静思晨语 - 2011年3月17日 - 6 - 法譬如水：益他人成就自己

Fulfill the Self by Benefiting Others



静思晨语第六集 - 2011年3月16日 - 转凡夫心为清净佛心

人生好像一场虚幻梦境，我们学佛就是期待我们能学得知到这场梦应该如何接受？如何做好这场不迷失的梦？时时自我提起检讨，因为我们人人都是凡夫，昨天说过「凡夫愚行，无明暗覆」。凡夫就是每天都过着迷幻如梦的日子，由不得自己，实在是很可惜。

有一句话说「人生难得，佛法难闻」。既然得了人身，不能即时利用人生的时间，利用这个身体，虽然是四大假合，虽然说性命无常，我们为何不能好好把我无常，利用四大假合的这个身体，赶紧来体会人生。

我们的身体，是由地、水、火、风，四大元素假合而成，其本质虽然虚幻无常，若好好把握利用，终能成就无上道业。

要如何转愚为智，每个人都会说「不经一事不长一智」，要转愚为智，就是要投入，多去了解人情世事。人与人之间的感情，世间万事万物的事情，只是用听的，只是在书上看的，只不过是吸收常识。真的遇到事情来的时候，一样心、行愚痴。我们的心和行为，还是表现出那分无知的愚行。这就是我们凡夫很可惜的地方，已经得了人身还不懂得把握时间利用这一生。

也是因为这样，才会让无明层层遮盖。一层一层覆起来的无明，愈是无明就愈让人心乱，是非对错不会选择，遇到事情就是一错再错。所以在这种错误的人群中，自然就会亲近恶友。

凡夫愚行，无明暗覆，亲近恶友，烦恼乱心，立性无知，恣心自恃。

所以烦恼乱心，就「立性无知，恣心自恃」。

所以立性无知，我们常常会觉得，「性」人人本具，应该很清净，与佛同等，但是就是因为烦恼乱了心，所以使人人本具的本性，覆蔽掉了，所以无知，他自然「恣心」。恣心就是放纵，放任我们自己，心一点拘束都没有。

更可怕的是「自恃」，就是自己仗着我们年轻，仗着我们有力气，仗着我们有钱、有势、有利、有名等等…或者是年幼时仗着父母宠爱，或是仗着朋友有力量。这种人已经自己放纵去了，人生没有轨道，好的人来教育不肯接受，只是仗着一些不规矩的力量，这种我行我素的人生，就很令人担心。所以会变成恶习成习。

放任自己随心所欲，或是仗着财势名利，为所欲为，这样我行我素的人生，其实是造成，未来受苦的因素。

虽然「人之初，性本善」，「性相近」但是「习相远」。「性相近」是什么近呢？近佛之性；本来心、佛、众生三无差别，人人都有很接近的本性，就是因为后天的环境，不断地熏习。不一定是这一生，不一定是前一生，也说不定是累生累世，烦恼不断覆蔽，不断累积。有的人生下来，家庭环境很不好，不过他秉性善良，不会受环境所影响，这样的人也有，而且不少。

无论命运境遇如何，我们都可以，立定志向，奋发努力，而开创出光明的人生。

大陆马野村，有一位马文仲，这一位马老师，年幼的时候出生在一个很贫穷的家庭，而且是非常不安定的社会，他体内有一种疾病，这种神经脊椎的疾病，到十四岁时完全发作了。他的身体不是硬掉，而是整个身体慢慢一直变软，全身肌肉无力。但是你看他非常努力，非常精进，读书是全县第一名，让他考上高中。

但是虽然是全县第一名，整个县内却只有几个人可以去读书。后来大家觉得像他这样的身体，读再多的书也是浪费，所以就一直软硬劝诱，希望他能放弃，把这个名额给别人。一个很喜欢读书，很上进的人，好不容易考上全县第一名，是多痛苦的事情啊！不过，因为他的善良的本性，他自己想一想，无奈中唯一就是放弃，所以放弃了，但是他自己还是努力进修。

村内有很多的家庭，跟他一样的。很多孩子家庭无法培养他，父母无法让他上学，孩子自己放弃自己，十分放荡，十分懵懂地过日子。甚至有个家庭不错，要他读书，他却像小霸王一样，很坏，这位马老师，他有这样的警觉，觉得小孩子不能让他放荡，假使人不读书，什么都不懂，一生就耽误掉了。

所以他不忍心庄内的孩子，人人都没有读书的机会。看到这些小霸王，他也很担心这个村子，如果这样习气的孩子一直生长起来，对于地方、乡、村也是一种麻烦，所以他很努力，他希望能够把这些孩子，没有钱的家庭，孩子有机会可以读书。让那些很坏的孩子，不懂事的孩子，也有机会来亲近。

这些事情，好在他有一个很好的父亲一直在支持他，做他精神上的支柱、墙壁，真的是智慧为梁、大爱为墙。这位父亲真的是他的梁与墙，一直都在支持他，所以也鼓励他。

父亲很用心，没有钱，白天去作工，晚上回来就用车子去拖土，慢慢地一车一车载，载成堆了，又再亲手做模，一块一块的夯，曝晒成砖。这位父亲实在十分伟大，结果这间学校真的让他盖起来了，确实很简陋，不过总是能让孩子有个读书的场所。

不过学生要从哪里来呢？就要去招生，村里头的人每个人都很怕，怕马老师的病会传染，所以没有人肯把孩子送来给他教，甚至连几十块前的学费，有的人也没有办法付得出来。马老师只是十几岁的孩子，他拖着他不自由的身体，用椅子在地上移、地上拖，十分艰难才移动那张椅子，应该说是「分步难行」，不是一吋，连一分都难行。不过他的意志，看他能挨家挨户，一家一家去敲门去劝说。

有的人说：「我没有钱可以让他读书，没有办法缴纳学费。」「没关系，只要你让他来读书，我不会收他的学费。」「但是我也没有钱买簿子和笔。 」「不要紧，我会尽量提供他簿子和笔。」这样人家是不是肯让孩子来读书呢？还是怕，怕自己的孩子会被传染到。

像这样重重的困难，但是他绝对不失志，好不容易有八位学生来读书。贫穷的真的不收学费，坏孩子、小霸王，他用耐心、用爱、用智慧循循善诱，终于这些孩子让他教了之后，县城在举办中学考试的时候，八个有六个孩子考上了，成绩很好，这几年的教学经营总算成功了。

开始报纸报导，开始村里、乡里的人信任了，开始孩子送来给他教的就多了。三十几个又是一个梯次，三十几个也全部考上了，只有一个没考上，更加轰动。马老师的名气，在这个时候就打开了。也就是因为这样打开名气，所以得到一个很好的因缘，千里路程的遥隔，这样一条线把他牵了起来，真的是因缘不可思议。

马老师、谷老师，他们的奋斗努力，他们最大的希望，就是能将他们的学校扩大，像样一点。比较像一间学校，让全村庄的孩子，全乡的孩子都有机会来读书，这个心愿后来是慈济去完成。

因为上人看了他的报导很感动，所以上人就请上海的慈济人，专程去访视他，访视之后把个案内容写回来，看了那个个案的报告很感动，他有那个心愿，我们决定要帮他完成。所以慈济决定帮他盖学校，也已经落成了，看到马老师夫妻很感恩、很感动，他出来现身说法。慈济到他们家全程纪录，所以真人实事更是让人感动。

所以人生，有些人做的是很美满的梦，有些人所做的就是很坎坷、很挣扎。不过这场坎坷、挣扎，他没有迷失掉他人生的方向，所以人生不能放纵自己。这个身体，我们现在是健健康康的人，不能好好爱惜利用，实在是很可惜。

好好利用难得的人身，把握生命的方向，自励自勉，终能得道多助，利益他人，也成就自己。

所以人生不能放纵、自恣、自恃，不要说我现在力量有多大，留在明天，留在明年，我们要分秒不空过，利用这一辈子的人生，好好接近佛法，好好接近人群。 「不经一事，不长一智」，在人群中我们能得到很多智慧。各位，时时要多用心啊！

Life is like an illusory dream. In learning Buddhism, we learn how to come to terms with this dream and how not to get lost in this dream. Let us constantly self-reflect, for we are all ordinary people. Yesterday I said, “Ordinary people act foolishly and are covered by ignorance.” Ordinary people live each day as if in a dream where we have no control. It is really a pity.

As we often say “It is rare to be born human and to hear Dharma.” We have attained human form but we do not know to urgently make the most of this life. The body is the temporary union of the Four Great Elements and is impermanent. Why don't we realize this impermanence and make good use of this temporary body so as to seize the time we have to experience life?

Our bodies are formed by the temporary union of the Four Great Elements: earth, water, fire, and air. Though their natures are illusory and impermanent, if we can make good use of them, we can realize the ultimate spiritual cultivation.

How do we transform ignorance into wisdom? Everyone says, “Without experience, we cannot grow in wisdom.” To transform ignorance into wisdom, we must dedicate ourselves to gaining a better understanding of human relations and world affairs. If our experience is only from listening or from reading a book, we are actually only learning general knowledge. When something happens, we still think and act in ignorance. Our mindsets and actions still reflect that ignorance and foolishness. It is such a pity that ordinary people attain the human body but are not able to make good use of their lives.

That is why ordinary people are covered by layers of ignorance. The more ignorance there is, the more confused we are. Unable to choose right from wrong, when we encounter things we make mistakes again and again. Thus, mixed in the wrong crowd, we are naturally drawn to bad friends.

Ordinary people act foolishly and are covered by ignorance. Drawn to bad friends, afflictions confuse their minds, ignorance of their true nature, they are self-indulgent and self-assured.

Being ignorance of our true nature, when afflictions confuse the mind we become self-indulgent and self-assured. We often feel that our intrinsic nature should be pure and equal to the Buddha's. But afflictions have confused our minds, so our true original nature has been covered. Hence, due to ignorance, our minds are naturally unrestrained.

Without self-discipline in the mind, we indulge ourselves without any restraint. Self assurance is even more frightening. Some feel that they can rely on their youth, their physical strength, their monetary wealth, or their power, fame, status and so on. Some feel that they have the support of their parents, of others, or of their friends.

Such people indulge themselves and have no direction in life. They refuse to accept the advice of good. People and simply rely on improper advantages and do whatever they desire. This kind of life is truly a cause for concern. Thus, bad habits become deeply ingrained.

If we indulge ourselves and do as we desire, or rely on wealth, power, and fame to do whatever we want, we are living a self-centered life. Such a life is the cause of our future suffering.

Though “human nature is inherently good and our nature are similar, our habits differ greatly.” What are or natures close to? They are close to Buddha-nature. Mind, Buddha, sentient beings are no different. We all once had a nature like the Buddha's but our surroundings continuously influenced us. Perhaps it happened in this lifetime. Perhaps it happened in a previous lifetime. Perhaps lifetime after lifetime of afflictions have continuously accumulated and covered us.

Some people are born into hardship, but since their natures are inherently good, the environment has no negative effect on them. There are quite a number of people like this.

Whatever our fate and circumstances, we can be firm in our aspirations, be strong, and work hard to create a brighter life.

China's Ma Ye Village, there was a man named Ma Wen-Zhong. This teacher was born into an impoverished family during a very chaotic time in Chinese society. He suffered from a form of muscular dystrophy. The full onset happened at age fourteen. His limbs did not stiffen up but instead his entire body slowly became limp. He lost strength in all his muscles. Still, he worked very hard and was very diligent in his studies.

He was placed first in the entire county during the high school entrance exam. But only a limited number of students from each county could attend school. The administrators felt that given has condition, more schooling would be a waste. They tried to cajole and pressure him to abandon his schooling and yield his spot to another student.

For a person who loved to study, was diligent in his studies and placed first in the county exams, giving it all up was a very painful decision. But he was very kind and after some consideration he gave up the opportunity. After he did that, he still studied hard on his own.

There were many other families in his village that could not afford to send their children to school. As a result, the children gave up on themselves. They were very wild and lived their lives without purpose and direction. There were also some from well-off families who acted like little bullies at school. They were terrible. This teacher, Mr. Ma, was very perceptive. He felt that children cannot go uneducated. If people do not receive educations, they will not know anything and will waster their lives.

He could not bear for the children to lose the opportunity to receive an education. The little bullies also worried him. If children in this village grew up with these habits, they would cause problems for the area. Therefore, he worked very hard. He hoped to give children from poor families a chance to receive an education. He also wanted the chance to befriend and help the problematic children.

Fortunately, he had a great father who was very supportive. His father was his source of strength. He truly had “Wisdom as his beams, great love as his walls”. Indeed, his father was his beam and wall, who constantly supported and encouraged him.

His father worked very hard. They had no money, so he worked as a laborer by day and hauled dirt at night. Slowly, with one cartful after another, his father mounded the dirt. Then he molded the dirt and dried it into bricks under the sun. This father was truly a great man. Through his efforts, a school was built. Although a simple building, it was good enough as a place for the children to study.

But who would come to this school? They had to recruit. However, people in the village were very afraid that Mr. Ma's disease was contagious. So no one dared to send their children there. Furthermore some people couldn't pay even a small fee. Mr. Ma was only a teenager himself. He dragged his body around on a small stool. It took great effort for him to move. It was difficult to move even a tiny bit, even an inch. Every little move was difficult. But his will was strong. He went from house to house and knocked on every door to persuade people.

Some said, “I don't have money.” “I can't pay the tuition.” Mr. Ma replied, “That's okay. Just let your child attend I won't charge any tuition” “But we have no money for books and pens.” “That's okay too. I'll try to provide those.” Then were they willing to let their children go?” “No, I am afraid you will infect my child.”

Facing so many challenges, he was never despondent. Finally, 8 children came to attend his school. They were poor, so he did not charge tuition. As for bullies and problematic children, he used patience, love and wisdom to guide toward goodness. When his students took the county's middle school entrance exam, 6 out of the 8 students passed with high scores. All his years of hard work finally paid off. The newspaper started reporting his story. People in the village began to trust him. So his students grew in number. He then taught a class of more than 30 students and all of them passed except for one. The school became a sensation. Mr. Ma's reputation became well-publicized. Because he was famous, he gained favorable affinity which connected him with his future wife across great distance. The workings of karma are truly inconceivable.

Mr. Ma and his wife worked very hard. Their ultimate wish was to expand their school and make it more like a regular school so that all the children in the village could have the chance to study there. Eventually, Tzu Chi helped them fulfill this wish.

I was very moved when I read his story. I asked Tzu Chi volunteers in Shanghai to pay him a special visit and bring back a written report. What they reported was very touching. We had to help him fulfill this wish. Therefore, we decided to build this school, and the project has since been completed. Mr. Ma and his wife were very grateful and touched. They used their story as an example for others. We went to their house to record the whole story. These real people and real events deeply moved us.

In this world, some people's lives are like a beautiful dream. For others, it is like a nightmare, a struggle. Though Mr. Ma struggled a lot, he never lost his direction. Thus, I often say that in life, we must not become self-indulgent. Appreciate your healthy bodies. If we do not cherish and make good use of our bodies, it is a great pity.

Cherish and make good use of this precious body. Hold fast to the direction of your life. With self-encouragement and self- motivation, we can realize the path of benefitting others and gain self-fulfillment in the process.

So, do not be unrestrained, self-indulgent and self-assured. Do not think, “I am still young and strong, I can afford to wait till tomorrow or next year.” Do not be this way. Do not waste a single second. Make good use of this life to draw close to the Dharma and work among people. Without experience, we cannot grow in wisdom. Wisdom is gained through working with people.

Everyone, please always be mindful.

出处：http://moya.iyard.org/bin/view/Blog/BlogEntry2183