Uphold Proper Roles and Responsibilities
人生很无常，天下多灾难。这些灾难无论是天灾或是人祸，好好去思考，无不是从心所起，所以是人惹来的灾祸。既然人惹来了这么多的灾祸，大家是不是要向内自省呢？的确要向内自省。佛陀他这么说：「众生垢重，何人无罪？何人无愆？凡夫愚行，无明暗覆。」
众生垢重，何人无罪？何者无愆？凡夫愚行，无明暗覆。
佛陀这样说，众生累生累世不断无明覆蔽，哪一个人敢说他无罪？敢说他从来不曾犯错？因为我们无明，就算自己犯错也不知道，就像我们人在日常生活中，自己的身体，已经有病了也不知道，一定要经过医疗检查，以现在的科技，在出发病的时候就能发现到，这就是要靠我们自己，要知道我赶快去找出病因，这就是现代人说的健康检查。
同样的意思，生命是这样。我们的慧命呢？慧命我们要相信与生本俱，我们都有与佛同等的佛性，只是无明一层一层的遮蔽住我们，愈盖愈黑，愈盖愈无法发现我们那念最宝贵的清净的本性，所以我们人绝对不要自大说：「我这辈子都没有作错事情。既然我这辈子都没有作错事情，怎么会有这么多不如意的事呢？」不要这样想。
这辈子我们自以为没有作错，不过上辈子说不定，我们作了很多错事。说不定我们这辈子，自以为是「都没有作错什么事情」，但其实是我们作错的自己都没有发现，没有觉查到我们作错了。待人接物之间，我们的身行已经偏向了。不过，他不知道，所以多数人都认为我没有错。
不过佛陀就这样跟我们说：「众生垢重」。众生所指的就是还有无明，在六道轮回中无明的人。什么人敢说他没有罪？因为在六道轮回中，垢秽不断一层一层遮蔽住。 「何人无罪？何人无愆？」佛陀又说：「凡夫愚行，无明暗覆。」「凡夫愚行」真的是凡夫，凡夫愚痴，所做的事情自己都不觉知，所以受无明不断遮蔽。
我们都有与佛同等的佛性，但是受到贪嗔痴等无明覆蔽，有意或无意地犯下过错，而在六道轮回中，累世难以超脱出离。
我看到一则新闻报导，在美国有一位七十三岁的老婆婆，被人强暴。美国的警方很重视这件事情，所以在几个月的时间中，锲而不舍，后来找到嫌犯，竟然是一位十五岁的少年，这位十五岁的少年，不只是这一次，已经有很多次犯罪的前科，所以这回美国警方，将这个孩子以成年罪判罪，这是在现在的社会，令人很担心。
这种无明覆蔽，这就是凡夫，已经与生带来业的种子。与生俱来业的种子很可怕，要不然你想想，才十五岁的孩子，已经屡次犯罪，这是不是一个习气呢？这个习气，就是从过去生带过来的。
同样在美国，有一位十三岁的孩童，在他十三个月大的时候，就开始会解数学。常常听到慈济学校的学生说，最难的课题就是数学，竟然一个出生十三个月的孩子，他就会解数学。到了两岁时，他就能把美国的文法，他能挑出一篇作文文法的错误，才两岁。难怪他现在才十三岁而已，就拿到两个学士学位。他有他的志愿，就是将来要当美国的总统。看一个十三岁的孩子，他有这种志气，有这种天分，他与生俱来就是这么的聪慧，很有智慧，是不是他的心都没有受过污染？
佛，他有无污染的本性，所以智慧超越。我们凡夫就是经过污染，凡是每一世再来都要重新学过。你们难道没有发觉，为什么每一世来到人间都要重新再学习呢？普通人都是这样。
现在慈济有轻安居，我们就可以看到，有一群老人年纪大了，他会失忆。这辈子的事情，现在老的就慢慢忘记了，但如过要他说很早以前，小孩子时代的事情，他却都还记得。但是刚才什么人和我说话，我都忘记了，忘记了是谁，不知道名字。看我们人生，只是在一辈子当中，就有多少烦恼来遮盖我们的心思？何况生生世世，烦恼重重叠叠非常可怕。
但是我们看看美国那位十三岁，就能拿到两个学士学位，十三个月大就能解数学，真的只能用他的本性，没有受到烦恼污染，所以他来到人间不必学，就能无师自通。一路走来，知识就是比一般人聪明，但愿这个孩子能一直保持这样的聪明敏睿，能够一直走在向善的人生，善的方向。那份慈悲爱念都不要失去。如果他将真的当总统，他就真的是「转轮圣王」，不只是他的本性明亮，而且他的爱，爱心、爱民、爱国。这就是福，能够带来人间的福。
凡夫愚行，无明暗覆，亲近恶友，烦恼乱心。
但是现在听到的，多数都是让人担心的青年，更让人担心人的心啊！所以这种都是无明暗覆，这种无明暗覆，「亲近恶友」，所以他才会「烦恼乱心」。这都是因为亲近恶友造成的问题；好的朋友叫他，他就不高兴。没有那种善缘，好人要影响他很难；但是坏人只要一招手，他就很投缘，就跟着往坏的方向走。这种亲近恶友，实在是很让人担心。
现在的青少年，有多少人在街头飙车！多少人在吸食毒品！多少人结群成党！这样的青少年，让人很担心的事情，偏偏这都是无明暗覆，与生俱来结了很多不好的缘，所以自己的方向，就会偏向坏的朋友那边去，以致烦恼乱心。烦恼乱心也是很令人担心，一个家庭若有这样的人，这样的子孙，实在是很痛苦。
也是看到一篇报纸，失业的中年人，他失业了很烦躁。平常时不肯好好学功夫，等到现在生活有困难，要找工作没人敢雇他，所以他现在就失业了。每天都很懊恼，怨叹父母没有好好养育他。父母也很怨叹：「小时候要把你教好，你不听话，偏偏要去找坏朋友。叫你好好读书，你偏偏放荡不用功。现在知道生活要靠自己，这个时候才来怨叹父母，这样对吗？」两个父子在那里起了冲突，过了不久，人家就发现这位父亲，全身都是血，死了。作儿子的嫌疑最大。看到这篇社会新闻，实在令人很感慨！
这都是烦恼乱心，所以人伦已经丧失了。这就是为什么我们会需要宗教，需要佛法。也就是时时在警惕我们，要我们回归本性，找回我们来时路。我们倒底从何而来？我们要好好找回我们的本性源头，所以我们需要学佛，才不会使我们烦恼乱心。所以「立性无知，恣心自恃」，烦恼如果乱了我们的心，就是明亮的本性，也已经迷失了。无法发现自己的本性，所以就无知。
被烦恼扰乱的心，要以佛法来时时警惕策励，不断修心养性端正行为，才能回归光明的本性。
无知就会「恣心自恃」。「恣」就是放任的意思，就是放纵不肯守好做人的本份；一味放纵自己为所欲为，这叫做恣心。自己的心不肯好好照顾好，十分放纵，这种我说对就对了，别人跟我说什么都不对。这种恣心自恃，恶习就会慢慢成熟，不好的动作不断，他不肯听别人的纠正，所以慢慢就累积很多的恶习。所以我们学佛，最重要的是，如何把我们的心收回去，如何能把我们的本分守好。守好我们的本份，守好我们的人伦道德。我们若能守好人伦道德，守好我们的本份，这样来找回我们的本性，这就比较容易了。
学佛修行，就是要学如何收心，守好本分，恪尽本事，才能进一步，找回我们的清净本性。
你看，人家十三岁就能拿到学士。各位，这种清净与生本俱，那种智慧天性实在是人人都有。假使这念清净之性偏差了，无明一直覆盖住。你看，十四、五岁的孩子，重重犯罪到现在，虽然他尚未成年，就要用成年法来判罪。看，到底犯的多大的罪？多大的错？这都是恶习。种种恶习不断的重复累积，所以这辈子就是如此愚迷暗覆。
事事错，迷失了人伦道德，当然就是不守本分。所以我们大家，要好好将我们这分本性保持好。我们若能从心顾好，才能找回我们的本性。
我们要好好照顾我们这念心啊！
Life is impermanent. We see many disasters around the world. If we think about it, these disasters be they nature or man-made, all originated from the mind. They are caused by human activities.
Since the disaster cause by mankind, should we not all look inward and self-reflect? Indeed, we should self-reflect. The Buddha said “Sentient beings are steeped in defilement. Who is without fault?”
Sentient beings are steeped in defilement. Who is without fault?
The Buddha said that for life after life, sentient beings have been blinded by ignorance. Who dares to claim that he or she has never committed a wrong? Because we are ignorant, we err without realizing it. It is just like how in our daily living, we may not even be aware that we are already ill. Only through medical exams do we find out. With modern technology, we may be able to detect the disease in its early stages. But that depends on our recognition of our need for a medical exam. That is what people call a health checkup.
This is the way it is with our physical life. What about Wisdom-life? We must believe that we inherently possess it. We all possess a nature equal to the Buddha's. It is just obscured by layers of ignorance. The layers make it darker and harder for us to discover our most precious and pure intrinsic nature. Therefore, we humans should not be egotistic and say, “I've done nothing wrong in my life. I haven't committed any mistakes, so why do I suffer from so many misfortunes?” Do not think that way.
We may think that we have done nothing wrong, but perhaps, in our previous lives, we committed many wrongs. And perhaps in this life, we are simply unaware of and do not detect our many misdeeds. We do not realize that our conduct has already gone astray. Moreover, since others are unaware as well, most of us believe that we committed no wrongs.
However, the Buddha told us that sentient beings are those who are reborn in the Six Realms because of ignorance. Who dares to claim to be free of wrongdoings? As we transmigrate in the Six Realms, obscuring defilements continue to accumulate. Who is without transgressions? Who is without faults? So the Buddha said, “Ordinary people act foolishly, and are blinded by ignorance” Such are ordinary people. Since they are foolish, they are unaware of their actions. They are continuously blinded by ignorance.
We all have a nature equal to the Buddha's. But we intentionally and unintentionally make mistakes and are trapped in the cycle of rebirth.
I saw a US news report about the rape of a 73-year-old old woman. The police focused much attention on this case. So in the ensuing months they spared no effort until they finally found the culprit. Unexpectedly, it was a 15 -year-old teenager. This was not his first offense. He already had a record of past crimes. This time the police would prosecute him as an adult. Look at the state of our society nowadays. It is a cause for concern.
People are blinded by ignorance. These are karmic seeds that they brought with them from previous lives. These karmic seeds can be truly frightening. Just think about it, this teenager has already committed multiple offenses. Isn't this an ingrained habit? This habit has been carried over from past lives.
In the US, there is also a story about a 13-year-old. At the age of 13months, he was already solving math problems. I often hear students say that math is the most difficult subject. But at the age of 13 months, this child was already solving math problems. When he was two, he was able to pick out grammatical errors in an English essay. He was just two. It is no wonder then that, at age 13, he has earned two bachelor's degrees. He has aspirations. He wants to be President of the United States. This 13-year-old child has such high aspirations and talent. He was born with such intelligence and wisdom. Has the boy's mind never been defiled?
The Buddha's nature is pure and undefiled. That is why His wisdom is transcendent. But we ordinary people have been defiled, so we have to re-learn everything in each life time. Have you ever wondered why we must re-learn everything when we are born to this world? We are ordinary people.
Some in our day-care center for the elderly suffer from memory deterioration. So they are gradually forgetting various events of their lives. But if you ask them about their past, about things from their childhood, they still remember them clearly. But they forget who spoke to them a moment ago. They forget names and do not recognize faces.
See, in this lifetime alone, we already have so many afflictions that cloud our thinking. What about across multiple lifetimes? Such accumulation is very frightening.
But look at the 13-year-old in the US. He has already earned two bachelor's degrees. At 13 months, he was solving math problems. Really, we can say that his nature has remained undefiled by afflictions. So once born, he did not need to learn. He understood without being taught. Throughout his life, his aptitude always remained above average. I hope this child will always retain such cleverness and keen wisdom and apply it toward a life of goodness. I hope he never loses that kindness, compassion and love. Then if he really becomes president one day, he would truly be a “Wheel-turning Sage King” leader who not only has an untarnished nature but also loves his people and his country. I believe such a leader will bring many blessings to humanity.
That is why they” befriend unwholesome individuals and are confused by afflictions”.
But from what we hear today most young people are causes for worry. Their minds are even more worrisome. Those minds are blinded by ignorance. That is why they” befriend unwholesome individuals and are confused by afflictions.”
They are drawn to bad friends and when good people approach them, they are displeased. Without good affinities, it is difficult for good people to influence them. But bad people can easily build rapport with them and lead them down the wrong path. Being drawn to bad friends is a cause for real concern.
Many youths today are car racings on the streets, taking drugs, joining gangs. Such young people really worry us. They are blinded by ignorance and born with bad affinities created in past lives; that are why they are drawn to unwholesome friends and their minds are confused by afflictions. Afflictions and confusion are causes for concern. If a family has a child like this, it is very painful.
I saw an article about an unemployed middle-aged man. He was very irritable being unemployed. He never made an effort to learn any skills. He was unemployed and no one would hire him, so he had no way to make a living. Being frustrated every day, he complained that his parents did not raise him well. His father felt wronged. “When you were young, we tried to guide you, but you wouldn't listen. Instead you spent time with bad friends. We told you to study hard, but you played and never worked hard. Now that you have to provide for yourself, you put all the blame on your parents. Is that right?” The father and son got into a heated argument. Soon after, someone found the father dead and his body was cover in blood. The son was the prime suspect and it made news. This article is really saddening.
Afflictions have confused the mind, so morality is lost. This is why we need religion and we need the Buddha's teaching. It constantly warns us to return to our true nature, to find our way back. Where did we come from? We should seriously work hard to rediscover the origins of our true nature. We need to learn Buddhism so that our minds will not be disturbed by afflictions. It is said, “Ignorant of our true nature, we are self-indulgent and self-assured”. If afflictions confuse our minds, even the most untarnished true nature will be lost. If we cannot discover our true nature, we will be ignorant.
A mind disturbed by afflictions needs the constant reminder of Buddha-Dharma to remain vigilant. Constantly practice to refine your disposition and behavior to return to the radiant intrinsic nature.
When ignorant, we become self-indulgent and self-assured. Being indulgent means to be heedless and unrestrained, refusing to fulfill our basic human roles. Doing what we please is called self–indulgence. If we do not take care of our minds, we become very undisciplined “what I say is right. Whatever other people say is wrong.” With such self-indulgence and self-confidence, we slowly become entrenched in our bad habits and continue to act improperly. If we are unwilling to listen to others' advice, we will slowly accumulate a lot of bad habits.
When we learn Buddhism, it is very important to learn how to discipline our minds, fulfill our basic roles as humans and obey the rules of ethics and morality. If we are ethical and moral, and fulfill our responsibilities, it will be easier for us to restore our true nature.
Learning and practicing Buddhism is learning to discipline our minds. When we fulfill our roles and act to the best of our abilities, then we can take the next step toward restoring our pure, intrinsic nature.
This boy earned his degrees by age 13, such purity was innate. We all have this wisdom-nature. But if this nature deviates and is covered by ignorance we get the 14- or 15-year-old who has committed various offenses. Though he is not yet an adult, the courts will try him as an adult, because his offenses were so serious.
Ultimately, these are all bad habits. If we continually act on and repeat them, our entire lifetime will be covered in delusion and ignorance. Everything we do will be wrong. Without morals and ethics, we are not fulfilling our proper duties. We should truly work hard to recover our true nature by looking after our minds
So we should take good care of the mind.
出处：http://moya.iyard.org/bin/view/Blog/BlogEntry2181
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