20140916《靜思妙蓮華》以善塑畫佛（第393集）
⊙「慈悲等觀相伴，志同道合聯心，造十善福莊嚴，菩薩自行利他。」
⊙「白鑞及鉛錫，鐵木及以泥，或以膠漆布，嚴飾作佛像，如是諸人等，皆已成佛道。」《法華經 方便品第二》
⊙「彩畫作佛像，百福莊嚴相，自作若使人，皆已成佛道。」《法華經 方便品第二》
⊙彩畫作佛像，百福莊嚴相：巧工作畫，天地山河錦繡，彩畫入圖。並能作畫百福，莊嚴諸佛像。能自畫、或使人作畫，植佛好因緣。
【證嚴上人開示】
「慈悲等觀相伴，志同道合聯心，造十善福莊嚴，菩薩自行利他。」
慈悲等觀相伴
志同道合聯心
造十善福莊嚴
菩薩自行利他
也就是要和大家分享，修學佛法，我們必定要用慈悲心、平等觀，在我們的日常生活中，我們要為天下眾生設想。佛陀在世時，一直希望眾生，行在菩薩道中，佛陀的教化一直到最後，也是希望佛法能延盛下去，在人間永恆不滅。所以佛陀的慈悲，不是只為了那個時代的眾生，更期待未來眾生能夠得佛聞法。
說不定我們過去的那時候，我們在靈山會上，對佛陀的叮嚀、交代，我們已經發心、立願，將此慈悲等觀一直陪伴著我們，這樣生生世世而來。我們有緣，所以「志同道合聯心」。心聯著心，以過去承受此志願而來；還要在現在這個志願，還是要不斷延續下去，這種「志同道合聯心」。
我們要用什麼方法，能讓人人造十善福來莊嚴道場，必定要培養菩薩，發菩薩心，要自行利他；菩薩就是自行，自己要身體力行。我們還要再事事，要如何利益眾生？眾生苦難偏多，有的人貧窮困苦，有的人突然意外災故等等，無不都是需要菩薩及時現前，同時，還有很多不是貧，不是有什麼樣身外的苦難，很多都是心裡的苦。
心裡的苦無不都是五種的毒病——貪、瞋、癡、驕慢、懷疑；這五種毒病，需要有法藥來醫。所以法藥，就是菩薩，不時就是向上求法、時時關懷眾生。向上求法，所以佛法入心；向下關懷，願意付出，付出而無所求，這全都是叫做菩薩自行利他。
學菩薩法，不是自私，是要付出，所以我們要很用心，用心，認真在因緣。過去與佛同世，聽佛說法，有這個使命，因緣不斷會合、不斷相伴，時時互相勉勵，志同道合，聯心為現在與未來，如何引導眾生造十善福，來莊嚴佛法道場，還要發菩薩心，自行利他，上求下化，這就是我們要認真、要精進。
我們之前已經說過了，當時佛陀就希望人人，能夠在未來，佛法能再不斷延盛下去，能夠用種種方便法，讓人人見物知法。看到這是寺院，寺院，就是過去，佛出現在人間所說法，未來的弟子不斷世世相傳，這是修行的地方，這是讓未來的人，。看到這個建築物，或者看到塔，自然懂得起恭敬心，同時知道這就是佛、法、僧，不斷流傳下來。
所以，佛陀在《法華經》中，就有這段(經文)，鼓勵人造佛塔、建寺廟、塑佛像等等。外面的形象是這樣，最重要的，一直，這幾天一直說，我們靈山在心中，道場，心靈的道場，自性的佛。我們從佛的時代，為我們啟開智慧，我們要不斷延續下來，這是我們內在的塔、道場，和我們原來的本性。不過，度眾生，需要從「無為法」(的體會)，而入「有為法」的創造，來度眾生。
所以上面說造像有，「白鑞及鉛錫，鐵木及以泥，或以膠漆布，嚴飾作佛像，如是諸人等，皆已成佛道。」
白鑞及鉛錫
鐵木及以泥
或以膠漆布
嚴飾作佛像
如是諸人等
皆已成佛道
《法華經 方便品第二》
這是前面我們說過了，現在再接下來的(經)文，除了用種種那些材料，來雕、來刻、或者是塑，還有用紙筆：「彩畫作佛像，百福莊嚴相，自作若使人，皆已成佛道。」
彩畫作佛像
百福莊嚴相
自作若使人
皆已成佛道
《法華經 方便品第二》
不一定用金屬類，不一定用泥土，不一定用木料等等的材料，只要一張紙、一支筆，有色彩等等，就能來造佛像，能畫，畫出了「百福莊嚴相」。
自己能畫，很好，相從心生，有這樣學起來，能畫出來，就知道你內心的形像是什麼。自己會，也能教人，教別人也能畫。畫出你心中的佛像。像這樣心中有佛，將「無為法」表達在形像上，這樣也是在培養我們，心不離佛的這一念。
當然，這必定要用很虔誠、清淨的心來作畫，不是畫畫的師傅。是在於我們自己內心的虔誠，「心如工畫師」，無境而不畫，心真的就像工畫師，所有外面的境界都能畫出來，這是很工巧，會畫圖的人。會畫，也是要學來，但不是學來維持生活、賺錢的，也不是興趣、喜歡畫。不是，此處就是要告訴我們，要用很虔誠的心。
古代，有人要表達他的虔誠，刺血為墨來畫佛像，這是要表示他的虔誠，將內心的虔誠，從他的形態上來表達出了，那分的堅定、虔誠的志向，這真的是要很虔誠的心。不過現在，從過去與現在雕刻佛像，或者是畫佛形、佛像，有幾個人是真正畫出了，內心的畫呢？這我們要用心去思考。這些畫，若是從內心那分的虔誠，畫出了「百福莊嚴相」，這就是用工巧，非常巧妙的手(藝)，將他所學表達出來。
彩畫作佛像
百福莊嚴相：
巧工作畫
天地山河錦繡
彩畫入圖
並能作畫百福
莊嚴諸佛像
能自畫
或使人作畫
植佛好因緣
這種工巧作畫，這個畫，不論是畫天，可以將天空的畫，畫得就如我們的天空一樣，大家(現在)面所向的面前，不就是一個太陽系的天空？（編按：指主堂「宇宙大覺者」的宇宙星相）我不會做，儘管我有心，我連碰都沒有碰到，各位，你們也是，沒有學過這個專門的技術，也沒有。不過以世間種種的工巧，它能合成，這面牆（大覺者宇宙星相圖）。這要有那個常識，要有學出了那種的功夫，不過大要怎麼接，接得能夠沒有一點點痕跡，所以這種工巧。這之後，型雕出來大小恰好了，太陽系，太陽的位置在哪裡？現在的科技發展，讓我們知道宇宙間，太陽系的星球關係。不論是距離多大(遠)，每一天在輪轉，每一年的位置不同。讓我們來選，要選在哪一天、哪一年，它的星（編按：指慈濟小行星）和太陽和地球的關係。
很感恩有很多人用心，去找出了在四十多年前，民國五十五年，也就是一九六六年，那一年的那一個月的那一天，星球的位置如何。我們就採用那一天，太陽系的這個行星，就是以一那天，這樣將之雕起來、刻下來。雖然它不是用紙、用筆畫出來，這是合成了很多人的智慧，將之合成起來，取大地資源，再用現在的科技，還要有工巧方法，所以創造出是來這樣的圖形。
佛是宇宙大覺者，不是將他供奉在佛龕裡，所以我們用這樣的方式，來表達出了我們要如何對佛法，佛陀的智慧，覺悟了宇宙的真理，這開闊天空來流傳讓後世的人，這就是我們要表達的方法。
若是用畫的，紙筆來畫，能夠畫出了「天地山河錦繡」。現在最近常常有大陸的人士來，這國畫是大陸很多工巧畫師，會畫的人，名畫師很多，若來的時候，就會這樣的圖，無論是字，或者是畫，都寫得很好、畫得很多，栩栩如生。
就像有一段，過去有一位，送來了(富春山居圖)，本來是將它變成了兩段，在臺灣和大陸，幾十年，或者是多久以來，這幅圖都不曾結合起來過。已經有一位大陸的企業家，他已經將這兩幅畫用方法，合起來了，這張圖，我想是很珍貴的。（編按：臺灣故宮博物院於2011年6月舉辦兩岸《富春山居圖》合璧聯展。此圖因遭火焚而分成「剩山圖」與「無用師卷」兩段，相隔360年再合璧。）
所以「天地山河錦繡」，「彩畫入圖」，都能夠用筆這樣畫起來，但是人間分分合合，曾經有過這樣分開了，現在又再將這幅圖，又再會合起來，真的是人間不可思議，因緣很多，因緣分開、因緣會合，人間世相，不就都是這樣嗎？連圖也隨著人間世相形態，也曾分開過，現在又將之合起來。這光是在彩畫中，就各有它的故事精彩。這種用工巧來畫，可見此畫是多麼的珍貴，才讓它這樣分開了，是多麼珍貴，才能又將它會合。這是世間，什麼是珍貴？什麼是工巧？我們都是外行，但是內行人有此歷史的存在。
所以不只是能畫出了，天地山河錦繡，都能在這圖畫中，有這樣的功夫，那就能「作畫百福，莊嚴諸佛像」，這樣的巧筆就能作畫，此畫，這個畫，能夠這樣畫，畫出了百福莊嚴的諸佛形像來。儘管他們都不曾看到，佛長得什麼樣，但是就是用心，能夠得到畫像莊嚴、他心生恭敬，自然就懂得禮佛、拜佛。
大家還記得「小木屋」時，我只是只有一張「西方三聖」的圖，我也在那裡，拜得很虔誠，就是見圖就啟發出了，這分虔誠的心。其實，虔誠的心不著相，昨天不是說過，也能禮拜石頭，也能為石頭說法。這都是我們人的心所作，所以能作出了百福莊嚴諸佛像。
還有，能自畫、或者是使人作畫，植佛好因緣。這樣常常在畫佛，畫啊畫，儘管他不是什麼目的，就是興趣，就是人家請他畫。這樣畫久了，佛像也會入他的心，這樣也是種一個因，所以「植佛好因緣」。
各位菩薩，我們學佛真真正正要將因緣觀，我們要尊重我們自己，我們過去一定是與佛有同世，所以我們有這個因緣為伴，人人「慈悲等觀」要永遠在內心，我們要「志同道合聯心」，我們必定要「造十善福莊嚴」。不只是為我們自己造，我們就是要為人群付出，所以菩薩也是自行利他；就如不只是自己畫，你也能夠再教他人畫。所以說，學佛，我們要瞭解法是從內心虔誠，所以大家要時時多用心。
Explanations by Master Cheng-Yan
Subject: Painting the Buddha with Goodness in Our Hearts (以善塑畫佛)
Date: September. 16. 2014
“Exercise impartial compassion with each other. Connect with those with the same vows and path. Do the Ten Good Deeds to adorn the world with blessings. Bodhisattvas cultivate themselves and benefit others.”
This is telling everyone that as we learn and practice the Buddha-Dharma, we need to exercise compassion and an impartial view. In our daily living, we must consider all sentient beings in the world. When the Buddha was in this world, He always hoped that all sentient beings would walk the Bodhisattva-path. As His teaching came to an end, He also hoped that the Buddha-Dharma would continue to flourish and remain in this world forever. So, the Buddha’s compassion did not only extend to sentient beings of that era. He also hoped that sentient beings of the future would listen to the teachings. Perhaps, at that moment in the past, we were all at the Vulture Peak assembly. With the Buddha’s reminder and charge, we have already made aspirations to always have impartial compassion accompanying us. This is what we have done lifetime after lifetime.
We have an affinity [with one another], so we “connect with those with the same vows and path.” We must link our hearts with theirs. We come to this world based on the vows we made in the past and now we will continue to carry out these vows and continue to sustain them unceasingly. This happens when we “connect with those with the same vows and path.” We must continuously find ways to help people do the Ten Good Deeds to adorn the spiritual practice center with blessings. We must nurture Bodhisattvas and form Bodhisattva-aspirations to cultivate ourselves and help others. As Bodhisattvas, we cultivate ourselves. We must put the Dharma into practice, as well as think about how we can benefit sentient beings in everything we do. Sentient beings experience much suffering.
Some people suffer from poverty and hardship. Others [suffer from] accidents and so forth. They all need Bodhisattvas to appear and help them. Also, many people are not poor, nor do they suffer any external hardship. However, they experience much mental suffering. Mental suffering comes from the Five Poisons, greed, anger, ignorance, arrogance and doubt. Illnesses caused by these five poisons must be treated with Dharma-medicine.
Dharma-medicine comes from Bodhisattvas, who constantly seek the Buddha-Dharma and constantly care for sentient beings. Since they seek the Dharma, they take it to heart. Since they care for others, they are willing to give to others unconditionally. This is how Bodhisattvas cultivate themselves and benefit others. As we learn the Bodhisattva-path, we cannot be selfish, but must instead give to others. Therefore, we must be mindful. We must take our causes and conditions seriously.
In the past, we listened to the Buddha teach the Dharma and took on this mission. As causes and conditions continue to converge, we continue to keep each other company. We always encourage each other, and because we share the same vows and path, we unite our hearts to guide sentient beings now and in the future to do the Ten Good Deeds to adorn with blessings the place where we practice the Buddha-Dharma.We also need to form Bodhisattva-aspirations to cultivate ourselves and benefit others, to seek the Dharma and to transform others.
To do this, we must be earnest and diligent.Previously, we discussed how the Buddha had hoped everyone could sustain and help the Buddha-Dharma flourish in the future.
He hoped they could use various skillful means to help people realize the Dharma when they see certain objects.
So by seeing a temple, they could be reminded that the Buddha appeared in this world in the past to each the Dharma, that His disciples in the future have continued to transmit those teachings, that this is a place for spiritual practice.When people in the future see this building, or this stupa, they will automatically feel a sense of respect as they realize this is something the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha have passed on.
So, in this passage from the Lotus Sutra, the Buddha encouraged people to create stupas, temples, Buddha statues and so on.These are the external objects we create.
But more importantly, as I have been saying these past few days, the Vulture Peak is in our minds.We have an inner spiritual training ground and a Buddha-nature within us.
Since the era of the Buddha, when He helped awaken our wisdom, we have had to constantly sustain it.It is our inner stupa and spiritual tainting ground, as well as our intrinsic nature.
Yet, to transform sentient beings, we must start with realizations of “unconditioned Dharma” to create “conditioned phenomena” that can transform sentient beings.
That is why the earlier passage states, “[They may have used] wax, lead, or tin, iron, wood or clay, or perhaps lacquered cloth in making and adorning Buddha statues. People such as these have all realized the path to Buddhahood.”
We have talked about this earlier.Now, the next sutra passage states that in addition to using various materials to carve, engrave or mold, we can use brush and paper.
“[Some] painted colored Buddha-images adorned with the marks of hundreds of blessings. Whoever they did it themselves or directed others, they have all realized the path to Buddhahood.”
We do not have to use metals.We do not have to use clay.We do not have to use wood or similar materials.All we need is one piece of paper, one brush and some color in order to create the image of a Buddha.We can paint it so that it is “adorned with the marks of hundreds of blessings”.If we can paint, that is great; the image will come from our hearts.
If we can paint what we have learned, we will know what our state of mind is like.If we know how to do this, we can also teach others to paint as well.When we paint the Buddha in our minds, we are expressing the “unconditioned Dharma” through this image of the Buddha.This is another way of nurturing our minds so we are inseparable from the Buddha.Of course, this kind of painting takes utmost reverence and a pure mind.
It does not depend on our artistic skills, but the reverence in our minds.“The mind is like an artist.”It can paint all things.The mind is really like an artist; it can paint all kinds of external phenomena.This is what a skilled artist can do.Painting [the Buddha] is a skill that must be learned.We do not learn this to make a living, nor is it a hobby we enjoy.
This passage is telling us that it is something we do with utmost reference.
In ancient times, to show reverence, some people used their blood as ink to paint images of the Buddha.They did this to show their reverence.Through their external actions, they demonstrated the reverence in their hearts and their resolve to uphold their vows.Indeed, we must have utmost reverence.Yet, over time,out of all those who have carved and sculpted Buddha statues, or painted images of the Buddha,how many people have truly manifested the image in their minds? We have to put our hearts into contemplating this.
If these paintings come from the reverence in our hearts, they are “adorned with the marks of hundreds of blessings”. It takes skill and meticulous craftsmanship to express what we have learned.
“Some painted colored Buddha-images adorned with the marks of hundreds of blessings: They skillfully and meticulously created paintings. Splendid images of heaven and earth, mountains and rivers, were painted in color on paper. They could also paint hundreds of blessings to adorn the images of all Buddhas. Whether they paint it themselves or direct others to paint it, they plant good causes and affinities with the Buddha in their hearts.”
When skillful and meticulous hands paint pictures, if they paint the sky, it looks exactly like the sky above us it looks exactly like the sky above us. Isn’t what you are seeing right in front of you a representation of the solar system in our sky? I could not do this, even if I wanted to I did not have any part in it as all. As for all of you, you have not learned this specialized skill either you have not. But, by combining people’s various skills, this backdrop was created, this acrylic wall this backdrop was created, this acrylic wall. Professional knowledge was required to master these skills in order to adjust the size of the materials. If it was not big enough, then it would be pieced together with no visible trace. This required skill and meticulousness. After all that, the perfect image was carved. In the solar system, where is the sun located? With our modern advanced technology, we know where the planets in the solar system are in relation to each other, no matter how far apart they are. They are revolving every day, and their location is different every year. [For this artwork,] we were able to choose to portray the position of the planets in relation to the Sun and the Earth for the day and year we wanted.
I am grateful many people made the effort to find out what this was like 40-plus years ago, in the 55th year of the Republic of China, which was 1966. They figured out what the sky was like on that particular day, month and year. So, we picked the positions of the planets on the day [Tzu Chi was established] and carved them on this wall and carved them on this wall. It was not created by paper or brush; it was created by the wisdom of many people. Their efforts, combined with the earth’s resources and modern technology, as well as skillful and meticulous craftsmanship, created this kind of image. The Buddha is the Great Enlightened One of the Universe so we did not want to put Him in a small niche.
Thus, we used this method to express how we wanted the Buddha-Dharma, the Buddha’s wisdom and the truths of the universe Her realized to be shown in this expansive sky so they can be transmitted to future generations. This is the method we used to expressed this. If we had used paper and brush to paint this, we could have painted something like the “splendid images of heaven and earth”.
Recently, many people from Mainland China have come to visit Traditional Chinese painting [requires a lot of skill]; there are many famous, talented Chinese artists. When people come here, they give me paintings like that. Whether it is calligraphy or painting, they are all very-well written or painted, they are very lifelike.
For example, in the past, someone sent a painting of rivers and mountains. It was originally divided into two pieces, one piece in Mainland China, the other in Taiwan. For decades, for a very long time, this painting has not been whole. An entrepreneur from Mainland China finally [purchased] and put the pieces together. I believe this painting is very valuable.
So “splendid images of heaven and earth mountains and rivers were painted in color on paper”. They are all painted with a brush. Yet, in this world, [conditions] a ways come together and separate. This painting was once separated, and now the pieces have been united again is the working of the world are truly inconceivable. There are many karmic conditions. Causes and conditions can separate and causes and conditions can unite. Isn’t that the way the world works?
Even a painting can be separated by world events, and now it is combined again. There is and exciting story behind just this painting. It was painted with such skill. This painting was so precious that it was separated, but so precious that it was combined again. In this world, what is precious?
What demonstrates skill? We are not experts but art experts know this history. So, it is not only a painting of splendid images of heaven and earth, mountains and rivers; there is more to it than what we can see. With this kind of mastery, they could “paint hundreds of blessings to adorn the images of all Buddhas”. Skillful brushes can paint many images and hundreds of blessings to adorn the images of all Buddhas. Although they have never seen what the Buddha looks like, they put their hearts into painting the images.
If the paintings are dignified, people will feel a sense of reverence and naturally pay respect and bow to the Buddha. Does everyone remember that when I lived in the small hut, I only had a painting of the Three Saints of the Western Pure Land? I prayed to them very reverently. Seeing the painting inspired my reverence.
But actually, reverence is not attached to appearances. Yesterday I talked about how we can even pay respect to rocks and can also teach the Dharma to rocks.All of this comes from our state of mind. So, our minds can create hundreds of blessings to adorn the images of all Buddhas. Also, whether people paint it themselves or direct others to paint it, they are creating good affinities with the Buddha.
If people are constantly painting Buddhas, regardless of their goal for doing so, whether it is out of interest, or that they were asked to by other people, after painting them for so long, the Buddha-images will enter their minds. This is also planting a cause.So, “they plant good causes and affinities with the Buddha”.
Dear Bodhisattvas, as we learn the Buddha’s Way, we must truly believe in the law of karma. We must respect ourselves. In the past, we must have lived at the same time as the Buddha and shared this karmic affinity with Him. In our hearts, we must always have impartial compassion for all. We must “connect with those with the same vows and path” and “do the Ten Good Deeds to adorn the world with blessings”.
Not only should we do it for ourselves, we must also do it for all people. Bodhisattvas cultivate themselves while benefiting others. It is not enough that we ourselves can paint, we must also teach others to paint. As we learn the Buddha’s Way our understanding of the Dharma starts with the reverence in our hearts. Therefore, we must always be mindful.
(Source: Da Ai TV – Wisdom at Dawn program – Explanation by Master Chen-Yen)
⊙「慈悲等觀相伴，志同道合聯心，造十善福莊嚴，菩薩自行利他。」
⊙「白鑞及鉛錫，鐵木及以泥，或以膠漆布，嚴飾作佛像，如是諸人等，皆已成佛道。」《法華經 方便品第二》
⊙「彩畫作佛像，百福莊嚴相，自作若使人，皆已成佛道。」《法華經 方便品第二》
⊙彩畫作佛像，百福莊嚴相：巧工作畫，天地山河錦繡，彩畫入圖。並能作畫百福，莊嚴諸佛像。能自畫、或使人作畫，植佛好因緣。
【證嚴上人開示】
「慈悲等觀相伴，志同道合聯心，造十善福莊嚴，菩薩自行利他。」
慈悲等觀相伴
志同道合聯心
造十善福莊嚴
菩薩自行利他
也就是要和大家分享，修學佛法，我們必定要用慈悲心、平等觀，在我們的日常生活中，我們要為天下眾生設想。佛陀在世時，一直希望眾生，行在菩薩道中，佛陀的教化一直到最後，也是希望佛法能延盛下去，在人間永恆不滅。所以佛陀的慈悲，不是只為了那個時代的眾生，更期待未來眾生能夠得佛聞法。
說不定我們過去的那時候，我們在靈山會上，對佛陀的叮嚀、交代，我們已經發心、立願，將此慈悲等觀一直陪伴著我們，這樣生生世世而來。我們有緣，所以「志同道合聯心」。心聯著心，以過去承受此志願而來；還要在現在這個志願，還是要不斷延續下去，這種「志同道合聯心」。
我們要用什麼方法，能讓人人造十善福來莊嚴道場，必定要培養菩薩，發菩薩心，要自行利他；菩薩就是自行，自己要身體力行。我們還要再事事，要如何利益眾生？眾生苦難偏多，有的人貧窮困苦，有的人突然意外災故等等，無不都是需要菩薩及時現前，同時，還有很多不是貧，不是有什麼樣身外的苦難，很多都是心裡的苦。
心裡的苦無不都是五種的毒病——貪、瞋、癡、驕慢、懷疑；這五種毒病，需要有法藥來醫。所以法藥，就是菩薩，不時就是向上求法、時時關懷眾生。向上求法，所以佛法入心；向下關懷，願意付出，付出而無所求，這全都是叫做菩薩自行利他。
學菩薩法，不是自私，是要付出，所以我們要很用心，用心，認真在因緣。過去與佛同世，聽佛說法，有這個使命，因緣不斷會合、不斷相伴，時時互相勉勵，志同道合，聯心為現在與未來，如何引導眾生造十善福，來莊嚴佛法道場，還要發菩薩心，自行利他，上求下化，這就是我們要認真、要精進。
我們之前已經說過了，當時佛陀就希望人人，能夠在未來，佛法能再不斷延盛下去，能夠用種種方便法，讓人人見物知法。看到這是寺院，寺院，就是過去，佛出現在人間所說法，未來的弟子不斷世世相傳，這是修行的地方，這是讓未來的人，。看到這個建築物，或者看到塔，自然懂得起恭敬心，同時知道這就是佛、法、僧，不斷流傳下來。
所以，佛陀在《法華經》中，就有這段(經文)，鼓勵人造佛塔、建寺廟、塑佛像等等。外面的形象是這樣，最重要的，一直，這幾天一直說，我們靈山在心中，道場，心靈的道場，自性的佛。我們從佛的時代，為我們啟開智慧，我們要不斷延續下來，這是我們內在的塔、道場，和我們原來的本性。不過，度眾生，需要從「無為法」(的體會)，而入「有為法」的創造，來度眾生。
所以上面說造像有，「白鑞及鉛錫，鐵木及以泥，或以膠漆布，嚴飾作佛像，如是諸人等，皆已成佛道。」
白鑞及鉛錫
鐵木及以泥
或以膠漆布
嚴飾作佛像
如是諸人等
皆已成佛道
《法華經 方便品第二》
這是前面我們說過了，現在再接下來的(經)文，除了用種種那些材料，來雕、來刻、或者是塑，還有用紙筆：「彩畫作佛像，百福莊嚴相，自作若使人，皆已成佛道。」
彩畫作佛像
百福莊嚴相
自作若使人
皆已成佛道
《法華經 方便品第二》
不一定用金屬類，不一定用泥土，不一定用木料等等的材料，只要一張紙、一支筆，有色彩等等，就能來造佛像，能畫，畫出了「百福莊嚴相」。
自己能畫，很好，相從心生，有這樣學起來，能畫出來，就知道你內心的形像是什麼。自己會，也能教人，教別人也能畫。畫出你心中的佛像。像這樣心中有佛，將「無為法」表達在形像上，這樣也是在培養我們，心不離佛的這一念。
當然，這必定要用很虔誠、清淨的心來作畫，不是畫畫的師傅。是在於我們自己內心的虔誠，「心如工畫師」，無境而不畫，心真的就像工畫師，所有外面的境界都能畫出來，這是很工巧，會畫圖的人。會畫，也是要學來，但不是學來維持生活、賺錢的，也不是興趣、喜歡畫。不是，此處就是要告訴我們，要用很虔誠的心。
古代，有人要表達他的虔誠，刺血為墨來畫佛像，這是要表示他的虔誠，將內心的虔誠，從他的形態上來表達出了，那分的堅定、虔誠的志向，這真的是要很虔誠的心。不過現在，從過去與現在雕刻佛像，或者是畫佛形、佛像，有幾個人是真正畫出了，內心的畫呢？這我們要用心去思考。這些畫，若是從內心那分的虔誠，畫出了「百福莊嚴相」，這就是用工巧，非常巧妙的手(藝)，將他所學表達出來。
彩畫作佛像
百福莊嚴相：
巧工作畫
天地山河錦繡
彩畫入圖
並能作畫百福
莊嚴諸佛像
能自畫
或使人作畫
植佛好因緣
這種工巧作畫，這個畫，不論是畫天，可以將天空的畫，畫得就如我們的天空一樣，大家(現在)面所向的面前，不就是一個太陽系的天空？（編按：指主堂「宇宙大覺者」的宇宙星相）我不會做，儘管我有心，我連碰都沒有碰到，各位，你們也是，沒有學過這個專門的技術，也沒有。不過以世間種種的工巧，它能合成，這面牆（大覺者宇宙星相圖）。這要有那個常識，要有學出了那種的功夫，不過大要怎麼接，接得能夠沒有一點點痕跡，所以這種工巧。這之後，型雕出來大小恰好了，太陽系，太陽的位置在哪裡？現在的科技發展，讓我們知道宇宙間，太陽系的星球關係。不論是距離多大(遠)，每一天在輪轉，每一年的位置不同。讓我們來選，要選在哪一天、哪一年，它的星（編按：指慈濟小行星）和太陽和地球的關係。
很感恩有很多人用心，去找出了在四十多年前，民國五十五年，也就是一九六六年，那一年的那一個月的那一天，星球的位置如何。我們就採用那一天，太陽系的這個行星，就是以一那天，這樣將之雕起來、刻下來。雖然它不是用紙、用筆畫出來，這是合成了很多人的智慧，將之合成起來，取大地資源，再用現在的科技，還要有工巧方法，所以創造出是來這樣的圖形。
佛是宇宙大覺者，不是將他供奉在佛龕裡，所以我們用這樣的方式，來表達出了我們要如何對佛法，佛陀的智慧，覺悟了宇宙的真理，這開闊天空來流傳讓後世的人，這就是我們要表達的方法。
若是用畫的，紙筆來畫，能夠畫出了「天地山河錦繡」。現在最近常常有大陸的人士來，這國畫是大陸很多工巧畫師，會畫的人，名畫師很多，若來的時候，就會這樣的圖，無論是字，或者是畫，都寫得很好、畫得很多，栩栩如生。
就像有一段，過去有一位，送來了(富春山居圖)，本來是將它變成了兩段，在臺灣和大陸，幾十年，或者是多久以來，這幅圖都不曾結合起來過。已經有一位大陸的企業家，他已經將這兩幅畫用方法，合起來了，這張圖，我想是很珍貴的。（編按：臺灣故宮博物院於2011年6月舉辦兩岸《富春山居圖》合璧聯展。此圖因遭火焚而分成「剩山圖」與「無用師卷」兩段，相隔360年再合璧。）
所以「天地山河錦繡」，「彩畫入圖」，都能夠用筆這樣畫起來，但是人間分分合合，曾經有過這樣分開了，現在又再將這幅圖，又再會合起來，真的是人間不可思議，因緣很多，因緣分開、因緣會合，人間世相，不就都是這樣嗎？連圖也隨著人間世相形態，也曾分開過，現在又將之合起來。這光是在彩畫中，就各有它的故事精彩。這種用工巧來畫，可見此畫是多麼的珍貴，才讓它這樣分開了，是多麼珍貴，才能又將它會合。這是世間，什麼是珍貴？什麼是工巧？我們都是外行，但是內行人有此歷史的存在。
所以不只是能畫出了，天地山河錦繡，都能在這圖畫中，有這樣的功夫，那就能「作畫百福，莊嚴諸佛像」，這樣的巧筆就能作畫，此畫，這個畫，能夠這樣畫，畫出了百福莊嚴的諸佛形像來。儘管他們都不曾看到，佛長得什麼樣，但是就是用心，能夠得到畫像莊嚴、他心生恭敬，自然就懂得禮佛、拜佛。
大家還記得「小木屋」時，我只是只有一張「西方三聖」的圖，我也在那裡，拜得很虔誠，就是見圖就啟發出了，這分虔誠的心。其實，虔誠的心不著相，昨天不是說過，也能禮拜石頭，也能為石頭說法。這都是我們人的心所作，所以能作出了百福莊嚴諸佛像。
還有，能自畫、或者是使人作畫，植佛好因緣。這樣常常在畫佛，畫啊畫，儘管他不是什麼目的，就是興趣，就是人家請他畫。這樣畫久了，佛像也會入他的心，這樣也是種一個因，所以「植佛好因緣」。
各位菩薩，我們學佛真真正正要將因緣觀，我們要尊重我們自己，我們過去一定是與佛有同世，所以我們有這個因緣為伴，人人「慈悲等觀」要永遠在內心，我們要「志同道合聯心」，我們必定要「造十善福莊嚴」。不只是為我們自己造，我們就是要為人群付出，所以菩薩也是自行利他；就如不只是自己畫，你也能夠再教他人畫。所以說，學佛，我們要瞭解法是從內心虔誠，所以大家要時時多用心。
Explanations by Master Cheng-Yan
Subject: Painting the Buddha with Goodness in Our Hearts (以善塑畫佛)
Date: September. 16. 2014
“Exercise impartial compassion with each other. Connect with those with the same vows and path. Do the Ten Good Deeds to adorn the world with blessings. Bodhisattvas cultivate themselves and benefit others.”
This is telling everyone that as we learn and practice the Buddha-Dharma, we need to exercise compassion and an impartial view. In our daily living, we must consider all sentient beings in the world. When the Buddha was in this world, He always hoped that all sentient beings would walk the Bodhisattva-path. As His teaching came to an end, He also hoped that the Buddha-Dharma would continue to flourish and remain in this world forever. So, the Buddha’s compassion did not only extend to sentient beings of that era. He also hoped that sentient beings of the future would listen to the teachings. Perhaps, at that moment in the past, we were all at the Vulture Peak assembly. With the Buddha’s reminder and charge, we have already made aspirations to always have impartial compassion accompanying us. This is what we have done lifetime after lifetime.
We have an affinity [with one another], so we “connect with those with the same vows and path.” We must link our hearts with theirs. We come to this world based on the vows we made in the past and now we will continue to carry out these vows and continue to sustain them unceasingly. This happens when we “connect with those with the same vows and path.” We must continuously find ways to help people do the Ten Good Deeds to adorn the spiritual practice center with blessings. We must nurture Bodhisattvas and form Bodhisattva-aspirations to cultivate ourselves and help others. As Bodhisattvas, we cultivate ourselves. We must put the Dharma into practice, as well as think about how we can benefit sentient beings in everything we do. Sentient beings experience much suffering.
Some people suffer from poverty and hardship. Others [suffer from] accidents and so forth. They all need Bodhisattvas to appear and help them. Also, many people are not poor, nor do they suffer any external hardship. However, they experience much mental suffering. Mental suffering comes from the Five Poisons, greed, anger, ignorance, arrogance and doubt. Illnesses caused by these five poisons must be treated with Dharma-medicine.
Dharma-medicine comes from Bodhisattvas, who constantly seek the Buddha-Dharma and constantly care for sentient beings. Since they seek the Dharma, they take it to heart. Since they care for others, they are willing to give to others unconditionally. This is how Bodhisattvas cultivate themselves and benefit others. As we learn the Bodhisattva-path, we cannot be selfish, but must instead give to others. Therefore, we must be mindful. We must take our causes and conditions seriously.
In the past, we listened to the Buddha teach the Dharma and took on this mission. As causes and conditions continue to converge, we continue to keep each other company. We always encourage each other, and because we share the same vows and path, we unite our hearts to guide sentient beings now and in the future to do the Ten Good Deeds to adorn with blessings the place where we practice the Buddha-Dharma.We also need to form Bodhisattva-aspirations to cultivate ourselves and benefit others, to seek the Dharma and to transform others.
To do this, we must be earnest and diligent.Previously, we discussed how the Buddha had hoped everyone could sustain and help the Buddha-Dharma flourish in the future.
He hoped they could use various skillful means to help people realize the Dharma when they see certain objects.
So by seeing a temple, they could be reminded that the Buddha appeared in this world in the past to each the Dharma, that His disciples in the future have continued to transmit those teachings, that this is a place for spiritual practice.When people in the future see this building, or this stupa, they will automatically feel a sense of respect as they realize this is something the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha have passed on.
So, in this passage from the Lotus Sutra, the Buddha encouraged people to create stupas, temples, Buddha statues and so on.These are the external objects we create.
But more importantly, as I have been saying these past few days, the Vulture Peak is in our minds.We have an inner spiritual training ground and a Buddha-nature within us.
Since the era of the Buddha, when He helped awaken our wisdom, we have had to constantly sustain it.It is our inner stupa and spiritual tainting ground, as well as our intrinsic nature.
Yet, to transform sentient beings, we must start with realizations of “unconditioned Dharma” to create “conditioned phenomena” that can transform sentient beings.
That is why the earlier passage states, “[They may have used] wax, lead, or tin, iron, wood or clay, or perhaps lacquered cloth in making and adorning Buddha statues. People such as these have all realized the path to Buddhahood.”
We have talked about this earlier.Now, the next sutra passage states that in addition to using various materials to carve, engrave or mold, we can use brush and paper.
“[Some] painted colored Buddha-images adorned with the marks of hundreds of blessings. Whoever they did it themselves or directed others, they have all realized the path to Buddhahood.”
We do not have to use metals.We do not have to use clay.We do not have to use wood or similar materials.All we need is one piece of paper, one brush and some color in order to create the image of a Buddha.We can paint it so that it is “adorned with the marks of hundreds of blessings”.If we can paint, that is great; the image will come from our hearts.
If we can paint what we have learned, we will know what our state of mind is like.If we know how to do this, we can also teach others to paint as well.When we paint the Buddha in our minds, we are expressing the “unconditioned Dharma” through this image of the Buddha.This is another way of nurturing our minds so we are inseparable from the Buddha.Of course, this kind of painting takes utmost reverence and a pure mind.
It does not depend on our artistic skills, but the reverence in our minds.“The mind is like an artist.”It can paint all things.The mind is really like an artist; it can paint all kinds of external phenomena.This is what a skilled artist can do.Painting [the Buddha] is a skill that must be learned.We do not learn this to make a living, nor is it a hobby we enjoy.
This passage is telling us that it is something we do with utmost reference.
In ancient times, to show reverence, some people used their blood as ink to paint images of the Buddha.They did this to show their reverence.Through their external actions, they demonstrated the reverence in their hearts and their resolve to uphold their vows.Indeed, we must have utmost reverence.Yet, over time,out of all those who have carved and sculpted Buddha statues, or painted images of the Buddha,how many people have truly manifested the image in their minds? We have to put our hearts into contemplating this.
If these paintings come from the reverence in our hearts, they are “adorned with the marks of hundreds of blessings”. It takes skill and meticulous craftsmanship to express what we have learned.
“Some painted colored Buddha-images adorned with the marks of hundreds of blessings: They skillfully and meticulously created paintings. Splendid images of heaven and earth, mountains and rivers, were painted in color on paper. They could also paint hundreds of blessings to adorn the images of all Buddhas. Whether they paint it themselves or direct others to paint it, they plant good causes and affinities with the Buddha in their hearts.”
When skillful and meticulous hands paint pictures, if they paint the sky, it looks exactly like the sky above us it looks exactly like the sky above us. Isn’t what you are seeing right in front of you a representation of the solar system in our sky? I could not do this, even if I wanted to I did not have any part in it as all. As for all of you, you have not learned this specialized skill either you have not. But, by combining people’s various skills, this backdrop was created, this acrylic wall this backdrop was created, this acrylic wall. Professional knowledge was required to master these skills in order to adjust the size of the materials. If it was not big enough, then it would be pieced together with no visible trace. This required skill and meticulousness. After all that, the perfect image was carved. In the solar system, where is the sun located? With our modern advanced technology, we know where the planets in the solar system are in relation to each other, no matter how far apart they are. They are revolving every day, and their location is different every year. [For this artwork,] we were able to choose to portray the position of the planets in relation to the Sun and the Earth for the day and year we wanted.
I am grateful many people made the effort to find out what this was like 40-plus years ago, in the 55th year of the Republic of China, which was 1966. They figured out what the sky was like on that particular day, month and year. So, we picked the positions of the planets on the day [Tzu Chi was established] and carved them on this wall and carved them on this wall. It was not created by paper or brush; it was created by the wisdom of many people. Their efforts, combined with the earth’s resources and modern technology, as well as skillful and meticulous craftsmanship, created this kind of image. The Buddha is the Great Enlightened One of the Universe so we did not want to put Him in a small niche.
Thus, we used this method to express how we wanted the Buddha-Dharma, the Buddha’s wisdom and the truths of the universe Her realized to be shown in this expansive sky so they can be transmitted to future generations. This is the method we used to expressed this. If we had used paper and brush to paint this, we could have painted something like the “splendid images of heaven and earth”.
Recently, many people from Mainland China have come to visit Traditional Chinese painting [requires a lot of skill]; there are many famous, talented Chinese artists. When people come here, they give me paintings like that. Whether it is calligraphy or painting, they are all very-well written or painted, they are very lifelike.
For example, in the past, someone sent a painting of rivers and mountains. It was originally divided into two pieces, one piece in Mainland China, the other in Taiwan. For decades, for a very long time, this painting has not been whole. An entrepreneur from Mainland China finally [purchased] and put the pieces together. I believe this painting is very valuable.
So “splendid images of heaven and earth mountains and rivers were painted in color on paper”. They are all painted with a brush. Yet, in this world, [conditions] a ways come together and separate. This painting was once separated, and now the pieces have been united again is the working of the world are truly inconceivable. There are many karmic conditions. Causes and conditions can separate and causes and conditions can unite. Isn’t that the way the world works?
Even a painting can be separated by world events, and now it is combined again. There is and exciting story behind just this painting. It was painted with such skill. This painting was so precious that it was separated, but so precious that it was combined again. In this world, what is precious?
What demonstrates skill? We are not experts but art experts know this history. So, it is not only a painting of splendid images of heaven and earth, mountains and rivers; there is more to it than what we can see. With this kind of mastery, they could “paint hundreds of blessings to adorn the images of all Buddhas”. Skillful brushes can paint many images and hundreds of blessings to adorn the images of all Buddhas. Although they have never seen what the Buddha looks like, they put their hearts into painting the images.
If the paintings are dignified, people will feel a sense of reverence and naturally pay respect and bow to the Buddha. Does everyone remember that when I lived in the small hut, I only had a painting of the Three Saints of the Western Pure Land? I prayed to them very reverently. Seeing the painting inspired my reverence.
But actually, reverence is not attached to appearances. Yesterday I talked about how we can even pay respect to rocks and can also teach the Dharma to rocks.All of this comes from our state of mind. So, our minds can create hundreds of blessings to adorn the images of all Buddhas. Also, whether people paint it themselves or direct others to paint it, they are creating good affinities with the Buddha.
If people are constantly painting Buddhas, regardless of their goal for doing so, whether it is out of interest, or that they were asked to by other people, after painting them for so long, the Buddha-images will enter their minds. This is also planting a cause.So, “they plant good causes and affinities with the Buddha”.
Dear Bodhisattvas, as we learn the Buddha’s Way, we must truly believe in the law of karma. We must respect ourselves. In the past, we must have lived at the same time as the Buddha and shared this karmic affinity with Him. In our hearts, we must always have impartial compassion for all. We must “connect with those with the same vows and path” and “do the Ten Good Deeds to adorn the world with blessings”.
Not only should we do it for ourselves, we must also do it for all people. Bodhisattvas cultivate themselves while benefiting others. It is not enough that we ourselves can paint, we must also teach others to paint. As we learn the Buddha’s Way our understanding of the Dharma starts with the reverence in our hearts. Therefore, we must always be mindful.
(Source: Da Ai TV – Wisdom at Dawn program – Explanation by Master Chen-Yen)
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