20140731《靜思妙蓮華》法印心光照世間（第360集）
⊙「大圓鏡智明淨，心印證真實法，授心印真佛子，諸法實相映照。」
⊙「我以相嚴身，光明照世間，無量眾所尊，為說實相印。」《法華經方便品第二》
⊙光明照世間：自瑩謂之光，照物透明之光。有二用：一者破闇，二者現法。佛之光明者，智慧之相也。
⊙無量眾所尊：佛德大覺，身相清澄光相端嚴，眾生心身所崇敬尊重。
⊙為說實相印：說實相印者，蓋稱佛之本願而說，欲令眾生一切如我，悟先所不知之大乘正智也。
【證嚴上人開示】
大圓鏡智明淨
心印證真實法
授心印真佛子
諸法實相映照
人生，生活在天地宇宙之間，天地多麼遼闊啊！人間，人是多麼渺小啊！這很渺小的人生，卻是只為了一個，貪、瞋、癡的念，就破壞了人間的和氣，也破壞了天地氣候的機能，所以四大不調，人禍頻傳。
佛陀教育我們，無非就是要我們人人，將煩惱收攝起來，縮小，縮小，縮小你的煩惱，然後去除，完全清淨。若如此，就「大圓鏡智明淨」。
我們的心，如一片大圓鏡，大圓鏡若把它擦得很清淨，前面的境界，無不都是收攝入心來，是「是」，是「非」，會很清楚。大圓鏡若是有灰塵，有髒污，那面鏡子照出去，就是模糊了，好像是，好像不是，是非就分不清。在這種分不清的境界裡，到底路怎麼走才是穩的呢？
所以，我們會看到十字路口，有架設鏡子（道路交通反射鏡），你看鏡子如果是清楚的，東、西、南、北有車來，開車的人就知道停住，讓車先過，如此自然就平安。假如那片鏡子模糊了，根本就看不清楚，四方八達到底有沒有車子？不知道。開過去，差之毫釐，碰撞，剎那之間，災禍就大了。
記得一位小學生，父母都在外面，由阿嬤照顧。阿嬤就是環保菩薩，每天都要載孫女去學校。有一天經過的地方，路口有一面鏡子都模糊了，車子差一點就撞到人。這小女孩很小，小學，就跟阿嬤說：「阿嬤，那面鏡子不清楚了。」阿嬤說：「好，好，不清楚，我們明天就帶東西，我們帶抹布來把它擦乾淨。」
明天開始，這輛摩托車，除了阿嬤載著孫女，每天都載著一只水桶、一塊布，每天來到那裡，停下來，趕緊擦乾淨。這就是一位，這麼簡單，看到了就會想要去做，老人有愛心，孩子有智慧，願意做這樣的人，那個地方來來去去的人，就平安了。
所以，大圓鏡智這種明淨，除了人人願意把自己的心每天擦、每天擦，每天都對我們的身外是非，看清楚、分得明，自然就願意去付出。所以「大圓鏡智明淨」，人人心的這面鏡子，若每天擦得清淨，「心印證真實法」，我們的心時時印著真實的法，法刻入心版來，法，就是(在)我們的行動中，心印著法，我們能瞭解，付出就是最快樂。
所以，授心印就是真佛子。佛陀已經教授給我們此法，要我們印入心來，我們要接受。有教、授，我們就要受教奉行。我們若能受教奉行，那就是真佛子。
所以「諸法實相映照」。真的諸法的實相，我們在日常生活中，就像那面鏡子，將所有的境界照得很清楚，讓我們不會迷失方向，讓我們能夠安全，四方八達，暢行無阻。這就是我們要用心受法。
佛陀的教法，佛陀告訴我們無常的人生，苦難的人生，苦、集、滅、道。雖然我們最近都說小乘法，但是，這是我們的基礎法。佛陀一定要向人人說，人生是這麼無常，我們才知道無常的人生，要把握時間。佛陀一定要告訴我們，人生是苦難偏多，讓我們去體悟。所以常常這樣說過了，「五趣雜居地」，就是在此世間，無論是天、人、地獄、餓鬼、畜生，此五趣全部雜居在這裡，娑婆世界。
就像現在這個時候，在美國東岸那個地方，就是紐約、紐澤西、長島、華府，我們常常提到的這些地方，一片狼籍，真的是慘不忍睹！
就是發生在四、五天前，這個大紐約區，那是一個金融中心，沿海岸那個地方，桑迪颶風方向接近、登陸，輕輕一掃，面目全非了。本來像天堂的人間，本來是金融、經濟集中在那個城市裡，大家的生活，生活方便、富有，沒有一點困難、阻礙。哪裡知道，輕輕一個颶風，其實也不是很強，卻是面積很大，雨水、海水這樣同時，所以造成了那麼大的災難。
災難過後，滿目瘡痍，停電，斷水、瓦斯，又缺油。何況水浸泡過的景象，東西爛了、臭了，人無法住。衣服濕了，東西完全泡水，泥土骯髒，這不就是泥犁地獄嗎？全是泥、水，沒有電，沒有水，無法清理。人，全都是小家庭，年輕的，各人分家了，年輕人現在手無縛雞之力，哪怕他是年輕人，也是眼看著這麼狼籍的環境，要從哪裡開始清理起呢？重的東西，如何挪動，無力啊！何況是老人呢？
我們也能想像得出，現代的社會，將本來人的生活功能，都已經慢慢消失了，只是訓練頭腦如何轉，訓練那隻手指頭如何去打電腦，其他什麼力氣都沒有。看到他們那樣，生活全停擺了，脫序了，苦啊！
有一群人，雖然是在這種境界裡，他們點蠟燭，也要做熱食，要趕快看看有沒有熱熱的熱湯？是不是能夠給人充飢，熱騰騰的飯食，有飯，有可以吃的東西嗎？真的是很辛苦。沒有電，就是黑漆漆，用蠟燭也在工作，這就是我們現在一群的菩薩，在那裡投入、付出。
我們在這裡，我們一直要用心。佛陀是怎麼告訴我們的，一一都印證在人間，以現代的科技與資訊，我們看得到，我們瞭解得到。所以，人間是五趣雜居地，不只是苦、空、無常，確是三途不離人間，所以我們人人要時時提高警覺，要人人多發心。發一念心，從我們內心開始，我們要行動，我們只是自己以外，希望人人每個人這片心鏡，我們要擦得清、明。人人要發揮，法印入心來，發揮在我們的行動中，所以要用心。
我們昨天說過，佛陀說：「我以相嚴身」。佛陀所說的相，就是三諦理集一身為一大乘。「三諦」就是空、假、中，空，空諦、假諦、中諦。
我們看清楚人間，到底有什麼是永遠的？沒有，空。人人到頭來就是空，還是帶著我們的善惡業去，又是善惡業來。我們要認清楚，所以這條去來道路，我們要有光明，心中要有法，明明了了。所以「我以相嚴身，光明照世間，無量眾所尊，為說實相印」。
我以相嚴身
光明照世間
無量眾所尊
為說實相印
《法華經方便品第二》
這是佛陀的智慧，他說他已經透徹這些道理，無論是空、假，他都是在中諦，發揮一乘法。所以因此這片光明來普被世間，讓黑暗中、無明中的眾生，能夠接受此光明，反光自照。
太陽在那裡，照在這裡，這裡若有東西遮住，它是暗的。太陽在那裡，這裡若有一面鏡子，將它反射回去，這邊這裡也是亮的。所以，佛陀的光，智慧之光，照耀給我們眾生，而我們眾生，學佛者，要將這面鏡子擦得乾淨，接受這個光來，反射此光能更普及，更加光明照世間。
明鏡面面相照，這個世間不就是很光明嗎？佛陀這麼的慈悲、智慧，因此「無量眾所尊」。世間人，人人應該尊重。因為佛陀來人間，一大事因緣是「為說實相印」。就是要來告訴我們，此實相就如印章銘刻，佛陀刻什麼樣的印章，只要我們用印泥沾著，蓋下去，一張白白的紙，這個印章刻什麼字，蓋下去就是什麼字；也是一種證明。
佛陀所說法，字字句句刻入心版。佛陀的法，不要偏差了。所以「為說實相印」，就是沒有偏差。我們要把字字句句的法，不要偏差了，要人人相傳，一個印章，可以蓋很多。
什麼叫做光明？我們再更加瞭解：「光明照世間」。自瑩謂之光，從自己的內在會發出光亮，我們人人本具如來智性。
光明照世間：
自瑩謂之光
照物透明之光
有二用：
一者破闇
二者現法
佛之光明者
智慧之相也
希望佛陀的光，照入我們的心，我們也能發出這個光——「自瑩」，自己從內心真如本性，照物透明之光。我們，指我們的內心，這念心光透徹，外面的道理就都很清楚，所以這叫做光，照物透明的光，是真實從內心能發出智慧。
這有兩種效用，一種是破闇。破闇，我們電燈如果關掉，你、我，互相看不見。電燈打開，暗就破除掉了，光明現前，我們(看到)的景象就很清楚了。二者，現法，就是說只要你的無明去除，法就現前，這就是光明。
佛的光明就是智慧之相。所以說，智慧在哪裡？看不到。經過佛陀所說法之後，用譬喻、言辭、因緣，為我們好好譬喻，原來如此，我知道了。我們接受之後，也能得佛智慧，同樣，這就是光明。
「無量眾所尊」，是佛德大覺，佛德。常常告訴大家，何謂有德呢？有修才有德。修，內修，內心真的要修行。心無修，所以法就不會留在我們的心裡，凡夫就是一直漏掉。
無量眾所尊：
佛德大覺
身相清澄
光相端嚴
眾生心身
所崇敬尊重
佛德大覺，佛陀的德，他的內心已經到達無漏，就是住在法中，這是佛陀的德，所以他是大覺。
「身相清澄光相莊嚴」，從他的內心能夠發光。剛剛說過，光明是從內心清淨智慧自照，也能照於他人。所以，大德、大覺悟的身相，已經內心很清澄了，靜寂清澄，此境界所發出來的光相莊嚴，所以，眾生的身心所崇敬。
佛陀來人間為說實相印，希望所說出來的法，能夠深深印在人人的心裡。所以，說實相印，就是蓋稱佛之本願，這全部涵蓋在佛的本願，實相印就是佛的本願。
為說實相印：
說實相印者
蓋稱佛之本願而說
欲令眾生一切如我
悟先所不知之
大乘正智也
我常常說，佛心所懷著的法，所保護的法，就是此實相印。佛陀的本願，希望將他所得的，就如這顆印章，要印在人人的心版裡，這是佛的心願，「欲令眾生一切如我」。所以常常說「佛心己心」，將佛的心印在我們的心裡。
「悟先所不知之大乘正智」，我們要趕快覺悟。過去我們都不知道，以為只是獨善其身，自我求解脫，現在不是了。我清淨之後，我更應該要投入人群中去，這就是六波羅密，行菩薩道。
各位，學佛，真正的我們要心如一張白紙，我們的心靈境界要靜寂清澄，才能透徹這分光明。這張白紙要蓋章下去，那就是無價之寶。所以各位菩薩，學佛，那就是要學菩薩法，是真菩薩法，不是名字菩薩。請大家時時要多用心。
Explanations by Master Cheng-Yan
Subject: The Light of the Heart Illuminates the World (法印心光照世間)
Date: July. 31. 2014
When our great perfect mirror wisdom is clear and bright, our hearts confirm and are imprinted with True Dharma. Similarly, true Buddha-children are taught and their minds are imprinted with Buddha’s teachings. They reflect the ultimate reality of all things.
We humans live on this planet in the universe. This world is so vast! Human beings are so tiny! In our tiny little lives, simply because of greedy, angry and ignorant thoughts, we disrupt the harmony of the world and the balanced workings of our natural climate. Thus, the four elements are out of balance and manmade calamities constantly arise. The Buddha taught us, simply because He wants us to rein in our afflictions, to minimize them. If we can continuously minimize them, eventually we can completely eliminate them. Then we will have “great perfect mirror wisdom.” Our mind is like a big round mirror. If we can clean it thoroughly, then the conditions before us will be reflected in our hearts and we will clearly discern “right” from “wrong”. If there is dust or dirt on the big round mirror, then the reflected image in that mirror will appear blurry and out of focus. It looks similar to the object, but also not, like being unable to discern right from wrong. Under these ambiguous circumstances, how can we move ahead steadily? Sometimes at traffic intersections, we see a [convex] mirror. If that mirror is clear, we can see cars coming from all directions and will know to stop and allow other cars to pass. Then naturally we can proceed safely. But if the mirror is blurry, we cannot really see anything at all. Are these cars coming from other directions? We do not know. If we keep driving and miss seeing a car coming, within a split second there may be a crash that can lead to a big disaster.
I recall an elementary school student whose parents worked far away so she was cared for by her grandmother. Her grandmother is a recycling Bodhisattva. Every day she took her grandmother to school. One day, they passed by an intersection where the mirror was blurry and they saw a car almost hit someone. This young girl was only in elementary school, but she told her grandmother, “Grandma, that mirror is very blurry!” Grandmother said, “You’re right, it is blurry. Tomorrow we will bring some cloths to wipe it clean.” Beginning the very next day, the grandmother, aside from transporting the girl on her moped, also transported a bucket of water and a cloth. Every day, they stopped at this part in the road and quickly wiped the mirror clean. This happened because one person simply saw what needed to be done and did it. The grandmother was loving and the child, wise. Since they were willing to do this work, the people who traveled on this stretch of road will be safe.
To keep the great perfect mirror wisdom clean, we must be willing to cleanse our minds every day. When we can clearly discern right from wrong, then naturally, we will be willing to give. So, “our great perfect mirror wisdom is clear and bright.”If we wipe clean the mirror in our minds daily, then “our hearts confirm and are imprinted with True Dharma”.Our hearts will always be imprinted with true teachings.When the Dharma is carved into our hearts, the Dharma will manifest in our actions.With the Dharma imprinted in our hearts, we understand that the greatest happiness comes from giving.
So, those whose minds are imprinted with the Buddha’s teachings are Buddha-children.
Since the Buddha gave us these teachings and wants us to imprint them on our minds, we must accept them.
When He teaches, we must accept and practice His teachings.If we can accept and practice them, then we are true Buddha-children.So, [our minds] “reflect the ultimate reality of all things”.To see the ultimate reality of all things, we must be like that mirror in our daily living and clearly reflect all conditions.Then we will not lose our way and can safely travel in all directions without obstructions.This comes from mindfully accepting the Buddha’s teachings.
The Buddha tells us that in our lives of impermanence and hardship, [there are Four Noble Truths].We have been discussing Small Vehicle Dharma because it is a fundamental teaching.The Buddha makes a point to tell everyone that life is impermanent, so we will realize that I our impermanent lives, we must seize the time that we have.The Buddha makes a point to tell us that life is full of suffering, so as to help us attain realizations.He tells us that the place where the Five Realms coexist is here.All realms, whether heaven, human, hell, hungry ghost or animal, coexist here, in the Saha World.
Take this moment, for example in the east coast of the Untied States, New York, New Jersey, Long Island, Washington, DC, and so on, places that I have been mentioning, there was great devastation.The sight is truly unbearable.[Disaster struck] four, five days ago in the greater New York area, the financial center of the world.Traveling up the coast, Hurricane Sandy approached, and then landed.Within moments, everything was destroyed.This place was heaven on earth.It was the center of finance and trade.
People there lived a comfortable and affluent life with very few hardships and obstacles.
They did not realize that a hurricane which was not strong but spanned a wide area, with [its effect on] the sea and with rain could cause a disaster of such magnitude.
After the disaster, everything was in ruins.There was no electricity, water gas or fuel.
We even saw images of places covered in water, stinking and rotten.People could not live there.Their clothes were wet; their belongings were soaked in water.[Their houses were] full of mud.Isn’t this Niraya (joyless) Hell?Everything was muddy and wet.There was no electricity, on water, and no way to clean up.
Most of the victims were small families, or young people living on their own.Young people now are not used to physical labor.Though they are young, they could only stare at the devastation.They had no idea where to start cleaning up.How could they move the heavy objects?If even they did not have the strength, what about the elderly?It seems that people in modern society have lost their survival skills that people of the past used to have.They are only trained to use their brains, to move their fingers on the keyboard.Many lack any other kinds of strength.
Look at them.Their daily living came to a complete halt; their routine has been disrupted.Such suffering!But even under these circumstances, some people lit candles so they could see and prepare food. Could they make some hot soup for the people? Could they find ways to make hot meals to satisfy people’s hunger? This was truly difficult. Without electricity, everything was dark, so they lit candles to do this work. These people are Bodhisattva-volunteers who are devoting themselves to helping others. Those of us who are here must always be mindful because in this world we can confirm everything the Buddha has taught us, one by one. Using the information technology we have now, we can see and understand these things. This world is where the Five Realms coexist; besides suffering, emptiness and impermanence, the Three [Evil] Realms are part of this world. So, we must constantly heighten our vigilance and form aspirations. Forming aspirations beings with the mind. We must take action to help others in addition to helping ourselves. I hope we can all wipe the mirror in our minds so it is clear and bright. We must [allow] the Dharma to imprint our minds and manifest in our actions. So, we must be mindful.
Yesterday, we discussed how the Buddha said, “My body is adorned with marks”. The marks He referred to were the way the Threefold Truth combined to form the One Great Vehicle. The Threefold Truth is the truth of emptiness of illusiveness and of the Middle Way. When we clearly look at the world, do we see anything that lasts forever? No, just emptiness. We all eventually return to emptiness. The only thing we take with us is our karma. Therefore, we must clearly recognize the path that leads to and from this world. Thus we need light and the Dharma in our minds to clearly understand.
So, “My body is adorned with marks, I brilliantly illuminate the world. Honored by the boundless assembly, I speak of the seal of ultimate reality.”
This is the wisdom of the Buddha. He said that He has already comprehended these principles. [In the midst of] emptiness and illusiveness, He remains in the truth of the Middle Way and makes use of the One Vehicle Dharma. This is how He illuminates the world with light. When sentient beings in darkness and ignorance are illuminated by His light, they can then reflect that light. The sun is up there, shining down here. If something blocks the light from above, it will be dark here. The sun is up there, and if there is a mirror here that reflects its rays, then the darkness will be illuminated. So, the Buddha’s light, the light of His wisdom illuminates all sentient beings. A sentient beings, we Buddhist practitioners must wipe this mirror clean and receive this light so we can reflect it and let it pervade the world. When the mirrors are all reflecting each other, won’t this world become very bright? This is the Buddha’s compassion and wisdom. Thus He is “honored by the boundless assembly”. Everyone in this world should respect Him since He comes to this world for the one great cause to “speak of the seal of ultimate reality”. This is telling us that [teaching] ultimate reality is like carving a seal.Once the Buddha has carved a seal, we just need to stain it with ink and stamp it on a white piece of paper. Then whatever is carved on the seal becomes what is stamped on the paper. This is a form of confirmation.
Each teaching given by the Buddha, every word, must be carved in our minds. We must not deviate from the Buddha’s Dharma. He “speaks of the seal of ultimate reality”, so without deviation, we must transmit each word of the Dharma to other people. One seal can be stamped many items. What is brilliant [illumination]? Let us further understand how “He brilliantly illuminated the world”. The luminous light from within us can radiate from our hearts. We intrinsically possess the Buddha’s wisdom.
“He brilliantly illuminated the world: The luminous light from within us can penetrate all things. It has two uses. First, to break through the darkness. Second, to reveal the Dharma. The light of the Buddha is the appearance of His wisdom.”
I hope the light of the Buddha can illuminate our minds, so that we can also radiate this light. From our own nature of True Suchness we can penetrate all things. When our minds can radiate a penetrating light, principles around us become very clear. This is what light can do. A light that can penetrate all things comes from a mind that can truly exercise wisdom. This light has two uses. The first is break through the darkness.
For instance, if we turn off the light, we cannot see one another. By turning on the lights, we eliminate darkness. When light manifests, the scene we see will be very clear.
The second is to reveal the Dharma. If we eliminate our ignorance, then the Dharma will manifest. This is the light of the Buddha, the mark of his wisdom. So where is wisdom? We cannot see it.When the Buddha reaches the Dharma, He uses analogies, expressions, causes and conditions to describe it for us. “Oh, it’s like this. I understand.”Once we accept [His teaching], we can also attain the Buddha’s wisdom and the same brilliant illumination. He is “honored by the boundless assembly” because of His virtues and great realizations.
I frequently tell you what it means to have virtue. Virtue can only be attained through practice; it truly requires internal cultivation. When we do not cultivate our minds, the Dharma will not remain it. Ordinary people let it constantly leak away.
Honored by the boundless assembly: Because of His virtue and great realizations, the Buddha’s body is pure and bright and His light is auspicious and magnificent. Sentient beings respect Him with body and mind.
Because of His virtue and great realizations, His mind has reached a state of perfection, which means it abides in the Dharma. This is the Buddha’s virtue. He has attained great realizations, so His “body is pure and bright and His light is auspicious and magnificent.” Light can radiate from His mind.As I comes from His pure wisdom and illuminates Him. It can also illuminate others. This is physical appearance, His mind is already very tranquil and clear. The light emitted from this state is auspicious and magnificent.
So, sentient beings respect Him with body and mind. The Buddha comes to this world to speak the seal of ultimate reality. He hope that the Dharma He teaches will be deeply imprinted in everyone’s minds
Therefore, the seal of ultimate reality is imprinted as the Buddha’s original vows; it is encompassed by the Buddha’s original vows. The seal ultimate reality is His original vow.
I speak of the seal of ultimate reality: The seal of ultimate reality is imprinted as the Buddha’s original vow and taught to enable all sentient beings to become like Him in all respects and to realize what they did not know before, which is the perfect Great Vehicle wisdom.
I often say that Dharma that the Buddha safeguards in His mind is this, the seal of ultimate reality. The Buddha’s original vow is to imprint this seal He attained onto everyone’s mind. This is the Buddha’s vow, “to enable sentient beings to become like Him in all respect.” So, I often say, take the Buddha’s mind as our mind.” We must imprint His mind onto ours. “[We] realize what we did not know before, which is the perfect Great Vehicle wisdom.” We must quickly awaken. In the past we did not know better and only sought to benefit ourselves, to liberate ourselves.
Now we are different. After we have cleansed ourselves, we should devote ourselves to go among people. This is practicing the Six Paramitas and walking the Bodhisattva-path. Everyone, as we learn the Buddha’s Way we must have minds like a sheet of white paper. Our spiritual state must be tranquil and pure; only then can this brilliance penetrate us. Once imprinted, this blank paper will become a principle treasure.
Dear Bodhisattvas, learning the Buddha’s Way is learning the true Bodhisattva Way, and not just to be a Bodhisattva in name. everyone, please always be mindful.
(Source: Da Ai TV – Wisdom at Dawn program – Explanation by Master Chen-Yen)
⊙「大圓鏡智明淨，心印證真實法，授心印真佛子，諸法實相映照。」
⊙「我以相嚴身，光明照世間，無量眾所尊，為說實相印。」《法華經方便品第二》
⊙光明照世間：自瑩謂之光，照物透明之光。有二用：一者破闇，二者現法。佛之光明者，智慧之相也。
⊙無量眾所尊：佛德大覺，身相清澄光相端嚴，眾生心身所崇敬尊重。
⊙為說實相印：說實相印者，蓋稱佛之本願而說，欲令眾生一切如我，悟先所不知之大乘正智也。
【證嚴上人開示】
大圓鏡智明淨
心印證真實法
授心印真佛子
諸法實相映照
人生，生活在天地宇宙之間，天地多麼遼闊啊！人間，人是多麼渺小啊！這很渺小的人生，卻是只為了一個，貪、瞋、癡的念，就破壞了人間的和氣，也破壞了天地氣候的機能，所以四大不調，人禍頻傳。
佛陀教育我們，無非就是要我們人人，將煩惱收攝起來，縮小，縮小，縮小你的煩惱，然後去除，完全清淨。若如此，就「大圓鏡智明淨」。
我們的心，如一片大圓鏡，大圓鏡若把它擦得很清淨，前面的境界，無不都是收攝入心來，是「是」，是「非」，會很清楚。大圓鏡若是有灰塵，有髒污，那面鏡子照出去，就是模糊了，好像是，好像不是，是非就分不清。在這種分不清的境界裡，到底路怎麼走才是穩的呢？
所以，我們會看到十字路口，有架設鏡子（道路交通反射鏡），你看鏡子如果是清楚的，東、西、南、北有車來，開車的人就知道停住，讓車先過，如此自然就平安。假如那片鏡子模糊了，根本就看不清楚，四方八達到底有沒有車子？不知道。開過去，差之毫釐，碰撞，剎那之間，災禍就大了。
記得一位小學生，父母都在外面，由阿嬤照顧。阿嬤就是環保菩薩，每天都要載孫女去學校。有一天經過的地方，路口有一面鏡子都模糊了，車子差一點就撞到人。這小女孩很小，小學，就跟阿嬤說：「阿嬤，那面鏡子不清楚了。」阿嬤說：「好，好，不清楚，我們明天就帶東西，我們帶抹布來把它擦乾淨。」
明天開始，這輛摩托車，除了阿嬤載著孫女，每天都載著一只水桶、一塊布，每天來到那裡，停下來，趕緊擦乾淨。這就是一位，這麼簡單，看到了就會想要去做，老人有愛心，孩子有智慧，願意做這樣的人，那個地方來來去去的人，就平安了。
所以，大圓鏡智這種明淨，除了人人願意把自己的心每天擦、每天擦，每天都對我們的身外是非，看清楚、分得明，自然就願意去付出。所以「大圓鏡智明淨」，人人心的這面鏡子，若每天擦得清淨，「心印證真實法」，我們的心時時印著真實的法，法刻入心版來，法，就是(在)我們的行動中，心印著法，我們能瞭解，付出就是最快樂。
所以，授心印就是真佛子。佛陀已經教授給我們此法，要我們印入心來，我們要接受。有教、授，我們就要受教奉行。我們若能受教奉行，那就是真佛子。
所以「諸法實相映照」。真的諸法的實相，我們在日常生活中，就像那面鏡子，將所有的境界照得很清楚，讓我們不會迷失方向，讓我們能夠安全，四方八達，暢行無阻。這就是我們要用心受法。
佛陀的教法，佛陀告訴我們無常的人生，苦難的人生，苦、集、滅、道。雖然我們最近都說小乘法，但是，這是我們的基礎法。佛陀一定要向人人說，人生是這麼無常，我們才知道無常的人生，要把握時間。佛陀一定要告訴我們，人生是苦難偏多，讓我們去體悟。所以常常這樣說過了，「五趣雜居地」，就是在此世間，無論是天、人、地獄、餓鬼、畜生，此五趣全部雜居在這裡，娑婆世界。
就像現在這個時候，在美國東岸那個地方，就是紐約、紐澤西、長島、華府，我們常常提到的這些地方，一片狼籍，真的是慘不忍睹！
就是發生在四、五天前，這個大紐約區，那是一個金融中心，沿海岸那個地方，桑迪颶風方向接近、登陸，輕輕一掃，面目全非了。本來像天堂的人間，本來是金融、經濟集中在那個城市裡，大家的生活，生活方便、富有，沒有一點困難、阻礙。哪裡知道，輕輕一個颶風，其實也不是很強，卻是面積很大，雨水、海水這樣同時，所以造成了那麼大的災難。
災難過後，滿目瘡痍，停電，斷水、瓦斯，又缺油。何況水浸泡過的景象，東西爛了、臭了，人無法住。衣服濕了，東西完全泡水，泥土骯髒，這不就是泥犁地獄嗎？全是泥、水，沒有電，沒有水，無法清理。人，全都是小家庭，年輕的，各人分家了，年輕人現在手無縛雞之力，哪怕他是年輕人，也是眼看著這麼狼籍的環境，要從哪裡開始清理起呢？重的東西，如何挪動，無力啊！何況是老人呢？
我們也能想像得出，現代的社會，將本來人的生活功能，都已經慢慢消失了，只是訓練頭腦如何轉，訓練那隻手指頭如何去打電腦，其他什麼力氣都沒有。看到他們那樣，生活全停擺了，脫序了，苦啊！
有一群人，雖然是在這種境界裡，他們點蠟燭，也要做熱食，要趕快看看有沒有熱熱的熱湯？是不是能夠給人充飢，熱騰騰的飯食，有飯，有可以吃的東西嗎？真的是很辛苦。沒有電，就是黑漆漆，用蠟燭也在工作，這就是我們現在一群的菩薩，在那裡投入、付出。
我們在這裡，我們一直要用心。佛陀是怎麼告訴我們的，一一都印證在人間，以現代的科技與資訊，我們看得到，我們瞭解得到。所以，人間是五趣雜居地，不只是苦、空、無常，確是三途不離人間，所以我們人人要時時提高警覺，要人人多發心。發一念心，從我們內心開始，我們要行動，我們只是自己以外，希望人人每個人這片心鏡，我們要擦得清、明。人人要發揮，法印入心來，發揮在我們的行動中，所以要用心。
我們昨天說過，佛陀說：「我以相嚴身」。佛陀所說的相，就是三諦理集一身為一大乘。「三諦」就是空、假、中，空，空諦、假諦、中諦。
我們看清楚人間，到底有什麼是永遠的？沒有，空。人人到頭來就是空，還是帶著我們的善惡業去，又是善惡業來。我們要認清楚，所以這條去來道路，我們要有光明，心中要有法，明明了了。所以「我以相嚴身，光明照世間，無量眾所尊，為說實相印」。
我以相嚴身
光明照世間
無量眾所尊
為說實相印
《法華經方便品第二》
這是佛陀的智慧，他說他已經透徹這些道理，無論是空、假，他都是在中諦，發揮一乘法。所以因此這片光明來普被世間，讓黑暗中、無明中的眾生，能夠接受此光明，反光自照。
太陽在那裡，照在這裡，這裡若有東西遮住，它是暗的。太陽在那裡，這裡若有一面鏡子，將它反射回去，這邊這裡也是亮的。所以，佛陀的光，智慧之光，照耀給我們眾生，而我們眾生，學佛者，要將這面鏡子擦得乾淨，接受這個光來，反射此光能更普及，更加光明照世間。
明鏡面面相照，這個世間不就是很光明嗎？佛陀這麼的慈悲、智慧，因此「無量眾所尊」。世間人，人人應該尊重。因為佛陀來人間，一大事因緣是「為說實相印」。就是要來告訴我們，此實相就如印章銘刻，佛陀刻什麼樣的印章，只要我們用印泥沾著，蓋下去，一張白白的紙，這個印章刻什麼字，蓋下去就是什麼字；也是一種證明。
佛陀所說法，字字句句刻入心版。佛陀的法，不要偏差了。所以「為說實相印」，就是沒有偏差。我們要把字字句句的法，不要偏差了，要人人相傳，一個印章，可以蓋很多。
什麼叫做光明？我們再更加瞭解：「光明照世間」。自瑩謂之光，從自己的內在會發出光亮，我們人人本具如來智性。
光明照世間：
自瑩謂之光
照物透明之光
有二用：
一者破闇
二者現法
佛之光明者
智慧之相也
希望佛陀的光，照入我們的心，我們也能發出這個光——「自瑩」，自己從內心真如本性，照物透明之光。我們，指我們的內心，這念心光透徹，外面的道理就都很清楚，所以這叫做光，照物透明的光，是真實從內心能發出智慧。
這有兩種效用，一種是破闇。破闇，我們電燈如果關掉，你、我，互相看不見。電燈打開，暗就破除掉了，光明現前，我們(看到)的景象就很清楚了。二者，現法，就是說只要你的無明去除，法就現前，這就是光明。
佛的光明就是智慧之相。所以說，智慧在哪裡？看不到。經過佛陀所說法之後，用譬喻、言辭、因緣，為我們好好譬喻，原來如此，我知道了。我們接受之後，也能得佛智慧，同樣，這就是光明。
「無量眾所尊」，是佛德大覺，佛德。常常告訴大家，何謂有德呢？有修才有德。修，內修，內心真的要修行。心無修，所以法就不會留在我們的心裡，凡夫就是一直漏掉。
無量眾所尊：
佛德大覺
身相清澄
光相端嚴
眾生心身
所崇敬尊重
佛德大覺，佛陀的德，他的內心已經到達無漏，就是住在法中，這是佛陀的德，所以他是大覺。
「身相清澄光相莊嚴」，從他的內心能夠發光。剛剛說過，光明是從內心清淨智慧自照，也能照於他人。所以，大德、大覺悟的身相，已經內心很清澄了，靜寂清澄，此境界所發出來的光相莊嚴，所以，眾生的身心所崇敬。
佛陀來人間為說實相印，希望所說出來的法，能夠深深印在人人的心裡。所以，說實相印，就是蓋稱佛之本願，這全部涵蓋在佛的本願，實相印就是佛的本願。
為說實相印：
說實相印者
蓋稱佛之本願而說
欲令眾生一切如我
悟先所不知之
大乘正智也
我常常說，佛心所懷著的法，所保護的法，就是此實相印。佛陀的本願，希望將他所得的，就如這顆印章，要印在人人的心版裡，這是佛的心願，「欲令眾生一切如我」。所以常常說「佛心己心」，將佛的心印在我們的心裡。
「悟先所不知之大乘正智」，我們要趕快覺悟。過去我們都不知道，以為只是獨善其身，自我求解脫，現在不是了。我清淨之後，我更應該要投入人群中去，這就是六波羅密，行菩薩道。
各位，學佛，真正的我們要心如一張白紙，我們的心靈境界要靜寂清澄，才能透徹這分光明。這張白紙要蓋章下去，那就是無價之寶。所以各位菩薩，學佛，那就是要學菩薩法，是真菩薩法，不是名字菩薩。請大家時時要多用心。
Explanations by Master Cheng-Yan
Subject: The Light of the Heart Illuminates the World (法印心光照世間)
Date: July. 31. 2014
When our great perfect mirror wisdom is clear and bright, our hearts confirm and are imprinted with True Dharma. Similarly, true Buddha-children are taught and their minds are imprinted with Buddha’s teachings. They reflect the ultimate reality of all things.
We humans live on this planet in the universe. This world is so vast! Human beings are so tiny! In our tiny little lives, simply because of greedy, angry and ignorant thoughts, we disrupt the harmony of the world and the balanced workings of our natural climate. Thus, the four elements are out of balance and manmade calamities constantly arise. The Buddha taught us, simply because He wants us to rein in our afflictions, to minimize them. If we can continuously minimize them, eventually we can completely eliminate them. Then we will have “great perfect mirror wisdom.” Our mind is like a big round mirror. If we can clean it thoroughly, then the conditions before us will be reflected in our hearts and we will clearly discern “right” from “wrong”. If there is dust or dirt on the big round mirror, then the reflected image in that mirror will appear blurry and out of focus. It looks similar to the object, but also not, like being unable to discern right from wrong. Under these ambiguous circumstances, how can we move ahead steadily? Sometimes at traffic intersections, we see a [convex] mirror. If that mirror is clear, we can see cars coming from all directions and will know to stop and allow other cars to pass. Then naturally we can proceed safely. But if the mirror is blurry, we cannot really see anything at all. Are these cars coming from other directions? We do not know. If we keep driving and miss seeing a car coming, within a split second there may be a crash that can lead to a big disaster.
I recall an elementary school student whose parents worked far away so she was cared for by her grandmother. Her grandmother is a recycling Bodhisattva. Every day she took her grandmother to school. One day, they passed by an intersection where the mirror was blurry and they saw a car almost hit someone. This young girl was only in elementary school, but she told her grandmother, “Grandma, that mirror is very blurry!” Grandmother said, “You’re right, it is blurry. Tomorrow we will bring some cloths to wipe it clean.” Beginning the very next day, the grandmother, aside from transporting the girl on her moped, also transported a bucket of water and a cloth. Every day, they stopped at this part in the road and quickly wiped the mirror clean. This happened because one person simply saw what needed to be done and did it. The grandmother was loving and the child, wise. Since they were willing to do this work, the people who traveled on this stretch of road will be safe.
To keep the great perfect mirror wisdom clean, we must be willing to cleanse our minds every day. When we can clearly discern right from wrong, then naturally, we will be willing to give. So, “our great perfect mirror wisdom is clear and bright.”If we wipe clean the mirror in our minds daily, then “our hearts confirm and are imprinted with True Dharma”.Our hearts will always be imprinted with true teachings.When the Dharma is carved into our hearts, the Dharma will manifest in our actions.With the Dharma imprinted in our hearts, we understand that the greatest happiness comes from giving.
So, those whose minds are imprinted with the Buddha’s teachings are Buddha-children.
Since the Buddha gave us these teachings and wants us to imprint them on our minds, we must accept them.
When He teaches, we must accept and practice His teachings.If we can accept and practice them, then we are true Buddha-children.So, [our minds] “reflect the ultimate reality of all things”.To see the ultimate reality of all things, we must be like that mirror in our daily living and clearly reflect all conditions.Then we will not lose our way and can safely travel in all directions without obstructions.This comes from mindfully accepting the Buddha’s teachings.
The Buddha tells us that in our lives of impermanence and hardship, [there are Four Noble Truths].We have been discussing Small Vehicle Dharma because it is a fundamental teaching.The Buddha makes a point to tell everyone that life is impermanent, so we will realize that I our impermanent lives, we must seize the time that we have.The Buddha makes a point to tell us that life is full of suffering, so as to help us attain realizations.He tells us that the place where the Five Realms coexist is here.All realms, whether heaven, human, hell, hungry ghost or animal, coexist here, in the Saha World.
Take this moment, for example in the east coast of the Untied States, New York, New Jersey, Long Island, Washington, DC, and so on, places that I have been mentioning, there was great devastation.The sight is truly unbearable.[Disaster struck] four, five days ago in the greater New York area, the financial center of the world.Traveling up the coast, Hurricane Sandy approached, and then landed.Within moments, everything was destroyed.This place was heaven on earth.It was the center of finance and trade.
People there lived a comfortable and affluent life with very few hardships and obstacles.
They did not realize that a hurricane which was not strong but spanned a wide area, with [its effect on] the sea and with rain could cause a disaster of such magnitude.
After the disaster, everything was in ruins.There was no electricity, water gas or fuel.
We even saw images of places covered in water, stinking and rotten.People could not live there.Their clothes were wet; their belongings were soaked in water.[Their houses were] full of mud.Isn’t this Niraya (joyless) Hell?Everything was muddy and wet.There was no electricity, on water, and no way to clean up.
Most of the victims were small families, or young people living on their own.Young people now are not used to physical labor.Though they are young, they could only stare at the devastation.They had no idea where to start cleaning up.How could they move the heavy objects?If even they did not have the strength, what about the elderly?It seems that people in modern society have lost their survival skills that people of the past used to have.They are only trained to use their brains, to move their fingers on the keyboard.Many lack any other kinds of strength.
Look at them.Their daily living came to a complete halt; their routine has been disrupted.Such suffering!But even under these circumstances, some people lit candles so they could see and prepare food. Could they make some hot soup for the people? Could they find ways to make hot meals to satisfy people’s hunger? This was truly difficult. Without electricity, everything was dark, so they lit candles to do this work. These people are Bodhisattva-volunteers who are devoting themselves to helping others. Those of us who are here must always be mindful because in this world we can confirm everything the Buddha has taught us, one by one. Using the information technology we have now, we can see and understand these things. This world is where the Five Realms coexist; besides suffering, emptiness and impermanence, the Three [Evil] Realms are part of this world. So, we must constantly heighten our vigilance and form aspirations. Forming aspirations beings with the mind. We must take action to help others in addition to helping ourselves. I hope we can all wipe the mirror in our minds so it is clear and bright. We must [allow] the Dharma to imprint our minds and manifest in our actions. So, we must be mindful.
Yesterday, we discussed how the Buddha said, “My body is adorned with marks”. The marks He referred to were the way the Threefold Truth combined to form the One Great Vehicle. The Threefold Truth is the truth of emptiness of illusiveness and of the Middle Way. When we clearly look at the world, do we see anything that lasts forever? No, just emptiness. We all eventually return to emptiness. The only thing we take with us is our karma. Therefore, we must clearly recognize the path that leads to and from this world. Thus we need light and the Dharma in our minds to clearly understand.
So, “My body is adorned with marks, I brilliantly illuminate the world. Honored by the boundless assembly, I speak of the seal of ultimate reality.”
This is the wisdom of the Buddha. He said that He has already comprehended these principles. [In the midst of] emptiness and illusiveness, He remains in the truth of the Middle Way and makes use of the One Vehicle Dharma. This is how He illuminates the world with light. When sentient beings in darkness and ignorance are illuminated by His light, they can then reflect that light. The sun is up there, shining down here. If something blocks the light from above, it will be dark here. The sun is up there, and if there is a mirror here that reflects its rays, then the darkness will be illuminated. So, the Buddha’s light, the light of His wisdom illuminates all sentient beings. A sentient beings, we Buddhist practitioners must wipe this mirror clean and receive this light so we can reflect it and let it pervade the world. When the mirrors are all reflecting each other, won’t this world become very bright? This is the Buddha’s compassion and wisdom. Thus He is “honored by the boundless assembly”. Everyone in this world should respect Him since He comes to this world for the one great cause to “speak of the seal of ultimate reality”. This is telling us that [teaching] ultimate reality is like carving a seal.Once the Buddha has carved a seal, we just need to stain it with ink and stamp it on a white piece of paper. Then whatever is carved on the seal becomes what is stamped on the paper. This is a form of confirmation.
Each teaching given by the Buddha, every word, must be carved in our minds. We must not deviate from the Buddha’s Dharma. He “speaks of the seal of ultimate reality”, so without deviation, we must transmit each word of the Dharma to other people. One seal can be stamped many items. What is brilliant [illumination]? Let us further understand how “He brilliantly illuminated the world”. The luminous light from within us can radiate from our hearts. We intrinsically possess the Buddha’s wisdom.
“He brilliantly illuminated the world: The luminous light from within us can penetrate all things. It has two uses. First, to break through the darkness. Second, to reveal the Dharma. The light of the Buddha is the appearance of His wisdom.”
I hope the light of the Buddha can illuminate our minds, so that we can also radiate this light. From our own nature of True Suchness we can penetrate all things. When our minds can radiate a penetrating light, principles around us become very clear. This is what light can do. A light that can penetrate all things comes from a mind that can truly exercise wisdom. This light has two uses. The first is break through the darkness.
For instance, if we turn off the light, we cannot see one another. By turning on the lights, we eliminate darkness. When light manifests, the scene we see will be very clear.
The second is to reveal the Dharma. If we eliminate our ignorance, then the Dharma will manifest. This is the light of the Buddha, the mark of his wisdom. So where is wisdom? We cannot see it.When the Buddha reaches the Dharma, He uses analogies, expressions, causes and conditions to describe it for us. “Oh, it’s like this. I understand.”Once we accept [His teaching], we can also attain the Buddha’s wisdom and the same brilliant illumination. He is “honored by the boundless assembly” because of His virtues and great realizations.
I frequently tell you what it means to have virtue. Virtue can only be attained through practice; it truly requires internal cultivation. When we do not cultivate our minds, the Dharma will not remain it. Ordinary people let it constantly leak away.
Honored by the boundless assembly: Because of His virtue and great realizations, the Buddha’s body is pure and bright and His light is auspicious and magnificent. Sentient beings respect Him with body and mind.
Because of His virtue and great realizations, His mind has reached a state of perfection, which means it abides in the Dharma. This is the Buddha’s virtue. He has attained great realizations, so His “body is pure and bright and His light is auspicious and magnificent.” Light can radiate from His mind.As I comes from His pure wisdom and illuminates Him. It can also illuminate others. This is physical appearance, His mind is already very tranquil and clear. The light emitted from this state is auspicious and magnificent.
So, sentient beings respect Him with body and mind. The Buddha comes to this world to speak the seal of ultimate reality. He hope that the Dharma He teaches will be deeply imprinted in everyone’s minds
Therefore, the seal of ultimate reality is imprinted as the Buddha’s original vows; it is encompassed by the Buddha’s original vows. The seal ultimate reality is His original vow.
I speak of the seal of ultimate reality: The seal of ultimate reality is imprinted as the Buddha’s original vow and taught to enable all sentient beings to become like Him in all respects and to realize what they did not know before, which is the perfect Great Vehicle wisdom.
I often say that Dharma that the Buddha safeguards in His mind is this, the seal of ultimate reality. The Buddha’s original vow is to imprint this seal He attained onto everyone’s mind. This is the Buddha’s vow, “to enable sentient beings to become like Him in all respect.” So, I often say, take the Buddha’s mind as our mind.” We must imprint His mind onto ours. “[We] realize what we did not know before, which is the perfect Great Vehicle wisdom.” We must quickly awaken. In the past we did not know better and only sought to benefit ourselves, to liberate ourselves.
Now we are different. After we have cleansed ourselves, we should devote ourselves to go among people. This is practicing the Six Paramitas and walking the Bodhisattva-path. Everyone, as we learn the Buddha’s Way we must have minds like a sheet of white paper. Our spiritual state must be tranquil and pure; only then can this brilliance penetrate us. Once imprinted, this blank paper will become a principle treasure.
Dear Bodhisattvas, learning the Buddha’s Way is learning the true Bodhisattva Way, and not just to be a Bodhisattva in name. everyone, please always be mindful.
(Source: Da Ai TV – Wisdom at Dawn program – Explanation by Master Chen-Yen)
