（法華經•譬喻品第三）
⊙「觀身不淨三十六物，九孔常流極不淨污，三界不牢令人恐畏，智者觀之當生厭離，脫離苦集除惑就道。」
⊙「牆壁圮坼，泥塗阤落，覆苫亂墜，椽梠差脫，周障屈曲，雜穢充遍」《法華經譬喻品第三》
⊙椽梠差脫，周障屈曲：在簷曰椽，在脊曰梠，喻筋骨。支節不援曰差脫。籬落四園曰周障。逕巷穿叉曰屈曲。
⊙自泥塗：喻依正二報通常敗壞不淨之相。
⊙人身有三十六之不淨物，分為三類：一、外相含十二中：髮、毛、爪、齒、眵、淚、涎、唾、屎、溺、垢、汗。
⊙二、身含十二：皮、膚、血、肉、筋、脈、骨、髓、肪、膏、腦、膜。
⊙三、內含十二：肝、膽、腸、胃、脾、腎、心、肺、生臟、熟臟、赤痰、白痰。
【證嚴上人開示】
「觀身不淨三十六物，九孔常流極不淨污，三界不牢令人恐畏，智者觀之當生厭離，脫離苦集除惑就道。」
觀身不淨三十六物
九孔常流極不淨污
三界不牢令人恐畏
智者觀之當生厭離
脫離苦集除惑就道
我們應該要很清楚瞭解，身體是我們自己的，我們要好好來觀身，這是佛陀教育我們時，除了「苦、集、滅、道」，四諦法以外，還有「四念處」。四念處，那是要就先「觀身不淨」。
身體，我們每一天，吃進去的東西，我們若是健康就是吸收，種種的營養供應我們的身體，而吸收進去的，就有污垢的東西，它就要排掉。這是我們的身體。每一個人都是一樣，這種僅僅一層皮膚，包著筋、骨、肉，裡面的東西，它的功能就是這樣有進、有出。這是我們健康時，健康就這樣，這麼的不清淨，好好來觀，自己要自觀身體的內臟。
所以「觀身不淨，」總共有三十六物。在這二十六物，位置完整以外，還有九孔常流，極不淨的污垢東西，這是我們一個人，算算看，是不是有九孔呢？一張臉就有七孔，七孔，還有大小(便溺)二孔，所以總共有九孔，有時候，眼睛、耳朵，都是有它的污垢存在。有的人的眼睛若比較不好，裡面就九那種液體，有時候眼眶有東西，這也是不淨。流眼淚、流鼻水，還有痰、涎等等，還有，有時候，耳朵也要清一清，你們想，三十六物、九孔等等，真的是污穢不淨。
這就是在三界，「三界不牢令人恐畏」。有智慧的人就會去這樣想：除了我們身體所依靠的，所要住的地方，還有我們自己的身體，身體，還有我們的心。心，心靈三界，這種欲，有了身體欲的需求、欲的需求有多少呢？除了口欲，想要吃、愛吃的東西，很多，以外，那就是男女之欲，以外，那就是無邊際貪為己有。很多的東西，我們都要貪，這個欲界讓我們很苦，造了很多的業，這個欲，就是因為，外面形形色色，誘引我們，除了我們的內心，外面的境界以外，無形的煩惱，所以一個人的身體裡面，身心無不都是非常不牢固，很無常。一個好好的人出去，忽然間，發生什麼樣的意外，哇！面目全非了，血肉含糊，就全部。看這個身體，除了我們有原來的，這種三十六物、九孔等等，還有我們的內心，還有很多無常的事情，或者是生、老、病、死。這個人生的過程有這麼多，我們都一直不知道，每天、每天，就只為了欲念、習氣，為所欲為，這是凡夫愚昧。
所以「智者觀之當生厭離」。我們有智慧的人，我們要常常瞭解，這種的欲這麼多，惹得了我們身心憔悴，身心很苦，我們若懂得放得下，利用我們的身體，叫做「載道器」。有身體才能修行，沒有這個身體，就沒辦法修行。有身體，我們能夠結大福緣，造種種人間處世、出世的福。
我們若希望我們學佛，我們是能夠成為有智慧的人，我們所看的東西和一般，我們就要不同。我們要時時自我警惕，自己的身內，這種無形中的行蘊，在進行著老、病的過程，不斷不斷接近死亡的境界，我們還有什麼好貪戀，在外面的形形色色呢？要趕緊利用現在身體能用時，我們要好好來修行，這是智者。
智者，看到外面，想到自己的身內這麼不乾淨，做這種的觀想之後，那就是「當生厭離」。這世間的東西還有什麼好爭取？世間的男女欲愛，有什麼樣的好處？何必這樣為了男女情欲，造成了人生身敗名裂等等，或者是男女之欲，惹來人生很多人生的痛苦。這若是有智慧的人，就厭棄它，而且是恐畏，會怕，對這種人與人這種的欲會怕，不只是怕，也會厭離它，遠離這種的色情欲念，要趕緊遠離。
「脫離苦集」。人生苦啊！我們瞭解了我們的身體，就是這麼不乾淨，外面的事物我們應該再體會，這種的「苦」、「集」，虛妄不實，我們要趕緊脫離，這樣，必定要「除惑」，趕緊「就道」，「除惑就道」這種「惑」除掉，我們才能夠用心入「道」來，所以要「觀身不淨」。
上面的(經)文，我們看，譬喻三界的裡面，那就是大空間，一直一直到了小空間，一直到一間房子。這間房子讓我們遮風、蔽雨，避雨，這樣，這間房子久來，就是「牆壁圮坼，泥塗阤落，覆苫亂墜」，又「椽梠差脫，周障屈曲，雜穢充遍」。
牆壁圮坼
泥塗阤落
覆苫亂墜
椽梠差脫
周障屈曲
雜穢充遍
《法華經譬喻品第三》
這間房子的形貌，本來蓋起來時是，這麼大間的豪華大房，但是久來，牆壁等等就一直脫落，這裡面磚塊砌的，用土，泥土塗上的，慢慢地它就會脫落了，或者是覆蓋著的屋頂，用草覆蓋的，慢慢地也會一直風吹雨淋，草也會不斷爛掉，就會愈來愈不整齊，抬頭看，屋頂也破了，那個屋簷的外面，也是這樣很于整齊了。「覆苫亂墜」，所以這種「椽梠差脫，周障屈曲」，這都是骨骼，好像一間房子的骨架一樣，這些東西都一直一直就是變壞，變形，壞掉了。
椽梠差脫
周障屈曲：
在簷曰椽
在脊曰梠 喻筋骨
支節不援 曰差脫
籬落四園 曰周障
逕巷穿叉 曰屈曲
現在所說的「椽梠差脫」。這個在簷叫做「椽」；我們這屋簷伸出去的，它也是要有骨架伸出去，所以那個骨架，伸出去那個屋簷，那就是叫做「椽」。在脊梁，它叫做「梠」。這就是蓋房子的名稱，東西同樣是木材，用在哪裡，那就是在哪裡不同的名稱。同樣是木，它也要做，可以做棟、可以做梁、可以做柱、可以做椽、梠等等。這就譬喻那個筋骨，我們人的筋骨，同樣是人的筋骨，我們的手叫做「手骨」，同樣是骨，腳叫做腳的骨，在我們的胸部周圍，叫做「排仔骨」、「箅仔骨」，不同，在後面，那就是叫做「龍骨」，同樣是骨，卻是位置排的，作用不同，名稱不同。
所以「支節不援，曰差脫」。就是一支一支，本來是要這樣很整齊，排得恰恰好，但是，位置排不好，被它脫了。或者是把它擠出一塊軟骨（椎間盤突出），我們的身體就痛得沒辦法走、沒辦法動作。這就是我們的「骨節」，互相沒有好好支援著，互相沒有排列得清楚，或者是被它脫節了，所以叫做「差脫」。籬，圍籬，籬落，那外面的圍籬，一間房子的外面就有圍籬，這叫做「四園」，就是這間房子這樣。
從外面的圍牆，替我們顧好這間房子，這間房子要有壁，壁這樣磚塊砌得很整齊，外面水泥又塗得很平。但是久來時，慢慢這間房子老化了，又沒有維修它，所以風雨等等、地震，就讓這間房子，慢慢地就已經在敗壞中，房子的敗壞，就是先從牆壁開始，所以「泥塗阤落」，開始就斑駁掉了，這樣開始。
「泥塗阤落，覆苫亂墜」，一直形容這間房子，那也就是譬喻我們眾生，依正二報，通常就是敗壞不淨之相。
自泥塗：
喻依正二報
通常敗壞
不淨之相
幾天前也跟大家說過了，依、正(報)，我們由不得我們自己，依什麼樣的因緣，就到哪一個地方去，依哪一對父母的緣，而生在那個家庭裡。這種的正報，接下來就是我們的依報，本來是一個很穩定的家庭，很好的生活，就是因為我們自己這樣，流浪到外面去，所遭遇等等，這就是我們自己的依報。也有人在很不好的家庭，卻是他的人生、他的正報，帶來很多的福業，做什麼事情都是很成功，這也是他的依報。
所以依、正二報，這到最後，不論你是多麼的富有，不論你的名多麼大，同樣你的身體有，有什麼樣的病痛，同樣也是很不淨，同樣是病，那種的病，苦不堪；同樣是死，死後這個身體，若不趕緊處理，同樣是長蟲。同樣有污水、整個爛掉了，身體都是一樣的，所以，這個依正二報，通常就是敗壞不淨之相。任何一個人都一樣，有這種敗壞、不乾淨的形象。
剛才說的，三十六物不淨物，不論你是什麼樣的地位，什麼樣的名稱，但是同樣「通常」也是這樣，這三十六之不淨物，分為三類，有三種，看清楚來。就是外相，這個外相那就是有十二種東西。
人身有
三十六之不淨物
分為三類
一、外相含十二：
髮、毛、爪、齒、
眵、淚、涎、唾、
屎、溺、垢、汗
頭髮，髮、毛、爪、齒、眵、淚、涎、唾、屎、溺、還有垢、汗，籨你的頭上的頭髮開始，這樣髮，爪，連指甲、牙齒。眵，那就是眼睛的眼屎。眼淚或者是痰唾等等，或是我們的大小便溺等等，這全都是髒東西，在肚子裡開始就有了。夏天流汗等等，這是我們的身體，常常都是看得到的外相。身體還有，第二、身體，這個身還有十二種，十二種就是：皮、膚、血、肉、筋、脈、骨、髓、肪、膏、腦、膜。
二、身含十二：
皮、膚、血、
肉、筋、脈、
骨、髓、肪、
膏、腦、膜
從皮膚開始，我們人這個身體的裡面，無不都是這些東西。皮膚、血，稍微動一下，皮破了，皮膚破了，血就出來，肉就裂開了。這全都是我們看得到、都很能理解得到的。我們的筋、脈、骨等等，若有稍微出差錯，位置等等，這就給我們很大的苦不堪。
裡面，身體裡面還有什麼呢?還有十二種：肝、膽、腸、胃、脾、腎、心、肺、生臟、熟臟、赤痰、白痰種種。
三、內含十二：
肝、膽、腸、
胃、脾、腎、
心、肺、
生臟、熟臟、
赤痰、白痰
看，我們的身體內臟裡面，肋骨包著的裡面這個身體，上、下臟，吃東西，要如何去消化，有這個生臟、熟臟等等，肝，肝臟，瞭解光是這個肝的病，就分成很多種，治療，很不好治療，而若是長出東西來，更不得了了！這個腫瘤，肝一發生了病，病，那就是很苦了，這種的病，大家聽到，聞癌色變。那就是中在我們的內臟裡面，什麼時候發生，不知道。
難道只有肝而已嗎?膽，這個膽若負責不適當，我們的皮肉的色就不同了。「你最近這個，怎麼看起來比較黃呢，到底怎麼了？」「不知道。」「去檢查看看。」哇！膽有問題了，或是膽結石，或是膽已經有病了等等。
腸，也是一樣，小腸、大腸，這樣彎彎曲曲，吃進去的東西就是這樣經過，這樣在消化，消化得不好，這個腸就已經出毛病了。唉呀！大、小腸癌，這很可怕。胃也是一樣，在裡面。到胃的地方消化，甚至，脾、腎，心、肺，五臟六腑，這器官都是很重要在我們的內臟裡。生、臟、熟臟，你如何吞，吃進肚子裡如何運作，如何消化等等，全都要很順暢，要不然，就是(生)赤痰、白痰，這種身體已經出毛病了，咳出來的，紅的、黃的、白的等等。
你想，這豈不就是我們的人生，一個身體，三十六物，這樣這麼的多，讓我們很不乾淨，不斷、不斷在製造著，這麼不乾淨的東西。不過，我們若沒有這三十六物，我們的身體，人體就沒辦法這樣健康生活。有了這三十六物，讓我們吃進去的東西，排出來的東西是這麼的髒，人生的最後，這個整體的身體，還不都是水歸水，就是落地了，肉爛了，也是歸地，到底還有什麼？什麼都沒有。偏偏「什麼都沒有」，我們卻造成了很多「有」的業。(在)人間，造了很多的災難、業力，都是這個身體三十六物，這個身體，不淨物，這樣在造作。
所以，各位菩薩，學佛，我們真的要用心。注意外面「苦、集、滅、道」，注意身內就是不淨，「觀身不淨」、「觀心無常」等等，這一切、一切等等，我們就應該時時自我警惕，要多用心。
Explanations by Master Cheng-Yan
Subject: The Wise Contemplate the Body as Impure (觀身不淨智者厭離)
Date:July.27. 2015
“We contemplate the body as impure in all of its 36 elements. The nine orifices constantly discharge filth. The Three Realms’ instability makes people afraid. Those who have wisdom contemplate this and give rise to a sense of renunciation. To be liberated from the causation of suffering, one must eliminate delusion and enter the Path.”
We should clearly understand that this body belongs to us. We must contemplate this body earnestly. When the Buddha was teaching, in addition to “suffering, causation, cessation and the Path,” the Four Noble Truths, He also taught the Fourfold Mindfulness. In practicing the Fourfold Mindfulness, we first “contemplate the body as impure.”
When we wake up every day and eat something, if we are healthy, our bodies will absorb it. All its various nutrients are used to sustain us. After we absorb the nutrients, what is left is waste that needs to be expelled. This is how our body works, every person is the same. Each of us has just a layer of skin covering tendons, bones and muscles and all the things inside. These have the function of taking things in and later expelling them. This is what happens when we are healthy. Even when healthy, there are so many impurities. We need to earnestly contemplate the workings of our internal organs. So, “We contemplate the body as impure” in all of its 36 elements.
Aside from needing the 36 elements to be organized properly, the nine orifices must also expel things; they constantly discharge extremely unclean things. Can each of us count to see if we have nine orifices? On the face alone, there are seven orifices. Then there are two more for discharging stool and urine. So, we have a total of nine orifices.
Sometimes, our eyes and ears also generate filth. If a person’s eyes are not healthy, they may produce some kind of fluid. Or there may be buildup around the corners of their eyes. These are also impurities. We discharge tears, snot, mucus, saliva, etc. And, occasionally, we need to clean our ears as well. Think about it, the 36 elements and nine orifices truly are filthy and unclean. This all happens within the Three Realms.
“The Three Realms’ instability makes people afraid.” People with wisdom will think this way. Aside from the places we rely on and live in, [the Three Realms] can also [described] our body as well as our minds. These are the Three Realms of the mind. When it comes to desires, the body has physical desires. How many kinds of physical desires do we have? Besides the desire to eat what we like, there are many others. There are also sexual desires, as well as the boundless greed to take possession of all things in the world. There are many things that we are greedy for. The desire realm [in our minds] causes great suffering and leads us to create much karma.
These desires arise because we are tempted by the various things around us. Aside from the state of our mind and the external states around us, there are also intangible afflictions. Within each person, both the body and mind are never stable; they are impermanent. A person could be fine when they leave the house, but suddenly get into an accident, his face crushed beyond recognition and his body completely mangled.
Look at each of us, besides the previously mentioned [impermanence of] the 36 elements and nine orifices of our body, our minds have to deal with the many instances of impermanence in our lives, as well as birth, aging, illness and death.We encounter so much [impermanence] as we go through life, yet we are never aware of it.Every day, because of our desires and habitual tendencies, we do whatever we please.This is the foolishness of ordinary people.
So, “Those who have wisdom contemplate this and give rise to a sense of renunciation.”If we have wisdom, we must constantly comprehend how having so many desires can physically and mentally exhaust us, causing us to suffer both in body and mind.If we can let go of these desires and put our body to good use, it will be a “vessel for spiritual cultivation”.Only with a body can we engage in spiritual practice.
Without a body, we have no way to engage in spiritual practice.
With a body, we can form blessed affinities and create blessings for living in and for transcending this world.We hope that by learning the Buddha’s Way we can become a person with wisdom.The way we see things should be different from how ordinary people see them.We must constantly remind ourselves to be vigilant.
Within our body, invisible infinitesimal changes aggregate and lead to aging and illness, which brings us closer and closer to death.So, what is really so desirable among all these things in our external conditions?We need to make use of our bodies while we can to earnestly engage in spiritual practice.This is what it means to be wise.
Wise people who look around them will reflect on the impurities within their bodies.After engaging in this contemplation, they “give rise to a sense of renunciation”.
What object in this world is worth fighting over?What are the benefits of sexual desires?Why, for the sake of sexual desires, do people ruin their lives and reputations, etc.?These sexual desires can also bring about much suffering in life.People who have wisdom will reject desires.
They are even fearful and scared of these kinds of desires that arise between people.
Not only are they afraid of such desires, they also renounce them.They quickly distance themselves from these kinds of physical and sexual desires.Thus they are “liberated from the causation of suffering”.
Life is full of suffering!Because we understand that our body is very unclean, we must further comprehend how matters and objects around us lead us to create causes of suffering and why we must distance ourselves from them.
To do so, we must “eliminate delusion” and immediately “enter the Path [We] must eliminate delusion and enter the Path”.Only when we eliminate our delusions can we mindfully enter the Path.
So, we must “contemplate the body as impure”.
Let us examine the previous sutra passage.
It is an analogy of what is in the Three Realms, from this vast space down to a smaller space and eventually down to a single house.
This house shelters us from the wind and rain.
After the house has been here for a long time,
“The walls were cracked and collapsing, the plaster was peeling and the straw roof was scattered messily. The rafters and poles were crumbling, the surrounding fences were all bent and various filthy things were everywhere.”
The appearance of this house when it was first built was that of a luxurious mansion.But after so long, the walls were falling apart.The plaster used to fill the gaps between bricks was gradually peeling.
The straw roof covering the house was gradually subjected to wind and rain and continued to disintegrate and became less and less tidy.
Looking up, one could see holes in the roof, and the eaves outside also looked very messy.
“The straw roof was scattered messily.”Then “The rafters and poles were crumbling”; “the surrounding fences were all bent.This was the framework, which is like the skeletal structure of the house.As this framework continues to deteriorate, the house will lose its shape and crumble.
The rafters and poles were crumbling; the surrounding fences were all bent:
Rafters and poles are parts of the roof; they are analogies for our bones.Our limbs cannot hold together; this is crumbling.The barriers on all sides are fences.They miss each other or cross; thus they are bent.
Now we are discussing.“The rafters and poles were crumbling.”Rafters are the beams that support the eaves.Because the eaves extend out, they need a framework to extend with them.So, the framework of the roof that extends out to the eaves is called “the rafters”.
The spine of the roof is made of poles.
These are terms used in building houses.These parts are all made out of lumber, but depending on where they are used, they will have different names. The same piece of wood can be used as a beam, a pillar, a rafter or a pole.
These are analogies for our bones and tendons. We have bones throughout our body. Those in our hands are “bones of the hand”. They are still bones. Those in our feet are “bones of the foot”. The bones in our chests are “rib bones”. The bones in our chests are “rib bones”. They have different names. The bones in our back are “vertebrae”. They are all bones, but their position in the body determines their different functions and names.
So, “Our limbs cannot hold together, this is crumbling”. Our bones were arranged in an organized fashion, each in its proper position. But if something is not in its proper position and has fallen out of alignment or if a piece of cartilage is pushed out of place, our body will hurt too much to walk or move. In these instances, our “joints” fail to provide proper support; they are not arranged precisely or have been dislocated. This is “crumbling”.
The outer fences serve as barriers.Surrounding the house, there are fences. These are the “barriers on all sides”. This is the state of the house. The fences around the property help protect the house. The house must have walls, and the bricks of the walls must be stacked in an organized fashion. The plaster on the walls must be applied smoothly.
However, after a long time, the house gradually becomes rundown and falls into disrepair. So, with winds, storms, earthquakes and so on, the house gradually begins to deteriorate. The deterioration of the house begins with the walls. “The plaster was peeling”. the peeling plaster is a sign of its decline.
So, it starts from “the plaster peeling and the straw roof [being] scattered messily”. This description of this house is also an analogy for sentient beings’ circumstantial and direct retributions that will, in the end, lead us all deterioration and impure appearances.
A few days ago, I spoke of circumstantial and direct retributions. They are not under our control. We follow our causes and conditions to be born in a certain place. We follow the affinities we have with our parents to be born in a certain family. This is circumstantial retribution.
Next is direct retribution. Originally, we might have been part of a stable family, and we might have lived a wonderful life; but because of our individual [tendencies] we wandered away and encountered [many challenges]. This is our direct retribution. Some people are born into a terrible family, but in their lives, their direct retributions bring them many blessings. They are successful at whatever they do; this is their direct retribution. When it comes to circumstantial and direct retributions, eventually even wealthy people, regardless of how rich they are, regardless of how widely recognized they are, will still have aches and pains in their bodies. Their bodies are likewise impure, and they will likewise fall ill. Illness brings unbearable suffering. They likewise will die and after they die, if their body is not quickly dealt with, it will attract maggots, putrefy and decay. The same thing happens to everyone’s body. So, direct and circumstantial retributions, in the end, lead us all to deterioration and impure appearances. Every person is the same; we all deteriorate into impure appearances.
As I mentioned earlier, the human body has 36 impure elements. Regardless of our social stature or title, this is what we are normally like.
“The 36 impure elements can be divided into three types. Let us clearly examine these three type. First of all, there are those of outer appearance. There are 12 of our outer appearance, such as hair, body hair, nails, teeth, rheum, tears, mucus, saliva, excrement, urine, as well as dandruff and sweat.
Starting with the top of our heads, we see hair, nails, teeth and rheum, which is our eye gunk. We also see tears, mucus, saliva. Then there is our urine and stool. Those are filthy things that originate in our stomachs. In the summer we tend to sweat a lot. These are the appearances of our bodies that usually visible to us.
Our bodies also have a second type of element.The Body has 12 elements [of its structure]. The 12 are the skin, flesh, blood, muscle, tendons, veins, bones, marrow. Oils, fat, brain and membranes.
Going inward from the skin, the inside of the human body is made up of these structures, skin, blood, etc. If we [hit something], the skin will break and blood will emerge. The flesh may split. These ae things we can see; we understand the part they play in the body. When it comes to our tendons, veins or bones, if any one of them is not working properly or is out of place, that will bring unbearable suffering.
What else is inside our body? There are also 12 internal elements, the liver, gall bladder, intestines, stomach, spleen, kidney, heart, lung, the two viscera and brown and white phlegm.
Look at the organs inside the body; they are encircled by our ribcage. There are the upper and lower viscera, responsible for digesting what we eat. These are the two viscera. With the liver, with just liver diseases we can identify many different types of disease. These diseases are not easy to treat.And if there is a tumor on top of that, it will be very serious. When tumors develop in the liver, they cause great pain and suffering. When people hear “cancer,” they are scared. Cancer can occur in our organs. Nobody knows when it may strike.
Is the liver the only source of problems? If the gallbladder fails to function properly, the color of our skin will change.
“Why does your skin look jaundiced recently? What happened?” “I don’t know.” “You should go for a checkup.” There may be an issue with the gallbladder. It could gallstones, or perhaps the gallbladder is diseased.
Our intestines can also develop problems. The large and small intestines twist and curve. The food we eat passes through them and is digested. If the food is not properly digested, it means something is wrong with the intestines. Intestinal cancer or bowel cancer is terrifying.
The stomach can also have problems digesting food. We even hear about problems of the heart and lungs. Our internal organs all play very important roles in the body.
With the two viscera, when we swallow food, the food goes into our stomach. The digestive system has to function smoothly. Otherwise, we will produce brown and white phlegm, which are signs of problems in our body. When we spit it out phlegm can also be red, yellow or white. Think about it, isn’t this human life?
A body consists of 36 elements. There are so many elements, which all cause our impurity. Our bodies constantly generate impure things. However, without these 36 elements, our bodies would not allow us to live healthy lives. With these 36 elements, the body can turn the food we eat into filthy waste that we excrete. At the end of our life, our entire body will decay and break down into its components.
After the flesh decomposes, it becomes part of the earth. Is there anything left? Nothing at all. However, for the sake of this “nothing” we create much karma that is “something.” In the world, we create many disasters and much karma, all for the sake of this body and its 36 elemnets. For the sake of this impure body, we continue to create karma.
Dear Bodhisattvas, in learning the Buddha’s Way, we really must be mindful and pay attention to “suffering, causation, cessation and the Path.” We must be aware that the body is impure. We need to “contemplate the body as impure, contemplate the mind as impermanent” and so on. In all things, we should always remind ourselves to be vigilant and always be mindful.
(Source: Da Ai TV – Wisdom at Dawn program – Explanation by Master Chen-Yen)
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