【靜思妙蓮華】20140617 - 善巧方便力 - 第328集 The Power of Skillful Means

20140617《靜思妙蓮華》善巧方便力（第328集）

⊙一念心所生，緣境所生法，善惡隨念轉。奉行種種善，心念存於中，志業彰於外。
⊙「舍利弗善聽，諸佛所得法，無量方便力，而為眾生說。」《法華經方便品第二》
⊙無量方便力：謂於人群中，親近善友知識，聞其善巧方便說法，遂發菩提心，是名方便力而為眾生說。

【證嚴上人開示】
月在天空中，永遠都是圓的，時時無不都是圓的。只是在我們地球上的人，不同的角度，不同的氣候，我們所見的，有時月圓，有時月缺，有時就是雲遮蓋，有時就是天空清朗，天空清朗時，自然你就能見到月。

就如我們的心，法本住在人人的心，只是看我們人人的心，煩惱若較多，無明若較厚，自然法就(被)遮蓋。被無明、煩惱遮蓋，我們就不知道法，無論是大、小乘法，一概不知，所以就迷了。

一念心所生
緣境所生法
善惡隨念轉
奉行種種善
心念存於中
志業彰於外

佛陀就是要來告訴我們，世間一切很多就是永恆不變，有很多，你的心若通了，無不就是永恆，不生不滅的真實法就存在。卻是我們凡夫就是這樣執，所以在這「一念心所生，緣境所生法」。我們都是在這一念心，是好，是壞？是要，還是不要？要，我們很重視在追求；不要的，我們輕視它，而將它厭棄。這就是我們人的心，一念心所生、住、異、滅，這就是心靈的四相。所以，人有生、老、病、死，心有生、住、異、滅，一切都是皆由一念心所生。

所以，這一念心是隨著、緣著境界所生之法，這全都是有為法。「有為」，就是有創造的。就像你要賞月，差不多八月初開始，媒體報紙就一直刊，就是賞月烤肉。好像中秋只為一個目的，就是賞月烤肉，只有這樣而已。

月圓時，難道沒有其他的事情可做嗎？難道沒有其他有益人群、社會的事情可計畫嗎？難道只有計劃吃、玩、歡樂，只是這樣而已嗎？人都是隨著世俗的環境，緣著這個環境所創造一切，這緣境所生法。

中秋，不一定是這樣。中秋，只是真正月與地球，比較接近，亮度比較明亮一點點。其實，我們平常看月亮，也是月很亮，卻是人只要執著在這一點點的，這樣就會很多的效應，做出了對與不對的事情。看到，在環保站裡，垃圾特別多，都是月餅包裝的盒子，很多，比平時增加更多。

所以在環保站，我們就能看出了人間的生活，人間都是應景，緣此境界這樣在生活。這種法則是凡夫。所以，我們應該要瞭解，善、惡隨念轉，到底我們要做好事，也是一念轉！

就像我們有看到在靜思堂裡，也能看到圓圓的月，很乾淨。而且人間正面能賞月，在室內，靜思堂的室內，就有很明亮的月。其中有奉行種種善的人，叫做國際(慈濟)人醫會(年會)，在國際間總共有十九個國家雲來集，大醫王，與醫療有關的人士，聚(集)在靜思堂。

其中能看到，兩個人的身影，這一次已經是永別了——菲律賓的呂副院長（呂秀泉），臺灣的蔡醫師（蔡宗賢）。這兩位，醫生的生活是富有，但是他們願意放棄享受，走入人群，走入貧窮、病苦人的環境中。（他們的往生），多少人不捨啊！

卻是也同樣在此會場中，人人還是難得會聚中秋，這個時候是一年一度，大醫王會聚的時刻，如菩薩雲來集，彼此祝福，互相歡喜。相見歡喜，互相交流，增加了富中之富者，彼此來分享，如何去啟發貧中之富人。這種心得，大家都很有，心有所得，所以，心中之法，深入人人的心。

所以「心念存於中，志業彰於外」。這種善念能永遠都在內心，永恆不變，不斷互相勉勵，彼此相愛，互相相疼惜。這種彼此的心力合在一起，就是志業能夠很明朗，人人看得到，也教育了人人的心。所以我們學佛，就是要學法在生活中。

雖然我們能聽到這麼多國家，不同宗教的信仰，卻是有共同一念心，那是為天下苦難人付出。這是信仰的宗旨，那就是「慈濟」。這就是能夠聽到的歡喜。

所以我們學佛者，我們要永遠虔誠用心。天下有很多永恆存在的，月在天空，都是同樣不變的形態在天空中；法，本來就有的法，是在我們人人的心中。我們應該要守住這念心，不要心生、住、異、滅，緣在這境界來創造一念偏差，錯誤的世間法，我們應該要歸入，世間法要歸入真實法。所以我們聽經，一直就是要提醒大家，佛陀來人間，他的一大因緣的目標。

所以，佛陀一直向大家說，法，一乘妙法。所以現在經文也是這麼說：「舍利弗善聽」。佛陀一而再，再而三，又再叫舍利弗。叫舍利弗就等於叫大家，因為舍利弗是眾中的代表者。所以，佛陀接下來再說：「舍利弗善聽」，要好好聽，聽好，「諸佛所得法，無量方便力，而為眾生說」。

舍利弗善聽
諸佛所得法
無量方便力
而為眾生說
《法華經方便品第二》

要知道佛陀出現在人間，只有一個目的，要將此真實法和大家分享，啟發人人心中本具，真如的本性存在。人人的根機就是這樣不整齊，要讓大家有機會，所以佛陀他就對舍利弗說：諸佛，不只是釋迦牟尼佛，過去的諸佛、現在的釋迦佛，還有未來無量數的諸佛。過去、現在、未來，所有的佛出現人間，都是用同樣的方法。他們必定要現出修行的過程。

佛陀修行的過程，釋迦佛是這樣，過去諸佛也同樣是如此。在經典中，佛陀若介紹，過去阿彌陀佛修行的過程，發什麼樣的願，在人間……等等。佛陀說自己的「本生經」，過去是如何累積功德，如何殷勤精進，如何遇到古佛，在哪一尊佛的法中精進。這是累生累世。所以，每一尊佛的過程，都是要經過諸佛的教法，也要自己很精進，接受諸佛的法入心。

同樣的，諸佛的教法，還是開方便法。這是佛佛道同，在人間所得之法。「諸佛所得法」，得，那就是因為過去，就是這樣求過法，求法的精神、過程。有求才有得，所以過去還是這樣在修行、精進、求佛法的過程，所得來的法，諸佛都是一樣，所以「諸佛所得法」。什麼是同樣的？同樣他要入人群去教化眾生。要教化眾生，同樣也是要用無量方便法。這是諸佛的佛佛道同。

每一尊佛都有過去生中修行的過程，求法之精進，成佛之後還是一樣要投入人群，人群中還是一樣要用方便法。這方便力就是所用的法。方便是妙，權巧方便這是一股力量。

我們眾生，告訴他：「你原來就是佛。」原來就是佛，只是我也是佛。所以就貢高驕傲。其實這我也是佛，那其中的法，全都不知，所行的都是凡夫心所貪欲，種種的罪業，造，造很多的罪業。

只是，佛陀若說人人本具佛性，人人都是佛。這樣你想，誰還要學佛呢？誰懂得反省、懺悔自己的過錯？大家都不會去懺悔、反省，也無法真正瞭解佛的本性，那種慈悲，這善法都沒了，這樣要如何叫做人人都是佛呢？

為了要讓人人知道，我們人人本具佛性，所以佛陀他就要設，很多很多種無量方便法。這種法就是能牽引他進入，更深、更詳細、更能瞭解，他能接受，接受(後)能入心，洗滌他的心的污垢、無明，這種種方法。

無量方便力：
謂於人群中
親近善友知識
聞其善巧方便說法
遂發菩提心
是名方便力
而為眾生說

有所得，讓眾生有所得，這叫做力，力量。不是隨便說說，有說和沒說差不多。每一句話，佛陀所說的話就是都有力量，都能讓人有辦法接受、受用，這才叫做方便力。也真實為眾生說法。所以，方便力就是施教眾生。所以方便力，就是我們人人，我們要瞭解天下一切，人群中無不都是善知識。

看看我們現在，大家都是我們的善知識。過去不是告訴過大家，天下無不都是說法相。無論是蟲鳴鳥叫，我們也能很透徹瞭解，牠也是在說話。只是我們人，只知道人世間的語言，何況人世間的語言，同樣是人類，但是語言不同，我們就無法瞭解了。

最近十九個國家，有幾種語言。大家在那裡分享，使用不同的語言，卻是要有通達那種語言的人，來現場翻譯，將很多不同的語言，有不同通達的人，他們聽他們的話，及時用現代科技。我聽法語，我懂法語，所以我聽法國人說法，說他的話，我接收到，馬上翻譯，翻圛成中文，人人聽中文，人人聽得懂。

有的人(講)英文，我接收到英語，我懂英語，所以我馬上將它翻譯，翻譯成葡萄牙語，種種語言，互相交叉。同一個場合，有很多種不同的語言，也要有人用心，去讀這種種的語言，去通達，他們來做翻譯。

這就是在人群中，大家共同在那裡，是一種學術的交流，也是一種覺有情，互相啟發，分享所做利益人群的事情。所以，這全都是法，這都是叫做善知識，這都叫做善友。所以，我們在此人群中，親近善友、知識，聞其善巧方便說法。無法通達的語言，就有人這樣將它翻譯，像這樣，大家聽，互相學，你在你的國家用什麼方法，我在我的國家用什麼方法，互相交換，增加這念善念，增加權巧方便法，「遂發菩提心」，這樣讓人人能再發起了菩提心。

每年的這個時候，他們回來都會帶回到很多國家，好的方法，還是落實在他們的國家，能去做更多的事情，所以這樣發菩提心，這也是叫做方便力，也是一股力量。人人來到此地看到的、聽到的，這個我能受用，你的方法，我能受用，這叫做力，方便力。

所以，佛陀叫舍利弗，大家要用心聽，過去諸佛，同樣在過去佛精進，而且所求之法成就之後，同樣入人群教化眾生，同樣用種種不同的角度，不同的方法，去引眾生。引度眾生，就是用方便力，用種種的方法來說法。所以說起來，佛陀在人間，是生生世世不離人間，不同的國度，不同的方式生活，他都是為眾生，都是在做人的善知識。

所以，我們入人群中，我們要將人人當作是佛。因為在人群中的善知識，無不都是現身教育我們。所以，我們若能人人有這念心，我們本身所得的法，也能展轉給人，也能教導他人，引誘人人同樣入此法來。所以，所得法，就是過程中有求，才能付出這麼多的力量，這些力量，會讓很多人有受用，這無不都是說法。所以人人要多用心。

Explanations by Master Cheng-Yan

Subject: The Power of Skillful Means (善巧方便法)

Date: June. 17. 2014

The moon in the sky is always full. It never changes, but for us here on Earth, depending on location and atmospheric conditions, the moon we see is sometimes full, sometimes crescent-shaped, sometimes obscured by clouds, sometimes bright in the clear sky. When the sky is clear, naturally we can see the moon. The same principle applies to our minds. The Dharma has always abided in our minds, but some of our minds have more afflictions or thicker layers of ignorance. Then, naturally the Dharma will be covered up, covered by ignorance and afflictions. So, we do not understand the Dharma. Whether it is Great Vehicle or Small Vehicle we do not understand it at all, thus we become deluded.

The thoughts the mind gives rise to and the way it connects to conditions determine it we see things as good or bad. When we uphold and practice all goodness, these thoughts are kept in our minds and manifest externally as our mission.

The Buddha comes to tell us that many things in the world are everlasting and unchanging. Many things, once understood, are everlasting, and are True Dharma that do not arise or cease. But we ordinary beings are very stubborn. So, this is “the thoughts the mind gives rise to and the way it connects to conditions.” Our minds determine whether something is good or bad, whether we want it or not. If we want it, we value and seek it. If we do not want it, we disparage and renounce it. This is how our minds work. A thought arises, abides, changes and ceases. These are the four states of the mind. The body goes through birth, aging, illness, death. The mind arises, abides, changes and ceases. All things arise from the mind and our thoughts are influenced by the way the mind connects with conditions. These [arising] things are conditioned phenomena. 

“Conditioned” refers to something that is created. Take the Mid-Autumn Festival for example. Around the beginning of August, news media outlets start publishing articles about barbecuing while admiring the full moon, as if the sole purpose of the Mid-Autumn Festival was barbecuing while admiring the full moon, and nothing more. When the moon is full, isn’t there anything else we can do? Can’t we plan to do something that benefits humankind and society? Is the festival just about eating and having fun? Can there be more to it? We tend to go along with what is customary. We are influenced by external conditions to do things. This is the way the mind connects to conditions. Mid-Autumn Festival does not have to be this way. At Mid-Autumn, the moon is very close to Earth, so it looks a little brighter [than usual]. In fact, a normal full moon is also very bright. But people are attached to the idea [the Mid-autumn moon is more special,] which has many ripple effects. They may end up doing proper or improper things. 

Take a look at our recycling centers. There is more trash at this time of year because of all the moon-cake packaging. So, at the recycling centers, we can see how we humans live. 

In this world, our lives are influenced by the conditions we connect with. This is natural for unenlightened beings. So,we should understand that [our mindset] determines if we see things as good or bad.Deciding to do good deeds also depends on our minds.

At the Jing Si Hall, we also have a direct view of a clean and perfectly round moon.

Inside the hall there is a very bright moon.There are people who uphold and practice all goodness; they are [members of].Tzu Chi International Medical Association (TIMA).

From around the world, a total of 19 countries participate.Doctors and other medical professionals gather at Jing Si Hall.Two people who had always been there before had already passed away this year, Asst. Superintendent Lu from the Philippines and Dr. Cai of Taiwan.The two of them could have lived the luxurious lives of doctors.

But they were willing to give up those comforts to go among the impoverished and the ill.Many people were sad to lose them.But this was also a precious occasion when everyone could gather for Mid-Autumn.This annual get-together for doctors is like a gathering of Bodhisattvas.They wished each other well, celebrated, and were happy to see and interact with one other.They were [materially and spiritually wealthy] so they mutually shared ways to inspire the spiritually poor among the wealthy.

They all had these kinds of experiences and realizations, so the Dharma had deeply penetrated their minds.

Thus “these thoughts are kept in our minds, manifest externally as our mission”.These virtuous thoughts can remain in our hearts forever unchanging, so we can continuously encourage, love and cherish each other.When people who share these thoughts converge, their mission is clearly apparent.Everyone can see it and learn from it.

Similarly, when we study the Buddha’s Way, we need to manifest it in our daily living.

Although these people come from many countries and hold various religious beliefs, they share a common [mission], which is to help all of those who are suffering.This is the direction provided by their faith [and the reason they have joined] Tzu Chi.

So, we can hear them share the joy [that comes from doing this work].Thus, we Buddhist practitioners must always be reverent and mindful.There are many everlasting things in the world like the moon in the sky.The moon always remains unchanging in the sky.

Similarly, the Dharma has always been in everyone’s mind.We should guard our minds and not allow thoughts to arise, abide, change and cease, or to deviate and err when the mind connects to conditions.We must trace worldly things back to True Dharma.So, when we listen to teachings, we must continuously remind ourselves that the Buddha comes to the world all for the purpose of one great cause.

So, the Buddha is always teaching everyone the One vehicle Dharma.This part of the sutra also states, “Sariputra, listen well”.Again and again, the Buddha called on Sariputra called on Sariputra.Calling Sariputra was like calling everyone, because he was their representative.

Then the Buddha said, “Sariputra, listen well.”He told him to listen earnestly, “for the Dharma obtained by all Buddhas, through the power of infinite skillful means is taught for sentient beings”.

must know the Buddha appeared in the world with only one goal, to share the True Dharma with everyone and to awaken everyone’s inherent.We must know the Buddha appeared in the world with only one goal, to share the True Dharma with everyone and to awaken everyone’s inherent nature of True Suchness. Everyone had different capabilities, so He had to create opportunities [for them to learn]. So, the Buddha told Sariputra that all Buddhas, not just Him, Sakyamuni Buddha, all Buddhas of the past, the present Sakyamuni and countless Buddhas of the future, all Buddhas of the past, present and future, who appear in this world, utilize the same methods and must manifest the process of spiritual practice.

The process of a Buddha’s spiritual practice was manifested by Sakyamuni Buddha, as well as by all Buddhas of the past. In the sutras, the Buddhas introduced the process of Amitabha Buddha’s spiritual practice, the vows He made in the world and so on. The Buddha also gave teachings on His own life and how He accumulated merits and virtues, how He studied earnestly and diligently and how He encountered ancient Buddhas and diligently practiced Their Dharma. He did this lifetime after lifetime. So, every Buddha went through the process of [learning] other Buddhas’ teachings and also diligently [practicing] and taking the Dharma of all Buddhas to heart. 

Likewise, all Buddhas taught skillful means. All Buddhas took the same path in obtaining the Dharma in the world “for the Dharma obtained by all Buddhas”, They were able to obtain it because They sought it out in the past. With this spirit and process of seeking the Dharma. They were able to seek and obtain it. 

So in the past, They engaged in spiritual practice and diligently sought the Buddha-Dharma. The Dharma They obtained was the same, so we speak of “the Dharma obtained by all Buddhas. What else was the same? They had the same intent of going among sentient beings to teach them. To teach sentient beings, they likewise used countless skillful means. 

Thus, all Buddhas share the same path. All Buddhas, in Their past lives, diligently engaged in spiritual practice and sought teachings. After attaining Buddhood, They all went among people and all utilized skillful means. Skillful means are the methods they used. Skillful means wondrous. Provisional skillful means are powerful. When sentient beings are told, “You are a Buddha”, though they are fundamentally Buddhas, when they think, “I am also Buddha”, they may become haughty and proud. Though they think, “I am also a Buddha, they may not understand the Dharma at all. Thus their unenlightened minds act out of greed and they commit transgressions, thus, creating much negative karma. So, if the Buddha says that everyone intrinsically has Buddha-nature, and that everyone is a Buddha, then who would still want to study the Buddha’s Way? Who would reflect on and repent their faults? Nobody would reflect and repent or be able to understand their intrinsic Buddha-nature. If they lack compassion and goodness, how could we say, “Everyone is a Buddha?” To help all of us realize that we intrinsically have Buddha-nature, the Buddha had to develop many, countless skillful means. These methods can guide people into deeper and more detailed understandings so they can accept and take the Dharma to heart to wash away their defilements and ignorance.

“The power of infinite skillful means: When we interact with people, we must draw near virtuous and spiritual friends and listen to skillful and suitable teachings that lead us to develop Bodhi-mind. That is the power of skillful means.”Which is taught for sentient beings.

It enables sentient beings to attain [the Dharma], so it is called a power. He could not teach just anything nor teach things that are insignificant. Every word the Buddha speaks is powerful and can be accepted and applied. This is the power of skillful means, which is truly for teaching sentient beings. So, the power of skillful means is that it can reach all sentient beings. The power of skilful means is that it can help all of us understand everything in the world. Everyone in the world is our spiritual friend. 

Look around us now. Everyone is our spiritual friend. Haven’t I told you all before that everything is a manifestation of Dharma? Even the buzzing of insects and chirping of birds can also be clearly understood; they are also speaking. But we humans only understand human speech. Furthermore, in the world, although we are all human, when people speak different languages, we cannot understand them. 

Volunteers from the 19 countries that were here spoke many different languages. When the volunteers shared, they used different languages. Someone fluent in that language had to provide live interpretation. With all these different languages, people who could speak these languages had to listen to the volunteers [and provide translation] with the help of modern technology.

“I hear and understand French. So, when I hear a Frenchman speak French I immediately translate those words into Chinese.” Everyone who speaks Chinese could then understand him. Some people spoke English. “I hear English and understand it, so I immediately translate it into Portuguese.Many languages flowed back and forth. At this one event, people spoke many different languages, so interpreters had to mindfully read and study material in many languages [in order] to translate. While they were all there, they mingled so they could learn from each other. They are also a kind of Bodhisattva, because they mutually inspired each other and shared ways of benefiting people. This is all Dharma. They were all virtuous and spiritual friends for each other. So, among these people, we draw near virtuous and spiritual friends to listen to skillful and suitable teachings.

A language that we cannot understand will be interpreted by someone for us. This is how we all listen and learn. “What methods do you use in your country? These are the methods I use in my country.” Through this mutual exchange, their goodness grows and they learn more provisional, skillful means “Gradually developing Bodhi-mind” means this helps them develop an awakened mind.

Every year around this time, they leave with good methods they learned from many other countries to take home and practice in their own countries, so they can do even more. In this way, they develop Bodhi-mind. This is also the power of skillful means, a power force. Everything they hear and see here can be applied. I can make use of this “Your methods can be applied in my country” This is the power of skillful means. 

So, the Buddha told Sariputra that everyone must listen mindfully.All Buddhas in the past diligently sought and practiced the Dharma until They attained Buddhahood. Similarly, They went among people to teach them, using various different angles and different methods to guide them. To guide sentient beings, They utilized the power of skillful means.They used many methods to teach the Dharma. So lifetime after lifetime, the Buddha remained in this world. He lived in different countries, with different lifestyles, to be a virtuous friend to sentient beings. 

So, when we go among people we need to treat everyone as a Buddha because the virtuous friends around us are all teaching by example. If we all have this mindset, we can pass on the Dharma we learn to others and we can also teach them and guide them to also penetrate this Dharma. 

So, the Dharma that we obtain is what we seek over the course of our spiritual practice. This is what enables us to exert so much power, which is helpful to many people. This all comes from expounding the Dharma. So everyone, we must always be mindful.

(Source: Da Ai TV – Wisdom at Dawn program – Explanation by Master Chen-Yen)