20140923《靜思妙蓮華》音聲妙供養（第398集）
⊙「有相無為真諦，虔誠心念恆存，舉手投足造福，清淨無染致敬。」
⊙「若使人作樂，擊鼓吹角貝，簫笛琴箜篌，琵琶鐃銅鈸。」《法華經 方便品第二》
⊙「如是眾妙音盡持以供養或以歡喜心，歌唄誦佛德乃至一小音，皆已成佛道。」《法華經 方便品第二》
⊙如是眾妙音：若以妙音聲，盡持讀誦以用供養，並以美妙音聲至誠心意，歌唄誦佛德，即皆已種漸成佛之因。
⊙盡持以供養：菩薩願常恭敬供養一切諸佛，深信愛樂，修諸功德，無有厭足，即得生如來家。
⊙或以歡喜心，歌唄誦佛德：如來所具之功德。佛德，諸有智者思惟如來三種圓德，深生愛敬：一因圓德，二果圓德，三恩圓德。
⊙道有三種：一聲聞之所得，二緣覺之所得，三佛之所得。今為佛所得之無上菩提，故云佛道。
【證嚴上人開示】
有相無為真諦
虔誠心念恆存
舉手投足造福
清淨無染致敬
我們要時時有這樣的心，也要有這樣的體會、瞭解。有相，一切形象；不論是看得到、聽得到、觸摸得到的一切有相，一切有為法的形象，無不都是具足了，無為真諦的道理，所以我們要時時用虔誠的心。
不論是做事，成就一切物的形象，無不都是我們的雙手、雙足，這樣在造作一切。當然，一切物理、形象，都是存在於我們的心念，只要我們的心念有所動作，一切形象事物就現前。所以，我們的雙手做好事情，做能夠利益人的事與物。
有的人製造的東西，是有損害於生命；像現在，有很多的青少年因為吸毒，吸毒，這個毒，它就是要有人去合成；用種種的藥物去合成起來，他就能牟利，賺很多錢，卻是這樣的造作卻害了多少人啊！其實造作的人，所得到的利，好像用數字來看，很多，不過那個業就無數了。那個業力造作這種的業，罪業深重，不是這一世報得到，也有來世會報，何況說這一世法網昭昭，所以這都不是好的事情。
所以說，舉手投足要造福，而且要用清淨無染(心)，清淨無染的心，要從心裡那種的敬重，不論你做什麼事情，都要用感恩心來敬重一切。就是合成有形象的物，也要用歡喜心、感恩心。造作出來，很美，感恩啊！能有那個環境造成我們去付出，感恩啊！很多事情，我們都能用清淨無染的心，內心的敬重(表達)出來，這是很重要。
我們昨天說過了，用聲音供養，「若使人作樂，擊鼓吹角貝，簫笛琴箜篌，琵琶鐃銅鈸」。
若使人作樂
擊鼓吹角貝
簫笛琴箜篌
琵琶鐃銅鈸
《法華經 方便品第二》
這些事情都是聲音，它能夠和出很好的聲音，讓人隨著這個聲，這個韻律，配上了經典的偈文，讓人聽了歡喜，這也就是淨化人心的一項。
不論是造作音樂，或者是在唱誦等等，都要用虔誠的心，和合音律，讓人聽了歡喜，這種一念虔誠，躬身禮拜，將虔誠的身體這樣來禮拜；或者是聲音來歌誦、來讚歎等等，或是合掌敬禮，這種的致敬，那就是在很好的氣氛中，無不都是虔誠表達出來。
就如供養，這也是供養。有形的東西，讓它能夠成為一個道場，讓人看了這個道場就起恭敬心，來禮拜，同時引出了虔誠、好樂佛法的心，來求法、聞法，這是有形。心裡煩憂的事情很多，不過聽到在誦經的聲音，心就這樣靜下來，歡喜了、心門開了，這也就是度人的一環。周圍環境用那分恭敬心，來整理、掃洗，這也都是恭敬。
過去在佛世的時代，佛已經來到祇園精舍，外面的社會人群、國王、大臣，就這樣全都會來聽法。人能到之處，環境一定要造作得很乾淨。到這些出家人，每天、每天，都在那裡清掃周圍環境，附近有一位女人，村落裡有一位女人，家庭貧窮，她這樣想：「我既然什麼東西都(沒有)，無法表達對佛的恭敬，我只有力氣，我應該可以用一些時間,來清掃精舍，祇園精舍那個周圍我來打掃！」
就這樣開始，她就每天拿著掃把，到處去清掃，從外圍一直掃，掃到精舍的周圍，這樣能讓出家修行者，減少很多時間打掃，能專心聽法、修行。
同樣在這個村莊裡，也有一位富有的長者，常常都來聽經，而且信敬佛法，很虔誠敬重佛法。他有一天走出他的門外時，他看到村莊，比較遠的地方，他看到好像忽然間，怎麼有這麼莊嚴的建築物？應該過去沒有的，怎麼忽然間看到了？，怎麼現在好奇，他就開始往前走，走，愈走愈感覺心生歡喜，但是愈是想：到底是誰？
看到裡面好像有一個人影，他就又大聲問：「到底這是誰蓋的房子？」果然聽到裡面的聲音回應出來，就說：「這有一位很有福的人，一位善女人，每天都用最虔誠的心，在清掃，佛與僧眾所住精舍的周圍；用恭敬的心，每天都在付出。那念心很可貴，所以造就了很大的福報，這就是為她蓋的。」
這位長者愈聽愈歡喜，愈感覺不可思議！所以他就是向前再直走，走到很近的地方。沒有啊！哪有這房子呢？原來是一間很破、很簡陋的一間房子。裡面走出一位，這位貧婦，這個女人準備好了，又要再去清掃，祗園精舍。這位長者就向她說：「妳這麼虔誠，我對你很欽佩，希望你答應一件事。只要妳答應，我有五百兩金要給妳。」
這位女人就覺得，我要答應什麼？我什麼都沒有，你要我答應，我唯有，就說「只要我做得到，我都答應。這位長者就說：「好，只要妳答應，接受我這五百兩金。」「只是這樣而已嗎？」這位長者就真的給她五百兩金，長者說：「我看妳這樣的虔誠，我很歡喜，所以要送妳這五百兩金，讓妳自由使用。」
這位女人很感恩，真的這麼重的物質，打開看，真的是五百兩的金條。「到底我該做什麼呢？」就這樣供佛，將一切，精舍所需要，她自己一點錢都不敢動用，就是為精舍所供應，供佛與僧。
終於有一天，她在人群中聽法時，忽然間佛陀所說的法入她的心，忽然間她的心完全啟悟了——人生苦、集、滅、道，我的過去生，是怎麼造了很多的業，來到此生這麼的貧窮困苦？有了這回的因緣，接近佛法，瞭解了，沒有埋怨，應該「此身必向今生度」，我這輩子、我這個身體，我應該遇到佛法之後，我要更精進，將此生的身體來供佛、法、僧，用我的勞力來供養。
這是一段這麼美的故事。這是人與人之間，我們用虔誠的心，自然就能感動人，何況天地護法，全都是能有這分的虔誠，現出那種的形象。所以，我們應該要用種種的形態，我們去付出，而且是虔誠。
下面這段(經)文，也就是這樣說，「如是眾妙音盡持以供養或以歡喜心，歌唄誦佛德乃至一小音，皆已成佛道」。
如是眾妙音
盡持以供養
或以歡喜心
歌唄誦佛德
乃至一小音
皆已成佛道
《法華經 方便品第二》
前面我們所說的，這種種的樂器所合和的音聲，配合著我們歌誦、讚誦的聲音，這樣和合起來，這叫做「眾妙音」。有的是物質和合起來，洞簫、琵琶等等，都是和合的物質發出的聲音，加上了修行者虔誠發出的聲音，這樣全部會合起來，這叫做妙音。
所以「盡持以供養」，有形、無形會合起來，都是用虔誠的心供養。「或以歡喜心，歌唄誦佛德」，除了物質的東西來供養，甚至時時就是歡喜，歡喜的心來讚誦佛德。
所以，「乃至一小音，皆已成佛道」。哪怕你出個音聲，小小聲也沒關係，最好音律若能和，大聲將這個聲音傳較遠一些，傳到虛空界都能夠聽得到，如佛在說法一般。這種的傳誦佛法，哪怕是你一點點的聲音，也同樣「皆已成佛道」。
如是眾妙音：
若以妙音聲
盡持讀誦以用供養
並以美妙音聲
至誠心意
歌唄誦佛德
即皆已種
漸成佛之因
這種種的妙音聲，這種的供養，這全都是至誠的心意。我們若用至誠的心意，好好來讚歎佛、法、僧，讚歎佛所說法，我們將佛所說法聽進去，又能傳誦下去，這樣也是種種種的因緣，有成佛的可能。所以「盡持以供養」，我們要很用心去供養，
盡持以供養：
菩薩願常恭敬
供養一切諸佛
深信愛樂
修諸功德
無有厭足
即得生如來家
菩薩的願，常常就是恭敬供養一切諸佛，於佛所說法，他虔誠受持，這就是「行」的供養。菩薩用他的行為來供養，用他的信心來愛樂佛法，所以他身體力行，修種種功德，這就是菩薩。
所以，沒有厭足。就像那位女人掃地，一掃好多年，都是用虔誠的心，這叫做「無厭足」。感覺我還沒有做夠，我還要再做、我還要再做。修行再怎麼修都不會累，怎麼做都不會厭，所以叫做無厭足，「即得生如來家」。捨去這個身體之後，一定到信仰佛法的家庭，從小就有因緣接近佛法。這就是我們學佛，真的要用虔誠的心。
「或以歡喜心，歌唄誦佛德」。大家在入經藏，誦經、念法、行法，全都是能夠傳遍天下；法入心，能夠行在法中。這都是用歌唄讚誦佛德，這樣能夠傳誦佛法。這叫做佛德，種種的功德。
或以歡喜心
歌唄誦佛德：
如來所具之功德
佛德
諸有智者
思惟如來三種圓德
深生愛敬
一因圓德
二果圓德
三恩圓德
智者思惟如來，有三種圓德，那就是深心帶出了受敬。第一是因圓德，我們因的種子圓滿；第二是果圓的德，我們有因就有果，所以我們這念因，善念的因若堅固，現出來的果就很圓融；第三是恩圓的德，恩，就是因種在我們的心裡。中國人造字很巧妙，我們真的善因要入心，這叫做恩圓滿。
常常說我們要用，感恩、尊重、愛。只要你時時心中有感恩心，很自然對人恭敬，一切都是很圓滿，顯出了我們內心那一念的，因的種子，因的種子，就是回歸我們清淨的本性。哪怕你是一小音，也皆已成佛道。
道有三種：
一聲聞之所得
二緣覺之所得
三佛之所得
今為佛所得之
無上菩提
故云佛道
道，有三種道：第一是聲聞所得之道，從聲音聽來，我瞭解了，道理是這樣。第二是緣覺，瞭解道理之後，法，不必再聽了，我知道了。這只是知道人生無常，善惡循環，因緣果報，這些緣覺都知道，但是還未很體會。第三是佛所得之道，那就是自覺了，還要覺他，能夠自覺、覺他，覺行圓滿，那就是佛所得之道，這叫做無上菩提；無上菩提就是佛道。
只要人人用心修行，用心法入心，法中就有我們的行，行中也有法。所以要人人多用心。
Explanations by Master Cheng-Yan
Subject: Use Wondrous Sounds to Make Offerings (音聲妙供養)
Date: September. 23. 2014
“All things with form contain unconditioned truth. Always have reverence in your heart so that each action can create blessings. Express utmost respect with a pure undefiled mind.”
We must always maintain this mindset, and have this realization and understanding. All things with form, whether they can be seen, heard or touched, any tangible thing, the appearances of all conditioned phenomena, are all replete with unconditioned true principles. Thus, we must always feel a sense of reverence. Whether we are doing good deeds or facilitating the creation of something, we use our two hands and two feet to make it happen. Of course, the principles of all things and appearances all exist in our minds. As long as our minds initiate an action, all kinds of things and appearances can manifest.
So, with our two hands; we can do things in a way that benefits other people. Some things that people create can bring harm to living beings. For example, these days there are many young people taking drugs. These drugs that they take are produced by people out of a combination of many kinds of [chemicals]. By doing this, they can make a lot of money. But their product has harmed so many people! The drug makers profit greatly, at least based on the amount of money they make. However, the karma they create is endless. The karmic force generated by this kind of very serious transgressions cannot be [exhausted] entirely in one lifetime. They will have to face retributions in future lifetimes, even after being punished by law in this one! This is not a good thing at all.
Thus, our every action has to benefit others, and we must do so with pure and undefiled minds. A pure and undefiled mind comes from a sense of respect in our hearts. No matter what we do, we must do it with gratitude and respect. When we create a material object, we must also do so with joy and gratitude. Then when it is complete, it will be beautiful. We will feel so grateful! For being in an environment that allows us to give, we are very grateful. There are many things that we can express with our pure and undefiled minds, from our deep sense of respect. This is very important. Yesterday, didn’t we discuss making offerings with sounds?
“They could cause others to make music with drums, horns or conches, pan-pipes, flutes, lutes or bamboo lyres, guitars, cymbals or brass gongs.”
All these objects make sounds. They can generate very melodious sounds. People can pair these sounds and rhythms, with verses from the sutra to bring joy to others when they hear it. This is a way to bring purity to people’s minds. Whether we are making music or singing a chant, we must instill our reverence into the melody so those who are listening will become joyful. With wholeheartedly reverence, we bow and physically pay our respects. Or perhaps we may recite loudly with our voices, to give praise and so forth. Or we may simply put our palms together out of respect. This utmost respect creates a wonderful atmosphere where everything we do demonstrates our reverence. This is kike an offering; it is also a kind of offering.Tangible objects can be offered to help this place become a practice center that inspires respect in people when they see it.Then as people pay their respects, they are inspired to feel reverence for and take delight in the Buddha-Dharma.They will seek the Dharma and listen to it.This is a tangible [offering].
Even if they feel troubled by many things, when they hear this chanting, their minds will become peaceful.They will be happy and their midns will open.This is also a way of transforming peple.Tidying and clearing up the surroundings with reverence is also a way to show respect.
A long time ago, during the Buddha’s lifetime, when He came to the Jetavana Abode, peple from other parts society, including kings and ministers, would come and listen.Wherever these people might go, the surroundings had to be very clean.So, every day, the monastics had to clean their surroundings.
There was a woman who lived in the nearby village.She came from a poor family.
She thught, “I own nothing with which.I can express my respect to the Buddha,I have only my strength.So,I should be able to spend some time cleaning the abode.I can clean the area of the Jetavana Abode. ”Starting from that day,every day,she brought a broom and swept [the surroundings].She started the outer parts of the grounds and worked her ways to the perimeter of the obode.This allowed the spiritual practitioners to spend a lot less of their cleaning,so they could concentrate on listening to and practicing the Dharma.
In this same village,there was also a wealthy elder who regularly went to listen to the teachings.He believe in and respected the Buddha-Dharma,and felt great reverence for it.
One day,as he walked out of his door,he suddently saw something in a distant part of the village.Where had this magnificent building come from?Althought it had not been there before,it had now,somehow appeared.The elder was very curious,so he started walking toward it.The more he walked,the happier he became,but he wondered all the more,“Who built this?”He saw a person’s shadow inside,so he loudly asked again,“Who built this house?” He heard a voice coming from the inside,“There is a very blessed person here.Every day,a good woman,with utmost reverence cleans up the area where the Buddha and his Sangha are living.Every day,she gives of herself out of respect.That aspiration is very precious,so it led to great and blessed retributions.This house was built for her.”
The more this elder heard, the happier he became and the more remarkable he found
all of this.
So,he continued walking forward [to the house].When he was nearly upon it,he was suddently no longer able to see it！It had been a very old and shabby house all along.From inside,the poor woman walked out.She was ready to start cleaning again.The elder said to her, “You’re so reverent,I admire you greatly.Agree to do something for me,just say yes,and I will give you 500 taels of gold.”
This woman thought to herself, “What can I agree to?I have nothing if he wants me to agree,then I… ”So,she said,“As long as I can do it,I agree.”The elder said“Good,you just have to agree to accept these 500 taels of gold from me. ” “That’s all I need to do?”[she asked]
The elder gave her 500 taels of gold and then said, “When I see such reverence in you,I feel very happy.That is why I want to give you these 500 taels of gold for you to use however you like.”
This woman was very grateful.She opened the heavy package and there really were 500 taels of gold inside. “I wonder what I should do with it?” So, she used it to make an offering to the Buddha. She gave all of it to the abode for its needs and did not spend any of the money on herself. She just offered it to the abode, to the Buddha and the Sangha. Finally, one day she stood among others, listening to the Dharma, the Buddha-Dharma suddenly penetrated her mind and she became fully awakened to the truth of suffering, is causation, cessation and the Path. She realized that she had created so much karma in her past life that she had had to face much poverty and hardship in this lifetime. With this opportunity to draw near the Dharma, she understood this and thus felt no resentment. [She felt], “I must transform myself in this lifetime. In this lifetime, with this body, I have encountered the Buddha-Dharma, so I must practice it more diligently. I must use this body to make offering to the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. I will make offerings with physical labor.” This is a beautiful story.
In our interpersonal relationships, when we are reverent, we can naturally move other people, not to mention, all the Dharma-protectors in the world. Because of her utmost reverence, this manifestation [of a fine house] appeared. So, through various appearances we can serve, and demonstrate our reverence. The next passage in the sutra states,
“With many wondrous sounds such as these, they wholeheartedly made offerings. Perhaps, with happy hearts, they praised the Buddha’s virtues in song and chant. With even just one small sound, they have realized the path to Buddhahood”
As we said earlier, the sounds formed by all the musical instruments coming together, along with the sounds of our chanting and praise, join together to form the “many wondrous sounds”.
Some are formed by the combination of objects, such as flutes, lutes and so on. The sounds formed by the combination of objects, along with the sounds generated by spiritual practitioners filled with reverence, when they are all combined, are considered wondrous sounds. So, “they wholeheartedly made offerings”. By combining the tangible and intangible, we can make offerings out of reverence.
“Perhaps, with happy hearts, they praised the Buddha’s virtues in song and chant”. In addition to making offerings with material objects, we must always joyfully recite and praise the Buddha’s virtues. So, “with even just one small sounds, they have realized the path to Buddhahood”. This is possible even if we only make one sound, even if it is only a small sound. It is best if accompanied by a melody and so loud that it can reach faraway places, so that all in the universe can hear it just as they can hear the Buddha teaching the Dharma. If we transmit and chant the Dharma, even if we only do it faintly, we can still “realize the path to Buddhahood”.
“With many wondrous sounds such as these: If we use wondrous sounds to mindfully chant and recite as an offering, and with wonderful sounds and utmost sincerity praise the Buddha’s virtues, we are planting the cause for gradually attaining Buddhahood.”
All these wondrous sounds, all these offerings, arise from utmost reverence. If we express utmost reverence in praising the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha and praising the Dharma taught by the Buddha, we can take in the Dharma taught by the Buddha, and then transmit and recite it [for others]. This also plants many causes and conditions for attaining Buddhahood. So, “they wholeheartedly made offerings”. We need to mindfully make offerings.
“They wholeheartedly made offerings:Bodhisattvas vow to always respectfully make offerings to all Buddhas. With deep faith, love and joy, they cultivate all merits and virtues without becoming tired. Thus they are born into the Tathagata-family.”
Bodhisattvas always vow to respectfully make offerings to all Buddhas. By reverently accepting and practicing the Buddha-Dharma, they are making an offering of conduct. Bodhisattvas make offerings with their actions. Their faith brings love for and joy in the Buddha-Dharma. So, they put the Dharma into practice and cultivate various virtues; this is what Bodhisattvas do. So, they never tire of doing this. They are like that woman who swept the grounds for many decades out of a sense of reverence. Doing this “without becoming tired” means we feel that we have not done enough, that we need to do more and more. No matter how much they practice, they never become tired. No matter what they do, they never become annoyed. So, they do these things without becoming tired.
“Thus they are born into the Tathagata-family” After leaving this body behind, they will definitely be born into a family that has faith in the Buddha-Dharma so starting in their childhood they will be close to the Dharma. This is why we must learn from the Buddha with great reverence.
“With happy hearts, they praise the Buddha’s virtues in song and chant”. You are all entering the sutra treasury by chanting sutras, being mindful of and practicing the Dharma.These are all ways to spread it across the world. If we take the Dharma to heart, we can manifest it in our practice. This can come from praising the Buddha’s virtues with songs and chants. This how we can transmit the Buddha-Dharma. This is one of the Buddha’s various virtues.
Perhaps, with happy hearts, they praised the Buddha’s virtues in song and chant: The virtues that the Tathagata is replete with are Buddha-virtues. People with wisdom contemplate the Tathagata’s three kinds of perfect virtues and have deep love and respect for them. First is the perfect virtue of causes. Second is the perfect virtue of effects. Third is the perfect virtue of grace.
People with wisdom contemplate the Tathagata’s three kinds of perfect virtues and have deep respect for them. First is the perfect virtue of causes. The seeds of our causes can be perfect. Seconds is the perfect virtue of effects. With causes come effects, so if the cause of our goodness is solid, then the effect that manifests will be perfect.
Third is the perfect virtue of grace. Grace is a cause planted in our minds. The Chinese created Chinese characters in very clever ways, “grace” is a “cause” planted in the “mind”. This leads to perfect grace. I always say we must have gratitude, respect and love. As long as we always remain grateful, naturally we will be respectful to other people, and everything will happen perfectly. This comes from the seed, the cause planted in our minds. The seed of this cause helps us return to our pure intrinsic nature. Even by making only a faint sound, we can realize the path to Buddhahood.
There are three kinds of paths: First, the path attained by Hearers. Second, the path attained by Solitary Realizers. Third, the path attained by Buddhas. The unsurpassed Bodhi-path attained by Buddhas is called the path to Buddhahood.
There are three kinds of paths. The first is attained by Hearers. After hearing sounds, [they say,] “I understand that these are the principles” The second is attained by Solitary Realizers “After understanding the principles, I don’t need to listen to the Dharma anymore.” “I already know it.”
This is just knowing the impermanence of life, the cycle of good and evil and the law of karma. Solitary Realizers know all these things, but they have not fully realized them. The third is attained by Buddhas. This is the path of enlightening oneself and others. By enlightening themselves and others, they have perfect enlightened conduct, which is the path attained by Buddhas. It is called the path of unsurpassed Bodhi. The unsurpassed Bodhi-path is the path to Buddhahood. As long as we all mindfully engage in spiritual practice and take the Dharma to heart, then the Dharma will manifest in our actions, and our actions will be focused on the Dharma. Therefore, we must always be mindful.
(Source: Da Ai TV – Wisdom at Dawn program – Explanation by Master Chen-Yen)
⊙「有相無為真諦，虔誠心念恆存，舉手投足造福，清淨無染致敬。」
⊙「若使人作樂，擊鼓吹角貝，簫笛琴箜篌，琵琶鐃銅鈸。」《法華經 方便品第二》
⊙「如是眾妙音盡持以供養或以歡喜心，歌唄誦佛德乃至一小音，皆已成佛道。」《法華經 方便品第二》
⊙如是眾妙音：若以妙音聲，盡持讀誦以用供養，並以美妙音聲至誠心意，歌唄誦佛德，即皆已種漸成佛之因。
⊙盡持以供養：菩薩願常恭敬供養一切諸佛，深信愛樂，修諸功德，無有厭足，即得生如來家。
⊙或以歡喜心，歌唄誦佛德：如來所具之功德。佛德，諸有智者思惟如來三種圓德，深生愛敬：一因圓德，二果圓德，三恩圓德。
⊙道有三種：一聲聞之所得，二緣覺之所得，三佛之所得。今為佛所得之無上菩提，故云佛道。
【證嚴上人開示】
有相無為真諦
虔誠心念恆存
舉手投足造福
清淨無染致敬
我們要時時有這樣的心，也要有這樣的體會、瞭解。有相，一切形象；不論是看得到、聽得到、觸摸得到的一切有相，一切有為法的形象，無不都是具足了，無為真諦的道理，所以我們要時時用虔誠的心。
不論是做事，成就一切物的形象，無不都是我們的雙手、雙足，這樣在造作一切。當然，一切物理、形象，都是存在於我們的心念，只要我們的心念有所動作，一切形象事物就現前。所以，我們的雙手做好事情，做能夠利益人的事與物。
有的人製造的東西，是有損害於生命；像現在，有很多的青少年因為吸毒，吸毒，這個毒，它就是要有人去合成；用種種的藥物去合成起來，他就能牟利，賺很多錢，卻是這樣的造作卻害了多少人啊！其實造作的人，所得到的利，好像用數字來看，很多，不過那個業就無數了。那個業力造作這種的業，罪業深重，不是這一世報得到，也有來世會報，何況說這一世法網昭昭，所以這都不是好的事情。
所以說，舉手投足要造福，而且要用清淨無染(心)，清淨無染的心，要從心裡那種的敬重，不論你做什麼事情，都要用感恩心來敬重一切。就是合成有形象的物，也要用歡喜心、感恩心。造作出來，很美，感恩啊！能有那個環境造成我們去付出，感恩啊！很多事情，我們都能用清淨無染的心，內心的敬重(表達)出來，這是很重要。
我們昨天說過了，用聲音供養，「若使人作樂，擊鼓吹角貝，簫笛琴箜篌，琵琶鐃銅鈸」。
若使人作樂
擊鼓吹角貝
簫笛琴箜篌
琵琶鐃銅鈸
《法華經 方便品第二》
這些事情都是聲音，它能夠和出很好的聲音，讓人隨著這個聲，這個韻律，配上了經典的偈文，讓人聽了歡喜，這也就是淨化人心的一項。
不論是造作音樂，或者是在唱誦等等，都要用虔誠的心，和合音律，讓人聽了歡喜，這種一念虔誠，躬身禮拜，將虔誠的身體這樣來禮拜；或者是聲音來歌誦、來讚歎等等，或是合掌敬禮，這種的致敬，那就是在很好的氣氛中，無不都是虔誠表達出來。
就如供養，這也是供養。有形的東西，讓它能夠成為一個道場，讓人看了這個道場就起恭敬心，來禮拜，同時引出了虔誠、好樂佛法的心，來求法、聞法，這是有形。心裡煩憂的事情很多，不過聽到在誦經的聲音，心就這樣靜下來，歡喜了、心門開了，這也就是度人的一環。周圍環境用那分恭敬心，來整理、掃洗，這也都是恭敬。
過去在佛世的時代，佛已經來到祇園精舍，外面的社會人群、國王、大臣，就這樣全都會來聽法。人能到之處，環境一定要造作得很乾淨。到這些出家人，每天、每天，都在那裡清掃周圍環境，附近有一位女人，村落裡有一位女人，家庭貧窮，她這樣想：「我既然什麼東西都(沒有)，無法表達對佛的恭敬，我只有力氣，我應該可以用一些時間,來清掃精舍，祇園精舍那個周圍我來打掃！」
就這樣開始，她就每天拿著掃把，到處去清掃，從外圍一直掃，掃到精舍的周圍，這樣能讓出家修行者，減少很多時間打掃，能專心聽法、修行。
同樣在這個村莊裡，也有一位富有的長者，常常都來聽經，而且信敬佛法，很虔誠敬重佛法。他有一天走出他的門外時，他看到村莊，比較遠的地方，他看到好像忽然間，怎麼有這麼莊嚴的建築物？應該過去沒有的，怎麼忽然間看到了？，怎麼現在好奇，他就開始往前走，走，愈走愈感覺心生歡喜，但是愈是想：到底是誰？
看到裡面好像有一個人影，他就又大聲問：「到底這是誰蓋的房子？」果然聽到裡面的聲音回應出來，就說：「這有一位很有福的人，一位善女人，每天都用最虔誠的心，在清掃，佛與僧眾所住精舍的周圍；用恭敬的心，每天都在付出。那念心很可貴，所以造就了很大的福報，這就是為她蓋的。」
這位長者愈聽愈歡喜，愈感覺不可思議！所以他就是向前再直走，走到很近的地方。沒有啊！哪有這房子呢？原來是一間很破、很簡陋的一間房子。裡面走出一位，這位貧婦，這個女人準備好了，又要再去清掃，祗園精舍。這位長者就向她說：「妳這麼虔誠，我對你很欽佩，希望你答應一件事。只要妳答應，我有五百兩金要給妳。」
這位女人就覺得，我要答應什麼？我什麼都沒有，你要我答應，我唯有，就說「只要我做得到，我都答應。這位長者就說：「好，只要妳答應，接受我這五百兩金。」「只是這樣而已嗎？」這位長者就真的給她五百兩金，長者說：「我看妳這樣的虔誠，我很歡喜，所以要送妳這五百兩金，讓妳自由使用。」
這位女人很感恩，真的這麼重的物質，打開看，真的是五百兩的金條。「到底我該做什麼呢？」就這樣供佛，將一切，精舍所需要，她自己一點錢都不敢動用，就是為精舍所供應，供佛與僧。
終於有一天，她在人群中聽法時，忽然間佛陀所說的法入她的心，忽然間她的心完全啟悟了——人生苦、集、滅、道，我的過去生，是怎麼造了很多的業，來到此生這麼的貧窮困苦？有了這回的因緣，接近佛法，瞭解了，沒有埋怨，應該「此身必向今生度」，我這輩子、我這個身體，我應該遇到佛法之後，我要更精進，將此生的身體來供佛、法、僧，用我的勞力來供養。
這是一段這麼美的故事。這是人與人之間，我們用虔誠的心，自然就能感動人，何況天地護法，全都是能有這分的虔誠，現出那種的形象。所以，我們應該要用種種的形態，我們去付出，而且是虔誠。
下面這段(經)文，也就是這樣說，「如是眾妙音盡持以供養或以歡喜心，歌唄誦佛德乃至一小音，皆已成佛道」。
如是眾妙音
盡持以供養
或以歡喜心
歌唄誦佛德
乃至一小音
皆已成佛道
《法華經 方便品第二》
前面我們所說的，這種種的樂器所合和的音聲，配合著我們歌誦、讚誦的聲音，這樣和合起來，這叫做「眾妙音」。有的是物質和合起來，洞簫、琵琶等等，都是和合的物質發出的聲音，加上了修行者虔誠發出的聲音，這樣全部會合起來，這叫做妙音。
所以「盡持以供養」，有形、無形會合起來，都是用虔誠的心供養。「或以歡喜心，歌唄誦佛德」，除了物質的東西來供養，甚至時時就是歡喜，歡喜的心來讚誦佛德。
所以，「乃至一小音，皆已成佛道」。哪怕你出個音聲，小小聲也沒關係，最好音律若能和，大聲將這個聲音傳較遠一些，傳到虛空界都能夠聽得到，如佛在說法一般。這種的傳誦佛法，哪怕是你一點點的聲音，也同樣「皆已成佛道」。
如是眾妙音：
若以妙音聲
盡持讀誦以用供養
並以美妙音聲
至誠心意
歌唄誦佛德
即皆已種
漸成佛之因
這種種的妙音聲，這種的供養，這全都是至誠的心意。我們若用至誠的心意，好好來讚歎佛、法、僧，讚歎佛所說法，我們將佛所說法聽進去，又能傳誦下去，這樣也是種種種的因緣，有成佛的可能。所以「盡持以供養」，我們要很用心去供養，
盡持以供養：
菩薩願常恭敬
供養一切諸佛
深信愛樂
修諸功德
無有厭足
即得生如來家
菩薩的願，常常就是恭敬供養一切諸佛，於佛所說法，他虔誠受持，這就是「行」的供養。菩薩用他的行為來供養，用他的信心來愛樂佛法，所以他身體力行，修種種功德，這就是菩薩。
所以，沒有厭足。就像那位女人掃地，一掃好多年，都是用虔誠的心，這叫做「無厭足」。感覺我還沒有做夠，我還要再做、我還要再做。修行再怎麼修都不會累，怎麼做都不會厭，所以叫做無厭足，「即得生如來家」。捨去這個身體之後，一定到信仰佛法的家庭，從小就有因緣接近佛法。這就是我們學佛，真的要用虔誠的心。
「或以歡喜心，歌唄誦佛德」。大家在入經藏，誦經、念法、行法，全都是能夠傳遍天下；法入心，能夠行在法中。這都是用歌唄讚誦佛德，這樣能夠傳誦佛法。這叫做佛德，種種的功德。
或以歡喜心
歌唄誦佛德：
如來所具之功德
佛德
諸有智者
思惟如來三種圓德
深生愛敬
一因圓德
二果圓德
三恩圓德
智者思惟如來，有三種圓德，那就是深心帶出了受敬。第一是因圓德，我們因的種子圓滿；第二是果圓的德，我們有因就有果，所以我們這念因，善念的因若堅固，現出來的果就很圓融；第三是恩圓的德，恩，就是因種在我們的心裡。中國人造字很巧妙，我們真的善因要入心，這叫做恩圓滿。
常常說我們要用，感恩、尊重、愛。只要你時時心中有感恩心，很自然對人恭敬，一切都是很圓滿，顯出了我們內心那一念的，因的種子，因的種子，就是回歸我們清淨的本性。哪怕你是一小音，也皆已成佛道。
道有三種：
一聲聞之所得
二緣覺之所得
三佛之所得
今為佛所得之
無上菩提
故云佛道
道，有三種道：第一是聲聞所得之道，從聲音聽來，我瞭解了，道理是這樣。第二是緣覺，瞭解道理之後，法，不必再聽了，我知道了。這只是知道人生無常，善惡循環，因緣果報，這些緣覺都知道，但是還未很體會。第三是佛所得之道，那就是自覺了，還要覺他，能夠自覺、覺他，覺行圓滿，那就是佛所得之道，這叫做無上菩提；無上菩提就是佛道。
只要人人用心修行，用心法入心，法中就有我們的行，行中也有法。所以要人人多用心。
Explanations by Master Cheng-Yan
Subject: Use Wondrous Sounds to Make Offerings (音聲妙供養)
Date: September. 23. 2014
“All things with form contain unconditioned truth. Always have reverence in your heart so that each action can create blessings. Express utmost respect with a pure undefiled mind.”
We must always maintain this mindset, and have this realization and understanding. All things with form, whether they can be seen, heard or touched, any tangible thing, the appearances of all conditioned phenomena, are all replete with unconditioned true principles. Thus, we must always feel a sense of reverence. Whether we are doing good deeds or facilitating the creation of something, we use our two hands and two feet to make it happen. Of course, the principles of all things and appearances all exist in our minds. As long as our minds initiate an action, all kinds of things and appearances can manifest.
So, with our two hands; we can do things in a way that benefits other people. Some things that people create can bring harm to living beings. For example, these days there are many young people taking drugs. These drugs that they take are produced by people out of a combination of many kinds of [chemicals]. By doing this, they can make a lot of money. But their product has harmed so many people! The drug makers profit greatly, at least based on the amount of money they make. However, the karma they create is endless. The karmic force generated by this kind of very serious transgressions cannot be [exhausted] entirely in one lifetime. They will have to face retributions in future lifetimes, even after being punished by law in this one! This is not a good thing at all.
Thus, our every action has to benefit others, and we must do so with pure and undefiled minds. A pure and undefiled mind comes from a sense of respect in our hearts. No matter what we do, we must do it with gratitude and respect. When we create a material object, we must also do so with joy and gratitude. Then when it is complete, it will be beautiful. We will feel so grateful! For being in an environment that allows us to give, we are very grateful. There are many things that we can express with our pure and undefiled minds, from our deep sense of respect. This is very important. Yesterday, didn’t we discuss making offerings with sounds?
“They could cause others to make music with drums, horns or conches, pan-pipes, flutes, lutes or bamboo lyres, guitars, cymbals or brass gongs.”
All these objects make sounds. They can generate very melodious sounds. People can pair these sounds and rhythms, with verses from the sutra to bring joy to others when they hear it. This is a way to bring purity to people’s minds. Whether we are making music or singing a chant, we must instill our reverence into the melody so those who are listening will become joyful. With wholeheartedly reverence, we bow and physically pay our respects. Or perhaps we may recite loudly with our voices, to give praise and so forth. Or we may simply put our palms together out of respect. This utmost respect creates a wonderful atmosphere where everything we do demonstrates our reverence. This is kike an offering; it is also a kind of offering.Tangible objects can be offered to help this place become a practice center that inspires respect in people when they see it.Then as people pay their respects, they are inspired to feel reverence for and take delight in the Buddha-Dharma.They will seek the Dharma and listen to it.This is a tangible [offering].
Even if they feel troubled by many things, when they hear this chanting, their minds will become peaceful.They will be happy and their midns will open.This is also a way of transforming peple.Tidying and clearing up the surroundings with reverence is also a way to show respect.
A long time ago, during the Buddha’s lifetime, when He came to the Jetavana Abode, peple from other parts society, including kings and ministers, would come and listen.Wherever these people might go, the surroundings had to be very clean.So, every day, the monastics had to clean their surroundings.
There was a woman who lived in the nearby village.She came from a poor family.
She thught, “I own nothing with which.I can express my respect to the Buddha,I have only my strength.So,I should be able to spend some time cleaning the abode.I can clean the area of the Jetavana Abode. ”Starting from that day,every day,she brought a broom and swept [the surroundings].She started the outer parts of the grounds and worked her ways to the perimeter of the obode.This allowed the spiritual practitioners to spend a lot less of their cleaning,so they could concentrate on listening to and practicing the Dharma.
In this same village,there was also a wealthy elder who regularly went to listen to the teachings.He believe in and respected the Buddha-Dharma,and felt great reverence for it.
One day,as he walked out of his door,he suddently saw something in a distant part of the village.Where had this magnificent building come from?Althought it had not been there before,it had now,somehow appeared.The elder was very curious,so he started walking toward it.The more he walked,the happier he became,but he wondered all the more,“Who built this?”He saw a person’s shadow inside,so he loudly asked again,“Who built this house?” He heard a voice coming from the inside,“There is a very blessed person here.Every day,a good woman,with utmost reverence cleans up the area where the Buddha and his Sangha are living.Every day,she gives of herself out of respect.That aspiration is very precious,so it led to great and blessed retributions.This house was built for her.”
The more this elder heard, the happier he became and the more remarkable he found
all of this.
So,he continued walking forward [to the house].When he was nearly upon it,he was suddently no longer able to see it！It had been a very old and shabby house all along.From inside,the poor woman walked out.She was ready to start cleaning again.The elder said to her, “You’re so reverent,I admire you greatly.Agree to do something for me,just say yes,and I will give you 500 taels of gold.”
This woman thought to herself, “What can I agree to?I have nothing if he wants me to agree,then I… ”So,she said,“As long as I can do it,I agree.”The elder said“Good,you just have to agree to accept these 500 taels of gold from me. ” “That’s all I need to do?”[she asked]
The elder gave her 500 taels of gold and then said, “When I see such reverence in you,I feel very happy.That is why I want to give you these 500 taels of gold for you to use however you like.”
This woman was very grateful.She opened the heavy package and there really were 500 taels of gold inside. “I wonder what I should do with it?” So, she used it to make an offering to the Buddha. She gave all of it to the abode for its needs and did not spend any of the money on herself. She just offered it to the abode, to the Buddha and the Sangha. Finally, one day she stood among others, listening to the Dharma, the Buddha-Dharma suddenly penetrated her mind and she became fully awakened to the truth of suffering, is causation, cessation and the Path. She realized that she had created so much karma in her past life that she had had to face much poverty and hardship in this lifetime. With this opportunity to draw near the Dharma, she understood this and thus felt no resentment. [She felt], “I must transform myself in this lifetime. In this lifetime, with this body, I have encountered the Buddha-Dharma, so I must practice it more diligently. I must use this body to make offering to the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. I will make offerings with physical labor.” This is a beautiful story.
In our interpersonal relationships, when we are reverent, we can naturally move other people, not to mention, all the Dharma-protectors in the world. Because of her utmost reverence, this manifestation [of a fine house] appeared. So, through various appearances we can serve, and demonstrate our reverence. The next passage in the sutra states,
“With many wondrous sounds such as these, they wholeheartedly made offerings. Perhaps, with happy hearts, they praised the Buddha’s virtues in song and chant. With even just one small sound, they have realized the path to Buddhahood”
As we said earlier, the sounds formed by all the musical instruments coming together, along with the sounds of our chanting and praise, join together to form the “many wondrous sounds”.
Some are formed by the combination of objects, such as flutes, lutes and so on. The sounds formed by the combination of objects, along with the sounds generated by spiritual practitioners filled with reverence, when they are all combined, are considered wondrous sounds. So, “they wholeheartedly made offerings”. By combining the tangible and intangible, we can make offerings out of reverence.
“Perhaps, with happy hearts, they praised the Buddha’s virtues in song and chant”. In addition to making offerings with material objects, we must always joyfully recite and praise the Buddha’s virtues. So, “with even just one small sounds, they have realized the path to Buddhahood”. This is possible even if we only make one sound, even if it is only a small sound. It is best if accompanied by a melody and so loud that it can reach faraway places, so that all in the universe can hear it just as they can hear the Buddha teaching the Dharma. If we transmit and chant the Dharma, even if we only do it faintly, we can still “realize the path to Buddhahood”.
“With many wondrous sounds such as these: If we use wondrous sounds to mindfully chant and recite as an offering, and with wonderful sounds and utmost sincerity praise the Buddha’s virtues, we are planting the cause for gradually attaining Buddhahood.”
All these wondrous sounds, all these offerings, arise from utmost reverence. If we express utmost reverence in praising the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha and praising the Dharma taught by the Buddha, we can take in the Dharma taught by the Buddha, and then transmit and recite it [for others]. This also plants many causes and conditions for attaining Buddhahood. So, “they wholeheartedly made offerings”. We need to mindfully make offerings.
“They wholeheartedly made offerings:Bodhisattvas vow to always respectfully make offerings to all Buddhas. With deep faith, love and joy, they cultivate all merits and virtues without becoming tired. Thus they are born into the Tathagata-family.”
Bodhisattvas always vow to respectfully make offerings to all Buddhas. By reverently accepting and practicing the Buddha-Dharma, they are making an offering of conduct. Bodhisattvas make offerings with their actions. Their faith brings love for and joy in the Buddha-Dharma. So, they put the Dharma into practice and cultivate various virtues; this is what Bodhisattvas do. So, they never tire of doing this. They are like that woman who swept the grounds for many decades out of a sense of reverence. Doing this “without becoming tired” means we feel that we have not done enough, that we need to do more and more. No matter how much they practice, they never become tired. No matter what they do, they never become annoyed. So, they do these things without becoming tired.
“Thus they are born into the Tathagata-family” After leaving this body behind, they will definitely be born into a family that has faith in the Buddha-Dharma so starting in their childhood they will be close to the Dharma. This is why we must learn from the Buddha with great reverence.
“With happy hearts, they praise the Buddha’s virtues in song and chant”. You are all entering the sutra treasury by chanting sutras, being mindful of and practicing the Dharma.These are all ways to spread it across the world. If we take the Dharma to heart, we can manifest it in our practice. This can come from praising the Buddha’s virtues with songs and chants. This how we can transmit the Buddha-Dharma. This is one of the Buddha’s various virtues.
Perhaps, with happy hearts, they praised the Buddha’s virtues in song and chant: The virtues that the Tathagata is replete with are Buddha-virtues. People with wisdom contemplate the Tathagata’s three kinds of perfect virtues and have deep love and respect for them. First is the perfect virtue of causes. Second is the perfect virtue of effects. Third is the perfect virtue of grace.
People with wisdom contemplate the Tathagata’s three kinds of perfect virtues and have deep respect for them. First is the perfect virtue of causes. The seeds of our causes can be perfect. Seconds is the perfect virtue of effects. With causes come effects, so if the cause of our goodness is solid, then the effect that manifests will be perfect.
Third is the perfect virtue of grace. Grace is a cause planted in our minds. The Chinese created Chinese characters in very clever ways, “grace” is a “cause” planted in the “mind”. This leads to perfect grace. I always say we must have gratitude, respect and love. As long as we always remain grateful, naturally we will be respectful to other people, and everything will happen perfectly. This comes from the seed, the cause planted in our minds. The seed of this cause helps us return to our pure intrinsic nature. Even by making only a faint sound, we can realize the path to Buddhahood.
There are three kinds of paths: First, the path attained by Hearers. Second, the path attained by Solitary Realizers. Third, the path attained by Buddhas. The unsurpassed Bodhi-path attained by Buddhas is called the path to Buddhahood.
There are three kinds of paths. The first is attained by Hearers. After hearing sounds, [they say,] “I understand that these are the principles” The second is attained by Solitary Realizers “After understanding the principles, I don’t need to listen to the Dharma anymore.” “I already know it.”
This is just knowing the impermanence of life, the cycle of good and evil and the law of karma. Solitary Realizers know all these things, but they have not fully realized them. The third is attained by Buddhas. This is the path of enlightening oneself and others. By enlightening themselves and others, they have perfect enlightened conduct, which is the path attained by Buddhas. It is called the path of unsurpassed Bodhi. The unsurpassed Bodhi-path is the path to Buddhahood. As long as we all mindfully engage in spiritual practice and take the Dharma to heart, then the Dharma will manifest in our actions, and our actions will be focused on the Dharma. Therefore, we must always be mindful.
(Source: Da Ai TV – Wisdom at Dawn program – Explanation by Master Chen-Yen)
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