Repent to Purge Afflictions so Dharma can Enter
地、水、火、风，成就世界，但 成、住、坏、空，世间何物常住。
我们在这里坐着，外面的境界如此轮转，我们坐在这里静静的，我们的身体同样新陈代谢，在每一秒当中，我们的细胞都不断的生灭。我们的身体自己不知道，没有感觉，其实在身体内里的这个世界当中，还是不断有各种微生物，彼此相处、互相排挤、互相摧灭。这在我们身体当中，每一秒钟的新陈代谢，不断地消耗又不断产生出来。在生理上都是无常了，何况是心理呢？很多无明、烦恼，就是从这个地方不断变化，但是到了最后还不是灭掉了！世间没有什么是真实永远不会变 的。
人身会生、老、病、死，人心亦缘外境生七情六欲，不断轮转变化，生、住、异、灭，世间又有何物常住。
所以这种心理的生、住、异、灭；生理的生、老、病、死；物理的成、住、坏、空，都不离开四大假合。有了人这个身体，才会有生、住、异、灭。有了身体同样到最后还是黄土一杯，死了之后只是埋起来而已，还有什么呢？也是什么都没有。
天地宇宙之间，有什么东西是常住的？难！所以这么简单的道理，我们如果可以通彻的话，就没有什么烦恼。所以我们本来就无一物了，偏偏我们的心要去惹尘埃。
菩提本无树，明镜亦非台，本来无一物，何处惹尘埃。——《六祖慧能法师 》
所以我们现在，应该要每天用心忏悔，忏悔每天做了、想了许多本无、虚妄的事情。这种种在虚妄中的境界，既然都已经知道是虚的、虚幻妄有的东西，我们却还是不断在那里制造烦恼。
我们要很感恩，现在之所以能够知道过去是在梦幻中产生种种烦恼，是因为幸好在两千多年前的四月初八那一天，有佛陀这位大圣人降生来人间。所以，佛陀诞生之后，开始随着年月的增长，发现了这个真理，从而开始对人间宣告真理。
在人间已经经过了二千多年的现在，已经让我们可以知道这个道理，且在这两千多年间，也已经让不知有多少人能够觉悟，令多少人能透彻这个真理，并且从真理的源头去探讨物理、生理的种种根本！甚至现在很多科学家，也是从源头不断追究，变成现在人人都能显神通，这都一样是从源头的真理而来。既然是这样，我们应该更加敬服释迦牟尼佛。
修行的第一步就是忏悔，忏悔才能消除烦恼，消除烦恼心才能净，真理佛法才能入心。
所以佛陀时时跟我们说：「众生的烦恼一定要忏悔。忏悔了烦恼，才能静下我们清净的心，真理才能入心。」就像我们想要写一篇好文章，那张纸也要是净白的，很白的纸、清净的纸，我们才能够写出好的文章。我们身上要穿的衣服，有很多颜色，这么多的颜色也是从白布去染，染成很多种颜色。同样的意思，我们要接受法之前，我们要饮水思源，我们先将心清净了，保持清净的心地，然后来探讨道理。
夫欲礼忏，必须先敬三宝。所以然者，三宝即是一切众生良友福田。
所以我们应该要先了解，要先恭敬三宝，有佛、有法、有僧，这样才能将真理不断地流传下去。所以我们要先敬重三宝，因为三宝是一切众生的良友福田。所以我们在这个时候，应该要很虔诚从内心起这分敬重。佛、觉者，如果没有这一位觉者，我们哪有法呢？所以「法」就像「药」一样；每一样法，都能救治众生的心病。生病是多么痛苦的事情？何况人的心起了一念心病，这分病毒就源源不断地一直传染下去，这是人生一个苦的源头，所以我们应该要恭敬三宝。
有了佛，他的智慧觉悟出天地万物真理，他用心说法，佛法经千古而不变，一直流传到现在，就是因为有很多出家众，愿意追随佛菩萨的芳踪。这种爱道者，行道者，我们更应该尊重。因为佛出生在印度，说法在印度，很多的法都留在印度，我们要很感恩，无论是从印度或是从我们中国，这种爱好佛法，追求真理的人，他不惜辛苦。
我们还记得过去在讲「佛遗教经」的时候，提到「摩藤、竺法兰」这两位，他们是中印度的人，他们为了弘法，知道佛法这么好，为了弘法传教，既然佛陀不在了，他们就毅然而然承担如来家业的责任。所以远从西域，两个人以白马驮经，传道中国。还有「鸠摩罗什」，我们诵「法华经」的时候，我们知道鸠摩罗什，不断传经来中国，甚至翻译很多大乘经典，如果不是鸠摩罗什，我们怎么会有这么多佛法在世间？特别是大乘经典！
我们现在看印度，佛法在印度已经是埋没了。但是佛法现在还在我们身边，无论是在东、在西、在五大洲，大家都还能体会到佛法的真理，能够用心研究。就算在英国也是一样，在大学中开设宗教的课程，去研究佛法。在美国同样也是。很多文明的国家，尤其是日本，从唐朝时传经到日本，所以日本很多的文化也是一样以佛法为他们的文化。在我们中国，也有很多生活礼节，同样也是从佛教传来的。佛教真的是人类的文化！
看在西域，也就是印度，这样的高僧不惜辛苦，传法来到我们东土。还有我们东土，在中国大陆，看玄奘法师，就他所了解的佛法，好像还不是很齐全。所以因为这样，他发心从中国的长安出发，经过十分辛苦走过的丝路。我们如果从地图上去了解，实在是很辛苦。他走过阿富汗，经过了土耳其，才绕道到印度去。那时的交通如此遥远，而且又没有交通工具，你看他从长安出发，一直绕过其他国界，从中东才进入到印度。
假使黑风吹其船舫，飘堕罗刹鬼国，其中若有乃至一人，称观世音菩萨名者，是诸人等，皆得解脱罗刹之难。——《观世音菩萨普门品》
在沿路上所经历的气候更是艰苦。我们在诵「普门品」的时候，有读到「黑风」，那样的黑风，在取经的过程中经常都会经历到。
我们现在看阿富汗，或是我们去看巴基斯坦，我们去看看这些慈济国际赈灾时曾经走过的路，看看一望无际都是沙漠，没有水、没有树、没有草，风忽然间吹来时，昏天暗地。甚至有的地方整片都是沙漠，一阵风吹来，整座山都会被搬走，忽然变成好像山丘挡路一般。风还没有来之前，能够看到一片平坦一望无际的沙漠，那种地形千变万化。
随着这种气候，单身一个人、一匹马，走在这种一望无际的沙漠当中，一日之中气候千变，地形千变，我们能知道这是多么辛苦。热的时候天煎地迫！
现在在约旦，有时候白天热起来四十多度，晚上气温降下来有时接近零度，在我们现在能听到、能体会到的，慈济的人员在那里都能够亲身感受到。何况当时玄奘法师要去取经，经过的路途是多么辛苦，才有现在的般若经等等很多的经典，都是他以生命，不怕辛苦所换来的。
各位，佛、法、僧，真的是我们应该要尊重的，我们要恭敬的。倘若我们没有办法起恭敬心，这个法绝对无法入心。要尊重、感恩「佛、法、僧」！如果没有佛，我们今天没有法可以听；没有僧，现在也没有法可以传下来。所以我们应该要敬重三宝，要懂得饮水思源。
所以无论是佛、法、或是僧，从印度远道来传教的，或是中国的高僧去探讨、带回来的佛法，我们都要很感恩传法的僧，要视同如佛。所以说「心敬佛在」，我们人人都是未来佛，我们若是不敬过去佛，怎么可能会在未来成佛？过去如同现在；现在如同未来。所以我们的心念要时时保持好。
无论是过去、无论是现在、或是未来，佛法僧是永恒的。只要我们好好把心中过去的烦恼去除，保持这片清净的心，好好接纳这分难得难遭遇的佛法僧。若能如此，我们的心版中才能铭刻真理。所以要请大家时时多用心啊！
Earth, water, fire and air make up this world. But they form, abide, decay and disappear. So what is everlasting in this world?
As we sit here, our external surroundings are constantly changing. As we sit here quietly, what is happening in our bodies? We are constantly metabolizing. In the span of a second, cells are constantly arising and dying
We do not realize this is happening in our bodies because we do not feel it. Actually, inside our bodies microorganisms are constantly coexisting peacefully, or crowding against or even destroying one another. In every second, our bodies are metabolizing and cells continually consumed and produced.
There is no permanence in our bodies. Let alone in our minds. Ignorance and afflictions constantly arise and change. In the end, they will still be extinguished. Nothing in this world can remain forever unchanged.
Human bodies go through birth, ageing, illness, death. The human mind, as it encounters external conditions, produces seven emotions and six desires, which cycle through states of arising, abiding, changing, and ceasing. So what is everlasting in this world?
In mental arising, abiding, changing, ceasing; biological birth, aging, illness and death; material formation, continuation, decay and annihilation; all are the temporary union of the Four Elements.
Having attained human birth, we are blessed with a body, which goes through the process of arising, abiding, changing and ceasing. But this body will eventually return to dust. After a person dies, they will be buried. What remains? Nothing at all.
In this universe, nothing lasts forever? Nothing. This is such a simple truth. If we can truly understand this, we will not have any afflictions. ”There was nothing to begin with but our minds still seek to attract dust”
Bodhi really has no tree. And there is no bright mirror. Since there was nothing to begin with, where can the dust alight? - Dhama Master Hui-Neng, the 6th Patriarch
So, from now on, earnestly repent every day. Things that happen are unreal, delusions. We live in the illusion and we fabricate false things and continuously produce afflictions in response to them.
We must be grateful to know our past, that we created afflictions out of illusions. Fortunately, over 2500 years ago on the 8th day of the fourth month, this great sage came to this world. That was the beginning. As He grew older, He discovered the Ultimate Truth and began to proclaim it to the world.
It has been over 2000 years since that era. We already know this Truth. During these 2000 plus years, He awakened so many people, led so many to thoroughly understand this Truth and explore its source and see it in physics and biology. There are even many scientists today who continue to study that source. Now it seem like many people can manifest spiritual powers. The Truth was the source of all these things. In light of this, let us have even greater respect for Sakyamuni Buddha.
The first step of spiritual practice is repentance. Repentance can eliminate afflictions. We need to do so for our minds to be clean, then Truth and Dharma can enter our minds.
The Buddha always told us that sentient beings must repent their afflictions. Only when we repent our afflictions can we calm our minds so that they become pure. In doing so Truth can enter our minds.
It is like writing a good essay. To start with, we need a piece of white paper. We need a clean page to write a good essay. Also, the clothes we wear can consist of many colors. All these colors are dyed onto white cloth. Similarly, before we receive Dharma, let us think of the source. First purify the mind and then keep it clean. Then we can explore the Truth.
People desire to practice repentance. First they must respect the Three Treasures. Clearly, the Three Treasures are kind friends and fields of blessings for sentient beings.
So first we should seek to understand and respect the Three Treasures. Only with Buddha Dharma and Sangha can the Truth be continuously passed down. Thus, we first pay respect to the Three Treasures. They are the kind friends and friends of blessings for all sentient beings.
So now at this very moment, let us be deeply reverent. Let respect for the Buddha, the Enlightened One, arise from deep within our hearts. Without this Enlightened One, how could we have Dharma? Every teaching can cure living beings of their spiritual illnesses. Therefore Dharma is like medicine. Being sick is so very painful. Once illness arises in the mind, this virus will continue to exist. This is a source of suffering in life. Therefore, respect the Three Treasures.
Buddha, with his wisdom, realized the Truth of everything in the world. He dedicated himself to expounding Dharma. The Dharma has not changed through the ages and has been passed down to this day because many monastic willingly followed in the path of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.
We should truly respect those who love and practice the spiritual path. The Buddha was born and expounded Dharma in India. Many teachings remained there. Let us be very grateful to those from India or China who admired Dharma and spared no effort to pursue the Truth. Remember them.
When we spoke of the Sutra on the Buddha's Bequeathed Teaching, we mentioned Kasyapa Matanga and Dharmaraksa. They were from India, knowing that teachings were good, they went on a mission to spread Buddha Dharma and propagate the teachings. Since Buddha was gone, they wanted to shoulder the responsibility of continuing the Buddha's work. From India, they carried Sutras on white horses to spread Buddhism to China. There was also Kumarajiva. When we recite the Lotus Sutra, we learn that Kumarajiva brought Sutras to China. He even translated them into Chinese. He translated many Mahayana texts. If it was not for Kumarajiva, we would not have so many of Buddha's teachings remaining, especially the Mahayana teachings.
When we look at India now, Buddhism has practically disappeared. However, Dharma now exists in the East and West across the five continents. Many people experience the Truth in Buddha's teaching and diligently study it. It is the same in England. Universities there have courses in religion to study Buddhist teachings. It is the same in America and many other developed countries, especially in Japan. In the Tang Dynasty, Sutras were brought to Japan, so a lot of Japanese culture is rooted in Buddhism. In China, many of the courtesies and proprieties in daily living came from Buddhism. Buddhism is truly the culture of humanity.
Look, these eminent monks from India to the west of China spared no effort to bring Dharma to us in the East. Here in the East, in China, Venerable Master Xuan-Zang felt that the understood seemed incomplete. Therefore, he vowed to travel from Chang'an, China to India. It was an arduous journey along the Silk Road. Tracing that route on a map we can see that it was a truly difficult journey. He traveled through present-day Afghanistan and Turkey before making his way to India. It was far away and there was no transportation. He set out from Chang'an and circled around other nations, entering India through the Middle East.
When the black winds blow the large boat, it will fall into the land of Raksas and ghosts. But if one person on the boat calls on the name of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, then everyone can escape the ordeal of the Raksas. - Universal Gate Chapter of the Lotus Sutra
The climate was very harsh. When we recite the Universal Gate Chapter of the Lotus Sutra, we read many accounts of black winds on his journey
Now if we look at Afghanistan or Pakistan, the places we have been to, everywhere we look is endless desert. There is no water, tree or grass. When the wind suddenly blows, it becomes dark as night. Even worse in some areas of the desert, the winds can move an entire sand dune so a hill can suddenly appear out of nowhere. Before the wind comes, there is just a flat, endless stretch of desert.
So in that ever-changing terrain and under those weather conditions, Venerable Xuan-Zang traveled alone, with only a horse. He trekked through that endless desert where the weather and terrain can change at any time. We can imagine how arduous it must have been. When it is hot, it is blistering.
In Jordan at this time of year, temperatures can reach over 40 degrees Celsius. At night, it can drop close to zero degrees. Now we hear this, we can understand and feel those temperatures, much like what Venerable Master Xuan-Zang must have felt. The journey must have been very difficult. He is why we now have the Prajna Paramita Sutra. He tirelessly risked his life for many Sutras.
Everyone, respect and revere Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. If we are not respectful, Dharma cannot enter our minds.
Looking at the Three Treasures, without Buddha, there is no Dharma to hear; without Sangha, there is no one to pass on the Dharma. Thus, we must respect the Three Treasures. Remember the source as we drink the water. Whether Buddha, Dharma, or Sangha, they all came from Indian monks who spread teachings or venerable monks who brought Dharma back to China. We must be very grateful to Sanghas that spread. Dharma and respect them like the Buddha. When we are respectful, the Buddha is with us. Everyone is a potential Buddha. So, if we do not venerate past Buddhas, how can we be future Buddhas? The past is like the present and the present is like the future. So constantly guard the mind.
Be it in the past, present, or future. Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha are eternal. If we diligently cultivate our minds, eliminate past afflictions, maintain a pure mind and accept this rare encounter with Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha.
Only if we do so, can the Truth be carved into our minds. So, everyone please always be mindful.
出处：http://moya.iyard.org/bin/view/Blog/BlogEntry2205
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