⊙大眾默契佛心，樂聞教誡敬受；即得明心知見，顯實自性清淨。
⊙「欲示眾生，佛之知見故，出現於世。欲令眾生，悟佛知見故，出現於世。」《法華經方便品第二》
⊙欲示眾生：開如來藏，見實相理。真如在煩惱中，謂之如來藏；真如出煩惱，謂之法身。
【證嚴上人開示】
「大眾默契佛心，樂聞教誡敬受；即得明心知見，顯實自性清淨。」
大眾默契佛心
樂聞教誡敬受
即得明心知見
顯實自性清淨
這也就是告訴大家，佛陀用心教育，也有一大群的弟子，真的是用心要受教。雖然佛陀受舍利弗三請，卻是佛陀也三止，那就是因為眾生的根機，還有不堪受，所以佛陀三止。卻是，有五千人退席，留下來的就都是，用心在追隨佛陀，瞭解佛陀的心意。
就如舍利弗一樣，這一大群的大眾已經歡喜，要來接受佛陀教育。這都已經與佛心默契，能夠瞭解佛陀，即將要設施大法的時刻了，所以人人「樂聞教誡」，用很歡喜的心要來聽佛所教育，所以人人用敬心，用很尊敬的心要來接受。若能人人都用這樣的心，「樂聞教誡敬受」，這個心來接受佛陀，一定「即得明心知見」，心就會明。
明心就是去除煩惱，去除一分，那就是明亮一分，那就是與佛的心愈接近分寸，一直接近來。所以「顯實自性清淨」，若能接近一分的知見，我們自己的本性，自然自性就能漸漸一直清淨。這是一定的道理。
佛陀有一段時間，阿難請教佛陀，眾生受教的根機，有什麼樣的接受，什麼樣的得失嗎？佛陀他就說：「好，我舉個例。」
在過去古時代，無量劫前，有一位長者，生意做得很好，大富。他有一位朋友，有個獨生子，這個獨生子就是好玩、愛玩、放蕩，他的朋友有很多財產，都被這位浪蕩子這樣毀掉了，花、吃、賭、用。
本來是富有的家庭，一落千丈。所以這位朋友擔心，生氣，又是墮落這種貧窮的環境，所以生病了。最後就向這位大富長者，就委託：雖然我這個孩子是一個浪蕩子，敗掉我的家產，讓我氣得連命都快沒了。我也老了，無論如何他就是我的孩子，所以，委託你，若能夠，盡量教育他，幫助他能夠瞭解人生的道理。就這樣，這位朋友就往生了。
這位富有長者，他覺得這是責任，這也就是他願意的事情，所以就將這個朋友的孩子叫來，「年輕人，這一次你有受到很大的教育嗎？你的家產什麼都沒了，你所依靠的父親也已經往生了，你現在一無所有。來，我告訴你，聽我的話，我給你千金，給你千兩金，讓你去當本錢，你要好好去謀生，合情合理地去謀生。」就這樣交給他千兩黃金了。
但是，這個孩子，在外面做生意、應酬，同樣花、吃、賭、用，還是雙手空空。再來向這位父輩，就是這位長者，又來告訴他：「我對生意，我很用心在做，但是失敗了。不只是沒賺錢，我還欠人家債。」這位長者開始又教育他，用很多的心神，做人的道理等等教育，再給他千金。像這樣連續有五次之後，都是一樣。
有一天，第六次再來找長者，還是向他訴說：「我很努力，但是……等等。」這位長者正好看到門外，有一堆垃圾，有一位乞兒，同樣也是年輕人，在那裡在翻垃圾，想要找到什麼東西可吃、可用。正好，他也看到一隻老鼠，已經死在那裡。他這位長者，就開始向這位年輕人，又回來要錢的浪蕩子，他又告訴他說：「你看，前面這堆垃圾，看到那隻老鼠已經死了。你知道，若是懂得善調理的人，這堆垃圾、這隻老鼠，他應該如何處理，若這樣有心，這堆垃圾、這隻老鼠，死老鼠，也能得到很大的道理受用。」這樣告訴他之後，「我想告訴你的事情已經說了，來，再給你千兩，你要好自為之。」
這樣拿了錢，浪蕩子又是揚長而去，這位長者也出外去了。這位年輕人在垃圾堆中，雖然是遠遠的，不過有聽到剛才長者，向那位浪蕩子說的話，聽進去，他就用心想：若是在這堆垃圾之中，這隻老鼠，這位長者是不是在說愛心？我應該對這隻老鼠，就如長者對這位浪蕩子一樣，那分的愛心？所以他就將這隻老鼠，好好掩埋牠，用很虔誠的心來祝福牠。
他的腦海中，一直想，如何能安分守己，好好來生活？他就認真去向人乞討，吃剩的東西，他就慢慢囤積起來，集起來，他就將之處理、曬乾，就將這些東西，可以拿去比較貧窮的家庭，跟他們說：「這全都是富有人家剩餘的飯，我這樣處理它，賣給你，用很便宜的價錢來賣你。」大家用了很少的錢，可以買來吃的東西，品質又是很好。
這樣一段時間，慢慢累積起來，也能夠賣得少少量的錢。他就以這些錢拿去買菜，做起菜販去賣菜。有菜，去賣了之後又有錢，開始就去整理土地，去買一塊土地，就好好來耕耘，種菜、又賣菜，如此，慢慢拓寬了他的土地，慢慢累積了他的金錢。過了幾年後，他也已經成為一位貿易家。
這是經過了十多年後，他的事業有成，就這樣想：「我今天能夠這麼成功，這個因從何來？十多年前，就是這位長者，他一場的教育，那分愛心為他朋友的孩子，這樣無所求的付出，盡心的教育。就是他的教育，所以我得來了這個知識，『受恩不報，謂之背明』，我今天能成功的因，就是從這位長者來，我若不懂得報(恩)，就是違背明心，所以我應該要來回報。」
所以他有一天，就去做一個很大塊的銀盤，同時，也用金去打成老鼠，金老鼠。老鼠的肚子裡，他就將它放很多的寶物，然後，老鼠就放於銀盤，銀盤的周圍就珍珠瑪瑙，擺在老鼠的周圍，要來表達，這個周圍，如以前長者所說的那堆垃圾，一隻老鼠。所以他這樣布置之後，將銀盤捧著，非常恭敬來到這位長者面前，恭敬獻給長者。
長者對這位年輕人沒有印象，這位年輕人，就向他說起了那一天，將近二十年了，那時候他還是青少年時代，聽到的一席他的話，讓他啟發很大，所以認真打拚。將這個過程說給長者聽，長者聽到非常的感動，所以，將他的女兒就這樣嫁給他，告訴他：「你是一個很好的年輕人。從孩提時代，只是聽到這段話，你就能這樣成功，今天有這種回報，表示你有充分愛心。我要將我的家財全部付託給你，你要記得，你要信仰佛法，同時用四無量心，愛，去付出。」
這段文說完之後，佛陀開始回過來就告訴阿難：一隻(死)老鼠就能夠致富，這位就是現在在的我面前，就是槃特比丘，那位長者就是我，釋迦牟尼佛，那位浪蕩子就是調達，提婆達多。
提婆達多他已經接受我，數次的幫助，有六億品經，儘管我給他六億品經的道理，他還是違背，不肯受用此法。像這樣，言順行逆，這個言順行逆，就如那個孩子來就說：「我會改，我接受，我會改。」如這種言順行逆，但是去了，就是逆，逆道而行，也會說，但是他不肯做，所以叫做有言無行，言順行逆，這是小人之智，這世智辯聰，像這樣，現在的提婆達多，這樣的人，哪怕是聽再多的經也無用。
在遠遠的地方，這樣聽到在教育別人，得到一點點的道理，他就能受用於他的終生，看看，回過頭來，銀盤金鼠，還有種種硨磲、瑪瑙。就像在那堆垃圾中，有心，垃圾也會變黃金，一隻死老鼠，也能夠讓他心懷天下眾生，這就是真正瞭解佛陀知見的人。
所以我們這段（經）文，佛陀來人間，就是「欲示眾生佛之知見故，出現於世」。
欲示眾生
佛之知見故
出現於世
《法華經方便品第二》
佛陀是為了要教育眾生，佛的知見，所以來人間。
欲令眾生
悟佛知見故
出現於世
《法華經方便品第二》
「欲令眾生悟佛知見」，所以出現人間。
欲示眾生：
開如來藏
見實相理
真如在煩惱中
謂之如來藏
真如出煩惱
謂之法身
這「欲示眾生」，「開如來藏，見實相理」。這是佛陀要開示眾生，眾生人人都有一個如來藏，任何一個人都有。讓大家把這個如來藏若打開，才能見到真實的道理，因為真如在煩惱中。一句話說「煩惱即菩提」，意思就是說，真如就是在煩惱中。因為我們眾生本具佛性，卻是眾生人人心中，就是充滿了煩惱，其實在煩惱中，還是佛性不減，所以這叫做「如來藏」。就是真如也是出於煩惱中，這就是法身；煩惱若打開(看透)，那就能真如現前。
各位，修行，提婆達多與槃特比丘同樣是佛的弟子，一位是那麼用心，得少為多，因為他信受奉行。另一位是得那麼多，不斷漏失，變成了惡。這種在修行者之中，看你如何受用。所以人人要時時多用心。
Explanations by Master Cheng-Yan
Subject: Respectfully Listen to and Accept Instruction (聞教誡需敬受)
Date: April. 17. 2014
“The assembly were in accord with the Buddha’s mind. They happily listened to teachings and respectfully followed instructions, so they immediately attained clear minds, knowledge and views to reveal the purity of their true intrinsic nature.”
This is telling everyone that the Buddha put His heart into giving teachings and also had a large group of disciples who put their hearts into accepting it. Though the Buddha was asked to teach three times by Sariputra, the Buddha stopped him three times. That was because sentient beings did not yet have the capabilities to accept the teachings. So, the Buddha said to stop three times. But then, 5000 people left the assembly. Those who remained were those who followed the Buddha attentively and understood His intent, just like Sariputra.
This large group of people were already joyful and [ready] to accept the Buddha’s teaching. They were in accord with the Buddha’s mind and understood that the Buddha was about to teach the great Dharma. So, all of them “happily listened to the teachings and instructions.” They listened to the Buddha’s teaching with joy, so they had the utmost respect when they accepted the teachings.
By utilizing this mindset, “they happily listened to teachings and respectfully followed the instructions.” By accepting the Buddha’s [teachings,] “they immediately attained clear minds, knowledge and views.” To have a clear mind we must eliminate afflictions. Every bit we eliminate brings a bit of clarity and takes us an inch closer to the Buddha’s mind. We are constantly drawing closer. So, this “reveals the purity of our true intrinsic nature.” The closer we draw to [the Buddha’s] knowledge and views, to our intrinsic nature, the purer our self-nature naturally becomes. This is an undeniable principle. One time, Ananda asked the Buddha, “Sentient beings have different capabilities, so how do they accept the teachings and what realizations can they attain?” The Buddha thought for a moment and said, “Let me give you an example.” [The Buddha told him a story] from ancient times. A certain grhapati (elder) had a successful business and was very wealthy. He had a very close friend who had only one son. This only child loved fun and lacked restraint. Though his friend had great wealth, it was all wasted by his self-indulgent son, on eating, gambling and shopping. This once-wealthy family suffered a drastic decline in fortune. So, his friend became worried and angry. Moreover, due to their poor living conditions, his friend fell ill. He then entrusted his son to the wealthy elder and said, “My son is reckless.He wasted my fortune and got me so upset I almost died.I aged too quickly.However, he is my son after all.So, please educate him the best you can and help him understand how to live his life.”
Then his friend passed away.
The wealthy elder felt responsible for [the son] and was willing to [help him].So, he called the young man over.“Young man, have you learned anything from this?Your fortune is gone.You father, whom you depend on, passed away.You don’t have anything now.Listen to me, and I will give you 1000 gold pieces as capital for you to start a life.Use it well to make a fair and legitimate living.”
So, the elder gave the young man 1000 gold pieces.However, this young man spent this money on social engagements for business and ate, gambled and squandered as he did before.Eventually, he was completely broke again.He came back to his father figure, this elder, and said, “I worked hard on this business, but I failed.Not only did I not make money,I actually owe other people money.”This elder then put forth great effort to teach him the principles of being a good person and again gave the young man 1000 gold pieces.
The same thing happened five times.One day, the young man returned for the sixth time.Again, he said, “I worked hard, but …, ” and so on.The elder happened to see a pile of trash by the door and a beggar, who was very young, searching through it for something to eat or use.The elder also saw a dead mouse.So, he told this reckless young man who wanted more money, “Look at this pile of trash.That mouse is dead, but a person who strives to make good use of resources can find ways to utilize even this pile of trash and this mouse.If one is determined, even from this pile of trash and this dead mouse, one can gain very useful principles.”
Then the elder said, “I’ve said everything I wanted to say.Here is another 1000 gold pieces.Take care of yourself.” After taking the money, the reckless young man walked away, and the elder continued on his way.The young beggar by the trash was far from them, but he heard what the elder told the young man, and thought, “As for the mouse in this pile of trash, did the elder mean to treat it with compassion?I should treat this mouse the way he treats the reckless young man, with that same compassion.”
He carefully buried the mouse in a graveyard and then sincerely wished him well. However, he kept thinking about how he could be a good person and really live a good life. So, he earnestly begged for food from others and saved and collected this leftovers. Thus, he dried and preserved the food and brought it to poor households. He told them, “These are the leftovers from wealthy households. I preserved them, and I will sell them to you at very cheap price. You can spend very little money on food that is good quality”. After a while, he was slowly able to grow his savings from the little money he made. With that money, he purchased vegetables and sold them as a vendor. With the money he made from selling vegetables, he purchased a piece of land and started tending the soil. He worked hard on cultivating the field to plant vegetables to sell.
In this way, he slowly expanded his land holdings and slowly accumulated this wealth. After some years, he became a businessman. After more than a decade passed, he thought, “I am very successful today for one reason, the teaching that elder gave over 10 years ago. Out of love for a friend’s son, he gave unconditionally and tried his best to educate the young man. From his teaching, I gained this knowledge. ‘“Not repaying a kindness received goes against my awakened mind”’. The reason I am successful today is because of him. If I don’t repay his kindness, I am going against my awakened mind. So, I must repay him.”
So one day, this young man had a very big silver plate made. He also had a gold mouse made and filled the mouse’s belly with many valuables. Then, he placed the mouse on the silver plate and surrounded it with pearls and carnelians to represent the trash around it. This referenced what the elder had said about the trash and the mouse. After arranging everything on the plate, he respectfully carried it to the elder and presented it before him. The elder did not remember this young man at all. So the young man told the elder how, nearly twenty years ago, when he was still quite young, he heard the elder’s teaching, which inspired him tremendously. This led him to work hard for a living. He relayed the whole story to the elder.
The elder was very touched, so he married his daughter to him. He said, “You are a very good young man. As a child, after simply hearing those words, you became very successful. Today, by repaying me, you show that you are filled with love. I entrust you with all my wealth. You must remember to have faith in the Buddha-Dharma and use the Four Infinite Minds to give with love.”
After finishing this story, the Buddha then said to Ananda, “A dead mouse can lead to great wealth. That young man is now standing in front of me as Bhiksu Panthaka.The elder is now I, Sakyamuni Buddha. The reckless young man is now Devadatta. The reckless young man is now Devadatta. Devadatta received my help numerous times, akin to 600 million chapters of teachings. Even if I give him all 600 million chapters, he will still turn away without accepting them. He will verbally agree with it yet go against it in his actions, just like how the reckless young man said, “I will change. I agree, and I will change. He agreed verbally but turned around and did something different. Thus, he went against the path. He says the right things, but he refuses to act on it. So, he does not back up words with actions. To verbally agree but physically defy is [the way of] a petty person with worldly knowledge and cleverness. This is what Devadatta does. ”
For these kinds of people, no matter how many teachings they hear, it would still be no use. From afar, [the boy] heard the advice given to another. The simple principle he learned was applied over the rest of his life. Consider how he repaid [this kindness] with a silver plate, a gold mouse and all kinds of treasures that represented that scene with the trash. With determination, even trash can become gold. Even a dead mouse [can inspire] someone to care for all sentient beings. This is a person who truly understands the Buddha’s knowledge and views.”
The following passage is about [Why] the Buddha came to the world.
He “wanted to reveal to sentient beings the Buddha’s knowledge and views. Thus [He] manifested in this world.”
The Buddha comes to the world to teach sentient beings His knowledge and views. “[The Buddha] wanted to enable sentient beings to realize the Buddha’s knowledge and views, so He manifested in the world.” [They] want to reveal to sentient beings: They open the open the Tathagata-garbha [for us] to see ultimate reality. The ultimate reality [buried] in afflictions is called the Tathagata-garbha. The ultimate reality that transcends afflictions is called the Dharmkaya.
“[They ]want to reveal to sentient beings by opening the Tathagata-garbha [for us] to see ultimate reality. The Buddha wanted to teach sentient beings that they all intrinsically have the Tathagata-garbha. Every one of us has it. He helps us open this treasury within ourselves, so we can see the true principles.Because ultimate reality exists in afflictions, there is a saying, “Afflictions are Bodhi.” This means that ultimate reality exists in afflictions, because we sentient beings intrinsically have Buddha-nature, but our minds are filled with afflictions but our minds are filled with afflictions.Actually,
even when we are afflicted, our Buddha-nature is not diminished. This is our Tathagata-garbha. Ultimate reality can also be free from afflictions then it is the Dharmakaya. If we can see through our afflictions, ultimate reality will appear.
Everyone, in our practice, [we can be like] Devadatta or Bhiksu Panthaka. Thet were both the Buddha’s disciples. One was mindful; he received little but did a lot because he believed in and practiced [the Dharma]. The other received so much but constantly lost it and became evil. The result depends on how practitioners apply the teachings. So everyone, please always be mindful.
(Source: Da Ai TV – Wisdom at Dawn program – Explanation by Master Chen-Yen)
⊙「欲示眾生，佛之知見故，出現於世。欲令眾生，悟佛知見故，出現於世。」《法華經方便品第二》
⊙欲示眾生：開如來藏，見實相理。真如在煩惱中，謂之如來藏；真如出煩惱，謂之法身。
【證嚴上人開示】
「大眾默契佛心，樂聞教誡敬受；即得明心知見，顯實自性清淨。」
大眾默契佛心
樂聞教誡敬受
即得明心知見
顯實自性清淨
這也就是告訴大家，佛陀用心教育，也有一大群的弟子，真的是用心要受教。雖然佛陀受舍利弗三請，卻是佛陀也三止，那就是因為眾生的根機，還有不堪受，所以佛陀三止。卻是，有五千人退席，留下來的就都是，用心在追隨佛陀，瞭解佛陀的心意。
就如舍利弗一樣，這一大群的大眾已經歡喜，要來接受佛陀教育。這都已經與佛心默契，能夠瞭解佛陀，即將要設施大法的時刻了，所以人人「樂聞教誡」，用很歡喜的心要來聽佛所教育，所以人人用敬心，用很尊敬的心要來接受。若能人人都用這樣的心，「樂聞教誡敬受」，這個心來接受佛陀，一定「即得明心知見」，心就會明。
明心就是去除煩惱，去除一分，那就是明亮一分，那就是與佛的心愈接近分寸，一直接近來。所以「顯實自性清淨」，若能接近一分的知見，我們自己的本性，自然自性就能漸漸一直清淨。這是一定的道理。
佛陀有一段時間，阿難請教佛陀，眾生受教的根機，有什麼樣的接受，什麼樣的得失嗎？佛陀他就說：「好，我舉個例。」
在過去古時代，無量劫前，有一位長者，生意做得很好，大富。他有一位朋友，有個獨生子，這個獨生子就是好玩、愛玩、放蕩，他的朋友有很多財產，都被這位浪蕩子這樣毀掉了，花、吃、賭、用。
本來是富有的家庭，一落千丈。所以這位朋友擔心，生氣，又是墮落這種貧窮的環境，所以生病了。最後就向這位大富長者，就委託：雖然我這個孩子是一個浪蕩子，敗掉我的家產，讓我氣得連命都快沒了。我也老了，無論如何他就是我的孩子，所以，委託你，若能夠，盡量教育他，幫助他能夠瞭解人生的道理。就這樣，這位朋友就往生了。
這位富有長者，他覺得這是責任，這也就是他願意的事情，所以就將這個朋友的孩子叫來，「年輕人，這一次你有受到很大的教育嗎？你的家產什麼都沒了，你所依靠的父親也已經往生了，你現在一無所有。來，我告訴你，聽我的話，我給你千金，給你千兩金，讓你去當本錢，你要好好去謀生，合情合理地去謀生。」就這樣交給他千兩黃金了。
但是，這個孩子，在外面做生意、應酬，同樣花、吃、賭、用，還是雙手空空。再來向這位父輩，就是這位長者，又來告訴他：「我對生意，我很用心在做，但是失敗了。不只是沒賺錢，我還欠人家債。」這位長者開始又教育他，用很多的心神，做人的道理等等教育，再給他千金。像這樣連續有五次之後，都是一樣。
有一天，第六次再來找長者，還是向他訴說：「我很努力，但是……等等。」這位長者正好看到門外，有一堆垃圾，有一位乞兒，同樣也是年輕人，在那裡在翻垃圾，想要找到什麼東西可吃、可用。正好，他也看到一隻老鼠，已經死在那裡。他這位長者，就開始向這位年輕人，又回來要錢的浪蕩子，他又告訴他說：「你看，前面這堆垃圾，看到那隻老鼠已經死了。你知道，若是懂得善調理的人，這堆垃圾、這隻老鼠，他應該如何處理，若這樣有心，這堆垃圾、這隻老鼠，死老鼠，也能得到很大的道理受用。」這樣告訴他之後，「我想告訴你的事情已經說了，來，再給你千兩，你要好自為之。」
這樣拿了錢，浪蕩子又是揚長而去，這位長者也出外去了。這位年輕人在垃圾堆中，雖然是遠遠的，不過有聽到剛才長者，向那位浪蕩子說的話，聽進去，他就用心想：若是在這堆垃圾之中，這隻老鼠，這位長者是不是在說愛心？我應該對這隻老鼠，就如長者對這位浪蕩子一樣，那分的愛心？所以他就將這隻老鼠，好好掩埋牠，用很虔誠的心來祝福牠。
他的腦海中，一直想，如何能安分守己，好好來生活？他就認真去向人乞討，吃剩的東西，他就慢慢囤積起來，集起來，他就將之處理、曬乾，就將這些東西，可以拿去比較貧窮的家庭，跟他們說：「這全都是富有人家剩餘的飯，我這樣處理它，賣給你，用很便宜的價錢來賣你。」大家用了很少的錢，可以買來吃的東西，品質又是很好。
這樣一段時間，慢慢累積起來，也能夠賣得少少量的錢。他就以這些錢拿去買菜，做起菜販去賣菜。有菜，去賣了之後又有錢，開始就去整理土地，去買一塊土地，就好好來耕耘，種菜、又賣菜，如此，慢慢拓寬了他的土地，慢慢累積了他的金錢。過了幾年後，他也已經成為一位貿易家。
這是經過了十多年後，他的事業有成，就這樣想：「我今天能夠這麼成功，這個因從何來？十多年前，就是這位長者，他一場的教育，那分愛心為他朋友的孩子，這樣無所求的付出，盡心的教育。就是他的教育，所以我得來了這個知識，『受恩不報，謂之背明』，我今天能成功的因，就是從這位長者來，我若不懂得報(恩)，就是違背明心，所以我應該要來回報。」
所以他有一天，就去做一個很大塊的銀盤，同時，也用金去打成老鼠，金老鼠。老鼠的肚子裡，他就將它放很多的寶物，然後，老鼠就放於銀盤，銀盤的周圍就珍珠瑪瑙，擺在老鼠的周圍，要來表達，這個周圍，如以前長者所說的那堆垃圾，一隻老鼠。所以他這樣布置之後，將銀盤捧著，非常恭敬來到這位長者面前，恭敬獻給長者。
長者對這位年輕人沒有印象，這位年輕人，就向他說起了那一天，將近二十年了，那時候他還是青少年時代，聽到的一席他的話，讓他啟發很大，所以認真打拚。將這個過程說給長者聽，長者聽到非常的感動，所以，將他的女兒就這樣嫁給他，告訴他：「你是一個很好的年輕人。從孩提時代，只是聽到這段話，你就能這樣成功，今天有這種回報，表示你有充分愛心。我要將我的家財全部付託給你，你要記得，你要信仰佛法，同時用四無量心，愛，去付出。」
這段文說完之後，佛陀開始回過來就告訴阿難：一隻(死)老鼠就能夠致富，這位就是現在在的我面前，就是槃特比丘，那位長者就是我，釋迦牟尼佛，那位浪蕩子就是調達，提婆達多。
提婆達多他已經接受我，數次的幫助，有六億品經，儘管我給他六億品經的道理，他還是違背，不肯受用此法。像這樣，言順行逆，這個言順行逆，就如那個孩子來就說：「我會改，我接受，我會改。」如這種言順行逆，但是去了，就是逆，逆道而行，也會說，但是他不肯做，所以叫做有言無行，言順行逆，這是小人之智，這世智辯聰，像這樣，現在的提婆達多，這樣的人，哪怕是聽再多的經也無用。
在遠遠的地方，這樣聽到在教育別人，得到一點點的道理，他就能受用於他的終生，看看，回過頭來，銀盤金鼠，還有種種硨磲、瑪瑙。就像在那堆垃圾中，有心，垃圾也會變黃金，一隻死老鼠，也能夠讓他心懷天下眾生，這就是真正瞭解佛陀知見的人。
所以我們這段（經）文，佛陀來人間，就是「欲示眾生佛之知見故，出現於世」。
欲示眾生
佛之知見故
出現於世
《法華經方便品第二》
佛陀是為了要教育眾生，佛的知見，所以來人間。
欲令眾生
悟佛知見故
出現於世
《法華經方便品第二》
「欲令眾生悟佛知見」，所以出現人間。
欲示眾生：
開如來藏
見實相理
真如在煩惱中
謂之如來藏
真如出煩惱
謂之法身
這「欲示眾生」，「開如來藏，見實相理」。這是佛陀要開示眾生，眾生人人都有一個如來藏，任何一個人都有。讓大家把這個如來藏若打開，才能見到真實的道理，因為真如在煩惱中。一句話說「煩惱即菩提」，意思就是說，真如就是在煩惱中。因為我們眾生本具佛性，卻是眾生人人心中，就是充滿了煩惱，其實在煩惱中，還是佛性不減，所以這叫做「如來藏」。就是真如也是出於煩惱中，這就是法身；煩惱若打開(看透)，那就能真如現前。
各位，修行，提婆達多與槃特比丘同樣是佛的弟子，一位是那麼用心，得少為多，因為他信受奉行。另一位是得那麼多，不斷漏失，變成了惡。這種在修行者之中，看你如何受用。所以人人要時時多用心。
Explanations by Master Cheng-Yan
Subject: Respectfully Listen to and Accept Instruction (聞教誡需敬受)
Date: April. 17. 2014
“The assembly were in accord with the Buddha’s mind. They happily listened to teachings and respectfully followed instructions, so they immediately attained clear minds, knowledge and views to reveal the purity of their true intrinsic nature.”
This is telling everyone that the Buddha put His heart into giving teachings and also had a large group of disciples who put their hearts into accepting it. Though the Buddha was asked to teach three times by Sariputra, the Buddha stopped him three times. That was because sentient beings did not yet have the capabilities to accept the teachings. So, the Buddha said to stop three times. But then, 5000 people left the assembly. Those who remained were those who followed the Buddha attentively and understood His intent, just like Sariputra.
This large group of people were already joyful and [ready] to accept the Buddha’s teaching. They were in accord with the Buddha’s mind and understood that the Buddha was about to teach the great Dharma. So, all of them “happily listened to the teachings and instructions.” They listened to the Buddha’s teaching with joy, so they had the utmost respect when they accepted the teachings.
By utilizing this mindset, “they happily listened to teachings and respectfully followed the instructions.” By accepting the Buddha’s [teachings,] “they immediately attained clear minds, knowledge and views.” To have a clear mind we must eliminate afflictions. Every bit we eliminate brings a bit of clarity and takes us an inch closer to the Buddha’s mind. We are constantly drawing closer. So, this “reveals the purity of our true intrinsic nature.” The closer we draw to [the Buddha’s] knowledge and views, to our intrinsic nature, the purer our self-nature naturally becomes. This is an undeniable principle. One time, Ananda asked the Buddha, “Sentient beings have different capabilities, so how do they accept the teachings and what realizations can they attain?” The Buddha thought for a moment and said, “Let me give you an example.” [The Buddha told him a story] from ancient times. A certain grhapati (elder) had a successful business and was very wealthy. He had a very close friend who had only one son. This only child loved fun and lacked restraint. Though his friend had great wealth, it was all wasted by his self-indulgent son, on eating, gambling and shopping. This once-wealthy family suffered a drastic decline in fortune. So, his friend became worried and angry. Moreover, due to their poor living conditions, his friend fell ill. He then entrusted his son to the wealthy elder and said, “My son is reckless.He wasted my fortune and got me so upset I almost died.I aged too quickly.However, he is my son after all.So, please educate him the best you can and help him understand how to live his life.”
Then his friend passed away.
The wealthy elder felt responsible for [the son] and was willing to [help him].So, he called the young man over.“Young man, have you learned anything from this?Your fortune is gone.You father, whom you depend on, passed away.You don’t have anything now.Listen to me, and I will give you 1000 gold pieces as capital for you to start a life.Use it well to make a fair and legitimate living.”
So, the elder gave the young man 1000 gold pieces.However, this young man spent this money on social engagements for business and ate, gambled and squandered as he did before.Eventually, he was completely broke again.He came back to his father figure, this elder, and said, “I worked hard on this business, but I failed.Not only did I not make money,I actually owe other people money.”This elder then put forth great effort to teach him the principles of being a good person and again gave the young man 1000 gold pieces.
The same thing happened five times.One day, the young man returned for the sixth time.Again, he said, “I worked hard, but …, ” and so on.The elder happened to see a pile of trash by the door and a beggar, who was very young, searching through it for something to eat or use.The elder also saw a dead mouse.So, he told this reckless young man who wanted more money, “Look at this pile of trash.That mouse is dead, but a person who strives to make good use of resources can find ways to utilize even this pile of trash and this mouse.If one is determined, even from this pile of trash and this dead mouse, one can gain very useful principles.”
Then the elder said, “I’ve said everything I wanted to say.Here is another 1000 gold pieces.Take care of yourself.” After taking the money, the reckless young man walked away, and the elder continued on his way.The young beggar by the trash was far from them, but he heard what the elder told the young man, and thought, “As for the mouse in this pile of trash, did the elder mean to treat it with compassion?I should treat this mouse the way he treats the reckless young man, with that same compassion.”
He carefully buried the mouse in a graveyard and then sincerely wished him well. However, he kept thinking about how he could be a good person and really live a good life. So, he earnestly begged for food from others and saved and collected this leftovers. Thus, he dried and preserved the food and brought it to poor households. He told them, “These are the leftovers from wealthy households. I preserved them, and I will sell them to you at very cheap price. You can spend very little money on food that is good quality”. After a while, he was slowly able to grow his savings from the little money he made. With that money, he purchased vegetables and sold them as a vendor. With the money he made from selling vegetables, he purchased a piece of land and started tending the soil. He worked hard on cultivating the field to plant vegetables to sell.
In this way, he slowly expanded his land holdings and slowly accumulated this wealth. After some years, he became a businessman. After more than a decade passed, he thought, “I am very successful today for one reason, the teaching that elder gave over 10 years ago. Out of love for a friend’s son, he gave unconditionally and tried his best to educate the young man. From his teaching, I gained this knowledge. ‘“Not repaying a kindness received goes against my awakened mind”’. The reason I am successful today is because of him. If I don’t repay his kindness, I am going against my awakened mind. So, I must repay him.”
So one day, this young man had a very big silver plate made. He also had a gold mouse made and filled the mouse’s belly with many valuables. Then, he placed the mouse on the silver plate and surrounded it with pearls and carnelians to represent the trash around it. This referenced what the elder had said about the trash and the mouse. After arranging everything on the plate, he respectfully carried it to the elder and presented it before him. The elder did not remember this young man at all. So the young man told the elder how, nearly twenty years ago, when he was still quite young, he heard the elder’s teaching, which inspired him tremendously. This led him to work hard for a living. He relayed the whole story to the elder.
The elder was very touched, so he married his daughter to him. He said, “You are a very good young man. As a child, after simply hearing those words, you became very successful. Today, by repaying me, you show that you are filled with love. I entrust you with all my wealth. You must remember to have faith in the Buddha-Dharma and use the Four Infinite Minds to give with love.”
After finishing this story, the Buddha then said to Ananda, “A dead mouse can lead to great wealth. That young man is now standing in front of me as Bhiksu Panthaka.The elder is now I, Sakyamuni Buddha. The reckless young man is now Devadatta. The reckless young man is now Devadatta. Devadatta received my help numerous times, akin to 600 million chapters of teachings. Even if I give him all 600 million chapters, he will still turn away without accepting them. He will verbally agree with it yet go against it in his actions, just like how the reckless young man said, “I will change. I agree, and I will change. He agreed verbally but turned around and did something different. Thus, he went against the path. He says the right things, but he refuses to act on it. So, he does not back up words with actions. To verbally agree but physically defy is [the way of] a petty person with worldly knowledge and cleverness. This is what Devadatta does. ”
For these kinds of people, no matter how many teachings they hear, it would still be no use. From afar, [the boy] heard the advice given to another. The simple principle he learned was applied over the rest of his life. Consider how he repaid [this kindness] with a silver plate, a gold mouse and all kinds of treasures that represented that scene with the trash. With determination, even trash can become gold. Even a dead mouse [can inspire] someone to care for all sentient beings. This is a person who truly understands the Buddha’s knowledge and views.”
The following passage is about [Why] the Buddha came to the world.
He “wanted to reveal to sentient beings the Buddha’s knowledge and views. Thus [He] manifested in this world.”
The Buddha comes to the world to teach sentient beings His knowledge and views. “[The Buddha] wanted to enable sentient beings to realize the Buddha’s knowledge and views, so He manifested in the world.” [They] want to reveal to sentient beings: They open the open the Tathagata-garbha [for us] to see ultimate reality. The ultimate reality [buried] in afflictions is called the Tathagata-garbha. The ultimate reality that transcends afflictions is called the Dharmkaya.
“[They ]want to reveal to sentient beings by opening the Tathagata-garbha [for us] to see ultimate reality. The Buddha wanted to teach sentient beings that they all intrinsically have the Tathagata-garbha. Every one of us has it. He helps us open this treasury within ourselves, so we can see the true principles.Because ultimate reality exists in afflictions, there is a saying, “Afflictions are Bodhi.” This means that ultimate reality exists in afflictions, because we sentient beings intrinsically have Buddha-nature, but our minds are filled with afflictions but our minds are filled with afflictions.Actually,
even when we are afflicted, our Buddha-nature is not diminished. This is our Tathagata-garbha. Ultimate reality can also be free from afflictions then it is the Dharmakaya. If we can see through our afflictions, ultimate reality will appear.
Everyone, in our practice, [we can be like] Devadatta or Bhiksu Panthaka. Thet were both the Buddha’s disciples. One was mindful; he received little but did a lot because he believed in and practiced [the Dharma]. The other received so much but constantly lost it and became evil. The result depends on how practitioners apply the teachings. So everyone, please always be mindful.
(Source: Da Ai TV – Wisdom at Dawn program – Explanation by Master Chen-Yen)
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