20150626《靜思妙蓮華》貪愛苦報戒慎六根(第596集)
（法華經•譬喻品第三）
⊙「慎莫等待苦相現，色聲物欲互牽引，貪愛耽著是苦因，三界火宅是苦果。」
⊙「如來亦復如是，雖有力、無所畏而不用之，但以智慧方便，於三界火宅拔濟眾生，為說三乘聲聞、辟支佛、佛乘。」《法華經譬喻品第三》
⊙「而作是言：汝等莫得樂住三界火宅，勿貪麤弊色聲香味觸也！若貪著生愛，則為所燒。」《法華經譬喻品第三》
⊙佛慈悲愍眾生殷切叮嚀，汝等莫得樂住三界火宅勿貪等，是警示集諦，以貪愛是苦果之因。
⊙戒慎六根緣境防非，謹言慎行止惡，內心動念起行持正意念。慎防意識，勿貪麤弊五塵為外境牽纏。
⊙若貪著生愛，則為所燒：三界火宅，此內外之苦果體相，若貪著之，雖有出世無漏之種子，均為無明之火所燒。
【證嚴上人開示】
「慎莫等待苦相現，色聲物欲互牽引，貪愛耽著是苦因，三界火宅是苦果。」
慎莫等待苦相現
色聲物欲互牽引
貪愛耽著是苦因
三界火宅是苦果
每天我們都這樣在說，相信人人也是這樣聽。平時的生活真的要自我警惕，修行就是從心起念，一念心能夠時時謹慎，聽佛法之後，應該法在心中，要時時謹慎。不要等，不要等到真的這個苦，已經逼近我們的身，才開始要知苦，這樣就太遲了。
我們要相信佛所說法，苦諦，我們一定要相信；相信，我們就要謹慎；謹慎，我們就要趕緊身體力行，堅持不要去造惡，非理、非善，絕對不要做，所以一定要堅持行善、造福。
所以不要等待到苦相現前，才來說：「好啦！我這樣要改了。」這樣就太遲了。所以，時時要警惕色、聲、物欲。我們的身，不只是要持素食，我們還要戒，戒什麼呢？戒聲、色、物欲。男女情欲，有的人就是那種色心，大人說「色膽包天」，知道世間多少家庭悲劇，或者是悲慘的事情發生在人間，那就是因為男女色欲。
在不多久以前看到這則新聞。那就是有一位，他已經在外面打拚在做生意，也常常寄錢回家。這位太太她吃穿免擔憂，都是在外面和人這樣玩，歌場或者是舞廳，這樣就交了很多，不同的男朋友了。先生回來了，感覺太太很奇怪，到底在忙什麼呢呢？生活這麼安定，孩子也認真在讀書，這個太太到底在忙什麼呢？開始心起懷疑了，就這樣去僱徵信社，開始去跟、去跟蹤，發現到太太不只是在娛樂玩的，這種男女關係已經出軌了。
所以先生非常的生氣，有一天喝酒回來，就就向他的太太說：「妳以為我不知道嗎？我都知道，妳某時某日在哪一間舞廳，和人帶出去，在哪一間旅社，等等。」一五一十就向他的太太發脾氣。
太太她也不認輸，「這麼久的時間你都不在家，這期間你有顧家嗎？」先生就說：「我按月寄錢回來給妳，我是如何沒有顧家庭？」太太就說：「人生的生活不是只有錢，這樣就叫快樂。人生必定要有物欲，這個色，這個身體，身體也要有發洩，你不知道嗎？」先生就很生氣，「我這樣拖暝、像牛在拖，生意在做、工這樣去做，我都能專心為家，為什麼妳不能專心顧家？」起了衝突，他發起脾氣來，拿刀就將太太的身體凌遲，一直到太太往生了。
這就是「色聲物欲互牽引」。這種聲啊、色啊、或者是物欲等等，社會多少的新聞，每天，好像沒有一天，新聞上所沒有這些聲、色，物欲所造成的業，都有。這種作業，好像在人類社會，一直就是這樣在重演。
所以「貪愛耽著是苦因」，這就是一個「貪」字。貪啊，貪己所欲，「只要我歡喜，沒什麼不可以的事情。」「我愛的東西，我就是要。」所以物質的貪婪，所以一直貪著，做事業、生意也是同樣這樣，貪婪無度，所以就造成了人間，這種迷失方向，這就是苦因。
「三界火宅就是苦果」。我們人就是這樣，造作這麼多苦的因，所以眾生彼此之間長久，長久的意思，就是從過去生的過去生，無量數劫以來，我們在五道輪迴，與人結的緣、所造的惡、所欠的債，來這一生，雖然過去有造福，來這一世，做事業或者是生活，很享受，卻也是有冤家債主。
忽然間這個業力一起，冤家債主呈現出來，造成了我們身敗名裂，種種的方法，這在現在的新聞也是常常有。為什麼忽然間會變成這樣？不是做得很好嗎？這也有過去的冤家債主，所以這叫做「業」現前，一點都由不得自己。
就如悟達國師，十世以前他所造的惡，不過十世當中就是守規戒，所以那個業無法靠近身來。一直到他成名了，一國之主皇帝的敬愛、恭敬，賜他這麼豐富的環境，讓他起了驕傲的心，這個驕傲的心就是戒體漏失，所以這個業就進來了。受了這麼大「人面瘡」的折磨，他想到迦諾迦尊者，那個時候的約定，所以隨著那個約定，他去找他了，這樣解冤釋結了，三昧水洗滌了他過去的冤業。
業，這就是現前時。就是因為有這個貪，貪著。雖然我這輩子沒有做什麼，我這輩子怎麼受這麼多的障礙？明明就做很多的好事，為什麼有人，還在背後不斷地毀謗、還有人評頭論足等等，這是什麼呢？業啊！業力現前，感恩啊！有了現前一次，就消了一回，我們所還的債，就是又勾銷一筆了。要抱著這種感恩心，業力現前，感恩接受，這樣歡喜還，業就比較輕了。
「萬般帶不去，唯有業隨身」。往生了，其他都帶不去，唯有業隨身，帶著這個苦因去。這叫做「耽著」，「貪愛耽著是苦因」，就是帶著這個苦因的種子去了，來生來世這樣還。
這都一直在三界之中，在物欲，這個欲——色聲香味觸等等，引起了我們很多的苦。家庭的苦、社會不平靜的苦、天災、人禍的苦，很多的苦，這是在三界內的苦果，我們現在若是得到什麼樣的，這就是共業來的苦，天災、人禍等等。
所以我們上面經文是這樣說，「如來亦復如是，雖有力、無所畏而不用之」。
如來亦復如是
雖有力
無所畏而不用之
但以智慧方便
於三界火宅
拔濟眾生
為說三乘
聲聞 辟支佛 佛乘
《法華經譬喻品第三》
看到世間眾生這麼多，造了種種的業，已經業力現前，眾生共業了。看，人禍災難不斷一直逼近，這些眾生還傻傻的，還是這樣照常爭名奪利，照常耽著在這個三界中，聲、色、物欲裡。要怎麼辦呢？所以，佛陀就要用長時間，還是要用智慧，開導大家，一方面行菩薩道，一方面上求佛法，然後「方便」，用種種方法，入人群中去救濟。這也是佛陀開三乘法，除了聲聞、緣覺，最重要的就是菩薩道。
菩薩道，那就是智慧方便要並行，能夠在這三界火宅，來拔濟眾生的苦難。聽法之後，開啟智慧，就能轉法輪，聞法再來轉給其他的人，人人守法，人人就能穩定。這是佛陀的用心。
下面這段(經)文再說，「而作是言：汝等莫得樂住三界火宅，勿貪麤弊色聲香味觸也！若貪著生愛，則為所燒。」
而作是言
汝等莫得樂住
三界火宅
勿貪麤弊
色聲香味觸也
若貪著生愛
則為所燒
《法華經譬喻品第三》
已經說過了，這個三界是從我們的心造。心的欲，貪欲起，在這個境界，色聲香味觸等等，我們若去貪著，這必定惹火燒身。剛剛說過社會的新聞，我們每天來看，社會的新聞不就是，都在耽著聲色物欲中，所造成的家庭悲劇、社會的慘案等等，這不就只是在一念心，惹火、玩火來燒身。
所以佛陀用盡心思，「而作是言」：大家「莫得樂住」，不要再貪著了，不要再貪愛、耽著在這個地方。佛陀的慈心，非常殷切的心來叮嚀，大家不要再想要住在，這種物欲的世界，不要再貪婪在物欲中。這就是在警示。
佛慈悲愍眾生
殷切叮嚀
汝等莫得樂住
三界火宅勿貪等
是警示集諦
以貪愛是苦果之因
看，現在人間天災、人禍。這就是因為「集」，集來了種種，我們所造作的那些，色、聲、物欲、貪著等等，這就是我們所造作的，這就是「集」，集來了苦因。
我們不知道幾生世之前，累積了多少的殺業；幾生世以前，為了做事業，破壞山河大地，為了開發，不知道累積多少，有損無益的事情。雖然事業做得很大，卻是到頭來，隨著業力這樣累生累世，這全都是「集諦」，集來的因。過去、過去，到底我們造了多少？現在、現在，到底多少人共業合起來做？
現在貧富懸殊，享福的人，如天人在享福，貧困的人、受苦難的，如在地獄中，這與現在的氣象一樣，極端；人類享受極端，人類受苦極端。不是一樣嗎？這都是因為「集」，集來，苦就是因為集來的。那個極端的享福，將來也是受極端的苦，同樣這就是不調和。以貪愛是苦的因，這是集了很多的貪著，這樣造作來累積，結果就是苦因。
所以「勿貪麤弊色聲香味觸(也)」，不要貪著這些。喝酒、賭博、作樂等等，這都是貪一時之快，其實，已經累積了，很多的苦因，這叫做粗，粗相，現在在做、現在在報。這都因為色聲香味觸，享樂，這種逞一時之口欲，到底殺了多少？所以我們要「戒慎六根緣境防非」，我們要常常很戒慎，將自己要好好戒，不對的事情，不要再去做了。
戒慎六根緣境防非
謹言慎行止惡
內心動念起行
持正意念
慎防意識
勿貪麤弊五塵
為外境牽纏
我們要警戒我們自己的六根——眼、耳、鼻、舌、身、意。這六根從內心起念，外面的境界，我們去貪取，所以我們要趕緊戒，我們自己要戒，這樣叫做防非。要防非，那就是謹言慎行，講話要小心一點，行為要提高警覺，這叫做止惡。尤其是要防非止惡，一定要從內心，「內心動念起行」。我們的內心，這個「意」，緣外面的境界，動了貪念，你就去取，就造業了。所以我們內心的動念，要如何起趕緊快止，不要起心動念，我們若一動念，我們就去行為了。
我們必定內心要持正意念，常常我們的內心，要顧好正意的念頭，不要偏，偏差毫釐，那就是失在千里。所以我們要慎防意識，要很謹慎我們的意，意識，不要貪戀，意不要顛倒。所以「勿貪麤弊五塵」，這就是外面的境界，我們若貪著，就這樣牽纏，就被綁住了，永遠沒有解脫之日。所以「若貪著生愛，則為所燒」，三界之火，一定會受傷。「若貪著之，雖有出世無漏之種子，均為無明之火所燒。」
若貪著生愛
則為所燒：
三界火宅
此內外之苦果體相
若貪著之
雖有出世無漏
之種子
均為無明之火所燒
佛陀既然告訴我們，人人都有如來清淨的本性，人人都有，雖然都有，有這個出世無漏的種子，我們有清淨如來的本性，人人都有，但是你有這個貪愛耽著，受這聲色物欲將你牽引住，你就是在無明中，還是同樣受一次一次的報，在這三界中，火宅內，受苦報。
種種，我們應該要用心，知道有「果」，絕對是有「因」，「因」就是從我們的造作中開始。外面這麼多的陷阱，六欲的境界，物質都在外面，我們的心若是起念，一定是造作。集了這麼多的苦因，現出了這樣的苦果，埋天怨地，要尋求如何消災，都沒有辦法。必定，我們有債就要還完，要不然，還是同樣纏綿不休。所以我們最重要的，要慎思用心，不要等待苦來時，才要去求消災，必定平時要慎思，不要等待苦相現前時，所以要時時多用心。
Explanations by Master Cheng-Yan
Subject: The Burning House is the Fruit of Suffering (貪愛苦報戒慎六根)
Date:June.26. 2015
“Be careful not to wait for suffering to appear. Desires for sights, sounds and material things induce and pull at one another. Greed, craving and attachment are the causes of suffering. The burning house of the Three Realms is the fruit of suffering.”
Every day, we speak of this, and I believe that everyone is listening. In our daily living, we must truly remind ourselves to be vigilant. Spiritual practice begins with our minds. In our minds, we can always be careful. After listening to the Buddha-Dharma, we should take it to heart and always be careful. We must not wait until suffering is already pressing upon us before recognizing it as suffering. By then it is too late. We must believe the Dharma the Buddha taught. We must believe the truth of suffering. Since we believe, we must be careful. As a precaution, we must immediately put the Dharma into practice and be determined to not commit wrongdoings. We must not do things that go against the principles or are not good.
So, we must persevere in doing good deeds and benefiting others. We must not wait until suffering appears, and then say, “Fine, I will change my ways now.” By then it is too late. So, we must always be vigilant of our desire for sights, sounds and material things.
Along with upholding vegetarian precepts, what other precepts must we abide by? We need disciple with regard to desires for sounds, sights and material things as well as sexual desires. Some people desire sensual pleasures. It is said, “Sexual desires make people reckless.” Think of how many family tragedies or terrible events happen in this world due to people’s sexual desires.
Not long ago, I saw this in the news. There was a man who worked hard at his business and always sent money home, so his wife never worried about food or clothing. She was always out having fun with other people; she often went singing or dancing. This was how she got involved with many different men.
When her husband came home, he found it strange that his wife was acting odd. Why did she often seem so busy? Their life was peaceful and stable, and their children were studious in school, so what was she so busy with? Suspicion began to grow in his mind, so he hired a private investigator to follow her. He discovered she was not just out having fun, but that she had already committed adultery. The husband was enraged.
One day, he came home after drinking. He told his wife, “You think I don’t know, but I know everything! One that day, you were out at that dance club, then you left with someone and went to this hotel” and so on. He carried on and completely lost his temper. Not willing to concede defeat, his wife said, “You haven’t been home in so long. Have you cared for your family in all this time?” The husband relied, “Every month, I send money to you. How can you say I haven’t cared for this family?” His wife said, “In life, money alone can’t bring happiness. We have other objects of desire. The body’s sensual desires must also be satisfied. Don’t you know that?”
The husband said angrily, “I work like an ox, day and night for you, conducting business and laboring hard. My focus is always on the family. Why can’t you focus on caring for the family?”This led to a confrontation.
He could not control his rage and grabbed a knife and hacked at her until she was dead.
This is how “Desires for sights, sounds and material thigns induce and pull at one another.”When it comes to desires for sounds, sights, material thigns and so on, we always see stories like this in the news.
Seemingly, not a day goes by without a story about how sounds, sights and material things lead people to take [wrongful] actions.This creation of karma seem to be repalyed in our society over and over.
“Greed, craving and attachment are the causes of suffering.”This is because of greed.We are greedy for what we desire.[We say,] “As long as it makes me happy, nothing is off-limits. I just love these things.”
Our greed for material things is insatiable, so we are attached to these things.
When we do business, it is the same; our greed is also be boundless.This has led people to lose their direction in life.This is one of the seeds of suffering.
“The burning house of the Three Realms is the fruit of suffering.”We humans are just like this; we create so many causes of suffering.
This arises from our interactions over a long period of time.By a long period of time, we are referring to many past lifetimes.For countless kalpas, we have transmingrated through the Five Destinies.The affinities we formed with others, the karma we created and the debts we owe come with us to this life.
While we may have created blessings in past lives and our work and daily living in this life have been enjoyable, we still have enemies and creditors.Karmic forces may suddenly manifest.Our enemies or creditors may appear to ruin us in any number of ways.
We often see examples of this in news stories.How could things change so suddenly?Weren’t things going well?This is because of our past karmic debts.
So, this is the manifestation of karma, something we have no control over, just like Master Wu-da.He committed an evil act ten lfietimes before, then for his next ten lfietimes, he upheld the precepts.Thus, his karma could not enter his life.
Eventually Master Wu-da became well-known.He had the respect and reverence of the emperor, who bestowed lavish surroundings upon him, so he became arrogant.By becoming arrogant, he lost the essence of the precepts.So, this karmic retribution entered his life.
He sufferied the torment of a human-faced boil.Then he remembered that Venerable Kanaka had agreed to help him.Remembering that promise, he went to find him.Thus he was ablae to resolve that old grudge and the Samadhi-water washed away that karma.
Karma can manifest at any time because of our [past] greed and attachments.
Some peple wonder, “If I have not relly done anything wrong why are there so many obstacles in my life? I have clearly done many good deeds. Why are there still peple who constantly slander me behind my back and criticize me from head to toe? Why is this so?”
Because of karma!
When karma manifests, we must be grateful.After karma manifests, it is exhausted, and we have paid off yet another debt.We must have this kind of gratitude.
Whenever karma manifests, we accept it gratefully.
If we repay our karmic debt happily, our [sufering] will be lighter.“We cannot take anything with us when we die; only our karma follows us to our next life.”When we pass away, we can takek nothing with us except for our karma.
We take the causes of suffering with us.This is considered attachment.“Greed, craving and attachment are the causes of suffering.”We take the causes of suffering with us and repay these karmic debts in our future lives.
All of this takes place in the Three Realms.Objects of desire, such as form, sound, smell, taste and touch, cause us many kinds of suffering.
Families suffer, societies suffer from unrest and natural and manmade disasters bring suffering. All of this suffering is the fruit of suffering in the Three Realms. What we are facing right now is suffering due to our collective karma, which manifests as natural disasters and manmade calamities, etc.
As the earlier sutra passage states, “The Tathagata is just like this. I have powers, and fearlessness, but do not apply them”.
“The Tathagata is just like this. I have powers and fearlessness, but do not apply them. Instead I use wisdom and skillful means in the burning house of the Three Realms to save sentient beings. Thus I teach the Three Vehicles, the Hearer, Pratyekabuddha and Buddha Vehicles.”
Look at how all the sentient beings in the world have created various kinds of karma which is now manifesting as collective karma. Look at how manmade calamities are pressing us, but sentient beings are still foolish, still fighting over recognition and wealth. In the Three Realms, we are still attached to the desire for sounds, sights and material things. What can be done about this?
The Buddha has to teach for a long time and exercise wisdom to guide everyone to, on the one hand, walk the Bodhisattva-path, and on the other, seek the Buddha-Dharma. Then He used skillful means, various ways to go among people to help them. This is how the Buddha taught the Three Vehicles, which included the Hearer, Solitary Realizer and, most importantly, the Bodhisattva-path.
Walking the Bodhisattva-path requires exercising wisdom and skillful means in parallel to go into the burning house of the Three Realms and relieve the suffering of sentient beings. After listening to the Dharma and awakening our wisdom, we turn the Dharma-wheel. We share the Dharma we hear with other people.
If everyone upholds the Dharma, than everyone will be safer. This is the Buddha’s mindfulness in teaching us. The next sutra passage states,
“Thus, I said this, “You must not happily remain within the burning house of the Three Realms. Do not be greedy for coarse and worthless forms, sounds, smells, tastes and sensations. If you are greedy and give rise to cravings, you will be burned.”
I have already said that the Three realms are created by our minds. Desire and greed arise in our minds in response to external conditions, to form, sound, smell, taste and touch. If we greedily cling to these, then we will certainly be burned.
Earlier I mentioned the news reports we see. If we watch the news every day, we will constantly see how attachments to sounds, sights and material things cause tragedies in families, societies and so on. This is all caused by the mind; we play with fire, so we burn ourselves.
The Buddha did everything He could. “Thus, I said this”. Everyone, “You must not happily remain”. We must not greedily cling to and be attached to this place anymore. In His loving-kindness, the Buddha earnestly reminded everyone that we should not want to stay in this world of material desires nor remain in a state of insatiable greed. This was His warning to us.
“The Buddha has compassion for sentient beings so He earnestly reminded them, saying, “You must not happily remain within the burning house of the Three Realms or be greedy”. This is warning us of the truth of causation, that greed and craving are the causes of suffering.”
Look at how this world is full of natural disasters and manmade calamities. This is all because of “causation”. We have accumulated various [karmic seeds] from having acted out of our desire for sights, sounds and material things, from greedily clinging to things, etc. this is the karma that we create, the “causation” of accumulating causes of suffering. We do not know how many lives we have spent accumulating karma from killing or how many lives we have spent harming the earth for the sake of our businesses. For the sake of development, who knows how many damaging things have been done. Although our businesses might have taken off, in the end, that karma will follow us lifetime after lifetime. This is the “truth of causation”, the causes we have accumulated.
In our past lives, how many of these causes did we create? In the present, how many people are collectively creating this kind of karma? Nowadays, there is a great disparity between rich and poor. People with blessings live like heavenly beings. People who are poor face hardship and suffering as lf they are living in hell. Similarly, nowadays there is also extreme change in climate patterns.
Some people bask in extreme enjoyment, while others face extreme suffering. Doesn’t the same principle apply? This is all due to “causation”.Suffering comes from an accumulation of causes. Those who enjoy great blessings may also face great suffering in the future. This is part of the imbalance that we see. Greed and craving are causes of suffering. When we greedily cling to many things, we end up creating and accumulating karma, so as a result we have many causes of suffering.
“Do not be greedy for coarse and worthless forms, sounds, smells tastes and sensations.” We must not greedily cling to these things. Drinking, gambling, pleasure-seeking and so on, are all forms of pursing momentary pleasure. But we are actually accumulating many causes of suffering. So, these things are “coarse” appearances.
Then we face immediate retributions for what we have done. All this happens because we want to enjoy form, sound, smell taste and touch.
How many living beings have been killed to satisfy our craving for taste? So, “Being careful when our Six Roots connect to our conditions prevents wrongdoing.” We must always be careful and make an effort to be self-disciplined. If something is wrong, we must not do it.
Being careful when our Six Roots connect to our conditions prevents wrongdoing. Being careful in speech and actions stops evil. When our thoughts begin to stir and arise, we must uphold proper intentions. We must carefully prevent our consciousness from being greedy for coarse and worthless sense objects and being dragged around by external conditions.
We must be vigilant of our Six Roots, our eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body and mind. With the Six Roots, thoughts stir within our minds so we greedily grasp at things in our external conditions. Therefore, we must be abide by precepts and be self-disciplined. This is how guard against wrongdoing.
To guard against wrongs, we must be careful in speech and action. We need to be careful when we speak and heighten our awareness of our actions. This is stopping evil. Guarding against wrongs and stopping evil begins with our thoughts. When our minds give rise to discursive thoughts, when our minds connect with our external conditions and a thought of greed arises, we will try to grasp something, which causes us to create karma.
So, when these thoughts begin to stir, we must quickly stop them from arising. We cannot give rise to discursive thoughts. Once these thoughts arise, we will act on them we must maintain the proper mindset. We must constantly engage in right thinking without going astray.
A slight deviation causes a great divergence. Therefore, we must protect our mind and be careful about what arises in it. We must not have attachments or engage in distorted thinking. So, “Do not be greedy for the coarse and worthless sense objects. These exist in our external conditions.
If we greedily cling to them, we will become entangled and tied sown by them and will never be able to escape.
“If you are greedy and give rise to cravings, you will be burned;” the fire of the Three Realms will surely harm us. If we are greedy and attached, though we have world-transcending, flawless seeds, they will be burned by the flames of ignorance.
The Buddha told us that everyone intrinsically has a pure Buddha-nature. everyone has it. Although we all have world-transcending, flawless and the Tathagata’s pure intrinsic nature, though we all have it, due to our greed, craving and attachment, we will be entangled by sounds, sights and material things.Then in our ignorance, we will face retributions again and again. Within the burning house of the Three Realms, we experience painful retributions. So, with all things, we must mindful.
If we see an effect, there must have been a cause. These causes are created through our actions. There are so many traps around us. The Six [Sense Objects] and the material things we desire are all around us. If thoughts [of greed] begin to stir, we will certainly act on them. After accumulating so many causes of suffering, when fruits of suffering manifest, we blame everything else [but ourselves]. We search for a way to resolve the disaster, yet we cannot find it. Indeed, we must fully repay our debts, or else they will continue to entangle us forever. So, it is most important for us to think carefully and be mindful. We must not wait for suffering to appear before looking for ways to eliminate disasters.
We must always think carefully, not just suffering manifests before us. 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）
⊙「慎莫等待苦相現，色聲物欲互牽引，貪愛耽著是苦因，三界火宅是苦果。」
⊙「如來亦復如是，雖有力、無所畏而不用之，但以智慧方便，於三界火宅拔濟眾生，為說三乘聲聞、辟支佛、佛乘。」《法華經譬喻品第三》
⊙「而作是言：汝等莫得樂住三界火宅，勿貪麤弊色聲香味觸也！若貪著生愛，則為所燒。」《法華經譬喻品第三》
⊙佛慈悲愍眾生殷切叮嚀，汝等莫得樂住三界火宅勿貪等，是警示集諦，以貪愛是苦果之因。
⊙戒慎六根緣境防非，謹言慎行止惡，內心動念起行持正意念。慎防意識，勿貪麤弊五塵為外境牽纏。
⊙若貪著生愛，則為所燒：三界火宅，此內外之苦果體相，若貪著之，雖有出世無漏之種子，均為無明之火所燒。
【證嚴上人開示】
「慎莫等待苦相現，色聲物欲互牽引，貪愛耽著是苦因，三界火宅是苦果。」
慎莫等待苦相現
色聲物欲互牽引
貪愛耽著是苦因
三界火宅是苦果
每天我們都這樣在說，相信人人也是這樣聽。平時的生活真的要自我警惕，修行就是從心起念，一念心能夠時時謹慎，聽佛法之後，應該法在心中，要時時謹慎。不要等，不要等到真的這個苦，已經逼近我們的身，才開始要知苦，這樣就太遲了。
我們要相信佛所說法，苦諦，我們一定要相信；相信，我們就要謹慎；謹慎，我們就要趕緊身體力行，堅持不要去造惡，非理、非善，絕對不要做，所以一定要堅持行善、造福。
所以不要等待到苦相現前，才來說：「好啦！我這樣要改了。」這樣就太遲了。所以，時時要警惕色、聲、物欲。我們的身，不只是要持素食，我們還要戒，戒什麼呢？戒聲、色、物欲。男女情欲，有的人就是那種色心，大人說「色膽包天」，知道世間多少家庭悲劇，或者是悲慘的事情發生在人間，那就是因為男女色欲。
在不多久以前看到這則新聞。那就是有一位，他已經在外面打拚在做生意，也常常寄錢回家。這位太太她吃穿免擔憂，都是在外面和人這樣玩，歌場或者是舞廳，這樣就交了很多，不同的男朋友了。先生回來了，感覺太太很奇怪，到底在忙什麼呢呢？生活這麼安定，孩子也認真在讀書，這個太太到底在忙什麼呢？開始心起懷疑了，就這樣去僱徵信社，開始去跟、去跟蹤，發現到太太不只是在娛樂玩的，這種男女關係已經出軌了。
所以先生非常的生氣，有一天喝酒回來，就就向他的太太說：「妳以為我不知道嗎？我都知道，妳某時某日在哪一間舞廳，和人帶出去，在哪一間旅社，等等。」一五一十就向他的太太發脾氣。
太太她也不認輸，「這麼久的時間你都不在家，這期間你有顧家嗎？」先生就說：「我按月寄錢回來給妳，我是如何沒有顧家庭？」太太就說：「人生的生活不是只有錢，這樣就叫快樂。人生必定要有物欲，這個色，這個身體，身體也要有發洩，你不知道嗎？」先生就很生氣，「我這樣拖暝、像牛在拖，生意在做、工這樣去做，我都能專心為家，為什麼妳不能專心顧家？」起了衝突，他發起脾氣來，拿刀就將太太的身體凌遲，一直到太太往生了。
這就是「色聲物欲互牽引」。這種聲啊、色啊、或者是物欲等等，社會多少的新聞，每天，好像沒有一天，新聞上所沒有這些聲、色，物欲所造成的業，都有。這種作業，好像在人類社會，一直就是這樣在重演。
所以「貪愛耽著是苦因」，這就是一個「貪」字。貪啊，貪己所欲，「只要我歡喜，沒什麼不可以的事情。」「我愛的東西，我就是要。」所以物質的貪婪，所以一直貪著，做事業、生意也是同樣這樣，貪婪無度，所以就造成了人間，這種迷失方向，這就是苦因。
「三界火宅就是苦果」。我們人就是這樣，造作這麼多苦的因，所以眾生彼此之間長久，長久的意思，就是從過去生的過去生，無量數劫以來，我們在五道輪迴，與人結的緣、所造的惡、所欠的債，來這一生，雖然過去有造福，來這一世，做事業或者是生活，很享受，卻也是有冤家債主。
忽然間這個業力一起，冤家債主呈現出來，造成了我們身敗名裂，種種的方法，這在現在的新聞也是常常有。為什麼忽然間會變成這樣？不是做得很好嗎？這也有過去的冤家債主，所以這叫做「業」現前，一點都由不得自己。
就如悟達國師，十世以前他所造的惡，不過十世當中就是守規戒，所以那個業無法靠近身來。一直到他成名了，一國之主皇帝的敬愛、恭敬，賜他這麼豐富的環境，讓他起了驕傲的心，這個驕傲的心就是戒體漏失，所以這個業就進來了。受了這麼大「人面瘡」的折磨，他想到迦諾迦尊者，那個時候的約定，所以隨著那個約定，他去找他了，這樣解冤釋結了，三昧水洗滌了他過去的冤業。
業，這就是現前時。就是因為有這個貪，貪著。雖然我這輩子沒有做什麼，我這輩子怎麼受這麼多的障礙？明明就做很多的好事，為什麼有人，還在背後不斷地毀謗、還有人評頭論足等等，這是什麼呢？業啊！業力現前，感恩啊！有了現前一次，就消了一回，我們所還的債，就是又勾銷一筆了。要抱著這種感恩心，業力現前，感恩接受，這樣歡喜還，業就比較輕了。
「萬般帶不去，唯有業隨身」。往生了，其他都帶不去，唯有業隨身，帶著這個苦因去。這叫做「耽著」，「貪愛耽著是苦因」，就是帶著這個苦因的種子去了，來生來世這樣還。
這都一直在三界之中，在物欲，這個欲——色聲香味觸等等，引起了我們很多的苦。家庭的苦、社會不平靜的苦、天災、人禍的苦，很多的苦，這是在三界內的苦果，我們現在若是得到什麼樣的，這就是共業來的苦，天災、人禍等等。
所以我們上面經文是這樣說，「如來亦復如是，雖有力、無所畏而不用之」。
如來亦復如是
雖有力
無所畏而不用之
但以智慧方便
於三界火宅
拔濟眾生
為說三乘
聲聞 辟支佛 佛乘
《法華經譬喻品第三》
看到世間眾生這麼多，造了種種的業，已經業力現前，眾生共業了。看，人禍災難不斷一直逼近，這些眾生還傻傻的，還是這樣照常爭名奪利，照常耽著在這個三界中，聲、色、物欲裡。要怎麼辦呢？所以，佛陀就要用長時間，還是要用智慧，開導大家，一方面行菩薩道，一方面上求佛法，然後「方便」，用種種方法，入人群中去救濟。這也是佛陀開三乘法，除了聲聞、緣覺，最重要的就是菩薩道。
菩薩道，那就是智慧方便要並行，能夠在這三界火宅，來拔濟眾生的苦難。聽法之後，開啟智慧，就能轉法輪，聞法再來轉給其他的人，人人守法，人人就能穩定。這是佛陀的用心。
下面這段(經)文再說，「而作是言：汝等莫得樂住三界火宅，勿貪麤弊色聲香味觸也！若貪著生愛，則為所燒。」
而作是言
汝等莫得樂住
三界火宅
勿貪麤弊
色聲香味觸也
若貪著生愛
則為所燒
《法華經譬喻品第三》
已經說過了，這個三界是從我們的心造。心的欲，貪欲起，在這個境界，色聲香味觸等等，我們若去貪著，這必定惹火燒身。剛剛說過社會的新聞，我們每天來看，社會的新聞不就是，都在耽著聲色物欲中，所造成的家庭悲劇、社會的慘案等等，這不就只是在一念心，惹火、玩火來燒身。
所以佛陀用盡心思，「而作是言」：大家「莫得樂住」，不要再貪著了，不要再貪愛、耽著在這個地方。佛陀的慈心，非常殷切的心來叮嚀，大家不要再想要住在，這種物欲的世界，不要再貪婪在物欲中。這就是在警示。
佛慈悲愍眾生
殷切叮嚀
汝等莫得樂住
三界火宅勿貪等
是警示集諦
以貪愛是苦果之因
看，現在人間天災、人禍。這就是因為「集」，集來了種種，我們所造作的那些，色、聲、物欲、貪著等等，這就是我們所造作的，這就是「集」，集來了苦因。
我們不知道幾生世之前，累積了多少的殺業；幾生世以前，為了做事業，破壞山河大地，為了開發，不知道累積多少，有損無益的事情。雖然事業做得很大，卻是到頭來，隨著業力這樣累生累世，這全都是「集諦」，集來的因。過去、過去，到底我們造了多少？現在、現在，到底多少人共業合起來做？
現在貧富懸殊，享福的人，如天人在享福，貧困的人、受苦難的，如在地獄中，這與現在的氣象一樣，極端；人類享受極端，人類受苦極端。不是一樣嗎？這都是因為「集」，集來，苦就是因為集來的。那個極端的享福，將來也是受極端的苦，同樣這就是不調和。以貪愛是苦的因，這是集了很多的貪著，這樣造作來累積，結果就是苦因。
所以「勿貪麤弊色聲香味觸(也)」，不要貪著這些。喝酒、賭博、作樂等等，這都是貪一時之快，其實，已經累積了，很多的苦因，這叫做粗，粗相，現在在做、現在在報。這都因為色聲香味觸，享樂，這種逞一時之口欲，到底殺了多少？所以我們要「戒慎六根緣境防非」，我們要常常很戒慎，將自己要好好戒，不對的事情，不要再去做了。
戒慎六根緣境防非
謹言慎行止惡
內心動念起行
持正意念
慎防意識
勿貪麤弊五塵
為外境牽纏
我們要警戒我們自己的六根——眼、耳、鼻、舌、身、意。這六根從內心起念，外面的境界，我們去貪取，所以我們要趕緊戒，我們自己要戒，這樣叫做防非。要防非，那就是謹言慎行，講話要小心一點，行為要提高警覺，這叫做止惡。尤其是要防非止惡，一定要從內心，「內心動念起行」。我們的內心，這個「意」，緣外面的境界，動了貪念，你就去取，就造業了。所以我們內心的動念，要如何起趕緊快止，不要起心動念，我們若一動念，我們就去行為了。
我們必定內心要持正意念，常常我們的內心，要顧好正意的念頭，不要偏，偏差毫釐，那就是失在千里。所以我們要慎防意識，要很謹慎我們的意，意識，不要貪戀，意不要顛倒。所以「勿貪麤弊五塵」，這就是外面的境界，我們若貪著，就這樣牽纏，就被綁住了，永遠沒有解脫之日。所以「若貪著生愛，則為所燒」，三界之火，一定會受傷。「若貪著之，雖有出世無漏之種子，均為無明之火所燒。」
若貪著生愛
則為所燒：
三界火宅
此內外之苦果體相
若貪著之
雖有出世無漏
之種子
均為無明之火所燒
佛陀既然告訴我們，人人都有如來清淨的本性，人人都有，雖然都有，有這個出世無漏的種子，我們有清淨如來的本性，人人都有，但是你有這個貪愛耽著，受這聲色物欲將你牽引住，你就是在無明中，還是同樣受一次一次的報，在這三界中，火宅內，受苦報。
種種，我們應該要用心，知道有「果」，絕對是有「因」，「因」就是從我們的造作中開始。外面這麼多的陷阱，六欲的境界，物質都在外面，我們的心若是起念，一定是造作。集了這麼多的苦因，現出了這樣的苦果，埋天怨地，要尋求如何消災，都沒有辦法。必定，我們有債就要還完，要不然，還是同樣纏綿不休。所以我們最重要的，要慎思用心，不要等待苦來時，才要去求消災，必定平時要慎思，不要等待苦相現前時，所以要時時多用心。
Explanations by Master Cheng-Yan
Subject: The Burning House is the Fruit of Suffering (貪愛苦報戒慎六根)
Date:June.26. 2015
“Be careful not to wait for suffering to appear. Desires for sights, sounds and material things induce and pull at one another. Greed, craving and attachment are the causes of suffering. The burning house of the Three Realms is the fruit of suffering.”
Every day, we speak of this, and I believe that everyone is listening. In our daily living, we must truly remind ourselves to be vigilant. Spiritual practice begins with our minds. In our minds, we can always be careful. After listening to the Buddha-Dharma, we should take it to heart and always be careful. We must not wait until suffering is already pressing upon us before recognizing it as suffering. By then it is too late. We must believe the Dharma the Buddha taught. We must believe the truth of suffering. Since we believe, we must be careful. As a precaution, we must immediately put the Dharma into practice and be determined to not commit wrongdoings. We must not do things that go against the principles or are not good.
So, we must persevere in doing good deeds and benefiting others. We must not wait until suffering appears, and then say, “Fine, I will change my ways now.” By then it is too late. So, we must always be vigilant of our desire for sights, sounds and material things.
Along with upholding vegetarian precepts, what other precepts must we abide by? We need disciple with regard to desires for sounds, sights and material things as well as sexual desires. Some people desire sensual pleasures. It is said, “Sexual desires make people reckless.” Think of how many family tragedies or terrible events happen in this world due to people’s sexual desires.
Not long ago, I saw this in the news. There was a man who worked hard at his business and always sent money home, so his wife never worried about food or clothing. She was always out having fun with other people; she often went singing or dancing. This was how she got involved with many different men.
When her husband came home, he found it strange that his wife was acting odd. Why did she often seem so busy? Their life was peaceful and stable, and their children were studious in school, so what was she so busy with? Suspicion began to grow in his mind, so he hired a private investigator to follow her. He discovered she was not just out having fun, but that she had already committed adultery. The husband was enraged.
One day, he came home after drinking. He told his wife, “You think I don’t know, but I know everything! One that day, you were out at that dance club, then you left with someone and went to this hotel” and so on. He carried on and completely lost his temper. Not willing to concede defeat, his wife said, “You haven’t been home in so long. Have you cared for your family in all this time?” The husband relied, “Every month, I send money to you. How can you say I haven’t cared for this family?” His wife said, “In life, money alone can’t bring happiness. We have other objects of desire. The body’s sensual desires must also be satisfied. Don’t you know that?”
The husband said angrily, “I work like an ox, day and night for you, conducting business and laboring hard. My focus is always on the family. Why can’t you focus on caring for the family?”This led to a confrontation.
He could not control his rage and grabbed a knife and hacked at her until she was dead.
This is how “Desires for sights, sounds and material thigns induce and pull at one another.”When it comes to desires for sounds, sights, material thigns and so on, we always see stories like this in the news.
Seemingly, not a day goes by without a story about how sounds, sights and material things lead people to take [wrongful] actions.This creation of karma seem to be repalyed in our society over and over.
“Greed, craving and attachment are the causes of suffering.”This is because of greed.We are greedy for what we desire.[We say,] “As long as it makes me happy, nothing is off-limits. I just love these things.”
Our greed for material things is insatiable, so we are attached to these things.
When we do business, it is the same; our greed is also be boundless.This has led people to lose their direction in life.This is one of the seeds of suffering.
“The burning house of the Three Realms is the fruit of suffering.”We humans are just like this; we create so many causes of suffering.
This arises from our interactions over a long period of time.By a long period of time, we are referring to many past lifetimes.For countless kalpas, we have transmingrated through the Five Destinies.The affinities we formed with others, the karma we created and the debts we owe come with us to this life.
While we may have created blessings in past lives and our work and daily living in this life have been enjoyable, we still have enemies and creditors.Karmic forces may suddenly manifest.Our enemies or creditors may appear to ruin us in any number of ways.
We often see examples of this in news stories.How could things change so suddenly?Weren’t things going well?This is because of our past karmic debts.
So, this is the manifestation of karma, something we have no control over, just like Master Wu-da.He committed an evil act ten lfietimes before, then for his next ten lfietimes, he upheld the precepts.Thus, his karma could not enter his life.
Eventually Master Wu-da became well-known.He had the respect and reverence of the emperor, who bestowed lavish surroundings upon him, so he became arrogant.By becoming arrogant, he lost the essence of the precepts.So, this karmic retribution entered his life.
He sufferied the torment of a human-faced boil.Then he remembered that Venerable Kanaka had agreed to help him.Remembering that promise, he went to find him.Thus he was ablae to resolve that old grudge and the Samadhi-water washed away that karma.
Karma can manifest at any time because of our [past] greed and attachments.
Some peple wonder, “If I have not relly done anything wrong why are there so many obstacles in my life? I have clearly done many good deeds. Why are there still peple who constantly slander me behind my back and criticize me from head to toe? Why is this so?”
Because of karma!
When karma manifests, we must be grateful.After karma manifests, it is exhausted, and we have paid off yet another debt.We must have this kind of gratitude.
Whenever karma manifests, we accept it gratefully.
If we repay our karmic debt happily, our [sufering] will be lighter.“We cannot take anything with us when we die; only our karma follows us to our next life.”When we pass away, we can takek nothing with us except for our karma.
We take the causes of suffering with us.This is considered attachment.“Greed, craving and attachment are the causes of suffering.”We take the causes of suffering with us and repay these karmic debts in our future lives.
All of this takes place in the Three Realms.Objects of desire, such as form, sound, smell, taste and touch, cause us many kinds of suffering.
Families suffer, societies suffer from unrest and natural and manmade disasters bring suffering. All of this suffering is the fruit of suffering in the Three Realms. What we are facing right now is suffering due to our collective karma, which manifests as natural disasters and manmade calamities, etc.
As the earlier sutra passage states, “The Tathagata is just like this. I have powers, and fearlessness, but do not apply them”.
“The Tathagata is just like this. I have powers and fearlessness, but do not apply them. Instead I use wisdom and skillful means in the burning house of the Three Realms to save sentient beings. Thus I teach the Three Vehicles, the Hearer, Pratyekabuddha and Buddha Vehicles.”
Look at how all the sentient beings in the world have created various kinds of karma which is now manifesting as collective karma. Look at how manmade calamities are pressing us, but sentient beings are still foolish, still fighting over recognition and wealth. In the Three Realms, we are still attached to the desire for sounds, sights and material things. What can be done about this?
The Buddha has to teach for a long time and exercise wisdom to guide everyone to, on the one hand, walk the Bodhisattva-path, and on the other, seek the Buddha-Dharma. Then He used skillful means, various ways to go among people to help them. This is how the Buddha taught the Three Vehicles, which included the Hearer, Solitary Realizer and, most importantly, the Bodhisattva-path.
Walking the Bodhisattva-path requires exercising wisdom and skillful means in parallel to go into the burning house of the Three Realms and relieve the suffering of sentient beings. After listening to the Dharma and awakening our wisdom, we turn the Dharma-wheel. We share the Dharma we hear with other people.
If everyone upholds the Dharma, than everyone will be safer. This is the Buddha’s mindfulness in teaching us. The next sutra passage states,
“Thus, I said this, “You must not happily remain within the burning house of the Three Realms. Do not be greedy for coarse and worthless forms, sounds, smells, tastes and sensations. If you are greedy and give rise to cravings, you will be burned.”
I have already said that the Three realms are created by our minds. Desire and greed arise in our minds in response to external conditions, to form, sound, smell, taste and touch. If we greedily cling to these, then we will certainly be burned.
Earlier I mentioned the news reports we see. If we watch the news every day, we will constantly see how attachments to sounds, sights and material things cause tragedies in families, societies and so on. This is all caused by the mind; we play with fire, so we burn ourselves.
The Buddha did everything He could. “Thus, I said this”. Everyone, “You must not happily remain”. We must not greedily cling to and be attached to this place anymore. In His loving-kindness, the Buddha earnestly reminded everyone that we should not want to stay in this world of material desires nor remain in a state of insatiable greed. This was His warning to us.
“The Buddha has compassion for sentient beings so He earnestly reminded them, saying, “You must not happily remain within the burning house of the Three Realms or be greedy”. This is warning us of the truth of causation, that greed and craving are the causes of suffering.”
Look at how this world is full of natural disasters and manmade calamities. This is all because of “causation”. We have accumulated various [karmic seeds] from having acted out of our desire for sights, sounds and material things, from greedily clinging to things, etc. this is the karma that we create, the “causation” of accumulating causes of suffering. We do not know how many lives we have spent accumulating karma from killing or how many lives we have spent harming the earth for the sake of our businesses. For the sake of development, who knows how many damaging things have been done. Although our businesses might have taken off, in the end, that karma will follow us lifetime after lifetime. This is the “truth of causation”, the causes we have accumulated.
In our past lives, how many of these causes did we create? In the present, how many people are collectively creating this kind of karma? Nowadays, there is a great disparity between rich and poor. People with blessings live like heavenly beings. People who are poor face hardship and suffering as lf they are living in hell. Similarly, nowadays there is also extreme change in climate patterns.
Some people bask in extreme enjoyment, while others face extreme suffering. Doesn’t the same principle apply? This is all due to “causation”.Suffering comes from an accumulation of causes. Those who enjoy great blessings may also face great suffering in the future. This is part of the imbalance that we see. Greed and craving are causes of suffering. When we greedily cling to many things, we end up creating and accumulating karma, so as a result we have many causes of suffering.
“Do not be greedy for coarse and worthless forms, sounds, smells tastes and sensations.” We must not greedily cling to these things. Drinking, gambling, pleasure-seeking and so on, are all forms of pursing momentary pleasure. But we are actually accumulating many causes of suffering. So, these things are “coarse” appearances.
Then we face immediate retributions for what we have done. All this happens because we want to enjoy form, sound, smell taste and touch.
How many living beings have been killed to satisfy our craving for taste? So, “Being careful when our Six Roots connect to our conditions prevents wrongdoing.” We must always be careful and make an effort to be self-disciplined. If something is wrong, we must not do it.
Being careful when our Six Roots connect to our conditions prevents wrongdoing. Being careful in speech and actions stops evil. When our thoughts begin to stir and arise, we must uphold proper intentions. We must carefully prevent our consciousness from being greedy for coarse and worthless sense objects and being dragged around by external conditions.
We must be vigilant of our Six Roots, our eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body and mind. With the Six Roots, thoughts stir within our minds so we greedily grasp at things in our external conditions. Therefore, we must be abide by precepts and be self-disciplined. This is how guard against wrongdoing.
To guard against wrongs, we must be careful in speech and action. We need to be careful when we speak and heighten our awareness of our actions. This is stopping evil. Guarding against wrongs and stopping evil begins with our thoughts. When our minds give rise to discursive thoughts, when our minds connect with our external conditions and a thought of greed arises, we will try to grasp something, which causes us to create karma.
So, when these thoughts begin to stir, we must quickly stop them from arising. We cannot give rise to discursive thoughts. Once these thoughts arise, we will act on them we must maintain the proper mindset. We must constantly engage in right thinking without going astray.
A slight deviation causes a great divergence. Therefore, we must protect our mind and be careful about what arises in it. We must not have attachments or engage in distorted thinking. So, “Do not be greedy for the coarse and worthless sense objects. These exist in our external conditions.
If we greedily cling to them, we will become entangled and tied sown by them and will never be able to escape.
“If you are greedy and give rise to cravings, you will be burned;” the fire of the Three Realms will surely harm us. If we are greedy and attached, though we have world-transcending, flawless seeds, they will be burned by the flames of ignorance.
The Buddha told us that everyone intrinsically has a pure Buddha-nature. everyone has it. Although we all have world-transcending, flawless and the Tathagata’s pure intrinsic nature, though we all have it, due to our greed, craving and attachment, we will be entangled by sounds, sights and material things.Then in our ignorance, we will face retributions again and again. Within the burning house of the Three Realms, we experience painful retributions. So, with all things, we must mindful.
If we see an effect, there must have been a cause. These causes are created through our actions. There are so many traps around us. The Six [Sense Objects] and the material things we desire are all around us. If thoughts [of greed] begin to stir, we will certainly act on them. After accumulating so many causes of suffering, when fruits of suffering manifest, we blame everything else [but ourselves]. We search for a way to resolve the disaster, yet we cannot find it. Indeed, we must fully repay our debts, or else they will continue to entangle us forever. So, it is most important for us to think carefully and be mindful. We must not wait for suffering to appear before looking for ways to eliminate disasters.
We must always think carefully, not just suffering manifests before us. Therefore, we must always be mindful.
(Source: Da Ai TV – Wisdom at Dawn program – Explanation by Master Chen-Yen)
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