Let Dharma Enter the Heart Till the Field of Blessings
我们说过了，烦恼覆蔽！常常都是这样，起了一念善念又被烦恼覆蔽，覆盖了一次的烦恼，就是再次的染着。所以每天、每天都要忏悔，每个时刻我们的心念难免受到外境影响。无论是人事，或者是亲疏，我们的心只要有执着，烦恼就又来了。所以我们要时时说忏悔。
用清净的心起忏悔，才能保持虔诚的信仰，才能将法髓入心，耕好自己的福田。
所以我们忏悔，要有一片清净的心；才接着谈到恭敬－－我们若是以烦恼心来说恭敬，还是无法真诚忏悔。这本来就是互动循环，要有清净的心起忏悔，忏悔之后，要保持真诚的虔敬，虔诚的信仰。所以三宝的力量虽然很大，若不契机也是无可奈何。
所以我们前面说过了，三宝是一切众生良友福田。因为我们众生，若能好好将这亩田耕耘好，不断播下好的种子，这就是福田。田：人人的心地都有；只是我们每个人的心地，不知耕田的方式，所以我们用很不好的种子，破坏了这片田地的土质。
福田要怎么耕？佛陀将佛法一一让我们了解，这叫做开示。开示之后，我们本身觉悟了吗？开示是在佛法僧，但是我们自己本身开悟了吗？我们若是开悟了，才能「入」，入永恒的真理法门。所以我们应该要跟佛法契机，否则尽管佛法僧一直为我们开示，我们无法接受，无法体悟，真的也是很无奈。所以众生，我们若要种福田，真的要从内心有虔诚的互动，这叫做对机。要有虔诚的互动！
若能归向者，则灭无量罪，长无量福，能令行者离生死苦，得解脱乐。
所以忏文中这么说：「若能归向者，则灭无量罪。」若能归向，指的是心要真正彻底虔诚地皈依。「皈依」当中，我们平常时说的「皈」，是由「白」、「反」两个字组成，就是反黑归白的意思。但是现在所说的归向，则是就如同一个浪子无知，离开到外面去，违背了父母、违背了家规，在外面为非作歹的事情做很多，我们若是知道忏悔，我们就会赶快回头。同样的意思，我们既然学佛，我们要一心归向，我们的心一定要依照佛陀的教法。
佛陀说因缘果报，如是因、如是缘、如是果、如是报。我们要知道，众生无始以来，已经造了很多的业力，而皈依佛法不是皈依就得救了，然后就可以为所欲为，想要什么就可以得到什么；想要灭罪得福，除非我们现在赶快知道了就赶紧忏悔、造福，我们要先除去杂草、种下种子才会有收成。
所以我们要知道，今天的事情都是因为昨天所做的，这一生当中我们所受到的苦报，就是过去生中所做的因，所以因缘果报，我们一定要很清楚。不能说我们今天皈依了，为什么病不会好呢？我为什么没有延寿呢？我今天皈依了就可以来去签彩券，那为什么我皈依了却没有签中呢？赌博怎么不会赢呢？不是这样。若是用这种心态皈依，这就是不法，违规了，这不对。
真正的我们归向则灭无量罪，就是我们会很甘愿去接受。我们若甘愿接受，我们的心就不会再受到折磨，我们的心就不会颠倒，我们也不会再去造业。最重要的就是在这里！
如是因，如是缘，如是果，如是报；我们的心归向真理，就懂得甘愿接受果报，不再受业的颠倒与折磨，不再去造业。
在心莲病房有一位阿嬷，她所信仰的宗教不是佛教，而是其他的宗教，她也很虔诚。她有很多的孩子，目前还有六位子女，开始生病时，这些孩子也很孝顺，都会来照顾她，来看她。久病无孝子，久了这分情就慢慢疏远了。其实她也有信仰，同样她也很怨叹，同样她也在祈求。但是如何求孩子还是不会来；有一段时间她的心很消沉。
后来因为病院里有很多好的医生、有很多的志工，过了一段时间之后她想通了，她把心打开了，每天看起来都很快乐。「欢喜啊！平安啊！」每当看到人、见面的时后她都是这样祝福别人。
本来是一个很郁闷、很不爱说话的人，让人有一种距离感，但是到了她无求的时候，看开了，心无所求了，所以她看到谁都很开心，她对每个人都祝福，对每个人都想令人欢喜。所以她现在已经不会想，另外那些孩子有没有来看她。
那一天慈院的志工跟他说：「阿嬷！我们要赶快把身体养好，这样就能回家去。」阿嬷说：「我要回去哪？这里就是我的家。有啦！我会回去啦，这里就是我家啊！」已经把这个医院当成是她的家了。
还有志工问她说：「最近孩子有来看你吗？」阿嬷说：「有啊！每天都有来看我，现在就有六个站在这里。」这六个是什么人？有医生、有护士、有志工，全部加起来真的刚好有六个人，就站在她的面前。她已经把天下的人都当成是她的孩子，不再执着于那些是她生的、她抚养的、她付出很多的那些孩子才是她的孩子，已经不会这样执着了。
其实天下人，凡是年龄可以当她的孩子的，都视为是她的孩子。至于家在哪里？「现在在这里是我安身立命的地方，这里就是我的家了。」看，这位阿嬷，就是过去有烦恼，同样她也有宗教的信仰，她也曾经有受洗过。 「受洗」的意思和佛教中的「皈依」相当。她也是祈求，还是一样很虔诚在祈求：「我的孩子可以常来看我吗？我的病可以快点好吗？我能快点回家吗？」她也是一直在祈求，但是很挣扎、不快乐，和人之间总是有一个鸿沟。
你看，当她把烦恼去掉了，她就快乐了。有这群人在为她看病、看护、陪伴她、疼惜她，和自己的子女没有差别啊！虽然最后还是往生了，但是她也过了一段非常快乐、非常欢喜。最后大家去和她互动，互动之后她很快乐的和大家说再见。又隔了两天之后，她也是这样，安详往生了。
可见归向则灭无量罪，这个罪是在哪里？是在我们的心里。我们的果既然已成，我们要有很欢喜的心，不要再用烦恼去包住这个罪业，那样罪业的种子会愈来愈大。我们真的要用这念很超脱的心去面对。
我们也又听到，我们又听到大林慈院，也是一位生命的勇者，虽然年纪不是很大，不像那位阿嬷已经七、八十岁了，她才四、五十岁而已，说起来年龄正当壮年。年轻时很辛苦，任劳任怨的在养育子女。身体已经有病了，但是她只是为了家庭、为了孩子，所以对自己的病也不去重视，一直到发现的时候已经是乳癌末期了。
这位女士真的是一位勇者，她知道既然已经是这样了，想要专心来治疗虽然嫌迟了，不过她很甘愿的接受。但是对生命来说，她尽人事；但是对心灵而言，她听天命。
因为要尽人事，所以她来到大林慈院接受治疗，经过电疗、化疗、一段时间当中腐烂的很大，好像开花一般，看了很可怕。慢慢几个月后，治疗癌症的伤口已经愈合了。在这段治疗癌症的时间当中，是多么的辛苦，甚至癌症的细胞已经转移到肺部、骨头，她没有放弃，她还是尽人事。
听到简副院长说：「看这个癌细胞在骨头的部位，这是多么痛，这个地方是神经集中的地方。」但是你看她绝对没有忧愁，绝对没有皱眉头，看到人的时候，她总是笑得很可爱，两个酒窝很美。
她很勇敢，她不只是自己勇敢，她还去做志工，穿着病人的衣服，到每间病房去为人打气，说：「加油喔！要加油！」甚至她会去帮忙送便当，甚至有的人，如果无法整理自己的身体，她也会去帮忙清理他们的身体，擦头、梳头发都会。她自己本身已经病入膏肓，但她就是那么的勇敢。不久之后，她甚至含笑和大家说再见，就这样往生去了。
若能归向者，则灭无量罪，长无量福，能令行者离生死苦，得解脱乐。
这就是我们所说的，真的我们归向则灭无量罪。我们若能这样，过去的业就可以消了。但过去所造的因，现在的果报总是要受，但是心灵，早就已经把这些苦灭除了。她再也不会造业了，所以她能长无量福，有很多人为她祝福，她带着无量的福而去。
「能令行者离生死苦，得解脱乐。」就像刚才所说的那位阿嬷，像刚才所说的这位生命的勇者，你想她们难道不是已经离生死苦？心灵也已经得到解脱乐了？所以这叫做甘愿，这叫做灭罪。所以一个人的人生，一直到了最后的时刻，我们才能够知道，我们到底是否真的虔诚？我们到底是否清净？我们的烦恼是否真的有去除？这就要看人生的最后。
各位，希望我们大家还有这口气的时候，不要放松我们的这念心，所以我们要时时多用心！
As we said previously, afflictions cover our minds. Every time a good thought arises, it is obscured by afflictions. Every time afflictions cover us, our minds are defiled again. So we must seek repentance every single day.
At every moment, our minds are inevitably affected by external circumstances. In interpersonal conflicts, Intimate or otherwise, as long as attachment is in our minds afflictions will arise again. Therefore, we need to constantly repent.
In our repentance, we should remain pure in our minds, then we can talk about reverence. If we talk about reverence with afflicted minds, we will be unable to repent sincerely. This is like a feedback loop. We must repent with pure minds, and after we repent, we need to maintain this sincere reverence and pious respect. Though the power of the Three Treasures is great, without the right conditions, we cannot do much.
Previously, we mentioned that the Three Treasures are our beneficial friends and Fields of Blessings. If we sentient beings can diligently cultivate our fields and continuously sow good seeds, they will be Fields of Blessings. We all have such a field in our minds. But we did not know how to cultivate this field. So we sowed bad seeds and damaged the duality of this soil.
How should we cultivate this Field of Blessings? The Buddha explained the Dharma to us in detail. This is called “revelation”. After His teaching, have we attained enlightenment? The Three Treasures reveal the teachings but have we awakened ourselves? Only after we are awakened, can we enter the gate leading to the Ultimate Truth. So we need to find our connection to the Dharma. Otherwise even with constant instruction from Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, we will still be unable to accept and experience the teachings. Then truly we cannot do much.
So if we sentient beings wish to cultivate Fields of Blessings, we must sincerely engage the Dharma with our minds. That is called resonance. It requires sincere interactions.
Those who can take refuge will eliminate infinite transgressions and grow infinite blessings. Thus the practitioner can transcend the suffering of life and death and attain the joy of liberation.
The text states, “Those who can take refuge will “eliminate infinite transgressions”. This means that the mind needs to thoroughly and sincerely take refuge.
The Chinese character for refuge is made up of the characters for “white” and “reverse”. Taking refuge means to turn from black to white. Taking refuge also implies our return, as if we were a prodigal son who was ignorant and left his home, disobeyed his parents, broke the family rules, and committed many wrongs while away from home. However, if we know to repent we will quickly turn around. Similarly, since we have become Buddhists, we should single-mindedly take refuge and follow the Buddha's teaching.
We know that since beginningless time we have created a lot of bad karma. The Buddha taught us about karmic retribution. As are the causes and conditions, so are the effects and retributions. Taking refuge in Dharma does not mean that we are saved and can do whatever we desire or get whatever we want. Only by quickly applying what we know can the seeds we sowed be harvested.
We know that whatever happens today is a result of what we did yesterday. If we suffer retributions in this lifetime, the causes were planted in past lifetimes. Therefore, we must clearly understand karmic retribution. Do not say “I took refuge today, why isn't my illness getting better?” Or, “I took refuge today, why isn't my lifespan extended?” or “I took refuge today and went to buy lottery tickets. So why didn't I win the Lottery?” Or “Why didn't I win in gambling?” It does not work that way. If we take refuge with this mindset, it is not in accordance with the Dharma. It violates the rules and is wrong.
Truly taking refuge and eliminating infinite transgressions means that we live in a state of willing acceptance. If we willingly accept everything, our minds will not be tormented and we will not be confused. So we will no longer create bad karma. This here is the most important point.
As are causes, as are conditions, so are effects, so are retributions. When our minds take refuge in the Truth, we willingly accept the retributions. Then we will not continue to be tormented by bad karma, nor will we continue to create more karma.
There was a grandma in our palliative care ward. She believed in another religion, not Buddhism. She was very devout in her faith. She had six children. When she first became ill, her children were very filial. They visited her and cared for her. But as her illness dragged on, their concern for her began to wane. Despite her religious belief, she became very resentful and prayed for them to visit. No matter how hard she prayed, they did not come.
For a period of time, she was very depressed. But there were many caring doctors and volunteers at the hospital, so after some time, she let go and opened her heart. She looked cheerful every day. Whenever she came across someone she said, “Be happy and at peace!”
She was criminally depressed and seldom talked. She always seemed unapproachable. But after she let go of her expectations and opened her mind, she was happy to see everyone. She offered well-wishes to each person. She wanted to make them happy. Therefore, she no longer dwelled on whether her own children visited.
One day, ore volunteer told her: “Grandma, if you focus on getting better you can go home sooner.” She said, “Go back where? This is my home. Yes. I will go back. But this is my home. ” She already treated the hospital as her home.
Another volunteer asked, “Grandma, have your children visited lately?” She said: “Yes, they visit everyday. Look, there are six of them here right now” Who were these six people? The doctor, the nurses and the volunteers. All together, there were six people in front of her.
She already embraced everyone in the world as her own children. There was no need to be attached to the idea that only those to whom she gave birth, whom she raised, could be considered her children. There is no need. Anyone in the world around that age could be her child. She treated them as her won children. “Going home or not doesn't make a difference. This is where I am settled. This is my home”
Look at this grandma. She used to have afflictions. Similarly, she has religious beliefs. She was also baptized, which is like taking refuge. She also prayed. She sincerely prayed, “Can my children come see me? Can I recover soon? ” She prayed incessantly but she was in turmoil, unhappy. She kept everyone at a distance.
But once her afflictions were eliminated, she was happy and joyous. These people cherished her, treated her illness; and cared for her. They were not unlike her own children. She was happy.
Though she eventually passed away; she enjoyed a period of great happiness and joy. Towards the end, everyone went to see her. She was very happy and said goodbye to everyone. Two days later, she passed away peacefully.
With refuge; one can eliminate countless wrongs. But where are these transgressions? They are in our minds. Since the effects have already appeared, instead of using afflictions, let us contain these bad karma in our happiness. Otherwise, seeds of bad karma will grow. So as we learn Buddhism we truly must learn to have a transcendent mindset.
There is another story from Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital about a brave warrior. She was not very old, unlike the grandma in her 70s or 80s. This woman was in her 40s or 50s, still in the prime of her life. When she was younger, she raised her children willingly and tirelessly. She was sick but her focus was on her family and children, so she disregarded her own illness until she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
But this woman was truly brave. She knew it was too late to focus on her cancer treatment, but she accepted her fate willingly. Physically, she did everything possible to heal. Mortally, she accepted her fate.
To do everything she could, she came to Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital for treatment. She underwent radiation and chemotherapy. For a long time, she had putrefying wounds that looked like giant blooming flowers. They were scary to look at. Slowly, over several months, her wands gradually healed. Then she went through an exhausting round of chemotherapy. Later when her cancerous cells spread to her lungs and bones, she still did not give up. She still tried her best.
Assistant Superintendent Dr. Jian remarked, “Do you know that having cancerous cells in the bones is extremely painful? There is a cluster of nerves there.” Yet, she was never downcast. She never frowned, not even once. She was always smiling. She was very adorable and had two beautiful dimples.
She was brave and not just for herself. She even volunteered. She wore her hospital gown to other rooms to encourage other patients to heal. She even helped deliver meals to the patients. For those patients who could no longer clean their bodies, she helped them with their grooming. She wiped their heads and combed their hair.
Though she was gravely ill, she was still very brave. Not long afterwards, she smiled and said goodbye. Then she passed away.
Those who take refuge can eliminate infinite transgressions and grow infinite blessings. This allows the practitioners to transcend the suffering of life and death, and attain the joy of liberation.
“The practitioner can transcend the suffering of life and death, and attain the joy of liberation.” This illustrates how when we take refuge, we eliminate infinite transgressions. If we can do so, we can eliminate our past bad karma. But we still need to deal with the effects of the bad seeds we planted. However, in her mind, she already eliminated those sufferings and she did not create more karma. Thus she grew infinite blessings. Many people wished her well so she left with infinite blessings.
This is like the grandma and the brave woman just mentioned. Think about it, hadn't they transcended the suffering of life and death? Their minds had attained the joy of liberation. This is what we mean by liberation. This is the elimination of transgressions.
In a person's life, we do not know until the last moment whether we were truly sincere, whether we were pure, or whether we have truly eliminated afflictions. Only the last moment will tell.
I hope that every one of us, while we are still breathing, will not allow our minds to become lax. Please always be mindful.
出处：http://moya.iyard.org/bin/view/Blog/BlogEntry2209
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