20150211《靜思妙蓮華》植眾德本福慧雙隆(第499集)
(法華經•譬喻品第三)
⊙「行一善行成一福德,德本淨行福慧雙隆,誠契佛心荷擔大法。」
⊙「彼諸菩薩無量無邊,不可思議,算數譬喻所不能及,非佛智力,無能知者。」《法華經 譬喻品第三》
⊙「若欲行時,寶華承足。此諸菩薩非初發意,皆久植德本。」《法華經 譬喻品第三》
⊙華光佛土清淨,多諸菩薩,其量之多,境界之莊嚴,難以言喻,若欲行時寶華承足。
⊙寶華承足:寶,表珍貴真實之意;華,明福因善行。以菩薩運行作為,皆成佛真實之因行也。
⊙此諸菩薩非初發意,皆久植德本:久遠來修菩薩行,非初發意,猶言深植善根。
⊙德者,善也;本者,根也。諸善萬行之功德,為佛果菩提之德本。故云:皆久植德本,常為佛所稱歎,深入實智,妙徹本源,常修佛慧。
【證嚴上人開示】
「行一善行成一福德,德本淨行福慧雙隆,誠契佛心荷擔大法。」
行一善行
成一福德
德本淨行
福慧雙隆
誠契佛心
荷擔大法
也就是要跟大家分享,「行一善行」,就「成一福德」。福德要不斷累積,不論是你開口講一個好話,成就人的道心,增加人的信心,口說好話,這也就是度人心,一個善。或者是出手幫助,東西很重,拿不起,我們為他分擔一下,這樣也是一個善行,這個善行,同樣也是增一分的福。有了善、有了福,還能夠結好緣,一舉三得,這樣我們平時不是,很簡單就做得到的事嗎?所以累積福德因緣,實在是不困難。
所以我們應該能夠常常,培養著那念助人的心,就是最快樂。成就人的道業,啟一念的善心,無不都是我們造福緣。福的因、福的緣、福的果報,當然這要不斷累積。所以在佛的經典中,就是一直用很長的時間,希望人人愈長的時間,接觸的人愈多。能夠為人付出,不論是開口動舌、舉步動足等等,都是可以成就福因、福緣、福的行。
所以說,學佛要做好事並不困難。
所以「德本淨行」,做好事,真的不困難,但是要培養我們的德,德的根本,「植眾德本」,那是不斷不斷累積,種很多很多的福因,每一位修行者不斷來,不斷就是要有這種德的根本,植眾德本才可以,將福因、福緣讓它深,這也就是肻去一直說,深植善因。德,能夠深根,這樣那就是「福慧雙隆」,是修福、也修慧,二項非常的茂盛。
這必定要我們要誠,用最真誠的心,來契合佛的心。不只是在禮佛時誠意,是在我們的平時,待人接物,永遠都是要那麼的誠意。這個誠意在我們的行為中,這無不都是在供養。因為佛陀教育我們,希望我們可以人人,將我們的本性如來,清淨真如,我們要時時自我敬重。所以我們用最誠的意,來契合真如的本性,這也是自性佛。何況說釋迦牟尼佛,法傳流人間,借重釋迦牟尼佛的法,我們好好來用它,行在法中,從這個法回歸我們真如本性。
我們的清淨真如本性,佛心,就是可以轉大法輪,所以「誠契佛心,荷擔大法」。我們擔起了如來的家業,轉法輪,這是很重要的。我們學佛,自覺,還要覺他;自覺、覺他,才是叫做覺行圓滿。自利、利他,這就是最大福田。所以我們要用心。
前面的經文就是這樣說,「彼諸菩薩無量無邊,不可思議,算數譬喻所不能及,非佛智力,無能知者。」
彼諸菩薩
無量無邊
不可思議
算數譬喻
所不能及
非佛智力
無能知者
《法華經 譬喻品第三》
這也就是說,菩薩很多。在華光如來這個國土裡,很多大寶來莊嚴這個國土。這個大寶就是以菩薩為大寶,菩薩有多少啊?很多、很多,「不可思議,算數譬喻所不能及」。
可見華光佛從開始發心,要很長久長久的時間,要度眾生,與眾生結好緣。行一善,得一福德,所以到底是造作,多少的善與福,能夠累積來成就這麼多人,都已經發菩薩心了?所以這些菩薩就是,這個國土的寶。
常常說,慈濟人就是慈濟的寶。因為人人用心付出,莊嚴了慈濟道場。不論是從史瓦濟蘭、莫三比克,他們還是這樣常常,自己到南非去,和南非的慈濟人,同時見習、同時培訓。環境如何惡劣,他們就是用著心靈的財富,歡喜、甘願,可以聽到如何為人間造福,對自己是如何的快樂,他們從貧轉富;這樣這就是用最誠意的心,去契佛,用最誠意契佛的心。
契了佛心,同時他們能夠再去播善種子,開啟其他的人,心靈的財富。這不就是佛陀來人間一大事的因緣?任何一個人都可以,開啟心靈的財富,任何一個人都可以,結下菩提的種子。
菩提種子、心靈的財富,不斷增長,這種造福因、結好緣,這不就是都是,用我們的行動去付出?所以粒粒的種子、粒粒的菩提,每一棵菩提樹,都已經可以影響,一大片的土地了。所以菩薩就是這樣來莊嚴,莊嚴了那個國土。就像慈濟,慈濟人就是慈濟的寶,這樣來莊嚴這些道場。
接下來再說,「若欲行時,寶華承足。此諸菩薩非初發意,皆久植德本」。
若欲行時
寶華承足
此諸菩薩
非初發意
皆久植德本
《法華經 譬喻品第三》
「若欲行時,寶華承足」。因為華光如來,那個國土是很清淨,一點都沒有污濁。我們現在娑婆世界是五濁,充滿了眾生那個見解污濁。人的見解一點都不清淨,因為我們人的見解,人人,人非我是,別人都是不對的,是我才對;所有的物質,應該是我優先,所有的名,應該是歸我所得。想想,現在的人類,這種惡濁的見解,有這麼多,何況其他?所以在這個娑婆世界,真的是很惡濁。
不過,將來舍利弗將要成佛的,那個國土,都是菩薩,人人的見解都是溫柔、善順,人人的心地,都沒有濁氣污染。這就是菩薩莊嚴那個國土,那個國土,那種的清淨。
這就像我們人間環保菩薩,只要有環保菩薩的地方,垃圾減量,物資、資源增長,不必再不斷,從地底下去抽石油,回收再製,物歸源頭,這些東西全是物資,資源的寶。這就是在我們娑婆世界,有這樣的菩薩來保護大地,你們想,像這樣,這種的菩薩心,自然就能淨這個土地。
所以菩薩的心地,就是華光佛他未來所成就,完全都是菩薩,大家所集合的,就是與華光佛有緣,但是,就是還要再精進,在那個地方再發心多聽法,多累積這種的智慧、福德因緣,將來就是準備,還要入人間,度眾生。所以,在那個地方的菩薩,累積是很多,那個境界的莊嚴,所以很莊嚴,無法用語言來譬喻。
華光佛土清淨
多諸菩薩
其量之多
境界之莊嚴
難以言喻
若欲行時寶華承足
菩薩在走路時,「寶華承足」,這意思就是已經種福因,也已經得福果,非常穩定,步步穩定、福慧平行,這表示就是花承足,舉步動足,無不都是以福與慧,在精進中。
寶華承足
寶
表珍貴真實之意
華
明福因善行
以菩薩運行作為
皆成佛真實之
因行也
所以「寶華承足」的意思。「寶」就是表示,很珍貴、真實的意思。在那個地方發心立願的菩薩,都是那麼誠意、那麼虔誠,立意堅定,這就是寶。「華」,就是表明,造福因、行善行,這個花是一種莊嚴。
孔夫子說:「富潤屋,德潤身。」富有的人,你去到他家,就知道這個家庭很富有,因為它的建設、裡面的擺飾,可以顯出他的環境的富有。但是德,德行可以莊嚴人的身,你不用去他的家庭,不論他是不是有形的財富,有沒有,但是你只是看到他的人,你就從內心起了尊重:這個是人格者,他說的話,我們可以相信,「一言九鼎」。像這樣,這叫做「德潤身」。所以這就是所種來的福因善行。
所以「德潤身」,讓人可以相信我們。而我們要讓人相信,我們要相信法,我們的信根,要伸得深,才能夠堅定我們的志向,我們才能夠,「以菩薩運行作為」,無不都是「成佛真實之因」,這就是我們的行為,平時的造作。
「此諸菩薩,非初發意,皆久植德本」。這些菩薩不是華光佛成佛之後,那時候才開始發心的菩薩,不是。就像剛剛說久遠來,舍利弗不斷不斷,在撒播愛的種子,就是來來回回娑婆世界,入五濁惡世,能夠保持他的心清淨,在人群中,運行造作善因福德,所以這些都是與他在結緣,所淨化過的人,才能夠成就現在這個國土。
此諸菩薩非初發意
皆久植德本:
久遠來修菩薩行
非初發意
猶言深植善根
所以這個國土以菩薩為大寶,來莊嚴這個國土。所以這些菩薩不是初發意的,這些菩薩都是長久以來,根扎得很深,也已經樹茂盛了。
所以這「非初發意」,就是表示,已經扎得很深的善根。德,就是善;本,就是根。「諸善萬行之功德」都是在這個過去生中,這樣完成。這種功德,就是佛的果,菩提的德本。
德者 善也
本者 根也
諸善萬行之功德
為佛果菩提
之德本
故云:
皆久植德本
常為佛所稱歎
深入實智
妙徹本源
常修佛慧
所以說,「皆久植德本,常為佛所稱歎,深入實智,妙徹本源,常修佛慧。」這些都是時時,受佛所稱歎的菩薩。釋迦佛也是常常在稱歎,過去的菩薩來助道場,也時時稱歎很多菩薩,開始在發心。這也就是,佛陀在《法華經》開始,一直一直要來稱歎每一位弟子,過去生中不斷保護著,那念清淨之心,只是「大心未啟」。現在就是要啟發人人這念心,所以不斷要讚歎。所以「常為佛所讚歎」,現在釋迦佛是這樣,未來的華光佛,也是這樣,「深入實智」那就是「妙徹本源,常修佛慧」。
這很重要。我們要好好將我們這個智慧,實智,那就是佛智。佛智就是我們的真如,我們要趕快回歸,我們的真如本性來探討,因為我們的真如本性都有願,我們要透徹本性的願。
這必定要先借重佛的教法,讓我們入心,借重芸芸眾生種種的現形,每一個眾生,人人都是有不同的苦相,人人都有集來無量的苦因、無量的苦緣。這種的苦因、苦緣在人群中,我們可以看得到,所以「經一事,長一智」。這就是我們在人群中好修行,見證了佛陀所說是真實法,所以我們能夠生出了,堅固的信心。知因果、識因緣,所以知道因果,因緣果報,我們就要用心,時時好好要如何行善得福,行一善行,就成一福德。
所以前面也說,要到三十二相,能夠成佛,要百善才可以(得)一福。(註:「百善行為一福,百福一莊嚴相,百福莊嚴一相,成滿三十二相。」)這個地方還是鼓勵我們,要好好行善積福,德本要清淨,我們的心要常常清淨,在清淨中,投入人群去造福因緣,這樣才是用最誠意的心,契佛的心,這樣才能夠擔起了如來家業。
大寶莊嚴那個國土,不就是一直在累積菩薩無量數,在人群中。說不定我們現在行菩薩道,這些人未來就是,舍利弗,華光佛時代的,無量數菩薩之一;那無量數的菩薩,也已經是現在,在娑婆世界在行菩薩道,人群中在種福因、造福德的人。所以我們要相信,時時要多用心。
Explanations by Master Cheng-Yan
Subject: Plant a Foundation of Blessings and Wisdom (植眾德本福慧雙隆)
Date: February.11. 2015
“By doing one good deed, we create one portion of blessings. With the root of virtues and purifying practices both blessings and wisdom will thrive. When we sincerely connect to the Buddha’s mind we can shoulder the burden of the Great Dharma.”
I want to share with you that, “By doing one good deed, we create one portion of blessings.” We must unceasingly accumulate blessings. When we open our mouths to speak kind words, we can inspire people’s spiritual aspirations and strengthen their faith. Our kind words can transform their minds. That is a good deed. We can also lend someone a hand; if they cannot lift a heavy object, we can share their burden. This is also a good deed. Doing a good deed will give us additional blessings.
As we grow in goodness and blessings, we can also form good affinities. So, by doing one thing, we can accomplish three. Isn’t this something we can easily do on a regular basis? Thus, accumulating blessed karmic conditions is actually not difficult. We should be able to constantly nurture our willingness to help others. That will make us most happy. When we inspire people’s spiritual aspirations and awaken the goodness in them, we are creating blessed conditions. These blessed causes, conditions and retributions are what we must continue to accumulate.
So, the Buddhist sutras say that [spiritual cultivation] will take a long time. The Buddha hopes that over a long period of time, people will create connections with others and will give of themselves to more people, and with everything they say and everything they do, create blessed causes and blessed conditions. These are blessed actions.
Thus, as we learn the Buddha’s Way, we must do good deeds. This is not very difficult. So, “with the root of virtues and purifying practices,” doing good deeds is really not very difficult. However, it is important to nurture our virtues, the root of our virtues. We must “plant all roots of virtues” by continuously accumulating and planting many blessed causes. Every spiritual practitioner must continue to plant these roots of virtues in every lifetime. Planting roots of virtues is the only way to deepen their blessed causes and conditions. This is why I have always said in the past that we must plant good seeds deep in our minds.
If our virtues can be deeply rooted, “both blessings and wisdom will thrive.” To cultivate both blessings and wisdom and for them both to thrive, we must be sincere. We must, with our utmost sincerity, connect with the Buddha’s mind. Our sincerity must extend beyond paying respect to the Buddha. Whenever we interact with people, we must always do so with the same reverence. Expressing this reverence in our conduct is also a way that we are making offerings. The Buddha taught us in the hope that all of us, with our intrinsic Tathagata-nature, our nature of pure True Suchness, will always have respect for ourselves.
So, with utmost reverence, we can connect with our nature of True Suchness, which is the Buddha within us. Sakyamuni Buddha’s Dharma has spread around the world. Relying on His Dharma, we can apply the teachings in our actions. So with this Dharma, we can return to our nature of True Suchness. When we connect to our pure nature and the Buddha’s mind, we can turn the great Dharma-wheel.
“When we sincerely connect to the Buddha’s mind, we can shoulder the burden of the Great Dharma.”Taking up the Tathagatha’s family business and turning the Dharma-wheel is very important.When we learn the Buddha’s Way, we must awaken ourselves and also others.Only when we awaken ourselves and others will we have perfect awakened conduct.
When we benefit ourselves and others, we are creating the greatest field of blessings.This is what we must put our hearts into.
The previous sutra passage states, “The number of these Bodhisattvas is countless, boundless and inconceivable, beyond calculation or comparison. Without the power of Buddha-wisdom, one cannot understand how many there are.”
This tells us that there are many Bodhisattvas in the land of Flower Light Tathagata.Many great treasures adorn this land.
There great treasures are Bodhisattvas.How many Bodhisattvas are there?There are so many, the number is “inconceivable, beyond calculation or comparison”.
As we can see, from the moment.Flower Light Buddha formed His initial aspirations, there must be a very long period where-He transforms sentient beings and forms good affinities with them.
Doing one good deed creates one portion of blessings.So, He must do many good deeds and create many blessings to accumulate enough to enable so many people to form Bodhisattva-aspirations.These Bodhisattvas are the treasures of this land.
I constantly say that Tzu Chi volunteers are Tzu Chi’s treasures.
By mindfully giving of themselves to others, they dignify the places where Tzu Chi exists.Volunteers from Swaziland or Mozambique, regardless [of the distance], constantly travel to South Africa to attend volunteer training classes with the South African Tzu Chi volunteers.Regardless of how terrible their conditions are, they make use of their spiritual wealth.They [help others] joyfully and willingly.They learn about how to benefit others and how to bring happiness to themselves.
They go from feeling poor to feeling rich.This is how, with utmost reverence, they connect with the Buddha’s mind.As they learn to connect with the Buddha’s mind, they can also spread the seeds of goodness to inspire others to discover their spiritual wealth.
Isn’t this the Buddha’s one great cause for coming to this world?
Anyone can discover the spiritual wealth within themselves.
Anyone can form the seeds of Bodhi.As these Bodhi-seeds and their spiritual wealth continue to grow, they create blessed causes and good conditions.Doesn’t all this come from taken action to give to others?
So every seed, every seed of Bodhi, every Bodhi-tree, can influence a wide expanse of land.This is how Bodhisattvas bring dignity to and adorn that land.Similarly, in Tzu Chi, the volunteers are the treasures who dignify these places of spiritual cultivation.
Next we will discuss how,“Whenever they wish to walk anywhere, jeweled flowers spring up beneath their feet. These Bodhisattvas are not newly inspired. For a long time, they have cultivated a virtuous foundation.”
So, “Whenever they wish to walk anywhere, jeweled flowers spring up beneath their feet.”
This is because Flower Light Tathagata’s land will be very pure, without the slightest bit of defilement.Our Saha World is filled with the Five Turbidities.It is filled with sentient begins’ defiled perspectives.Our perspectives are not pure at all.This is because our perspective is, “Other people are always wrong, but I am right. I should have first claim on all material things. I should receive all the recognition.”Think about this, people nowadays have many such defiled perspectives, not to mention other [turbidities].
This Saha World is truly very turbid.
But, when Sariputra attains Buddhahood in the future, he will do so in a land where everyone is a Bodhisattva.Everyone’s perspectives will be gentle, wholesome and accommodating; no one’s heart will be defiled by turbidities.This is how Bodhisattvas adorn the land with their purity.
Our recycling Bodhisattva’s world is very similar. Anywhere there are recycling Bodhisattvas, the amount of trash decreases and our material resources increase. We hope we will no longer need to constantly extract crude oil [to produce new things]. We can recycle and reuse these material instead. The things in our trash are all treasures. In the Saha World, Bodhisattvas like this protect the earth. Think about it, with the heart of a Bodhisattva, people can naturally purify this land.
So, the Bodhisattva state of mind is what Flower Light Buddha will help them achieve. Everyone in His land will be Bodhisattva. Everyone who gathers in that land will be people who had a karmic affinity with him. But, they still need to diligently advance, aspire to listen to more teachings and accumulate more wisdom and blessed karmic conditions. This is in preparation for them to go into the world to transform sentient beings.
So, there will be many Bodhisattvas there. The great magnificence of that realm cannot [really] be described in words.
The land of Flower Light Buddha will be pure. The Bodhisattvas there are great in number. The magnificence of that realm is difficult to explain in words. Whenever Bodhisattvas wish to walk anywhere, jeweled flowers will spring up beneath their feet.
When they walk, “jeweled flowers spring up beneath their feet”. This means that they have planted blessed seeds, attained the blessed fruit and are very steadfast. With each steady step, they cultivate blessings and wisdom. This is symbolized by flowers springing up beneath their feet. With every move they make, they are diligently cultivating blessings and wisdom.
Jeweled flowers spring up beneath their feet: “Jeweled” means that they are precious and true. “Flowers” represent their blessed causes and good deeds. With the actions and conduct of Bodhisattvas, they carry out the true causes that will enable them to attain Buddhahood.
In the meaning behind “jeweled flowers spring up beneath their feet”, “jeweled” means they are precious and true. In that land, Bodhisattvas who form aspirations and make vows will all be very sincere, and reverent, as well as firm in their resolve. This the meaning of “jeweled”. “Flowers” express that they are creating blessed causes and doing good deeds; these flowers are so magnificent.
Confucius said, “Wealth enriches the house; virtue enriches the body”. When we visit the homes of wealthy people, we can tell whether the family is rich because the architecture and furnishings show off their wealth. On the other hand, virtue can dignify people. We do not need to go to their homes. They do not need to have tangible wealth. They do not need to have tangible wealth. Just by seeing them, respect will arise in our hearts. These are people with character. We can believe whatever they say. Their words carry great weight. This is how “virtue enriches the body”. This comes from the blessed causes and good deeds that they have planted. So, “virtue enriches the body”. It helps people to have faith in us.
In order for people to trust us, we must have faith in the Dharma. Our Root of Faith must be deeply grounded for our resolve to be firm. Only then can we have “the actions and conduct of Bodhisattvas”. Everything we carry out will be “true causes that enable us to attain Buddhahood”. This is what we create through our daily actions.
“These Bodhisattvas are not newly inspired. For a long time, they have cultivated a virtuous foundation”. The Bodhisattvas in the era of Flower Light Buddha will not be just beginning to form aspirations. No. As I just mentioned, for a long time, Sariputra will continue to spread the seeds of love. He will constantly return to the Saha World. Entering into the evil world of Five Turbidities, he will be able to maintain the purity of his mind. As he interacts with people, he will create positive causes and blessings. Then the people who form affinities with him, those who have been purified by him, will be the ones to bring about that land.
These Bodhisattvas are not newly inspired.For a long time, they have cultivated a virtuous foundation:
For a long time, they have cultivated Bodhisattva-practices. So, they are not newly inspired and their roots of goodness have been deeply planted.
Therefore, in this land, Bodhisattvas are considered great treasures that adorn the land. They are not newly-inspired Bodhisattvas. These Bodhisattvas have, for a long time, deeply planted their roots so the roots are now thriving. Thus, they “are not newly inspired.” This also means that their roots of goodness are already deeply planted.
Virtue means goodness Foundation means roots. So, “the merits from doing all good deeds” are achieved over past lives. These merits bring the fruits of Buddhahood and become the virtuous foundation of Bodhi. “They have long cultivated a virtuous foundation and have often been praised by the Buddha.” “They deeply penetrate true wisdom, have wondrous clarity of their true nature and constantly cultivate Buddha-wisdom.”
These are Bodhisattvas who have constantly been praised by the Buddha Sakyamuni Buddha also constantly praised past Bodhisattvas who had come to assist at His Dharma-assembly.
He also constantly praised the many Bodhisattvas who had just formed their initial aspirations. At the beginning of the Lotus Sutra, the Buddha praised each disciple on how, throughout their past lives, they have continually protected their pure minds. But, their great aspirations had yet to be inspired. In order to inspire them to form aspirations, He continually praised them. Thus, they were often praised by all Buddhas Sakyamuni Buddha did this at this assembly. The future Flower Light Buddha will also praise them for “deeply penetrating true wisdom.” This means they “have wondrous clarity of their true nature and constantly cultivate Buddha-wisdom.”This is very important.
We must make an effort to [develop] this wisdom True wisdom is Buddha-wisdom. Buddha-wisdom is our nature of True Suchness. We must return to our nature of True Suchness and explore it .In our nature of True Suchness there is a vow, and we must thoroughly realize it. To do this, we must first take the Buddha’s teachings into our hearts. Then we must [observe] the various appearances of sentient beings. Every sentient being has a different appearance of suffering. They have all accumulated countless causes of suffering and countless conditions for suffering.These causes and conditions of suffering can be seen among the people.
Therefore, “wisdom comes from experience.” This why being among the people is the best place to engage in spiritual practice, as we can verify that what the Buddha taught was the True Dharma. This is how we can give rise to firm faith, understand the law of karma and recognize karmic conditions. To understand the karmic law of cause and effect, we must be mindful and constantly make an effort to do good deeds and crate blessings. “By doing one good deed, we create one portion of blessings.”
So as I mentioned before, we must achieve 32 Marks to attain Buddhahood. We need 100 good deeds in order to attain a blessing. This passage encourages us to make an effort to do good deeds and accumulate blessings. Our virtuous foundation must be pure.Only be going among people with a pure mind to create blessed causes and conditions are we connecting with the Buddha’s mind with utmost sincerity. This is the only way to shoulder the Tathagata’s family business.
In that land adorned by great treasures, there will be countless Bodhisattvas gathered. In this world, perhaps those now walking the Bodhisattvas-path will be among those countless Bodhisattvas in Sariptura’s future as Flower Light Buddha. Those countless Bodhisattvas are currently.Those countless Bodhisattvas are currently practicing the Bodhisattva-path in this Saha World. They are those planting blessed causes and creating blessings among people. Thus, we must have faith and always be mindful.
(Source: Da Ai TV – Wisdom at Dawn program – Explanation by Master Chen-Yen)
(法華經•譬喻品第三)
⊙「行一善行成一福德,德本淨行福慧雙隆,誠契佛心荷擔大法。」
⊙「彼諸菩薩無量無邊,不可思議,算數譬喻所不能及,非佛智力,無能知者。」《法華經 譬喻品第三》
⊙「若欲行時,寶華承足。此諸菩薩非初發意,皆久植德本。」《法華經 譬喻品第三》
⊙華光佛土清淨,多諸菩薩,其量之多,境界之莊嚴,難以言喻,若欲行時寶華承足。
⊙寶華承足:寶,表珍貴真實之意;華,明福因善行。以菩薩運行作為,皆成佛真實之因行也。
⊙此諸菩薩非初發意,皆久植德本:久遠來修菩薩行,非初發意,猶言深植善根。
⊙德者,善也;本者,根也。諸善萬行之功德,為佛果菩提之德本。故云:皆久植德本,常為佛所稱歎,深入實智,妙徹本源,常修佛慧。
【證嚴上人開示】
「行一善行成一福德,德本淨行福慧雙隆,誠契佛心荷擔大法。」
行一善行
成一福德
德本淨行
福慧雙隆
誠契佛心
荷擔大法
也就是要跟大家分享,「行一善行」,就「成一福德」。福德要不斷累積,不論是你開口講一個好話,成就人的道心,增加人的信心,口說好話,這也就是度人心,一個善。或者是出手幫助,東西很重,拿不起,我們為他分擔一下,這樣也是一個善行,這個善行,同樣也是增一分的福。有了善、有了福,還能夠結好緣,一舉三得,這樣我們平時不是,很簡單就做得到的事嗎?所以累積福德因緣,實在是不困難。
所以我們應該能夠常常,培養著那念助人的心,就是最快樂。成就人的道業,啟一念的善心,無不都是我們造福緣。福的因、福的緣、福的果報,當然這要不斷累積。所以在佛的經典中,就是一直用很長的時間,希望人人愈長的時間,接觸的人愈多。能夠為人付出,不論是開口動舌、舉步動足等等,都是可以成就福因、福緣、福的行。
所以說,學佛要做好事並不困難。
所以「德本淨行」,做好事,真的不困難,但是要培養我們的德,德的根本,「植眾德本」,那是不斷不斷累積,種很多很多的福因,每一位修行者不斷來,不斷就是要有這種德的根本,植眾德本才可以,將福因、福緣讓它深,這也就是肻去一直說,深植善因。德,能夠深根,這樣那就是「福慧雙隆」,是修福、也修慧,二項非常的茂盛。
這必定要我們要誠,用最真誠的心,來契合佛的心。不只是在禮佛時誠意,是在我們的平時,待人接物,永遠都是要那麼的誠意。這個誠意在我們的行為中,這無不都是在供養。因為佛陀教育我們,希望我們可以人人,將我們的本性如來,清淨真如,我們要時時自我敬重。所以我們用最誠的意,來契合真如的本性,這也是自性佛。何況說釋迦牟尼佛,法傳流人間,借重釋迦牟尼佛的法,我們好好來用它,行在法中,從這個法回歸我們真如本性。
我們的清淨真如本性,佛心,就是可以轉大法輪,所以「誠契佛心,荷擔大法」。我們擔起了如來的家業,轉法輪,這是很重要的。我們學佛,自覺,還要覺他;自覺、覺他,才是叫做覺行圓滿。自利、利他,這就是最大福田。所以我們要用心。
前面的經文就是這樣說,「彼諸菩薩無量無邊,不可思議,算數譬喻所不能及,非佛智力,無能知者。」
彼諸菩薩
無量無邊
不可思議
算數譬喻
所不能及
非佛智力
無能知者
《法華經 譬喻品第三》
這也就是說,菩薩很多。在華光如來這個國土裡,很多大寶來莊嚴這個國土。這個大寶就是以菩薩為大寶,菩薩有多少啊?很多、很多,「不可思議,算數譬喻所不能及」。
可見華光佛從開始發心,要很長久長久的時間,要度眾生,與眾生結好緣。行一善,得一福德,所以到底是造作,多少的善與福,能夠累積來成就這麼多人,都已經發菩薩心了?所以這些菩薩就是,這個國土的寶。
常常說,慈濟人就是慈濟的寶。因為人人用心付出,莊嚴了慈濟道場。不論是從史瓦濟蘭、莫三比克,他們還是這樣常常,自己到南非去,和南非的慈濟人,同時見習、同時培訓。環境如何惡劣,他們就是用著心靈的財富,歡喜、甘願,可以聽到如何為人間造福,對自己是如何的快樂,他們從貧轉富;這樣這就是用最誠意的心,去契佛,用最誠意契佛的心。
契了佛心,同時他們能夠再去播善種子,開啟其他的人,心靈的財富。這不就是佛陀來人間一大事的因緣?任何一個人都可以,開啟心靈的財富,任何一個人都可以,結下菩提的種子。
菩提種子、心靈的財富,不斷增長,這種造福因、結好緣,這不就是都是,用我們的行動去付出?所以粒粒的種子、粒粒的菩提,每一棵菩提樹,都已經可以影響,一大片的土地了。所以菩薩就是這樣來莊嚴,莊嚴了那個國土。就像慈濟,慈濟人就是慈濟的寶,這樣來莊嚴這些道場。
接下來再說,「若欲行時,寶華承足。此諸菩薩非初發意,皆久植德本」。
若欲行時
寶華承足
此諸菩薩
非初發意
皆久植德本
《法華經 譬喻品第三》
「若欲行時,寶華承足」。因為華光如來,那個國土是很清淨,一點都沒有污濁。我們現在娑婆世界是五濁,充滿了眾生那個見解污濁。人的見解一點都不清淨,因為我們人的見解,人人,人非我是,別人都是不對的,是我才對;所有的物質,應該是我優先,所有的名,應該是歸我所得。想想,現在的人類,這種惡濁的見解,有這麼多,何況其他?所以在這個娑婆世界,真的是很惡濁。
不過,將來舍利弗將要成佛的,那個國土,都是菩薩,人人的見解都是溫柔、善順,人人的心地,都沒有濁氣污染。這就是菩薩莊嚴那個國土,那個國土,那種的清淨。
這就像我們人間環保菩薩,只要有環保菩薩的地方,垃圾減量,物資、資源增長,不必再不斷,從地底下去抽石油,回收再製,物歸源頭,這些東西全是物資,資源的寶。這就是在我們娑婆世界,有這樣的菩薩來保護大地,你們想,像這樣,這種的菩薩心,自然就能淨這個土地。
所以菩薩的心地,就是華光佛他未來所成就,完全都是菩薩,大家所集合的,就是與華光佛有緣,但是,就是還要再精進,在那個地方再發心多聽法,多累積這種的智慧、福德因緣,將來就是準備,還要入人間,度眾生。所以,在那個地方的菩薩,累積是很多,那個境界的莊嚴,所以很莊嚴,無法用語言來譬喻。
華光佛土清淨
多諸菩薩
其量之多
境界之莊嚴
難以言喻
若欲行時寶華承足
菩薩在走路時,「寶華承足」,這意思就是已經種福因,也已經得福果,非常穩定,步步穩定、福慧平行,這表示就是花承足,舉步動足,無不都是以福與慧,在精進中。
寶華承足
寶
表珍貴真實之意
華
明福因善行
以菩薩運行作為
皆成佛真實之
因行也
所以「寶華承足」的意思。「寶」就是表示,很珍貴、真實的意思。在那個地方發心立願的菩薩,都是那麼誠意、那麼虔誠,立意堅定,這就是寶。「華」,就是表明,造福因、行善行,這個花是一種莊嚴。
孔夫子說:「富潤屋,德潤身。」富有的人,你去到他家,就知道這個家庭很富有,因為它的建設、裡面的擺飾,可以顯出他的環境的富有。但是德,德行可以莊嚴人的身,你不用去他的家庭,不論他是不是有形的財富,有沒有,但是你只是看到他的人,你就從內心起了尊重:這個是人格者,他說的話,我們可以相信,「一言九鼎」。像這樣,這叫做「德潤身」。所以這就是所種來的福因善行。
所以「德潤身」,讓人可以相信我們。而我們要讓人相信,我們要相信法,我們的信根,要伸得深,才能夠堅定我們的志向,我們才能夠,「以菩薩運行作為」,無不都是「成佛真實之因」,這就是我們的行為,平時的造作。
「此諸菩薩,非初發意,皆久植德本」。這些菩薩不是華光佛成佛之後,那時候才開始發心的菩薩,不是。就像剛剛說久遠來,舍利弗不斷不斷,在撒播愛的種子,就是來來回回娑婆世界,入五濁惡世,能夠保持他的心清淨,在人群中,運行造作善因福德,所以這些都是與他在結緣,所淨化過的人,才能夠成就現在這個國土。
此諸菩薩非初發意
皆久植德本:
久遠來修菩薩行
非初發意
猶言深植善根
所以這個國土以菩薩為大寶,來莊嚴這個國土。所以這些菩薩不是初發意的,這些菩薩都是長久以來,根扎得很深,也已經樹茂盛了。
所以這「非初發意」,就是表示,已經扎得很深的善根。德,就是善;本,就是根。「諸善萬行之功德」都是在這個過去生中,這樣完成。這種功德,就是佛的果,菩提的德本。
德者 善也
本者 根也
諸善萬行之功德
為佛果菩提
之德本
故云:
皆久植德本
常為佛所稱歎
深入實智
妙徹本源
常修佛慧
所以說,「皆久植德本,常為佛所稱歎,深入實智,妙徹本源,常修佛慧。」這些都是時時,受佛所稱歎的菩薩。釋迦佛也是常常在稱歎,過去的菩薩來助道場,也時時稱歎很多菩薩,開始在發心。這也就是,佛陀在《法華經》開始,一直一直要來稱歎每一位弟子,過去生中不斷保護著,那念清淨之心,只是「大心未啟」。現在就是要啟發人人這念心,所以不斷要讚歎。所以「常為佛所讚歎」,現在釋迦佛是這樣,未來的華光佛,也是這樣,「深入實智」那就是「妙徹本源,常修佛慧」。
這很重要。我們要好好將我們這個智慧,實智,那就是佛智。佛智就是我們的真如,我們要趕快回歸,我們的真如本性來探討,因為我們的真如本性都有願,我們要透徹本性的願。
這必定要先借重佛的教法,讓我們入心,借重芸芸眾生種種的現形,每一個眾生,人人都是有不同的苦相,人人都有集來無量的苦因、無量的苦緣。這種的苦因、苦緣在人群中,我們可以看得到,所以「經一事,長一智」。這就是我們在人群中好修行,見證了佛陀所說是真實法,所以我們能夠生出了,堅固的信心。知因果、識因緣,所以知道因果,因緣果報,我們就要用心,時時好好要如何行善得福,行一善行,就成一福德。
所以前面也說,要到三十二相,能夠成佛,要百善才可以(得)一福。(註:「百善行為一福,百福一莊嚴相,百福莊嚴一相,成滿三十二相。」)這個地方還是鼓勵我們,要好好行善積福,德本要清淨,我們的心要常常清淨,在清淨中,投入人群去造福因緣,這樣才是用最誠意的心,契佛的心,這樣才能夠擔起了如來家業。
大寶莊嚴那個國土,不就是一直在累積菩薩無量數,在人群中。說不定我們現在行菩薩道,這些人未來就是,舍利弗,華光佛時代的,無量數菩薩之一;那無量數的菩薩,也已經是現在,在娑婆世界在行菩薩道,人群中在種福因、造福德的人。所以我們要相信,時時要多用心。
Explanations by Master Cheng-Yan
Subject: Plant a Foundation of Blessings and Wisdom (植眾德本福慧雙隆)
Date: February.11. 2015
“By doing one good deed, we create one portion of blessings. With the root of virtues and purifying practices both blessings and wisdom will thrive. When we sincerely connect to the Buddha’s mind we can shoulder the burden of the Great Dharma.”
I want to share with you that, “By doing one good deed, we create one portion of blessings.” We must unceasingly accumulate blessings. When we open our mouths to speak kind words, we can inspire people’s spiritual aspirations and strengthen their faith. Our kind words can transform their minds. That is a good deed. We can also lend someone a hand; if they cannot lift a heavy object, we can share their burden. This is also a good deed. Doing a good deed will give us additional blessings.
As we grow in goodness and blessings, we can also form good affinities. So, by doing one thing, we can accomplish three. Isn’t this something we can easily do on a regular basis? Thus, accumulating blessed karmic conditions is actually not difficult. We should be able to constantly nurture our willingness to help others. That will make us most happy. When we inspire people’s spiritual aspirations and awaken the goodness in them, we are creating blessed conditions. These blessed causes, conditions and retributions are what we must continue to accumulate.
So, the Buddhist sutras say that [spiritual cultivation] will take a long time. The Buddha hopes that over a long period of time, people will create connections with others and will give of themselves to more people, and with everything they say and everything they do, create blessed causes and blessed conditions. These are blessed actions.
Thus, as we learn the Buddha’s Way, we must do good deeds. This is not very difficult. So, “with the root of virtues and purifying practices,” doing good deeds is really not very difficult. However, it is important to nurture our virtues, the root of our virtues. We must “plant all roots of virtues” by continuously accumulating and planting many blessed causes. Every spiritual practitioner must continue to plant these roots of virtues in every lifetime. Planting roots of virtues is the only way to deepen their blessed causes and conditions. This is why I have always said in the past that we must plant good seeds deep in our minds.
If our virtues can be deeply rooted, “both blessings and wisdom will thrive.” To cultivate both blessings and wisdom and for them both to thrive, we must be sincere. We must, with our utmost sincerity, connect with the Buddha’s mind. Our sincerity must extend beyond paying respect to the Buddha. Whenever we interact with people, we must always do so with the same reverence. Expressing this reverence in our conduct is also a way that we are making offerings. The Buddha taught us in the hope that all of us, with our intrinsic Tathagata-nature, our nature of pure True Suchness, will always have respect for ourselves.
So, with utmost reverence, we can connect with our nature of True Suchness, which is the Buddha within us. Sakyamuni Buddha’s Dharma has spread around the world. Relying on His Dharma, we can apply the teachings in our actions. So with this Dharma, we can return to our nature of True Suchness. When we connect to our pure nature and the Buddha’s mind, we can turn the great Dharma-wheel.
“When we sincerely connect to the Buddha’s mind, we can shoulder the burden of the Great Dharma.”Taking up the Tathagatha’s family business and turning the Dharma-wheel is very important.When we learn the Buddha’s Way, we must awaken ourselves and also others.Only when we awaken ourselves and others will we have perfect awakened conduct.
When we benefit ourselves and others, we are creating the greatest field of blessings.This is what we must put our hearts into.
The previous sutra passage states, “The number of these Bodhisattvas is countless, boundless and inconceivable, beyond calculation or comparison. Without the power of Buddha-wisdom, one cannot understand how many there are.”
This tells us that there are many Bodhisattvas in the land of Flower Light Tathagata.Many great treasures adorn this land.
There great treasures are Bodhisattvas.How many Bodhisattvas are there?There are so many, the number is “inconceivable, beyond calculation or comparison”.
As we can see, from the moment.Flower Light Buddha formed His initial aspirations, there must be a very long period where-He transforms sentient beings and forms good affinities with them.
Doing one good deed creates one portion of blessings.So, He must do many good deeds and create many blessings to accumulate enough to enable so many people to form Bodhisattva-aspirations.These Bodhisattvas are the treasures of this land.
I constantly say that Tzu Chi volunteers are Tzu Chi’s treasures.
By mindfully giving of themselves to others, they dignify the places where Tzu Chi exists.Volunteers from Swaziland or Mozambique, regardless [of the distance], constantly travel to South Africa to attend volunteer training classes with the South African Tzu Chi volunteers.Regardless of how terrible their conditions are, they make use of their spiritual wealth.They [help others] joyfully and willingly.They learn about how to benefit others and how to bring happiness to themselves.
They go from feeling poor to feeling rich.This is how, with utmost reverence, they connect with the Buddha’s mind.As they learn to connect with the Buddha’s mind, they can also spread the seeds of goodness to inspire others to discover their spiritual wealth.
Isn’t this the Buddha’s one great cause for coming to this world?
Anyone can discover the spiritual wealth within themselves.
Anyone can form the seeds of Bodhi.As these Bodhi-seeds and their spiritual wealth continue to grow, they create blessed causes and good conditions.Doesn’t all this come from taken action to give to others?
So every seed, every seed of Bodhi, every Bodhi-tree, can influence a wide expanse of land.This is how Bodhisattvas bring dignity to and adorn that land.Similarly, in Tzu Chi, the volunteers are the treasures who dignify these places of spiritual cultivation.
Next we will discuss how,“Whenever they wish to walk anywhere, jeweled flowers spring up beneath their feet. These Bodhisattvas are not newly inspired. For a long time, they have cultivated a virtuous foundation.”
So, “Whenever they wish to walk anywhere, jeweled flowers spring up beneath their feet.”
This is because Flower Light Tathagata’s land will be very pure, without the slightest bit of defilement.Our Saha World is filled with the Five Turbidities.It is filled with sentient begins’ defiled perspectives.Our perspectives are not pure at all.This is because our perspective is, “Other people are always wrong, but I am right. I should have first claim on all material things. I should receive all the recognition.”Think about this, people nowadays have many such defiled perspectives, not to mention other [turbidities].
This Saha World is truly very turbid.
But, when Sariputra attains Buddhahood in the future, he will do so in a land where everyone is a Bodhisattva.Everyone’s perspectives will be gentle, wholesome and accommodating; no one’s heart will be defiled by turbidities.This is how Bodhisattvas adorn the land with their purity.
Our recycling Bodhisattva’s world is very similar. Anywhere there are recycling Bodhisattvas, the amount of trash decreases and our material resources increase. We hope we will no longer need to constantly extract crude oil [to produce new things]. We can recycle and reuse these material instead. The things in our trash are all treasures. In the Saha World, Bodhisattvas like this protect the earth. Think about it, with the heart of a Bodhisattva, people can naturally purify this land.
So, the Bodhisattva state of mind is what Flower Light Buddha will help them achieve. Everyone in His land will be Bodhisattva. Everyone who gathers in that land will be people who had a karmic affinity with him. But, they still need to diligently advance, aspire to listen to more teachings and accumulate more wisdom and blessed karmic conditions. This is in preparation for them to go into the world to transform sentient beings.
So, there will be many Bodhisattvas there. The great magnificence of that realm cannot [really] be described in words.
The land of Flower Light Buddha will be pure. The Bodhisattvas there are great in number. The magnificence of that realm is difficult to explain in words. Whenever Bodhisattvas wish to walk anywhere, jeweled flowers will spring up beneath their feet.
When they walk, “jeweled flowers spring up beneath their feet”. This means that they have planted blessed seeds, attained the blessed fruit and are very steadfast. With each steady step, they cultivate blessings and wisdom. This is symbolized by flowers springing up beneath their feet. With every move they make, they are diligently cultivating blessings and wisdom.
Jeweled flowers spring up beneath their feet: “Jeweled” means that they are precious and true. “Flowers” represent their blessed causes and good deeds. With the actions and conduct of Bodhisattvas, they carry out the true causes that will enable them to attain Buddhahood.
In the meaning behind “jeweled flowers spring up beneath their feet”, “jeweled” means they are precious and true. In that land, Bodhisattvas who form aspirations and make vows will all be very sincere, and reverent, as well as firm in their resolve. This the meaning of “jeweled”. “Flowers” express that they are creating blessed causes and doing good deeds; these flowers are so magnificent.
Confucius said, “Wealth enriches the house; virtue enriches the body”. When we visit the homes of wealthy people, we can tell whether the family is rich because the architecture and furnishings show off their wealth. On the other hand, virtue can dignify people. We do not need to go to their homes. They do not need to have tangible wealth. They do not need to have tangible wealth. Just by seeing them, respect will arise in our hearts. These are people with character. We can believe whatever they say. Their words carry great weight. This is how “virtue enriches the body”. This comes from the blessed causes and good deeds that they have planted. So, “virtue enriches the body”. It helps people to have faith in us.
In order for people to trust us, we must have faith in the Dharma. Our Root of Faith must be deeply grounded for our resolve to be firm. Only then can we have “the actions and conduct of Bodhisattvas”. Everything we carry out will be “true causes that enable us to attain Buddhahood”. This is what we create through our daily actions.
“These Bodhisattvas are not newly inspired. For a long time, they have cultivated a virtuous foundation”. The Bodhisattvas in the era of Flower Light Buddha will not be just beginning to form aspirations. No. As I just mentioned, for a long time, Sariputra will continue to spread the seeds of love. He will constantly return to the Saha World. Entering into the evil world of Five Turbidities, he will be able to maintain the purity of his mind. As he interacts with people, he will create positive causes and blessings. Then the people who form affinities with him, those who have been purified by him, will be the ones to bring about that land.
These Bodhisattvas are not newly inspired.For a long time, they have cultivated a virtuous foundation:
For a long time, they have cultivated Bodhisattva-practices. So, they are not newly inspired and their roots of goodness have been deeply planted.
Therefore, in this land, Bodhisattvas are considered great treasures that adorn the land. They are not newly-inspired Bodhisattvas. These Bodhisattvas have, for a long time, deeply planted their roots so the roots are now thriving. Thus, they “are not newly inspired.” This also means that their roots of goodness are already deeply planted.
Virtue means goodness Foundation means roots. So, “the merits from doing all good deeds” are achieved over past lives. These merits bring the fruits of Buddhahood and become the virtuous foundation of Bodhi. “They have long cultivated a virtuous foundation and have often been praised by the Buddha.” “They deeply penetrate true wisdom, have wondrous clarity of their true nature and constantly cultivate Buddha-wisdom.”
These are Bodhisattvas who have constantly been praised by the Buddha Sakyamuni Buddha also constantly praised past Bodhisattvas who had come to assist at His Dharma-assembly.
He also constantly praised the many Bodhisattvas who had just formed their initial aspirations. At the beginning of the Lotus Sutra, the Buddha praised each disciple on how, throughout their past lives, they have continually protected their pure minds. But, their great aspirations had yet to be inspired. In order to inspire them to form aspirations, He continually praised them. Thus, they were often praised by all Buddhas Sakyamuni Buddha did this at this assembly. The future Flower Light Buddha will also praise them for “deeply penetrating true wisdom.” This means they “have wondrous clarity of their true nature and constantly cultivate Buddha-wisdom.”This is very important.
We must make an effort to [develop] this wisdom True wisdom is Buddha-wisdom. Buddha-wisdom is our nature of True Suchness. We must return to our nature of True Suchness and explore it .In our nature of True Suchness there is a vow, and we must thoroughly realize it. To do this, we must first take the Buddha’s teachings into our hearts. Then we must [observe] the various appearances of sentient beings. Every sentient being has a different appearance of suffering. They have all accumulated countless causes of suffering and countless conditions for suffering.These causes and conditions of suffering can be seen among the people.
Therefore, “wisdom comes from experience.” This why being among the people is the best place to engage in spiritual practice, as we can verify that what the Buddha taught was the True Dharma. This is how we can give rise to firm faith, understand the law of karma and recognize karmic conditions. To understand the karmic law of cause and effect, we must be mindful and constantly make an effort to do good deeds and crate blessings. “By doing one good deed, we create one portion of blessings.”
So as I mentioned before, we must achieve 32 Marks to attain Buddhahood. We need 100 good deeds in order to attain a blessing. This passage encourages us to make an effort to do good deeds and accumulate blessings. Our virtuous foundation must be pure.Only be going among people with a pure mind to create blessed causes and conditions are we connecting with the Buddha’s mind with utmost sincerity. This is the only way to shoulder the Tathagata’s family business.
In that land adorned by great treasures, there will be countless Bodhisattvas gathered. In this world, perhaps those now walking the Bodhisattvas-path will be among those countless Bodhisattvas in Sariptura’s future as Flower Light Buddha. Those countless Bodhisattvas are currently.Those countless Bodhisattvas are currently practicing the Bodhisattva-path in this Saha World. They are those planting blessed causes and creating blessings among people. Thus, we must have faith and always be mindful.
(Source: Da Ai TV – Wisdom at Dawn program – Explanation by Master Chen-Yen)
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