一步驟，就是要降伏，降伏這個貪、瞋、癡的念頭，在外面待人對事，更要再去除貢高、驕傲的習氣。這就是隨佛的言教，這樣來體悟，這是聲聞弟子。
同時也要體悟「四諦」的道理。「四諦法」我們要能瞭解，除了苦、集、滅、道，我們要觀身、觀受、觀法、觀心等等，我們都要能更加瞭解。這就是佛陀對弟子開始說法，這種要如何調伏內心，分析道理，「四諦法」苦、集、滅、道，之後還要再斷見思之惑。
我們人人的見解很複雜，佛陀說法之後，大家將此見解，大家趕快調，調好了我們的見解。「見」要正見，「解」要正知、正解，要善解。所以這種見解，我們要好好調伏。
所以「見」，世間一切的見解，人人每一個人的見解都不同；還有思考，這個思考，人人內心的想法都不同。這全都是「惑」，就是無明，就是無明的見解、無明的思想，所以無明、看不開的煩惱。所以，隨佛修行，第一步驟，瞭解了「四諦法」，之後，就要斷除「見思惑」。這就是佛，佛道中的下根。
應該就是有「三根」，上、中、下三根。上根是菩薩，中根是緣覺、辟支佛，下根就是聲聞。聽完後才知道，知道後才來修，這算是下根，這就是聲聞。
聲聞者：
小根由聲從教立名
聞聲傳道
信受佛語依教奉行
自淨其意
獨善其身
執小偏空
所以聲聞就是以「小根由聲從教立名」。因為我們要靠聲音，聽完之後，我們才能夠瞭解，這叫做小根，小根機之人。「聞聲傳道」，從這個聲音聽來了，「我知道了，佛傳給我，我要再告訴別人」。「信受佛語，依教奉行」，我們要相信佛的道理，這全都是聲聞。你既然要聽，你就要相信，相信，聽完之後，要依教奉行。
要行什麼？「自淨其意，獨善其身，執小偏空」，這就是小根器的人，就是聲聞。他知道，我要依教奉行，我要獨善其身，自淨其意。那就是獨善其身。他就是偏執，執著在什麼都沒有，現在我還要再修什麼呢？修自己，不要再六道輪迴。只相信這樣，還沒有立大志，還沒有立弘誓願的人；隨佛修行，還沒有立弘誓願：「眾生無邊誓願度……」，還沒有立此願，所以這叫做偏小執空、執小偏空，這種就是自淨其意、獨善其身的人，這叫做聲聞。
希望大家能夠瞭解，就是聲聞，也應該要用心，信受奉行，第一步，自淨其意，這也很重要。若沒有自淨其意，我們的心無法淨化。但是，必定還要再進一步，不是獨善其身，更不能執小偏空。所以現在佛陀，就是要向這一類的弟子，開始用心說法，希望人人還要再跨出一大步。所以學佛，我們要用心，把握時間，時時用心。
Explanations by Master Cheng-Yan
Subject: Hearers Carry Out the Teaching(聲聞依教奉行)
Date: January.27. 2014
When the Buddha manifested in this world, people could draw near to His teachings. The Buddha could teach skillful means according to capabilities. Moreover, with His original intention, He kindly waited for the right opportunity to set aside the Three Vehicles for the One.
When the Buddha manifested in this world, people who lived in that era could approach Him and personally receive His teachings. At that time, the Buddha was still constantly teaching skillful means according to capabilities. He gave them provisional teachings. This was how He “cleverly taught skillful means”. But the Buddha always kept His original intent. Out of compassion, He waited for the right opportunity to freely express what He originally wanted to teach. When should He expound it and what capabilities would be needed to accept it? Out of His compassion, He never abandoned hope that the moment for teaching it would come. He wanted to universally give the teachings He originally intended to give.
But, He had to wait a very long time. The capabilities of sentient beings were dull, so out of His compassion, He patiently and carefully guided them. He waited for the moment when everyone could understand [His teachings] to teach the True Dharma of the One Vehicle. He waited until this time arrived. Then He set aside the Three Vehicles teachings and instead gave the One Vehicle teachings. He finally began to teach them.
So, after the Buddha taught for a long time, “the true and real had to be spoken.” This passage goes on to state, “He told all Hearers and those who sought the Pratyekabuddha-vehicle, I will enable you to cast off the bonds of suffering and achieve Nirvana.”
This also conveys to us that, at that assembly, the most important thing the Buddha did was enhance the understanding of Hearers. This was because Hearers were those who became monastics with pure mindsets and constantly listened to the Buddha’s teachings. And Solitary Realizers? They were the same. They sincerely sought the Path and wanted to examine the truths of all things in the universe. For people of these capabilities, the Buddha wanted to give them the True Dharma He originally intended to teach.
Therefore, here it says, “He told all Hearers,” whereas in the past, “the Buddha told Sariputra.” The Buddha called on the one acknowledged as foremost in wisdom in the Sangha, Sariputra, to receive His teachings. He had already clearly told everyone that He was about to set aside the skillful means of the past.
He was about to set aside the skillful means of the past.We should know that, to learn the Buddha’s Way, we must realize the Buddha’s mind, knowledge and views.We must know His original intent.To realize His knowledge and views, we must be able to see the same world as the Buddha.The Buddha’s sight is far-reaching, open and broad.Of all things in the universe, there is nothing the Buddha does not understand.So, He also hopes that our understanding will be equal to His, that we will have the same vision as Him so that we can see and understand all things.This is what He hopes for most.
So, the Buddha is truly compassionate and wants everyone to know [His original teaching].
So, the Buddha began to put His heart into giving us this warning, “You must find your intrinsic Buddha-nature as quickly as possible.You cannot simply rely on external teachings to understand the Dharma.This will not last.You must use the pure spring water from your Buddha-nature to cleanse yourself.At the same time, you can also cleanse others.”This is what the Buddha urgently hoped people would quickly [realize].
In the past, He spent a long time alerting us to this.While the Buddha sat in meditation, radiated light and manifested auspicious appearances, Manjusri Bodhisattva [addressed] the doubts that arose during this time.[People wondered], “Why does He look different from the way He did in the past?What great teaching is He about to give?”[This light and the signs] inspired questions in people at the assembly so that they would seek the answers.
After the Buddha emerged from Samadhi, He began expounding the Dharma.Once again, the target of His teachings was Sariputra.This was because He wanted these Buddhist practitioners, Hearers and Solitary Realizers, to recognize their great responsibilities.
The Buddha was about to completely and unreservedly give teachings that He had originally intended to teach.So, they all need to be mentally prepared to receive this Dharma from the Buddha and pass it onto future generations.
This is why, over and over again, before He spoke to Hearers and Solitary Realzers, He first spoke to Sariputra, their representative.Finally, He told them directly that they must give rise to great Power of Faith.The Buddha guarded these teachings for so long but was now about to freely speak them.So, now He spoke directly to them.“He told all Hearers” means that He directly spoke to the Hearers.
He told all Hearers:
The Buddha’s disciples of the Small Vehicle listen to the Buddha’s teachings and realize the principles of the Four Noble Truths to eliminate delusions of views and thinking.
They have the most limited capacity on the Buddha-path.
Now let us we examine the capabilities of Hearers and Solitary Realizers.So, He came and “told all Hearers,” disciples who follow Small Vehicleteachings.The Buddha actually gave all His disciples the same teachings, but not everyone could accept them.
So, He began by giving Small Vehicle teachings to first help them understand themselves.
He told them that among all the beings in the Six Unenlightened and Four Noble Realms.
He taught those in the unenlightened realms first.He taught the suffering of cyclic existence.
So, people learned about suffering, how they had no control over it because the law of karma meant that live in the Six Realms was filled with unbearable suffering.
Through the Four Noble Truths, they understood the frightening nature of the law of karma and how a single thought could create much karma. These accumulated karmic forces then lead to retribution and suffering. After listening, these people said, “This makes sense. I understand. I must immediately be afraid of and refrain from creating bad karma. I cannot create these [bad] karmic conditions or perpetuate cycles of revenge”. So, they heightened their vigilance and cut off their secular relationships by leaving their loved ones to become monastics. This was the first step. They began by eliminating afflictions caused by entanglements and worries, as well as affection and craving. Only after they eliminate affection and desire can they eliminate vengeance and hatred. So, Small Vehicle practitioners eliminate affection and hatred. This is what Small Vehicle practitioners do. They let go of [these complicated relationships] starting by becoming monastics. With hearts free of hindrances, they could wholeheartedly listen to the Buddha's teachings and use this Dharma to cleanse their minds. Then they had no conflicts in this world, over matters or with others. Thus they were not in conflict with the principles which means they understood them. Those who understood were the Hearers who left home to follow the Buddha.
So, the Buddha's Small Vehicle disciples were call Hearers, meaning those who learned by listening to His teachings.The Buddha's wisdom arose from His heart and spread through His voice. This was how He taught those who followed Him in spiritual practice. They were called Hearers. They accepted the Buddha's teachings, and each time He finished giving teachings, “They happily upheld them, paid their respects and left”. At each assembly, after listening to teachings they were very joyful. The Buddha's teachings addressed principles in this world that people did not understand. After the Buddha analyzed them, people understood and accepted those principles and no longer had attachments in their hearts. This is how He overcame their stubbornness. We humans are unyielding because our greed, anger and ignorance lead us to become proud and arrogant.
So, as spiritual practitioners who follow the Buddha, the first thing we must do is to subdue our greed, anger and ignorance. And as we deal with people and matters, we also have to get rid of our tendency to be arrogant and proud. This is how we follow the Buddha's teachings to attain realizations. This is how we are like Hearers. At the same time, we also have to realize the principles of the Four Noble Truths. Aside from understanding the truths of suffering, causation, cessation and the Path, we must also contemplate the body, its feelings, all thing, the mind and so on. We must enhance our understanding.
Thus, the Buddha first taught His disciples ways to control their minds and analyze principles. After [learning] the Four Noble Truths, they also had to eliminate delusions of views and thinking. Our views and understanding are very complex. After listening to the Buddha’s teachings, we must quickly adjust our views and understanding.
Our “views” must be Right Views. Our “understanding” must be Right Knowledge, and we must also be understanding of others. Therefore, we really need to develop our views and understanding. Everyone has different views and understanding.
There is also the issue of thinking. We all think differently. These delusions come from ignorance views and understanding and ignorant thinking. So ignorance [leads to] afflictions because of [a lack of understanding]. Therefore, when we engage in spiritual practice, the first step is to understand the Four Noble Truths. Next, we must eliminate delusions of views and thinking. This is [the path for] those with limited capabilities.There are three levels of capabilities: superior, average and limited.Bodhisattvas have superior capabilities. Solitary Realizers and Pratyekabuddhas have average capabilities. Hearers have limited capabilities. They only understand after listening; they only practice after understanding. Therefore, they are considered Hearers, those with limited capabilities.
Hearers: Those of limited capabilities are called such because they follow the teachings they hear. They listen to and spread the Path. With faith, they accept and practice the Buddha’s teachings to purify their minds. They focus only on their own awakening and are attached to the Small, biased toward emptiness.
Those of limited capabilities are named [Hearers] “because they follow the teachings they hear.” Because they rely on hearing something to achieve a limited understanding, they are considered people of limited capabilities. “They listen to and spread the Path.” Once they listen to teachings, they know they must pass on what the Buddha taught them. “They faithfully accept and practice the Buddha’s teachings” because they believe the Buddha’s principles. This is what they as Hearers.
Since they want to listen, they must believe, and then practice the teachings. What did they practice? “Purifying their minds, focusing only on their own awakening, attached to the small and biased toward emptiness.” This is what people of limited capabilities do. They are Hearers.
They know, “I must practice the teachings, focus on my awakening and purify my mind.” They only focus on themselves, so they are biased and attached. They cling to the idea that since nothing exists, there is nothing that they need to do, besides engage in self-cultivation to avoid cyclic existence in the Six Realms. This is all they believe in, so they have not made [the Four Great Vows]. They follow the Buddha but have not vowed, “There are countless sentient beings, and I vow to deliver them all.” They have not made such vows, so they are “attached to the small” and biased toward emptiness. These people only purify their own minds and focus on their own awakening. They are known as Hearers.
I hope that all of you can understand that as Hearers, they must faithfully accept and practice teaching. Their first step is to purify their minds. This is also very important. If we do not purify our minds, our minds will never be pure. But we must also take the next step. We cannot just focus on our awakening, and we definitely cannot be attached to the small or biased toward emptiness.
Therefore, now the Buddha began to mindfully teach this category of disciples. He hoped they would take another big step forward. To learn the Buddha’s Way, we must be mindful.
(Source: Da Ai TV – Wisdom at Dawn program – Explanation by Master Chen-Yen)
No comments:
Post a Comment