20140808《靜思妙蓮華》隨因趣果（第366集）
⊙「生世累積貪欲成濁，著身享受煩惱瞋癡，人間共業成眾生濁。」
⊙「我知此眾生，未曾修善本，堅著於五欲，癡愛故生惱。」《法華經方便品第二》
⊙「以諸欲因緣，墜墮三惡道，輪迴六趣中，備受諸苦毒。」《法華經方便品第二》
⊙以諸欲因緣：色聲香等之五欲緣惑業。唯是一念偏向邪念，造作惡因，循緣誘惑難自拔。
⊙墜墮三惡道：地獄、餓鬼、畜生。地獄屬上惡，餓鬼屬中惡，畜生屬下惡。
⊙輪迴六趣中：地獄趣、餓鬼趣，畜生趣、阿修羅趣、人趣，天趣。趣是趣向之義，眾生受報，皆由因趣果，故名六趣。
⊙備受諸苦毒：眾生無知，造作諸不善事，隨因業果，備受諸苦毒。
【證嚴上人開示】
生世累積
貪欲成濁
著身享受
煩惱瞋癡
人間共業
成眾生濁
人性本善，但是我們人人都是這樣經過，生生世世累積著貪欲成濁。這全都是因為大家，很執著我們身體的享受，所以才會造成了很多的煩惱，從貪、瞋、癡這樣來累積，就是人間共業，就成為現在五濁惡世。
所以，每天能聽到社會很多，不守人倫道德、違背人性，帶給那個家庭是非常的困擾，不得安寧。不只是家庭，也是擾亂了社會。社會中因為有這樣不守人倫、不講禮儀的事情發生，所以換成了社會也是混亂不清。這就是世間、天下，不只是一個國家，應該現在能看到，天下滿滿都是這種亂象，亂從心生。
人人本來就是善，「人之初，性本善」，人人的本性都是善，只是習(氣)，有了這個習氣，就累生累世這樣一直累積下來。是什麼來累積？貪，貪的欲門若一開，就會成了渾濁心，人人的心就清淨不來了，人人的心就開始混濁。從個人的心混濁，就表達於外，外面無法接受這種，混濁心態的人的言語、動作，這樣就染污了對方，也同樣以牙還牙，就這樣又是擴散出去；一直擴散下去，就成為人群之濁。
所以人群濁氣，就是環境從小而中、而大；小的是家庭，中的是社會，大的是國家，這都是這種貪欲的習氣開始，從貪一直到煩惱的瞋、癡不斷。總而言之，人生共業，成為了濁——污濁的人生。但是，只要有心，佛陀出現人間，教導菩薩去化度人間，真的也是能看到。
在屏東監獄，一場別開生面，非常感動人。那就是裡面，有三十位在監獄裡的人，他們三十位開始練手語，懺悔業障，這一天開始上臺演繹。
臺下有四百多人，人人都受感動——受刑人「入經藏」，受刑人很感動。別開生面，也不是在演戲，是從「靜思讀書會」開始，他們就每天一餐的素食，讀書會那一天，那就是整天的素食；這一天將要去演繹的這一天，全監獄的人全都素食。這是很不容易，在監獄裡。
手語「入經藏」，就是真的很莊嚴，大家整齊，比起來很有力道，那種懺悔、至誠發願，唱出來還很有力，那個隊形變化也很好。這真的是讓人看了很震撼。
而且，他們演繹過後，臺上就有人向大家分享。分享他從練手語開始，他的人生轉變。從內心的轉變，一直到發願，真的是至誠發願，他要重新做人，他出獄之後要如何為人群付出。聽到他們上臺與大家分享，這實在也是很感動人。
其中有一位，他說他從二０一０年，那一年開始，慈濟人進到監獄去與他們分享，去輔導他們開始，他就從那一年，他就每天一餐素食，從每天一(餐)素食開始，他就戒菸了，戒菸、酒，完全都戒了。
他說，在二０一一年的十一月開始，我們在屏東內埔的慮敬與慈募，兩個人覺得在與他們互動，實在是人性本善，這全都能如何讓他們，再以法水來洗滌他們的心，所以就向他們提議說：「我們每一個星期，我們來帶動你們讀書會，好嗎？」他們聽到，「好啊！」讓人自由報名，也就是「靜思語讀書會」。
一直到二０一二年七月間，開始告訴他們：我們是不是「法譬如水」，能洗滌內心的污垢。將我們的「入經藏」也能拿到裡面與他們分享。
她們說開始時在教手語，感覺到：這哪有辦法，坐無坐相，站沒站相，這樣的形態，我是要如何教？內心很擔心。卻是，這樣用心，又常常與他們互動，進去帶「靜思語讀書會」，所以慢慢地「雕」，用耐心，用愛心，用信心，成果展現了。看到臺上的三十位，真的很有力道，也是很有道氣。尤其坐在臺下的四百多人，還是無形中，也坐得很整齊，很恭敬。那一天全天齋戒，大家都表達，表達出了這種懺悔、至誠發願，人人都深受感動。
所以說起來，人人本具佛性，只是一時的糊塗，所以心念一偏差，踏入陷阱不能自拔。這就是我們的心念，所以我們「生世累積」，這生生世世的累積，就只是一念，那念貪欲開始。
看看他們，已經有的在監獄，不知有多久的時間，失去了自由，內心也一直覺得，是社會人對不起他們，也是有很多埋怨家庭的人。沒有給他很充足、好的人生的軌道，所以有很多埋怨於內心。身體是在有形的監獄，限制他的自由，心是在自己心的牢獄，自己在受刑。在裡面就一直想：有朝一日，如果讓我出去時，要準備做什麼、什麼事情。可能對社會人群更不利。
如果給他一個機會，這種「法譬如水」的教育，讓他的心態完全能調解一下，調得好，改變得好，這樣自然在監獄裡面，與外面的惡友隔離，再重新出來時，應該是他的人生重生的好機會。
看到屏東監獄，能夠有慈濟人，這樣進去感化他們，這就是菩薩。看，佛陀來人間，就是要教育這樣的菩薩，菩薩能夠去降伏剛強的眾生。這是佛陀一大事因緣，來人間的目的就是要這樣教。我們若能人人這樣接受，人人輾轉相教。
所以佛陀這樣說，前面的（經）文：「我知此眾生，未曾修善本，堅著於五欲，癡愛故生惱。」
我知此眾生
未曾修善本
堅著於五欲
癡愛故生惱
《法華經方便品第二》
這些就是過去沒有修到善本。所以「善本」就要給他有機會，這片的心地，若沒有人去耕耘它，沒有心地的農夫去耕耘它，種子如何能夠撒(出去)？所以需要有菩薩，人間心地的農夫。所以，這是佛陀教育，我們人人做菩薩，菩薩就是人間心地的農夫。
接下來說，「以諸欲因緣，墜墮三惡道，輪迴六趣中，備受諸苦毒。」
以諸欲因緣
墜墮三惡道
輪迴六趣中
備受諸苦毒
《法華經方便品第二》
在監獄裡面不就是如此嗎？這全都是有這些種種的因緣——「堅著於五欲」、「癡愛故生惱」，這些因緣。人間有監獄，但是離開人間，還有「墜墮三惡道」，這都是這樣的因緣。
人生若是真正受欲的因緣來圍困了我們的心，自然這個心打不開，理面的惡不斷複製、複製，如此，就如在髒污的地方，我們沒有去清它；你若不清，裡面的東西，再倒其他的東西，這樣自然敗壞的東西，會愈來愈多。
我們應該要很了解，小惡絕對不可有，起心動念，一點點的惡念都不要有。有起了一個動念(惡念)，要趕緊及時懺悔，至誠發願，應該要趕緊及時。否則就容易「墜墮三惡道」，地獄、餓鬼、畜生道，真的是苦上加苦。
我們來看看「以諸欲因緣」，是何因緣會合？就是色、聲、香、味、觸，這五欲的緣。這五欲的緣，就是外面有很多很多的陷阱。我們的眼根接觸到外面的境界，外面境界收納於意中，在意根中，就不斷在造作：「看到的，我要。」那個境界，我很想要去接觸到，這個意，所以不斷在造作。眼，眼根是如此，耳根也是如此。
很多人誇讚我很勇敢，很有義氣，開始就變本加厲。就變成那種身體勇壯，力氣很大，卻是不利人群，反而是群中害馬，在人群中，地痞流氓等等，全都會去做，這全都是要聽人讚歎他的話。所以，這全都是聲色，聲色，色、聲、香、味、觸等等，讓我們接觸到；一接觸到，要解開，就難了。
以諸欲因緣：
色聲香等之五欲
緣惑業
唯是一念
偏向邪念
造作惡因
循緣誘惑難自拔
種種的因緣，即使想要改，那些「好兄弟」都會來，邀了、招了就去了。這就是很辛苦，只是一念的偏差，知道錯了，想要改，沒有機會，外面的因緣太多了。這只是「唯是一念偏向邪念」。不正確的念，叫做邪；不正，就稱為邪。所以，不正確的念頭入心，那就「造作惡因」，惡因若種下了，那就是「循緣誘惑」，要自拔就難了。若誘惑下去，就「墜墮三惡道」。
墜墮三惡道：
地獄、餓鬼、畜生
地獄屬上惡
餓鬼屬中惡
畜生屬下惡
三惡道是地獄、餓鬼、畜生，大家知道。「地獄屬上惡」，十惡不赦之人一定是墮地獄，這是最痛苦的地方，叫做地獄。中惡呢？不是那麼極惡，只是平時較慳貪、嫉妒等等，這種人屬於中惡，將來就是墮餓鬼中。平時你不肯給人，或者是奪人的水與糧食，若在說歉收，開始糧食就會漲價。我有東西，但是就是不肯給你；我有水，就是不肯給你喝。這種人將來就是墮餓鬼中。
畜生呢？就是屬於下惡。就是較不守人倫，這種人倫禮義不懂的人，容易造了傷害人倫，就只是因此，所以就會墮畜生之中。我們看到滿滿都是很多畜生。
餓鬼，在世間上很多，非洲，很多貧窮的國家，很多，我們都看得到。地獄，是不是沒有？有，人間的地獄。看，災難過後，滿目瘡痍，身體受傷、天人永隔等等苦難很多。醫院裡，開腸剖肚，斷腳、斷足，也是很多，這不是沒有，所以在人間也能夠看到。
何況完全集中的地獄苦難，不只是有形的地獄，心靈的地獄苦不堪。就如在屏東監獄裡，人失去了自由，也是苦。這種六道輪迴。
輪迴六趣中：
地獄趣、餓鬼趣
畜生趣、阿修羅趣
人趣，天趣
趣是趣向之義
眾生受報
皆由因趣果
故名六趣
六道，又叫做六趣。六趣是：天趣、人趣、阿修羅趣、畜生趣、餓鬼趣、地獄趣。「趣」就是趣向。我們要(輪迴)到哪裡，就看你如何造作；你如何造作，將來很自然就會，「趣向」到那個地方去。這就是「趣向之義」。
眾生受報的地方，全都是「由因趣果」，因為我們有因，造作這個因緣，所以將來，我們就趣向那個果報，這叫做「六趣」。
備受諸苦毒：
眾生無知
造作諸不善事
隨因業果
備受諸苦毒
「備受諸苦毒」，為什麼呢？因為眾生無知，「造作諸不善事」，做很多不善之事，所以就「隨因業果」，隨這個因去造業，就惹來果報，自然就「備受諸苦毒」。
各位菩薩，真的我們要好好發菩薩心，不是做不到，菩薩離我們沒有很遠，佛陀這樣教我們，我們這樣接受，我們現在就做得到。看看屏東的監獄，那幾位菩薩，很勇敢，進去監獄裡；地藏菩薩發願是進去地獄，我們人間的菩薩，就發願進去監獄，一度就有四五百人。
尤其是那三十多位，開始素食、開始戒，很用心「入經藏」。這三十幾人，我相信他們也會「同事度」。我們在這麼自由的人間，應該人人要發心，我們要顧好我們的心，要殷勤精進，慎勿放逸；只是一念心，所以我們要多用心。
Explanations by Master Cheng-Yan
Subject: The Cause will Lead Us to the Effect (隨因趣果)
Date: August. 08. 2014
Lifetimes of accumulated greed and desire turns into turbidity. Attachment to physical pleasures [gives rise to] afflictions, anger and ignorance. Thus the collective karma in this world becomes the turbidity of sentient beings.
Human nature is inherently good. However, the greed and desires we accumulated life after life have turned into turbidity. This is because we are very attached to physical comfort. Thus we create and accumulate many afflictions as a result of greed, anger and ignorance. This is the collective karma we create that leads to this evil world of Five Turbidities.
Therefore, every day we hear about people who do immoral things or commit inhumane acts. They bring trouble to their family so their family cannot be at peace. Beyond their family, they also disturb society. Because people do immoral and unethical things, society becomes chaotic. This happens all over the world, not only in a single country. Right now, we can see that around the world there are many chaotic situations that arise from troubled minds.
Every one of us is intrinsically good “Human nature is inherently good.” Our intrinsic nature is good, but we developed habitual tendencies, which we accumulate lifetime after lifetime. What is being accumulated? Greed. Once we open our mind to greed and desires, it becomes turbid. Then our minds cannot be purified. If our minds become turbid, that turbidity will manifest in our behavior. When people cannot stand the speech and actions of people with turbid mindset, they may become fainted by that turbidity and engage in a tooth-for-a-tooth cycle of vengeance. This is how [turbidity] continues to spread and leads to impurities in humankind.
So, these impurities are present in environments of all sizes. A small-sized environment is a family. A middle-sized one is a society. A large-sized one is a nation. This all begins with habitual greed. Greed leads to afflictions of endless anger and ignorance. In summary, people’s collective karma leads to a life of turbidity.
However, as long as we have the aspiration, the Buddha will appear in the world and teach Bodhisattvas to transform the world. We have seen examples of this.
In a Pingtung prison, something very novel and touching occurred, [centered around] 30 inmates from the prison. These inmates had learned sign language and repented the karmic obstructions [they created]. On this day, they put on a musical Dharma performance. There were over 400 people in the audience and every single person was touched. These inmates “entered the sutra treasury” and were very touched; this was a very novel event to them. This was not simply a theatrical performance. The inmates first joined Jing Si study groups, then ate one vegetarian meal each day.
On the day of the study group, they ate vegetarian meals all day. On the day of the musical performance, all the prisoners ate vegetarian meals.This is incredible to see in a prison.Using sign language to “enter the sutra treasury” was really magnificent.
Everyone was synchronized and there was strength behind their singing.
They repented and made vows with utmost sincerity, so their singing was loud and powerful.Their formation changes were also very well-done.This truly made a huge impact on people.After their performance, some people went on stage to share that, since they had begun to practice sign language, their lives had changed.The change in their hearts led them to make vows.Truly, with utmost sincerity they vowed to turn over a new leaf and to help others after they were released from prison.
Listening to their sharing on stage was indeed very touching.One of the performers said that, since 2010, the year Tzu Chi volunteers entered the prison and began to share with them, to visit and counsel them, he began to eat one vegetarian meal a day.After eating one vegetarian meal a day, he quit smoking.He completely quit smoking and drinking.He said this began in November 2011.As two of the Pingtung Commissioners, Luu Jing and Tzu Nu, interacted with these inmates, they realized their inherent goodness.So, they entered to help them to cleanse their minds with Dharma-water.
They asked the inmates, “Can we come here once a week to lead a study group for you?”
Upon hearing this, they said, “Yes.”And so, inmates voluntarily signed up for the Jing Si study group.Then in July 2012, [I] suggested to [the Commissioners], “Don’t we use the [Water Repentance] to cleanse defilements from our minds?You can share with them this way of ;entering the sutra treasury.”When they began teaching sign language, they at first felt, “This is impossible.They cannot even stand and sit properly.How can we teach people with such poor posture?”They were very worried.
However, they put their hearts into [teaching] and interacted with ether frequently through the Jing Si study group.Solely, they “made” them with patience, love and confidence. The result was evident.The performance given by the 30 people on stage was very powerful and also had an air of spiritual refinement.
The more than 400 people in the audience, without consciously realizing it, sat up straight and showed great respect.The prisoners ate vegetarian meals all day that day and expressed their deep repentance and made vows with utmost sincerity.Everyone in the audience was deeply touched.
So, we all intrinsically have Buddha-nature, but due to a momentary lapse in judgment, our minds can go astray.We may fall into a trap we cannot escape from.This is the way our minds work.This comes from “lifetimes of accumulated [greed and desires]”.These lifetimes of accumulation began with one single thought of greed.
Look at [these inmates], some of them have a already been in prison for a very long time.Having lost their freedom, they place the blame on people in society and feel resentment toward their families for not providing them with a good path in life.There is much resentment in their minds.Their bodies are in a physical prison that restricts their freedom.Their minds are in a mental prison they constructed for themselves.
They are serving a sentence there.They may be thinking, “One I get out of prison, I am going to do such and such.”They may cause more harm to others.But if we give them a chance, by sharing the teachings of [Water Repentance], they can adjust their attitudes and change for the better.Once this happens and they are separated from the influence of unwholesome friends, after they leave prison, they have a great opportunity to lead new lives.
Look at these inmates in the Pingtung prison.Tzu Chi volunteers went in to counsel them with these teachings. These people are Bodhisattvas. You see, the Buddha comes to the world to train these kinds of Bodhisattvas so they can tame stubborn sentient beings. This is the Buddha’s one great cause; He comes to this world to give these teachings. If we can all accept the teachings, we can then teach them to others. So, as the Buddha said in the previous passage of the sutra,
“I know that these sentient beings have never cultivated the foundation for goodness. They are firmly attached to the five desires, and, out of delusion and cravings, “give rise to afflictions”.
These people have never cultivated, the foundation for goodness, so we need to give them this opportunity. If no one cultivates the field of their minds, if there is no farmer to cultivate it, then the seeds cannot be sown. So, we need Bodhisattvas to be farmers for the fields of people’s minds. This is why the Buddha teaches all of us to be Bodhisattvas. Bodhisattvas are the farmers for the fields of people’s minds.
Next, we will discuss,
“Desires are the causes and conditions for falling into the Three Evil Destinies for cycling in the Six Destinies and facing poisonous suffering.”
Isn’t this what happened to the inmates in prison? They all have these various causes and conditions. “They are firmly attached to the five desires, and, out of delusion and cravings, give rise to afflictions”. These are their causes and conditions in this world, there are prisons. But when people leave this world, they may end up “falling into the Three Evil Destinies”. All this results from karmic conditions. If our minds are trapped by causes and conditions created by our desires, naturally our minds will remain closed and the evil inside will continue to multiply. That would be like living in a filthy place without cleaning it. If we do not clean it out and keep adding more filth to it, naturally these destructive things will accumulate. We must understand that we must not have even the slightest evil thought. When our minds give rise to thoughts, they cannot be even the least bit evil. If our minds give rise to an evil thought, we must immediately repent and we must do this right away. Otherwise, we will easily fall “into the Three Evil Destinies”, the hell, hungry ghost and animal destinies. That would be suffering added to suffering.
Let us examine how “desires are the causes and conditions”. What causes and conditions converge? Sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch are the five desires we connect to. By connecting to these five desires, we may fall into many traps around us. When our eyes connect with external phenomena, we take them into our minds. Then our mind-root gives rise to thoughts like, “I want what I saw”, or “I want to experience that state”. This is how we continuously give rise to [karma]. Our eye-roots do this; our ear-roots do the same. If many people compliment our bravery and loyalty, we begin to change for the worse. We become people who are strong and powerful but are harmful to others. We become the black sheep in the flock, the ruffians and hoodlums of society, and do all sorts of things in order to hear praise from other people. This is from [attachment to] sounds and forms. Sight, sound, smell, taste and touch, once we experience them, are hard to let go of.
“Desires are the causes and conditions: Form, sound, smell and the rest of the five desires give rise to delusion and karma. Just one thought that takes us toward the deviant path creates the negative cause that leads to temptations that are hard to escape from.
Even if people want to change their causes and conditions, when their “brothers” call, they will go off with them. So, [change] is very difficult. Even if people know that they have made mistakes and want to change, they may not have a chance, because there are too many external influences. This is “just one thought that takes us toward the deviant path”.
Improper, incorrect thoughts are call “deviant”. Once and improper thought enters our minds. It “creates a negative cause”. If we plant a negative cause, “that leads to temptations”. Then finding a way to escape will be hard. If we are being led by our temptations, we are “falling into the Three Evil Destinies”.
“Falling into the Three Evil Destinies; [The three are] hell, hungry ghost and animal. The hell destiny is the most evil. The hungry ghost destiny is in the middle. The animal destiny is the least evil.
The Three Evil Destines are the hell, hungry ghost and animal destinies. We must know, “hell is the most evil”. Those who commit all kinds of evils will definitely fall into hell. This is the place of greatest suffering.
What about the those in the middle? They are not as evil. They just to tend to be greedy, stingy and jealous. These people are considered averagely evil and will fall into the hungry ghost destiny. They refuse to give to others, or they take away people’s food or water.
When the harvest is poor, they raise the price for food. “I have the goods, but I refuse to give them to you I have water, but I will not let you drink it.” These people will fall into the hungry ghost destiny.
The animal destiny is the least evil. This is for people who have ne morals. People who lack manners and ethics will easily do immoral things. Because of this, they will fall into the animal destiny. This is why we see so many animals in the world.
There are many hungry ghosts in this world; in Africa, in many impoverished countries there are a lot of them. We can see all these [destinies].Does hell exist? Yes it does. We see hell in this world. After disasters, there is so much devastation. People suffer from physical injuries, from being parted from their loved ones and many other difficulties. In the hospital, many people undergo surgery, or have a broken leg, a broken foot and so on. So, [hell] exists. We can see [suffering] in this world, let alone the suffering that is concentrated in hell. Besides the pain of a physical hell, a mental hell causes unbearable suffering.
Take the Pingtung prison for example. Loss of freedom also leads to suffering. This is like cycling in the Six Destinies.
Cycling through the Six Destinies: These are the hell destiny, hungry ghost destiny, animal destiny, asura destiny, human destiny and heaven destiny. A destiny is the direction we are headed towards. Sentient beings face retributions based on where their causes lead them. Thus, these are called the Six Destiny.
The six Realms are the Six Destinies, the hell destiny, hungry ghost destiny, animal destiny, asura destiny, human destiny and heaven destiny. “Destiny” is the direction we are headed toward. Where we will go depends on [the karma] we have created. Based on what we have done, we are led naturally in “the direction we are headed. That is “the direction we are headed towards.”
The retributions that sentient beings face are “based on where their causes lead them.” Because we created these causes and conditions, in the future, we will head toward that retribution. These are the Six Destinies.
“[We] face poisonous suffering.” Why? Because sentient beings are ignorant, “they do all kinds of unwholesome deeds.” Thus, they follow “the karmic fruit of this cause.” Because they follow this cause and create karma, they suffer from karmic retribution. Then naturally, they “face poisonous suffering.”
Dear Bodhisattvas, we must truly from Bodhisattva-aspirations. This is not impossible. The state of Bodhisattva is not far away from us. As the Buddha gave us teachings, if we accept them, we can achieve this state right now.
Look at the Pingtune prison as an example. A few Bodhisattvas were very brave and entered the prison. Earth Treasury Bodhisattva vowed to go to hell, our Living Bodhisattvas aspired to go into the prison. See, they transformed over 400 inmates at once. In particular, those 30-plus inmates began to eat vegetarian meals and uphold precepts. They wholeheartedly “entered the sutra treasury.” I believe these 30-plus people will also transform their fellow inmates.
Therefore, we who live so freely in this world should all from aspirations and take good care of our minds. We must be earnest and diligent, not indolent. This is all about our minds. So, we must always be mindful.
(Source: Da Ai TV – Wisdom at Dawn program – Explanation by Master Chen-Yen)
⊙「生世累積貪欲成濁，著身享受煩惱瞋癡，人間共業成眾生濁。」
⊙「我知此眾生，未曾修善本，堅著於五欲，癡愛故生惱。」《法華經方便品第二》
⊙「以諸欲因緣，墜墮三惡道，輪迴六趣中，備受諸苦毒。」《法華經方便品第二》
⊙以諸欲因緣：色聲香等之五欲緣惑業。唯是一念偏向邪念，造作惡因，循緣誘惑難自拔。
⊙墜墮三惡道：地獄、餓鬼、畜生。地獄屬上惡，餓鬼屬中惡，畜生屬下惡。
⊙輪迴六趣中：地獄趣、餓鬼趣，畜生趣、阿修羅趣、人趣，天趣。趣是趣向之義，眾生受報，皆由因趣果，故名六趣。
⊙備受諸苦毒：眾生無知，造作諸不善事，隨因業果，備受諸苦毒。
【證嚴上人開示】
生世累積
貪欲成濁
著身享受
煩惱瞋癡
人間共業
成眾生濁
人性本善，但是我們人人都是這樣經過，生生世世累積著貪欲成濁。這全都是因為大家，很執著我們身體的享受，所以才會造成了很多的煩惱，從貪、瞋、癡這樣來累積，就是人間共業，就成為現在五濁惡世。
所以，每天能聽到社會很多，不守人倫道德、違背人性，帶給那個家庭是非常的困擾，不得安寧。不只是家庭，也是擾亂了社會。社會中因為有這樣不守人倫、不講禮儀的事情發生，所以換成了社會也是混亂不清。這就是世間、天下，不只是一個國家，應該現在能看到，天下滿滿都是這種亂象，亂從心生。
人人本來就是善，「人之初，性本善」，人人的本性都是善，只是習(氣)，有了這個習氣，就累生累世這樣一直累積下來。是什麼來累積？貪，貪的欲門若一開，就會成了渾濁心，人人的心就清淨不來了，人人的心就開始混濁。從個人的心混濁，就表達於外，外面無法接受這種，混濁心態的人的言語、動作，這樣就染污了對方，也同樣以牙還牙，就這樣又是擴散出去；一直擴散下去，就成為人群之濁。
所以人群濁氣，就是環境從小而中、而大；小的是家庭，中的是社會，大的是國家，這都是這種貪欲的習氣開始，從貪一直到煩惱的瞋、癡不斷。總而言之，人生共業，成為了濁——污濁的人生。但是，只要有心，佛陀出現人間，教導菩薩去化度人間，真的也是能看到。
在屏東監獄，一場別開生面，非常感動人。那就是裡面，有三十位在監獄裡的人，他們三十位開始練手語，懺悔業障，這一天開始上臺演繹。
臺下有四百多人，人人都受感動——受刑人「入經藏」，受刑人很感動。別開生面，也不是在演戲，是從「靜思讀書會」開始，他們就每天一餐的素食，讀書會那一天，那就是整天的素食；這一天將要去演繹的這一天，全監獄的人全都素食。這是很不容易，在監獄裡。
手語「入經藏」，就是真的很莊嚴，大家整齊，比起來很有力道，那種懺悔、至誠發願，唱出來還很有力，那個隊形變化也很好。這真的是讓人看了很震撼。
而且，他們演繹過後，臺上就有人向大家分享。分享他從練手語開始，他的人生轉變。從內心的轉變，一直到發願，真的是至誠發願，他要重新做人，他出獄之後要如何為人群付出。聽到他們上臺與大家分享，這實在也是很感動人。
其中有一位，他說他從二０一０年，那一年開始，慈濟人進到監獄去與他們分享，去輔導他們開始，他就從那一年，他就每天一餐素食，從每天一(餐)素食開始，他就戒菸了，戒菸、酒，完全都戒了。
他說，在二０一一年的十一月開始，我們在屏東內埔的慮敬與慈募，兩個人覺得在與他們互動，實在是人性本善，這全都能如何讓他們，再以法水來洗滌他們的心，所以就向他們提議說：「我們每一個星期，我們來帶動你們讀書會，好嗎？」他們聽到，「好啊！」讓人自由報名，也就是「靜思語讀書會」。
一直到二０一二年七月間，開始告訴他們：我們是不是「法譬如水」，能洗滌內心的污垢。將我們的「入經藏」也能拿到裡面與他們分享。
她們說開始時在教手語，感覺到：這哪有辦法，坐無坐相，站沒站相，這樣的形態，我是要如何教？內心很擔心。卻是，這樣用心，又常常與他們互動，進去帶「靜思語讀書會」，所以慢慢地「雕」，用耐心，用愛心，用信心，成果展現了。看到臺上的三十位，真的很有力道，也是很有道氣。尤其坐在臺下的四百多人，還是無形中，也坐得很整齊，很恭敬。那一天全天齋戒，大家都表達，表達出了這種懺悔、至誠發願，人人都深受感動。
所以說起來，人人本具佛性，只是一時的糊塗，所以心念一偏差，踏入陷阱不能自拔。這就是我們的心念，所以我們「生世累積」，這生生世世的累積，就只是一念，那念貪欲開始。
看看他們，已經有的在監獄，不知有多久的時間，失去了自由，內心也一直覺得，是社會人對不起他們，也是有很多埋怨家庭的人。沒有給他很充足、好的人生的軌道，所以有很多埋怨於內心。身體是在有形的監獄，限制他的自由，心是在自己心的牢獄，自己在受刑。在裡面就一直想：有朝一日，如果讓我出去時，要準備做什麼、什麼事情。可能對社會人群更不利。
如果給他一個機會，這種「法譬如水」的教育，讓他的心態完全能調解一下，調得好，改變得好，這樣自然在監獄裡面，與外面的惡友隔離，再重新出來時，應該是他的人生重生的好機會。
看到屏東監獄，能夠有慈濟人，這樣進去感化他們，這就是菩薩。看，佛陀來人間，就是要教育這樣的菩薩，菩薩能夠去降伏剛強的眾生。這是佛陀一大事因緣，來人間的目的就是要這樣教。我們若能人人這樣接受，人人輾轉相教。
所以佛陀這樣說，前面的（經）文：「我知此眾生，未曾修善本，堅著於五欲，癡愛故生惱。」
我知此眾生
未曾修善本
堅著於五欲
癡愛故生惱
《法華經方便品第二》
這些就是過去沒有修到善本。所以「善本」就要給他有機會，這片的心地，若沒有人去耕耘它，沒有心地的農夫去耕耘它，種子如何能夠撒(出去)？所以需要有菩薩，人間心地的農夫。所以，這是佛陀教育，我們人人做菩薩，菩薩就是人間心地的農夫。
接下來說，「以諸欲因緣，墜墮三惡道，輪迴六趣中，備受諸苦毒。」
以諸欲因緣
墜墮三惡道
輪迴六趣中
備受諸苦毒
《法華經方便品第二》
在監獄裡面不就是如此嗎？這全都是有這些種種的因緣——「堅著於五欲」、「癡愛故生惱」，這些因緣。人間有監獄，但是離開人間，還有「墜墮三惡道」，這都是這樣的因緣。
人生若是真正受欲的因緣來圍困了我們的心，自然這個心打不開，理面的惡不斷複製、複製，如此，就如在髒污的地方，我們沒有去清它；你若不清，裡面的東西，再倒其他的東西，這樣自然敗壞的東西，會愈來愈多。
我們應該要很了解，小惡絕對不可有，起心動念，一點點的惡念都不要有。有起了一個動念(惡念)，要趕緊及時懺悔，至誠發願，應該要趕緊及時。否則就容易「墜墮三惡道」，地獄、餓鬼、畜生道，真的是苦上加苦。
我們來看看「以諸欲因緣」，是何因緣會合？就是色、聲、香、味、觸，這五欲的緣。這五欲的緣，就是外面有很多很多的陷阱。我們的眼根接觸到外面的境界，外面境界收納於意中，在意根中，就不斷在造作：「看到的，我要。」那個境界，我很想要去接觸到，這個意，所以不斷在造作。眼，眼根是如此，耳根也是如此。
很多人誇讚我很勇敢，很有義氣，開始就變本加厲。就變成那種身體勇壯，力氣很大，卻是不利人群，反而是群中害馬，在人群中，地痞流氓等等，全都會去做，這全都是要聽人讚歎他的話。所以，這全都是聲色，聲色，色、聲、香、味、觸等等，讓我們接觸到；一接觸到，要解開，就難了。
以諸欲因緣：
色聲香等之五欲
緣惑業
唯是一念
偏向邪念
造作惡因
循緣誘惑難自拔
種種的因緣，即使想要改，那些「好兄弟」都會來，邀了、招了就去了。這就是很辛苦，只是一念的偏差，知道錯了，想要改，沒有機會，外面的因緣太多了。這只是「唯是一念偏向邪念」。不正確的念，叫做邪；不正，就稱為邪。所以，不正確的念頭入心，那就「造作惡因」，惡因若種下了，那就是「循緣誘惑」，要自拔就難了。若誘惑下去，就「墜墮三惡道」。
墜墮三惡道：
地獄、餓鬼、畜生
地獄屬上惡
餓鬼屬中惡
畜生屬下惡
三惡道是地獄、餓鬼、畜生，大家知道。「地獄屬上惡」，十惡不赦之人一定是墮地獄，這是最痛苦的地方，叫做地獄。中惡呢？不是那麼極惡，只是平時較慳貪、嫉妒等等，這種人屬於中惡，將來就是墮餓鬼中。平時你不肯給人，或者是奪人的水與糧食，若在說歉收，開始糧食就會漲價。我有東西，但是就是不肯給你；我有水，就是不肯給你喝。這種人將來就是墮餓鬼中。
畜生呢？就是屬於下惡。就是較不守人倫，這種人倫禮義不懂的人，容易造了傷害人倫，就只是因此，所以就會墮畜生之中。我們看到滿滿都是很多畜生。
餓鬼，在世間上很多，非洲，很多貧窮的國家，很多，我們都看得到。地獄，是不是沒有？有，人間的地獄。看，災難過後，滿目瘡痍，身體受傷、天人永隔等等苦難很多。醫院裡，開腸剖肚，斷腳、斷足，也是很多，這不是沒有，所以在人間也能夠看到。
何況完全集中的地獄苦難，不只是有形的地獄，心靈的地獄苦不堪。就如在屏東監獄裡，人失去了自由，也是苦。這種六道輪迴。
輪迴六趣中：
地獄趣、餓鬼趣
畜生趣、阿修羅趣
人趣，天趣
趣是趣向之義
眾生受報
皆由因趣果
故名六趣
六道，又叫做六趣。六趣是：天趣、人趣、阿修羅趣、畜生趣、餓鬼趣、地獄趣。「趣」就是趣向。我們要(輪迴)到哪裡，就看你如何造作；你如何造作，將來很自然就會，「趣向」到那個地方去。這就是「趣向之義」。
眾生受報的地方，全都是「由因趣果」，因為我們有因，造作這個因緣，所以將來，我們就趣向那個果報，這叫做「六趣」。
備受諸苦毒：
眾生無知
造作諸不善事
隨因業果
備受諸苦毒
「備受諸苦毒」，為什麼呢？因為眾生無知，「造作諸不善事」，做很多不善之事，所以就「隨因業果」，隨這個因去造業，就惹來果報，自然就「備受諸苦毒」。
各位菩薩，真的我們要好好發菩薩心，不是做不到，菩薩離我們沒有很遠，佛陀這樣教我們，我們這樣接受，我們現在就做得到。看看屏東的監獄，那幾位菩薩，很勇敢，進去監獄裡；地藏菩薩發願是進去地獄，我們人間的菩薩，就發願進去監獄，一度就有四五百人。
尤其是那三十多位，開始素食、開始戒，很用心「入經藏」。這三十幾人，我相信他們也會「同事度」。我們在這麼自由的人間，應該人人要發心，我們要顧好我們的心，要殷勤精進，慎勿放逸；只是一念心，所以我們要多用心。
Explanations by Master Cheng-Yan
Subject: The Cause will Lead Us to the Effect (隨因趣果)
Date: August. 08. 2014
Lifetimes of accumulated greed and desire turns into turbidity. Attachment to physical pleasures [gives rise to] afflictions, anger and ignorance. Thus the collective karma in this world becomes the turbidity of sentient beings.
Human nature is inherently good. However, the greed and desires we accumulated life after life have turned into turbidity. This is because we are very attached to physical comfort. Thus we create and accumulate many afflictions as a result of greed, anger and ignorance. This is the collective karma we create that leads to this evil world of Five Turbidities.
Therefore, every day we hear about people who do immoral things or commit inhumane acts. They bring trouble to their family so their family cannot be at peace. Beyond their family, they also disturb society. Because people do immoral and unethical things, society becomes chaotic. This happens all over the world, not only in a single country. Right now, we can see that around the world there are many chaotic situations that arise from troubled minds.
Every one of us is intrinsically good “Human nature is inherently good.” Our intrinsic nature is good, but we developed habitual tendencies, which we accumulate lifetime after lifetime. What is being accumulated? Greed. Once we open our mind to greed and desires, it becomes turbid. Then our minds cannot be purified. If our minds become turbid, that turbidity will manifest in our behavior. When people cannot stand the speech and actions of people with turbid mindset, they may become fainted by that turbidity and engage in a tooth-for-a-tooth cycle of vengeance. This is how [turbidity] continues to spread and leads to impurities in humankind.
So, these impurities are present in environments of all sizes. A small-sized environment is a family. A middle-sized one is a society. A large-sized one is a nation. This all begins with habitual greed. Greed leads to afflictions of endless anger and ignorance. In summary, people’s collective karma leads to a life of turbidity.
However, as long as we have the aspiration, the Buddha will appear in the world and teach Bodhisattvas to transform the world. We have seen examples of this.
In a Pingtung prison, something very novel and touching occurred, [centered around] 30 inmates from the prison. These inmates had learned sign language and repented the karmic obstructions [they created]. On this day, they put on a musical Dharma performance. There were over 400 people in the audience and every single person was touched. These inmates “entered the sutra treasury” and were very touched; this was a very novel event to them. This was not simply a theatrical performance. The inmates first joined Jing Si study groups, then ate one vegetarian meal each day.
On the day of the study group, they ate vegetarian meals all day. On the day of the musical performance, all the prisoners ate vegetarian meals.This is incredible to see in a prison.Using sign language to “enter the sutra treasury” was really magnificent.
Everyone was synchronized and there was strength behind their singing.
They repented and made vows with utmost sincerity, so their singing was loud and powerful.Their formation changes were also very well-done.This truly made a huge impact on people.After their performance, some people went on stage to share that, since they had begun to practice sign language, their lives had changed.The change in their hearts led them to make vows.Truly, with utmost sincerity they vowed to turn over a new leaf and to help others after they were released from prison.
Listening to their sharing on stage was indeed very touching.One of the performers said that, since 2010, the year Tzu Chi volunteers entered the prison and began to share with them, to visit and counsel them, he began to eat one vegetarian meal a day.After eating one vegetarian meal a day, he quit smoking.He completely quit smoking and drinking.He said this began in November 2011.As two of the Pingtung Commissioners, Luu Jing and Tzu Nu, interacted with these inmates, they realized their inherent goodness.So, they entered to help them to cleanse their minds with Dharma-water.
They asked the inmates, “Can we come here once a week to lead a study group for you?”
Upon hearing this, they said, “Yes.”And so, inmates voluntarily signed up for the Jing Si study group.Then in July 2012, [I] suggested to [the Commissioners], “Don’t we use the [Water Repentance] to cleanse defilements from our minds?You can share with them this way of ;entering the sutra treasury.”When they began teaching sign language, they at first felt, “This is impossible.They cannot even stand and sit properly.How can we teach people with such poor posture?”They were very worried.
However, they put their hearts into [teaching] and interacted with ether frequently through the Jing Si study group.Solely, they “made” them with patience, love and confidence. The result was evident.The performance given by the 30 people on stage was very powerful and also had an air of spiritual refinement.
The more than 400 people in the audience, without consciously realizing it, sat up straight and showed great respect.The prisoners ate vegetarian meals all day that day and expressed their deep repentance and made vows with utmost sincerity.Everyone in the audience was deeply touched.
So, we all intrinsically have Buddha-nature, but due to a momentary lapse in judgment, our minds can go astray.We may fall into a trap we cannot escape from.This is the way our minds work.This comes from “lifetimes of accumulated [greed and desires]”.These lifetimes of accumulation began with one single thought of greed.
Look at [these inmates], some of them have a already been in prison for a very long time.Having lost their freedom, they place the blame on people in society and feel resentment toward their families for not providing them with a good path in life.There is much resentment in their minds.Their bodies are in a physical prison that restricts their freedom.Their minds are in a mental prison they constructed for themselves.
They are serving a sentence there.They may be thinking, “One I get out of prison, I am going to do such and such.”They may cause more harm to others.But if we give them a chance, by sharing the teachings of [Water Repentance], they can adjust their attitudes and change for the better.Once this happens and they are separated from the influence of unwholesome friends, after they leave prison, they have a great opportunity to lead new lives.
Look at these inmates in the Pingtung prison.Tzu Chi volunteers went in to counsel them with these teachings. These people are Bodhisattvas. You see, the Buddha comes to the world to train these kinds of Bodhisattvas so they can tame stubborn sentient beings. This is the Buddha’s one great cause; He comes to this world to give these teachings. If we can all accept the teachings, we can then teach them to others. So, as the Buddha said in the previous passage of the sutra,
“I know that these sentient beings have never cultivated the foundation for goodness. They are firmly attached to the five desires, and, out of delusion and cravings, “give rise to afflictions”.
These people have never cultivated, the foundation for goodness, so we need to give them this opportunity. If no one cultivates the field of their minds, if there is no farmer to cultivate it, then the seeds cannot be sown. So, we need Bodhisattvas to be farmers for the fields of people’s minds. This is why the Buddha teaches all of us to be Bodhisattvas. Bodhisattvas are the farmers for the fields of people’s minds.
Next, we will discuss,
“Desires are the causes and conditions for falling into the Three Evil Destinies for cycling in the Six Destinies and facing poisonous suffering.”
Isn’t this what happened to the inmates in prison? They all have these various causes and conditions. “They are firmly attached to the five desires, and, out of delusion and cravings, give rise to afflictions”. These are their causes and conditions in this world, there are prisons. But when people leave this world, they may end up “falling into the Three Evil Destinies”. All this results from karmic conditions. If our minds are trapped by causes and conditions created by our desires, naturally our minds will remain closed and the evil inside will continue to multiply. That would be like living in a filthy place without cleaning it. If we do not clean it out and keep adding more filth to it, naturally these destructive things will accumulate. We must understand that we must not have even the slightest evil thought. When our minds give rise to thoughts, they cannot be even the least bit evil. If our minds give rise to an evil thought, we must immediately repent and we must do this right away. Otherwise, we will easily fall “into the Three Evil Destinies”, the hell, hungry ghost and animal destinies. That would be suffering added to suffering.
Let us examine how “desires are the causes and conditions”. What causes and conditions converge? Sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch are the five desires we connect to. By connecting to these five desires, we may fall into many traps around us. When our eyes connect with external phenomena, we take them into our minds. Then our mind-root gives rise to thoughts like, “I want what I saw”, or “I want to experience that state”. This is how we continuously give rise to [karma]. Our eye-roots do this; our ear-roots do the same. If many people compliment our bravery and loyalty, we begin to change for the worse. We become people who are strong and powerful but are harmful to others. We become the black sheep in the flock, the ruffians and hoodlums of society, and do all sorts of things in order to hear praise from other people. This is from [attachment to] sounds and forms. Sight, sound, smell, taste and touch, once we experience them, are hard to let go of.
“Desires are the causes and conditions: Form, sound, smell and the rest of the five desires give rise to delusion and karma. Just one thought that takes us toward the deviant path creates the negative cause that leads to temptations that are hard to escape from.
Even if people want to change their causes and conditions, when their “brothers” call, they will go off with them. So, [change] is very difficult. Even if people know that they have made mistakes and want to change, they may not have a chance, because there are too many external influences. This is “just one thought that takes us toward the deviant path”.
Improper, incorrect thoughts are call “deviant”. Once and improper thought enters our minds. It “creates a negative cause”. If we plant a negative cause, “that leads to temptations”. Then finding a way to escape will be hard. If we are being led by our temptations, we are “falling into the Three Evil Destinies”.
“Falling into the Three Evil Destinies; [The three are] hell, hungry ghost and animal. The hell destiny is the most evil. The hungry ghost destiny is in the middle. The animal destiny is the least evil.
The Three Evil Destines are the hell, hungry ghost and animal destinies. We must know, “hell is the most evil”. Those who commit all kinds of evils will definitely fall into hell. This is the place of greatest suffering.
What about the those in the middle? They are not as evil. They just to tend to be greedy, stingy and jealous. These people are considered averagely evil and will fall into the hungry ghost destiny. They refuse to give to others, or they take away people’s food or water.
When the harvest is poor, they raise the price for food. “I have the goods, but I refuse to give them to you I have water, but I will not let you drink it.” These people will fall into the hungry ghost destiny.
The animal destiny is the least evil. This is for people who have ne morals. People who lack manners and ethics will easily do immoral things. Because of this, they will fall into the animal destiny. This is why we see so many animals in the world.
There are many hungry ghosts in this world; in Africa, in many impoverished countries there are a lot of them. We can see all these [destinies].Does hell exist? Yes it does. We see hell in this world. After disasters, there is so much devastation. People suffer from physical injuries, from being parted from their loved ones and many other difficulties. In the hospital, many people undergo surgery, or have a broken leg, a broken foot and so on. So, [hell] exists. We can see [suffering] in this world, let alone the suffering that is concentrated in hell. Besides the pain of a physical hell, a mental hell causes unbearable suffering.
Take the Pingtung prison for example. Loss of freedom also leads to suffering. This is like cycling in the Six Destinies.
Cycling through the Six Destinies: These are the hell destiny, hungry ghost destiny, animal destiny, asura destiny, human destiny and heaven destiny. A destiny is the direction we are headed towards. Sentient beings face retributions based on where their causes lead them. Thus, these are called the Six Destiny.
The six Realms are the Six Destinies, the hell destiny, hungry ghost destiny, animal destiny, asura destiny, human destiny and heaven destiny. “Destiny” is the direction we are headed toward. Where we will go depends on [the karma] we have created. Based on what we have done, we are led naturally in “the direction we are headed. That is “the direction we are headed towards.”
The retributions that sentient beings face are “based on where their causes lead them.” Because we created these causes and conditions, in the future, we will head toward that retribution. These are the Six Destinies.
“[We] face poisonous suffering.” Why? Because sentient beings are ignorant, “they do all kinds of unwholesome deeds.” Thus, they follow “the karmic fruit of this cause.” Because they follow this cause and create karma, they suffer from karmic retribution. Then naturally, they “face poisonous suffering.”
Dear Bodhisattvas, we must truly from Bodhisattva-aspirations. This is not impossible. The state of Bodhisattva is not far away from us. As the Buddha gave us teachings, if we accept them, we can achieve this state right now.
Look at the Pingtune prison as an example. A few Bodhisattvas were very brave and entered the prison. Earth Treasury Bodhisattva vowed to go to hell, our Living Bodhisattvas aspired to go into the prison. See, they transformed over 400 inmates at once. In particular, those 30-plus inmates began to eat vegetarian meals and uphold precepts. They wholeheartedly “entered the sutra treasury.” I believe these 30-plus people will also transform their fellow inmates.
Therefore, we who live so freely in this world should all from aspirations and take good care of our minds. We must be earnest and diligent, not indolent. This is all about our minds. So, we must always be mindful.
(Source: Da Ai TV – Wisdom at Dawn program – Explanation by Master Chen-Yen)
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