20150408《靜思妙蓮華》時分有限慧命永恆 (第539集)
（法華經•譬喻品第三）
⊙「乾坤之間器世界，山河陸海非常住，身根壽命人命短，外物遷變生滅相。」
⊙「多諸人眾，一百、二百、乃至五百人，止住其中。堂閣朽故，牆壁隤落，柱根腐敗，梁棟傾危。」《法華經譬喻品第三》
⊙柱根腐敗，梁棟傾危：生命之時分有限，必有敗壞之日。柱根腐敗，喻身根生病，衰老將盡之義。
⊙「周匝俱時，欻然火起，焚燒舍宅。」《法華經 譬喻品第三》
⊙周匝俱時：周匝，喻遍於五蘊。俱時，喻念念同起。塵相對所起心念，前念既滅，後念復生，生已還滅，念念不住，皆悉無常，是名念念壞滅無常。
【證嚴上人開示】
「乾坤之間器世界，山河陸海非常住，身根壽命人命短，外物遷變生滅相。」
乾坤之間器世界
山河陸海非常住
身根壽命人命短
外物遷變生滅相
天下三界如一大宅，天地之間，這個器世界那就是無常，它的無常是四大假合，當然，有假合的形象，就有離開的時候。所以這個「四大」，就像我們人體也是一樣，假合的身體，卻是在這個世間遷變、生滅，包括我們人的身體，包括器世間一切的物質，沒有一項是常住，包括山河陸海，也無法常住。
記得在巴基斯坦一個地震，規模七點八，瞬息間很多房子，這樣倒塌、捎失、毀滅掉；另外就是在海面上，也是瞬間浮起一個小島。來，看到那個小島是無中生有起來，這叫做「成」，已形成。
這個小島，住在海中，「成」我們看到了，「住」，雖然我們不曾去過巴基斯坦，卻是當地人在住，是靠地上物質的房屋，來遮風避雨，住在那個地方，只是一個地震瞬間消滅掉，這樣在影像，媒體看到，所以這能夠見證，佛所說法是真實，只是我們的人命苦短，大地什麼時候「成」？我們不知，不過，我們出生在大地上，我們的親朋好友，說不定過去你都認識。但是，哪怕是我們至親的人，我們的父母、我們的親人，我們都認識的，但是也是已經過去了，陸陸續續，人間的生命苦短，我們看不到。
佛陀說這麼長的時間，那種的成、住、壞、空，我們因為時間不很長，卻是我們在現在這個時代，正好讓我們看到，「成」，那個小島忽然間浮出來，我們看到了，用現在的科技，人不必在那裡，很快的時間，幾秒鐘傳送的影像，及時我們看到了，這能夠證明佛陀所說的，天地之間道理，那就是「三理四相」。這四相，從物理來說是成、住、壞、空，這全都是叫做器世間，所有萬物，沒有一項，不是在這個器世界，成、住、壞、空之中。
過去幾個颱風，在不同的國家、不同的地方也是這樣，山崩了、陸地路斷了、橋斷了，這種氣候不調和，雨過大、風很強，那就是對山河大地就是有損。何況人間，人間為了利益，移山囤海等等，這種「非常住」。用人力去推動，也是大自然的頹毀，這「山河陸海非常住」，何況說我們人的生命，身根壽命，這種的生命真的是短暫。這全都是在我們在天地之間，這個所有的物理、生理，就是這樣的變化無常。所以，有形的器世間，它會遷變不斷，時間愈長，遷變愈大。我們心裡的生、住、異、滅，我們的心起動變化更快，可以造善業，一切的起動變他，也會造很多惡業。
為什麼現在的成、住、壞、空，這麼的頻繁，一直都在發生呢？古時候並沒有這麼多！這樣每天在國際間所發生的，地、水、火、風，是地震、是水災、是火災、是風災。世間上、國際間，能夠常常看，每天都看到，現在就是因為眾生共業，人類的破壞、大自然的破壞，無不都是，從我們心所造作，那個業造出來那個力量，就摧毀一切。這全都是在我們累生累世，一直到現在。古時候就是人倫道德，來維持人的行為，古時候的人很容易不好意思，這不好的事情，不要讓人知道，怕人知道的事情，就比較不敢做。而現在的人，就是不怕人知，所以就很敢做。
有一位中年婦女，用救護車將她的婆婆送來醫院，交給急診室，說：「這就拜託你們。我要趕緊回家，我的孩子在家裡，我現在要煮飯，所以我沒有時間在這裡，我這個婆婆就拜託你們了。」送來的這位婆婆，開始要急救，她就回去了。
其實，這位婆婆在她家，就已經沒呼吸了。聽他們的里長這樣說：「聽到她們婆媳在那裡吵吵鬧鬧，罵得大小聲，罵一罵，婆婆就去客廳裡坐，不知到底是如何，婆婆昏倒了，沒呼吸了。隔壁的人就來告訴她，說，妳這樣也不是辦法，應該要送去醫院，去急救。」卻是送到醫院，這樣丟下她。
急救無效，要向她的家屬說，但是遲遲不來。查她的資料，還有孩子在北部，趕緊通知，那邊的孩子也說：「我現在哪臨時有空？」所以，一位老人急救無效，這樣往生在醫院裡，讓志工就這樣一直去找，找與她有關的親人。
這是現代的現象，人世間，這種人倫道德一直淡薄了。所以這個世間，天地之間，這個大宅這麼多人，一百、二百至五百人，真真正正五分之三，就是畜生、地獄、餓鬼，這三惡道。而二善道，天與人只佔五分之二，再下去到底是多少人在造三惡道業呢？
因為這樣，所以這個大宅已經「堂閣朽故」，已經房子壞了。因為這些人已經，不懂得珍惜這間房子，沒責任感了，對這間房子沒有責任，就是沒有那分愛惜，彼此愛惜，所以堂閣、牆壁，全都隤落了，牆壁也一直壞了。
多諸人眾
一百、二百、
乃至五百人
止住其中
堂閣朽故
牆壁隤落
柱根腐敗
梁棟傾危
《法華經譬喻品第三》
再接下來就說，柱根，就是「柱根腐敗，梁棟傾危」，「柱根腐敗，梁棟傾危」了。這就是表示生命的時分有限，你不論是器世間的壽命，也是有限。哪怕我們的地球，現在科學家都一直在探討，也有人提出。
二一００年這個時候，這個地球上的水等等，與溫度會一直升高。有人就說：「那麼久的事情，與我無關。」其實怎會無關呢？再來世，又幾十年後往生了，來生，還是在這個地球上。那時候氣候又比現在更差，溫度更高，四大更不調和，不斷緊急地遷變，這種的破壞。
這就是在器世間，山河大地，同樣都有它的壽命存在，何況說在天地之間，眾生的生命，不只是人，其他的生物，都是生命之時分有限。都有個限度，到底長長短短，誰知道呢？我常常說，生命長短無人知，但是我們可以把握現在，將生命，我們將它開闊、擴大，擴大心胸，包容世界。這是我們要學的。
我們要行菩薩道，我們要學佛那個智慧覺海，將我們的心胸擴大，讓我們的生命，與這個世界等等都有關，不是只有在這樣，窄窄的一個國家，窄窄的一個縣市，小小的一個鄉村，人只有自己本身和我們的家庭，或者是家業，只有這個範圍和你有關，其他都與你無關，這種的生命不是很窄嗎？所以我們應該，將生命限度能夠開闊，生命要活得有品質、有價值、有深度。所以我們(生命)長短，我們不知，卻是我們自己能夠，拓開我們生命的價值，也能讓我們生命的深度，更有深度。
所 以佛陀要我們信根深又廣，這是過去一直，經典中的譬喻，佛陀的期待，人人要生深信的心，若能夠這樣，所以我們擴大我們生命的時分，不要讓生命的時分，將我們侷限住，我們一秒鐘能發揮很大的力量，所以我們要好好把握時間。凡夫全都是受這個生命時分，將我們侷限住，所以有了這個時分，我們不會去應用，「必有敗壞之日」。一間房子也是一樣，假如你蓋了，裡面沒人住，沒人理它，敗壞會更快，它的壽命會更短。
所以，我們的生命要不斷利用，生命才會長；物質，我們要不斷，去用、去關心，這樣這個物質，才會長，同樣，器世間的道理都相同，我們的生命也是這樣。所以「柱根腐敗」也是譬喻我們的身根，生命衰老將盡的意思。
柱根腐敗
梁棟傾危：
生命之時分有限
必有敗壞之日
柱根腐敗
喻身根生病
衰老將盡之義
其實，雖然生命的時分，是有個侷限，天地萬物的器具，也是有個限量的壽命，但是我們若懂得應用，我們的精神慧命，能長久利益人間。
接下來這段(經)文再說，「周匝俱時，欻然火起，焚燒舍宅。」
周匝俱時
欻然火起
焚燒舍宅
《法華經 譬喻品第三》
「周匝俱時」，「周匝」，就是這個範圍。「俱時」，一個時間。周匝譬喻，遍於五蘊。我們人有個範圍，我們身體的範圍，全都與五蘊有關。
「蘊」就是行蘊，光說我們的身體念念同起，五蘊念念同起。身體，我們的身體裡面，這種的念念同起，我在說話，你們在聽，到底是聽在這個說話的聲音呢？或者是心，想在你的心思？你的雜念與耳根聽法，雜念與聽聞這個法，同時這樣起來。這就是我們每一個人，我們的人身世界，每一個就是一個小乾坤，每一個小乾坤的「蘊」，不斷在運轉。
天地(有)天地蘊的運轉。天已經開始亮了，剛剛還是暗的，它也是在運轉中，在我們不知覺。在我們的身邊周圍，它不斷在運轉。我們自己的小乾坤，也是不斷在運轉，不只是你的念念之間，同時在運轉，連我們的身體也是新陳代謝，生生滅滅，我們的身體，也是在這個蘊在運轉。所以這是同時，「俱時」就是同時，遍於五蘊，在這個五蘊中，所有的器世間，都是在五蘊之中，不知覺中這樣在過，所以我們常常在說，秒鐘不斷這樣過。所以我們的心念也是這樣，一個念間，到底讓你起幾個念頭？心不專，這就是所以叫做凡夫。
周匝俱時
周匝：喻遍於五蘊
俱時：喻念念同起
塵相對所起心念
前念既滅
後念復生
生已還滅
念念不住
皆悉無常
是名念念壞滅無常
「塵相對所起的心念」，我們所看到的都是塵相，有形、有物質，器世間，這全都是有形象，所對的是我們的心念。我們看到這個東西，這個東西是我們的眼睛，對它這個東西，「前念既滅，後念復生」，我眼睛看這裡，花，看這裡，草，看，前念是花，後念是草；現在又看到，是人。這種前念、後念，都同在這個時候，所以「前念既滅，後念復生」，非常快速。「生已還滅，念念不住」，這一念生起來，馬上滅掉，就是這樣念念不住。所以「皆悉無常」，這樣叫做「念念壞滅無常」。
生、住、異、滅，我們的心理；在成、住、壞、空的物理；在我們的身體，生、老、病、死的生理，無不都是全都在五蘊之中。所以「周匝俱時」，所有包含天地之間，萬物、人命一統，都是與我們，連我們的內心都包含在一起，所以叫做「周匝俱時」。
我們要好好把握，在現在這個時間，讓我們的生命，好好來利用在人間，人與人之間，這必定要先自己的心要健全，我們才能夠周圍世界才能平安。所以我們要人人要時時多用心。
Explanations by Master Cheng-Yan
Subject: Our Time is Limited But Our Wisdom-life is Forever (時分有限慧命永恆)
Date: April.08. 2015
“In this world, the realm of physical existence, mountains, rivers, land and oceans, will not exist permanently. The lifespan of the human body is short. External phenomena are transient, with the appearance of arising and ceasing.”
The Three Realms are like a great house. This world, the realm of physical existence, is impermanent because [the objects within it] are temporary unions of the four elements. Of course, temporary unions will one day dissolve. The workings of the four elements also apply to the human body. Our body is a temporary union of elements, so it will undergo changes and arise and cease. Everything, including our physical body and all objects in the realm of physical existence, is impermanent. Not even the mountains, rivers, land or sea will stay the same forever.
Recall the earthquake in Pakistan; it was measured at 7.8 in magnitude. In the blink of an eye, many houses collapsed, disappeared or were destroyed. At the same time, out on the ocean a small island suddenly surfaced. This island seemed to appear out of nowhere. This is “formation”.
After it was formed, this small island “existed” on the ocean. We can see the results of “formation”. As for “existence,” although we have not been to Pakistan, we know that the local people live in houses made from earthen materials for protection against the elements, for shelter from wind and rain. They “exist” in these dwellings, but an earthquake instantly destroyed everything.
We have seen these images in the media. This verifies the truth of the Buddha-Dharma. It is just that human lives are too short [to see this whole process]. When was this planet “formed”? We do not know, nevertheless, we were born here on this earth. Perhaps the people who are our dear friends now were people that we knew in a past life. Yet even if they were the people closest to us, our parents, our loved ones, all those whom we knew already passed away, one by one.
Life in this world is painfully short. We cannot see the long process that the Buddha spoke of, that of formation, existence, decay and disappearance because our time here is not long, yet we live in an age when we happened to see an example of “formation”. That small island suddenly surfaced. We were able to witness this. Because of modern science and technology, we did not need to be there in person. An image could be transmitted to us in just a few seconds so we could see this right away. This verifies the principles the Buddha taught about the workings of the world, the Three Principles and Four States.
The four states of physical matter are formation, existence, decay and disappearance. This happens in the realm of physical existence. Everything we see is a part of the realm of physical existence and undergoes formation, existence, decay and disappearance.
In the past, several typhoons, in various countries and various places, have led to heavy rain and to landsides. Roads and bridges were cut off. This kind of weather is not normal. Too much rain and strong winds can be very harmful to the land, not to mention to the people. For their own profit, humans dig into mountains and fill up the sea. Thus these “will not exist permanently.” Manpower is used to shift things around, which results in decay and ruin in nature. “Mountains, rivers, land and oceans will not exist permanently.”
Then what of the lives of human beings?The lifespan of the human body, our physical life, is truly very short.We can see all this in the world; the principles of matter and of life reflect impermanence and change.So, this tangible realm of physical existence will undergo endless changes.
Over longer periods of time, the changes will be even greater.
The arising, abiding, changing and ceasing that happens in our minds occurs more rapidly.All of these changing [thoughts] that arise can lead us to create much negative karma.Why do we [see the destructive results] of this process of the Four States this process of the Four States so frequently in our time?
In the past, there was not as much of what we now see happening in the world every day, these [disasters of] earth, water, fire and air.
There are earthquakes, floods, wildfires and windstorms.On this planet, all around the world, we constantly see these events occurring.This is happening now because of sentient beings’ collective karma.
The harm caused by humankind, our destruction of nature, comes entirely from our minds.The karma we create is so powerful that it destroys everything.We have accumulated this karma over lifetimes, all the way up until now.
In the past, morality and ethics kept people’s behavior in line.
People were once easily embarrassed.They did not want people to know about the bad things they had done.Afraid that others might find out, they did not dare do those things.
But nowadays, people are not afraid of others knowing, so they dare to do as they please.There was a middle-aged woman who sent her mother-in-law to the emergency room in an ambulance.
She said, “I’m putting her in your hands. I need to rush home. My child is at home, and I need to go make dinner, so I don’t have time to stay here right now. Please take care of my mother-in-law for me.”Just as her mother-in-law was about to be resuscitated, she went home.
In fact, her mother-in-law had stopped breathing back at their house.As her neighborhood head told it, “I heard the two of them arguing. They were yelling very loudly. Then the mother-in-law went to the living room. I don’t know what happened, but she fainted and stopped breathing. The neighbors told the daughter-in-law, “
”There’s nothing else you can do. You have to take her to the emergency room.”But after taking her to the hospital, she left her and went home.Emergency treatment failed, so the hospital needed to speak to the family, but they never showed up.Checking her records, they saw she also had a child living in the north.They immediately contacted him.
He also said, “I don’t have time to deal with this right now.”They were unable to save the old woman, and she passed away in the hospital.Then the volunteers had to go in search of anyone related to her.This is a modern-day phenomenon.
In today’s world, people’s sense of morality is weakening.And so, in this world, between heaven and earth, in this great house of so many people, there are groups of 100, 200, even 500 people.Three out of the five groups are the animal, hell and hungry ghost realms,
These are the Three Evil Realms.The two wholesome realms, the heaven and human, are only two of the five.And in the future, how many people will be creating karma that will lead them to evil realms?
Because of this, in this great house the halls and lofts are decaying and old.The house is run down because these people do not know to cherish it.They have no sense of responsibility.They do not feel responsible for it.They do not care for it, or cherish one another.
So, its halls and lofts are crumbling, and its walls are falling down.
The walls are falling apart.
There were many groups of people, groups of 100, 200, even up to 500, all dwelling within.Its halls and lofts were decaying and old; its walls and partitions were crumbling.
The pillars were rotting at their bases; the beams and columns were dangerously aslant.
Next we will discuss the pillars. “The pillars were rotting at their bases; the beams and columns were dangerously aslant”. Rotting pillars and precarious beams and columns represent how our lifetime is limited. In this realm of physical existence, not only will our life come to an end, our entire planet will as well.
Right now, scientists are investigating this. People have brought up the idea that by the year 2100, the sea levels will rise, as will the average temperature. Some people say, “Something so far in the future has nothing to do with me”. How can it have nothing to do with you? In your next life, you will, once again, live for several decades. After that, you will still be reborn on Earth. By that time, the atmosphere will be worse, the temperature will be higher and the four elements will be even more out of balance. There will be rapid and radical fluctuations, causing much destruction. Thus, in this realm of physical existence, even the mountains and rivers have their own lifespan, to say nothing of all sentient beings in this world; it is not just humans, all living beings have a limited lifespan. Their lives will one day come to can end.Who know if their life will be long or short?
I always say that no one knows the length of their life, but we can grasp every moment to broaden and expand the scope of our lives and open our hearts to encompass the world. This is what we must learn. We must follow the Bodhisattva-path and develop the Buddha’s ocean of enlightened wisdom. We must open up or hearts so [we see that] our live connect to all aspects of this world. We cannot narrow our focus to only our own country, our one city or our tiny little village. We cannot just focus on ourselves and our family or our family business. If we decide that this is the scope of our lives and nothing else has anything to do with us, aren’t we living a really limited life?
Therefore, we should expand the boundaries of our lives. We must live a life of excellent character, of value and of depth. We cannot know how long our life will last, but we can expand it to give it more value and deepen it to make it more meaningful. This is why the Buddha wanted our Roots of Faith to be deep and extensive.
In the past, this was what was taught with the parables in the sutra. The Buddha hoped that everyone would deepen their faith. If we are able to do this, we can expand what we can do with our limited time.
We cannot allow time to limit us. In a mere second, we can exert great power. So, we must seize the time we have ordinary people always feel limited by time. Ordinary people always feel limited by time. But even with the time that they do have, they may not know how to make good use of it.
“[Our body] will disintegrate someday”. We are just like a house. If a house is boarded up, without anyone living there or caring for it, it will disintegrate much more quickly. Its life will be shortened. Thus, we must constantly make use of our lives in order to extend them, just as we must make use of and care for our material possessions, so that they will last longer.
The principles of all material objects are the same, as are the working of our own lives. So, “The pillars were rotting at their bases” is an analogy for our physical body when it is old and feeble and close to its end.
“The pillars were rotting at their bases: the beams and columns are dangerously aslant: The amount of time we are alive is limited. Our body will disintegrate someday. The pillars rotting at their bases is an analogy for a body that is ill, feeble and close to its end”.
Actually, just as there is a limit to our lifespan, everything in this world is subject to a limited lifespan. But if we know how to make use of our life, our spirit and wisdom-life can benefit the world for a long time. The next sutra passage states,
“All at once, throughout this area, a fire broke out, setting the house ablaze”.
“All at once, throughout this area…”. “Throughout this area” refers to what is within certain extent. “All at once” refers to a period of time. “Throughout this area” is also an analogy for the pervasiveness of the Five Aggregates. We humans also have a certain extent; the extent of our body is all tied to the Five Aggregates. The “aggregates” are infinitesimal changes. In each of us, all kinds of thoughts arise at once under the influence of the Five Aggregates. Within us, within each of our bodies, all kinds of thoughts arise at once.
I am speaking and you are listening, but do you truly hear my words, or is your mind thinking about something else? If you have scattered thoughts as your ears hear the teachings, your discursive thoughts and the Dharma you hear are in your mind at the same time. This is because, for all of us, our body is a world unto itself Each body is a microcosm.Each microcosm has its own aggregates, constantly experiencing its own cycle of changes.
Having and earth have their own aggregates and cycle of changes The sky has already begun to lighten. Not long ago it was still dark It is also undergoing changes although we are not aware of them. As things in our immediate surroundings change continuously, the microcosm of our body is also unceasingly experiencing changes. Not only are our thoughts constantly changing, even our bodies are undergoing metabolism. With this constant arising and ceasing, our bodies are always under the influence of the Five Aggregates. All this happens at the same time.
“All at once” means at the same time.The pervasiveness of the Five Aggregates means that it is only through the aggregates that we experience this realm of physical existence, whether we are consciously aware of it or not. So, we always say that the seconds pass without pause. This is also true of thoughts arising in our minds. In the time of one thought, how many thoughts actually arise?We are unfocused, thus we are unenlightened beings.
All at once, throughout area: Throughout this area is an analogy for the extent to which we are influence by the Five Aggregates. All at once is an analogy for how our thoughts simultaneously arise. Thoughts arise in response to the sense organs coming into contact with the sense objects. As the previous thought ceases, the next thought arises What had arisen has now ceased; none of the thoughts abide. All this is impermanent. Thus all thoughts cease and are impermanent.
“Thoughts arise in response to the sense organs coming into contact with the sense objects” Everything we see is a sense object Tangible, material things in this physical realm all have appearances; what responds to them is our minds. When we see something, it is our eyes that are connecting to that thing.Then our mind is immediately filled with its appearance.
“As the previous thought ceases, the next arises.” If my eyes look here and see a flower, then look over there and see grass, my first thought is of flowers and my next about grass. Next I see people. These sequential thoughts are all arising at this time.
“As the previous thought ceases, the next arises” This happens very quickly. “What had arisen, has now ceased, none of the thoughts abide.” As some thoughts arise, others immediately cease. This is how thoughts do not abide. Thus, “All this is impermanent.” So we say, “All thoughts cease and are impermanent.” Each arises, abides, changes and ceases. This is the principle of mind. The principle of matter is the process of formation, existence, decay and disappearance.For our body, birth, aging, illness, death is the principle of life. All of this is part of the workings of Five Aggregates.
Thus, “throughout this area, all at once” includes everything on earth. It applies to all things and human life. It even encompasses our minds. It even encompasses our minds. This is “throughout this area, all at once.”
We must do our best to seize the time right now, so we can make good use of our lifetime in this world and our relationships. We must develop a healthy mind before we are able to bring peace to our surroundings. Therefore, we must always be mindful.
(Source: Da Ai TV – Wisdom at Dawn program – Explanation by Master Chen-Yen)
（法華經•譬喻品第三）
⊙「乾坤之間器世界，山河陸海非常住，身根壽命人命短，外物遷變生滅相。」
⊙「多諸人眾，一百、二百、乃至五百人，止住其中。堂閣朽故，牆壁隤落，柱根腐敗，梁棟傾危。」《法華經譬喻品第三》
⊙柱根腐敗，梁棟傾危：生命之時分有限，必有敗壞之日。柱根腐敗，喻身根生病，衰老將盡之義。
⊙「周匝俱時，欻然火起，焚燒舍宅。」《法華經 譬喻品第三》
⊙周匝俱時：周匝，喻遍於五蘊。俱時，喻念念同起。塵相對所起心念，前念既滅，後念復生，生已還滅，念念不住，皆悉無常，是名念念壞滅無常。
【證嚴上人開示】
「乾坤之間器世界，山河陸海非常住，身根壽命人命短，外物遷變生滅相。」
乾坤之間器世界
山河陸海非常住
身根壽命人命短
外物遷變生滅相
天下三界如一大宅，天地之間，這個器世界那就是無常，它的無常是四大假合，當然，有假合的形象，就有離開的時候。所以這個「四大」，就像我們人體也是一樣，假合的身體，卻是在這個世間遷變、生滅，包括我們人的身體，包括器世間一切的物質，沒有一項是常住，包括山河陸海，也無法常住。
記得在巴基斯坦一個地震，規模七點八，瞬息間很多房子，這樣倒塌、捎失、毀滅掉；另外就是在海面上，也是瞬間浮起一個小島。來，看到那個小島是無中生有起來，這叫做「成」，已形成。
這個小島，住在海中，「成」我們看到了，「住」，雖然我們不曾去過巴基斯坦，卻是當地人在住，是靠地上物質的房屋，來遮風避雨，住在那個地方，只是一個地震瞬間消滅掉，這樣在影像，媒體看到，所以這能夠見證，佛所說法是真實，只是我們的人命苦短，大地什麼時候「成」？我們不知，不過，我們出生在大地上，我們的親朋好友，說不定過去你都認識。但是，哪怕是我們至親的人，我們的父母、我們的親人，我們都認識的，但是也是已經過去了，陸陸續續，人間的生命苦短，我們看不到。
佛陀說這麼長的時間，那種的成、住、壞、空，我們因為時間不很長，卻是我們在現在這個時代，正好讓我們看到，「成」，那個小島忽然間浮出來，我們看到了，用現在的科技，人不必在那裡，很快的時間，幾秒鐘傳送的影像，及時我們看到了，這能夠證明佛陀所說的，天地之間道理，那就是「三理四相」。這四相，從物理來說是成、住、壞、空，這全都是叫做器世間，所有萬物，沒有一項，不是在這個器世界，成、住、壞、空之中。
過去幾個颱風，在不同的國家、不同的地方也是這樣，山崩了、陸地路斷了、橋斷了，這種氣候不調和，雨過大、風很強，那就是對山河大地就是有損。何況人間，人間為了利益，移山囤海等等，這種「非常住」。用人力去推動，也是大自然的頹毀，這「山河陸海非常住」，何況說我們人的生命，身根壽命，這種的生命真的是短暫。這全都是在我們在天地之間，這個所有的物理、生理，就是這樣的變化無常。所以，有形的器世間，它會遷變不斷，時間愈長，遷變愈大。我們心裡的生、住、異、滅，我們的心起動變化更快，可以造善業，一切的起動變他，也會造很多惡業。
為什麼現在的成、住、壞、空，這麼的頻繁，一直都在發生呢？古時候並沒有這麼多！這樣每天在國際間所發生的，地、水、火、風，是地震、是水災、是火災、是風災。世間上、國際間，能夠常常看，每天都看到，現在就是因為眾生共業，人類的破壞、大自然的破壞，無不都是，從我們心所造作，那個業造出來那個力量，就摧毀一切。這全都是在我們累生累世，一直到現在。古時候就是人倫道德，來維持人的行為，古時候的人很容易不好意思，這不好的事情，不要讓人知道，怕人知道的事情，就比較不敢做。而現在的人，就是不怕人知，所以就很敢做。
有一位中年婦女，用救護車將她的婆婆送來醫院，交給急診室，說：「這就拜託你們。我要趕緊回家，我的孩子在家裡，我現在要煮飯，所以我沒有時間在這裡，我這個婆婆就拜託你們了。」送來的這位婆婆，開始要急救，她就回去了。
其實，這位婆婆在她家，就已經沒呼吸了。聽他們的里長這樣說：「聽到她們婆媳在那裡吵吵鬧鬧，罵得大小聲，罵一罵，婆婆就去客廳裡坐，不知到底是如何，婆婆昏倒了，沒呼吸了。隔壁的人就來告訴她，說，妳這樣也不是辦法，應該要送去醫院，去急救。」卻是送到醫院，這樣丟下她。
急救無效，要向她的家屬說，但是遲遲不來。查她的資料，還有孩子在北部，趕緊通知，那邊的孩子也說：「我現在哪臨時有空？」所以，一位老人急救無效，這樣往生在醫院裡，讓志工就這樣一直去找，找與她有關的親人。
這是現代的現象，人世間，這種人倫道德一直淡薄了。所以這個世間，天地之間，這個大宅這麼多人，一百、二百至五百人，真真正正五分之三，就是畜生、地獄、餓鬼，這三惡道。而二善道，天與人只佔五分之二，再下去到底是多少人在造三惡道業呢？
因為這樣，所以這個大宅已經「堂閣朽故」，已經房子壞了。因為這些人已經，不懂得珍惜這間房子，沒責任感了，對這間房子沒有責任，就是沒有那分愛惜，彼此愛惜，所以堂閣、牆壁，全都隤落了，牆壁也一直壞了。
多諸人眾
一百、二百、
乃至五百人
止住其中
堂閣朽故
牆壁隤落
柱根腐敗
梁棟傾危
《法華經譬喻品第三》
再接下來就說，柱根，就是「柱根腐敗，梁棟傾危」，「柱根腐敗，梁棟傾危」了。這就是表示生命的時分有限，你不論是器世間的壽命，也是有限。哪怕我們的地球，現在科學家都一直在探討，也有人提出。
二一００年這個時候，這個地球上的水等等，與溫度會一直升高。有人就說：「那麼久的事情，與我無關。」其實怎會無關呢？再來世，又幾十年後往生了，來生，還是在這個地球上。那時候氣候又比現在更差，溫度更高，四大更不調和，不斷緊急地遷變，這種的破壞。
這就是在器世間，山河大地，同樣都有它的壽命存在，何況說在天地之間，眾生的生命，不只是人，其他的生物，都是生命之時分有限。都有個限度，到底長長短短，誰知道呢？我常常說，生命長短無人知，但是我們可以把握現在，將生命，我們將它開闊、擴大，擴大心胸，包容世界。這是我們要學的。
我們要行菩薩道，我們要學佛那個智慧覺海，將我們的心胸擴大，讓我們的生命，與這個世界等等都有關，不是只有在這樣，窄窄的一個國家，窄窄的一個縣市，小小的一個鄉村，人只有自己本身和我們的家庭，或者是家業，只有這個範圍和你有關，其他都與你無關，這種的生命不是很窄嗎？所以我們應該，將生命限度能夠開闊，生命要活得有品質、有價值、有深度。所以我們(生命)長短，我們不知，卻是我們自己能夠，拓開我們生命的價值，也能讓我們生命的深度，更有深度。
所 以佛陀要我們信根深又廣，這是過去一直，經典中的譬喻，佛陀的期待，人人要生深信的心，若能夠這樣，所以我們擴大我們生命的時分，不要讓生命的時分，將我們侷限住，我們一秒鐘能發揮很大的力量，所以我們要好好把握時間。凡夫全都是受這個生命時分，將我們侷限住，所以有了這個時分，我們不會去應用，「必有敗壞之日」。一間房子也是一樣，假如你蓋了，裡面沒人住，沒人理它，敗壞會更快，它的壽命會更短。
所以，我們的生命要不斷利用，生命才會長；物質，我們要不斷，去用、去關心，這樣這個物質，才會長，同樣，器世間的道理都相同，我們的生命也是這樣。所以「柱根腐敗」也是譬喻我們的身根，生命衰老將盡的意思。
柱根腐敗
梁棟傾危：
生命之時分有限
必有敗壞之日
柱根腐敗
喻身根生病
衰老將盡之義
其實，雖然生命的時分，是有個侷限，天地萬物的器具，也是有個限量的壽命，但是我們若懂得應用，我們的精神慧命，能長久利益人間。
接下來這段(經)文再說，「周匝俱時，欻然火起，焚燒舍宅。」
周匝俱時
欻然火起
焚燒舍宅
《法華經 譬喻品第三》
「周匝俱時」，「周匝」，就是這個範圍。「俱時」，一個時間。周匝譬喻，遍於五蘊。我們人有個範圍，我們身體的範圍，全都與五蘊有關。
「蘊」就是行蘊，光說我們的身體念念同起，五蘊念念同起。身體，我們的身體裡面，這種的念念同起，我在說話，你們在聽，到底是聽在這個說話的聲音呢？或者是心，想在你的心思？你的雜念與耳根聽法，雜念與聽聞這個法，同時這樣起來。這就是我們每一個人，我們的人身世界，每一個就是一個小乾坤，每一個小乾坤的「蘊」，不斷在運轉。
天地(有)天地蘊的運轉。天已經開始亮了，剛剛還是暗的，它也是在運轉中，在我們不知覺。在我們的身邊周圍，它不斷在運轉。我們自己的小乾坤，也是不斷在運轉，不只是你的念念之間，同時在運轉，連我們的身體也是新陳代謝，生生滅滅，我們的身體，也是在這個蘊在運轉。所以這是同時，「俱時」就是同時，遍於五蘊，在這個五蘊中，所有的器世間，都是在五蘊之中，不知覺中這樣在過，所以我們常常在說，秒鐘不斷這樣過。所以我們的心念也是這樣，一個念間，到底讓你起幾個念頭？心不專，這就是所以叫做凡夫。
周匝俱時
周匝：喻遍於五蘊
俱時：喻念念同起
塵相對所起心念
前念既滅
後念復生
生已還滅
念念不住
皆悉無常
是名念念壞滅無常
「塵相對所起的心念」，我們所看到的都是塵相，有形、有物質，器世間，這全都是有形象，所對的是我們的心念。我們看到這個東西，這個東西是我們的眼睛，對它這個東西，「前念既滅，後念復生」，我眼睛看這裡，花，看這裡，草，看，前念是花，後念是草；現在又看到，是人。這種前念、後念，都同在這個時候，所以「前念既滅，後念復生」，非常快速。「生已還滅，念念不住」，這一念生起來，馬上滅掉，就是這樣念念不住。所以「皆悉無常」，這樣叫做「念念壞滅無常」。
生、住、異、滅，我們的心理；在成、住、壞、空的物理；在我們的身體，生、老、病、死的生理，無不都是全都在五蘊之中。所以「周匝俱時」，所有包含天地之間，萬物、人命一統，都是與我們，連我們的內心都包含在一起，所以叫做「周匝俱時」。
我們要好好把握，在現在這個時間，讓我們的生命，好好來利用在人間，人與人之間，這必定要先自己的心要健全，我們才能夠周圍世界才能平安。所以我們要人人要時時多用心。
Explanations by Master Cheng-Yan
Subject: Our Time is Limited But Our Wisdom-life is Forever (時分有限慧命永恆)
Date: April.08. 2015
“In this world, the realm of physical existence, mountains, rivers, land and oceans, will not exist permanently. The lifespan of the human body is short. External phenomena are transient, with the appearance of arising and ceasing.”
The Three Realms are like a great house. This world, the realm of physical existence, is impermanent because [the objects within it] are temporary unions of the four elements. Of course, temporary unions will one day dissolve. The workings of the four elements also apply to the human body. Our body is a temporary union of elements, so it will undergo changes and arise and cease. Everything, including our physical body and all objects in the realm of physical existence, is impermanent. Not even the mountains, rivers, land or sea will stay the same forever.
Recall the earthquake in Pakistan; it was measured at 7.8 in magnitude. In the blink of an eye, many houses collapsed, disappeared or were destroyed. At the same time, out on the ocean a small island suddenly surfaced. This island seemed to appear out of nowhere. This is “formation”.
After it was formed, this small island “existed” on the ocean. We can see the results of “formation”. As for “existence,” although we have not been to Pakistan, we know that the local people live in houses made from earthen materials for protection against the elements, for shelter from wind and rain. They “exist” in these dwellings, but an earthquake instantly destroyed everything.
We have seen these images in the media. This verifies the truth of the Buddha-Dharma. It is just that human lives are too short [to see this whole process]. When was this planet “formed”? We do not know, nevertheless, we were born here on this earth. Perhaps the people who are our dear friends now were people that we knew in a past life. Yet even if they were the people closest to us, our parents, our loved ones, all those whom we knew already passed away, one by one.
Life in this world is painfully short. We cannot see the long process that the Buddha spoke of, that of formation, existence, decay and disappearance because our time here is not long, yet we live in an age when we happened to see an example of “formation”. That small island suddenly surfaced. We were able to witness this. Because of modern science and technology, we did not need to be there in person. An image could be transmitted to us in just a few seconds so we could see this right away. This verifies the principles the Buddha taught about the workings of the world, the Three Principles and Four States.
The four states of physical matter are formation, existence, decay and disappearance. This happens in the realm of physical existence. Everything we see is a part of the realm of physical existence and undergoes formation, existence, decay and disappearance.
In the past, several typhoons, in various countries and various places, have led to heavy rain and to landsides. Roads and bridges were cut off. This kind of weather is not normal. Too much rain and strong winds can be very harmful to the land, not to mention to the people. For their own profit, humans dig into mountains and fill up the sea. Thus these “will not exist permanently.” Manpower is used to shift things around, which results in decay and ruin in nature. “Mountains, rivers, land and oceans will not exist permanently.”
Then what of the lives of human beings?The lifespan of the human body, our physical life, is truly very short.We can see all this in the world; the principles of matter and of life reflect impermanence and change.So, this tangible realm of physical existence will undergo endless changes.
Over longer periods of time, the changes will be even greater.
The arising, abiding, changing and ceasing that happens in our minds occurs more rapidly.All of these changing [thoughts] that arise can lead us to create much negative karma.Why do we [see the destructive results] of this process of the Four States this process of the Four States so frequently in our time?
In the past, there was not as much of what we now see happening in the world every day, these [disasters of] earth, water, fire and air.
There are earthquakes, floods, wildfires and windstorms.On this planet, all around the world, we constantly see these events occurring.This is happening now because of sentient beings’ collective karma.
The harm caused by humankind, our destruction of nature, comes entirely from our minds.The karma we create is so powerful that it destroys everything.We have accumulated this karma over lifetimes, all the way up until now.
In the past, morality and ethics kept people’s behavior in line.
People were once easily embarrassed.They did not want people to know about the bad things they had done.Afraid that others might find out, they did not dare do those things.
But nowadays, people are not afraid of others knowing, so they dare to do as they please.There was a middle-aged woman who sent her mother-in-law to the emergency room in an ambulance.
She said, “I’m putting her in your hands. I need to rush home. My child is at home, and I need to go make dinner, so I don’t have time to stay here right now. Please take care of my mother-in-law for me.”Just as her mother-in-law was about to be resuscitated, she went home.
In fact, her mother-in-law had stopped breathing back at their house.As her neighborhood head told it, “I heard the two of them arguing. They were yelling very loudly. Then the mother-in-law went to the living room. I don’t know what happened, but she fainted and stopped breathing. The neighbors told the daughter-in-law, “
”There’s nothing else you can do. You have to take her to the emergency room.”But after taking her to the hospital, she left her and went home.Emergency treatment failed, so the hospital needed to speak to the family, but they never showed up.Checking her records, they saw she also had a child living in the north.They immediately contacted him.
He also said, “I don’t have time to deal with this right now.”They were unable to save the old woman, and she passed away in the hospital.Then the volunteers had to go in search of anyone related to her.This is a modern-day phenomenon.
In today’s world, people’s sense of morality is weakening.And so, in this world, between heaven and earth, in this great house of so many people, there are groups of 100, 200, even 500 people.Three out of the five groups are the animal, hell and hungry ghost realms,
These are the Three Evil Realms.The two wholesome realms, the heaven and human, are only two of the five.And in the future, how many people will be creating karma that will lead them to evil realms?
Because of this, in this great house the halls and lofts are decaying and old.The house is run down because these people do not know to cherish it.They have no sense of responsibility.They do not feel responsible for it.They do not care for it, or cherish one another.
So, its halls and lofts are crumbling, and its walls are falling down.
The walls are falling apart.
There were many groups of people, groups of 100, 200, even up to 500, all dwelling within.Its halls and lofts were decaying and old; its walls and partitions were crumbling.
The pillars were rotting at their bases; the beams and columns were dangerously aslant.
Next we will discuss the pillars. “The pillars were rotting at their bases; the beams and columns were dangerously aslant”. Rotting pillars and precarious beams and columns represent how our lifetime is limited. In this realm of physical existence, not only will our life come to an end, our entire planet will as well.
Right now, scientists are investigating this. People have brought up the idea that by the year 2100, the sea levels will rise, as will the average temperature. Some people say, “Something so far in the future has nothing to do with me”. How can it have nothing to do with you? In your next life, you will, once again, live for several decades. After that, you will still be reborn on Earth. By that time, the atmosphere will be worse, the temperature will be higher and the four elements will be even more out of balance. There will be rapid and radical fluctuations, causing much destruction. Thus, in this realm of physical existence, even the mountains and rivers have their own lifespan, to say nothing of all sentient beings in this world; it is not just humans, all living beings have a limited lifespan. Their lives will one day come to can end.Who know if their life will be long or short?
I always say that no one knows the length of their life, but we can grasp every moment to broaden and expand the scope of our lives and open our hearts to encompass the world. This is what we must learn. We must follow the Bodhisattva-path and develop the Buddha’s ocean of enlightened wisdom. We must open up or hearts so [we see that] our live connect to all aspects of this world. We cannot narrow our focus to only our own country, our one city or our tiny little village. We cannot just focus on ourselves and our family or our family business. If we decide that this is the scope of our lives and nothing else has anything to do with us, aren’t we living a really limited life?
Therefore, we should expand the boundaries of our lives. We must live a life of excellent character, of value and of depth. We cannot know how long our life will last, but we can expand it to give it more value and deepen it to make it more meaningful. This is why the Buddha wanted our Roots of Faith to be deep and extensive.
In the past, this was what was taught with the parables in the sutra. The Buddha hoped that everyone would deepen their faith. If we are able to do this, we can expand what we can do with our limited time.
We cannot allow time to limit us. In a mere second, we can exert great power. So, we must seize the time we have ordinary people always feel limited by time. Ordinary people always feel limited by time. But even with the time that they do have, they may not know how to make good use of it.
“[Our body] will disintegrate someday”. We are just like a house. If a house is boarded up, without anyone living there or caring for it, it will disintegrate much more quickly. Its life will be shortened. Thus, we must constantly make use of our lives in order to extend them, just as we must make use of and care for our material possessions, so that they will last longer.
The principles of all material objects are the same, as are the working of our own lives. So, “The pillars were rotting at their bases” is an analogy for our physical body when it is old and feeble and close to its end.
“The pillars were rotting at their bases: the beams and columns are dangerously aslant: The amount of time we are alive is limited. Our body will disintegrate someday. The pillars rotting at their bases is an analogy for a body that is ill, feeble and close to its end”.
Actually, just as there is a limit to our lifespan, everything in this world is subject to a limited lifespan. But if we know how to make use of our life, our spirit and wisdom-life can benefit the world for a long time. The next sutra passage states,
“All at once, throughout this area, a fire broke out, setting the house ablaze”.
“All at once, throughout this area…”. “Throughout this area” refers to what is within certain extent. “All at once” refers to a period of time. “Throughout this area” is also an analogy for the pervasiveness of the Five Aggregates. We humans also have a certain extent; the extent of our body is all tied to the Five Aggregates. The “aggregates” are infinitesimal changes. In each of us, all kinds of thoughts arise at once under the influence of the Five Aggregates. Within us, within each of our bodies, all kinds of thoughts arise at once.
I am speaking and you are listening, but do you truly hear my words, or is your mind thinking about something else? If you have scattered thoughts as your ears hear the teachings, your discursive thoughts and the Dharma you hear are in your mind at the same time. This is because, for all of us, our body is a world unto itself Each body is a microcosm.Each microcosm has its own aggregates, constantly experiencing its own cycle of changes.
Having and earth have their own aggregates and cycle of changes The sky has already begun to lighten. Not long ago it was still dark It is also undergoing changes although we are not aware of them. As things in our immediate surroundings change continuously, the microcosm of our body is also unceasingly experiencing changes. Not only are our thoughts constantly changing, even our bodies are undergoing metabolism. With this constant arising and ceasing, our bodies are always under the influence of the Five Aggregates. All this happens at the same time.
“All at once” means at the same time.The pervasiveness of the Five Aggregates means that it is only through the aggregates that we experience this realm of physical existence, whether we are consciously aware of it or not. So, we always say that the seconds pass without pause. This is also true of thoughts arising in our minds. In the time of one thought, how many thoughts actually arise?We are unfocused, thus we are unenlightened beings.
All at once, throughout area: Throughout this area is an analogy for the extent to which we are influence by the Five Aggregates. All at once is an analogy for how our thoughts simultaneously arise. Thoughts arise in response to the sense organs coming into contact with the sense objects. As the previous thought ceases, the next thought arises What had arisen has now ceased; none of the thoughts abide. All this is impermanent. Thus all thoughts cease and are impermanent.
“Thoughts arise in response to the sense organs coming into contact with the sense objects” Everything we see is a sense object Tangible, material things in this physical realm all have appearances; what responds to them is our minds. When we see something, it is our eyes that are connecting to that thing.Then our mind is immediately filled with its appearance.
“As the previous thought ceases, the next arises.” If my eyes look here and see a flower, then look over there and see grass, my first thought is of flowers and my next about grass. Next I see people. These sequential thoughts are all arising at this time.
“As the previous thought ceases, the next arises” This happens very quickly. “What had arisen, has now ceased, none of the thoughts abide.” As some thoughts arise, others immediately cease. This is how thoughts do not abide. Thus, “All this is impermanent.” So we say, “All thoughts cease and are impermanent.” Each arises, abides, changes and ceases. This is the principle of mind. The principle of matter is the process of formation, existence, decay and disappearance.For our body, birth, aging, illness, death is the principle of life. All of this is part of the workings of Five Aggregates.
Thus, “throughout this area, all at once” includes everything on earth. It applies to all things and human life. It even encompasses our minds. It even encompasses our minds. This is “throughout this area, all at once.”
We must do our best to seize the time right now, so we can make good use of our lifetime in this world and our relationships. We must develop a healthy mind before we are able to bring peace to our surroundings. Therefore, we must always be mindful.
(Source: Da Ai TV – Wisdom at Dawn program – Explanation by Master Chen-Yen)
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