Eliminate lgnorance & Affictions to Attain Bodhi
我们的心本来是清明，充满了开朗的智慧，就是因为被一些无明覆盖，才使我们清朗的智慧被遮盖住。
痴念作祟祸由生。
因为外面的境界，使我们的心起了那分邪妄思维，所以才会随着外境，就生起了「贪、嗔、痴」。「贪」，一念贪心起，就会引到心到外面造业；或是一念嗔心起，就会惹来伤人，毁灭自己。归根究底都是一念嗔心，其实无论是贪或嗔，多是来自于众生的无明、愚痴
痴就是真正无明，它会障蔽清净的本性，让我们容易为境所转，生起种种烦恼。
「痴」就是无明的根本。人总是在这种不善不恶的境界中生活，看起来就只是非常平凡的生活。你说他很坏也没有，他也没去做杀盗淫的事情；你说他很好也没有，他也不会去做布施、大爱、助人等等的工作。他觉得我自己照顾好就好了，何必那么麻烦去做呢？他就只有这种顾好自己就好了的想法。
若多数人真的能把自己都顾好，也算是没有造业。不过偏偏就是没有办法顾好自己，他就是会随着外面的环境所诱引，太容易就被境界所转。这些坏事虽然没有很明显的去做，不过积少成多，一点一点不知觉，同样会变成很大的事情。
最近我一直在呼吁斋戒，斋戒的意思，斋戒的意思也就是我们要尊重生命，我们要知道病从口入。病从口入是什么东西进来呢？
我们所有的食物，尤其是动物，蠢动含灵皆有佛性，所有动物都是贪生怕死，所有的动物同样也是血肉之躯，它们也有很尊贵的生命。但是人只是一个贪吃，一个口感，所以吃尽了天下众生物。
佛陀在世的时候，虽然他的生活是托钵的生活，不过佛陀还是一样，就是呼吁要疼惜生命。所以他才对我们说：「蠢动含灵皆有佛性。」所以才会告诉我们：「六道轮回生生不息。」说不定我们也会跑到动物的世界、畜生道。所以说起来畜生动物，它们和我们都一样，只是外形不同而已。所以我们众生就是愚痴，才会不断造业、轮回。
愚痴会使人，对于人生的真理不能明达，以致产生错误的见解。
有一回佛陀在世的时候，一位国王，他全国开始要举行大祭典，这个大祭典就是要杀很多的生灵。佛陀知道了叫询问国王说：「是什么事情要举行这么大的祭典？」国王就说：「我的母亲生日，人生难得七十岁的生日，所以我要为他做大寿，举行全国的祭典。所以要以很多生灵、动物来祭拜。」
佛陀就告诉他：「真正的孝顺是为母亲添寿、帮他造福。你想，你先去造一些杀生的因，让许多众生命不得活，这种命不长已经杀了它了，造这种杀生短命的因，怎么可能会让你的母亲得到长寿的果？杀业是折寿，不是长寿啊！」
这位国王听了，真的是很有道理，为了庆祝母亲的生日，所以杀了这么多的生灵。而这些生灵都是为母亲而杀，所以这些杀业就都归咎于母亲。听佛陀这么说之后觉得很有道理，所以取消用生灵祭拜的庆典。这也是在佛陀的时代，佛陀对当时的国王所开示的。
想要长寿健康，不只不要杀生，还要能够放生。
在大林慈院的志工，也是很类似的故事。同样有一位阿嬷一百岁了，她的子孙每个都很孝顺，觉得人生百岁古来稀，很少，这是一个人瑞。她们的亲戚朋友就说：「很难得，你们家有一个宝，一百岁的宝。今年你们要为他做大寿。」子孙都认为：「对对对！应该要做大生日。」
开始要为他准备做大生日，子孙多在今年要为他做。那知道阿嬷意外跌了一跤，身体也就变得不好，然后就送来我们的医院治疗。在住院中，这些子孙都很紧张，因为他们都很孝顺。他们都觉得妈妈年轻的时候很辛苦，很操劳来抚养这群孩子，现在女儿嫁人的好命，儿子也很成功，正是阿嬷要享福的时候。
尤其是难得现在已经一百岁了，所以大家对于阿嬷的那种孝顺，大家都很谨慎的在照顾。但是想不到会跌了一跤，被送来到医院治疗，所以子孙儿子、女儿都不断在轮流。有一天碰到我们慈院的志工，和这些志工在聊天的时候，听到女儿、儿子在说妈妈的过去，以前的人真的很辛苦，女人真的是韧性很强，令人听了阿嬷的故事，实在很令人感动。
经过几天的治疗，阿嬷的身体渐渐有起色，逐渐恢复健康，子孙也开始安心了一些。在谈话中无意中就说出：「妈妈现在如果出院了，一百岁的生日我们要更用心办理。」慈院的志工就说：「阿嬷一百岁啊！这个生日实在是应该要为他举办庆生。
但你们打算要怎么做呢？ 」他就说是：「一般做大生日，就是杀猪宰羊。我们子孙满堂，亲戚也很多，阿嬷平常待人也非常好，朋友也多，所以我们会请很多人，到时候请你们也来让我们请。这一段时间以来，你们人都很好。」
志工说：「对啊！阿嬷一百岁生日是一定要做的，到时候你们也一定要邀请我们，不过我们是素食。」他就说：「没有关系，素食也可以，我们会特别准备素食提供给你们吃。」
志工就开始跟他说：「子孙孝顺是很好，不过我们师父说，想要为他添寿就要为他放生、护生，不要为他杀生。你可知道杀生，杀一只算一条命。 这样杀下去，不知道要算多少命。我们为了要求长寿，杀死其他的生命，这些业都会算在妈妈的身上，妈妈要担，因为你们是为了她而杀。」
子孙听了之后就说：「是这样吗？」志工回答说：「是啊！真的是这样。我们难道没有听说过：『他若不吃，我就不会杀。』我们有位师兄以前还在经营屠宰业的时候，就曾经这么说过。这真的是因为你们要为阿嬷庆生，所以才会杀这么多。」一直不断的和他沟通。
阿嬷子孙就说：「那要怎么办呢？」阿嬷一百岁的生日是大事情，对于世俗人而言是很要紧的事情。志工就跟他说：「我们现在要办理浴佛，你们是否可以为阿嬷持斋。斋戒，「斋」就是要素食；「戒」就是不能杀生。我们来响应，响应斋戒，我们不要杀生，我们用素食，用最虔诚的心来祈祷，让你们的妈妈可以添寿，让他能够更长寿。
要不然，世俗人有句话说：『办大寿，就是跟阎罗王说我已经几岁了。 』这样提早报到反而不好，所以我们静静的过就好。子孙大家虔诚的为他素食，这个功德就是回向给妈妈。 」
他说：「听起来很有道理，不过我们的亲戚很多，所以我们还要再去沟通一下。不过，我们如果不为她办大寿，不知道我们妈妈会不会不高兴？」 志工就说：「没问题，阿嬷这边我去跟她沟通，兄弟姊妹那边，由你们去沟通。」
过了几天之后，慈济办理的浴佛活动就要开始了，他们这些兄弟姊妹就来找志工，问她说：「这样好吗？」志工就说：「这样很好，你们大家要很虔诚，为妈妈素食看要实施几天？我们现在准备要开始浴佛了，而且妈妈现在身体已经好多了，我们要记得把妈妈带去。那一天浴佛会有很多人， 那么多人，每人给妈妈一句祝福，你们又很虔诚，又有这么多人为她祝福，这一定是添福、添寿。」
这些子孙听了都很欢喜，妈妈听了也很欢喜，就说：「这样好！这样好！这样我们就可以不用提早去报到了。」看，这样很圆满。那天大林慈院在办理浴佛的时候，有一大群的子孙，还有好朋友、邻居，都来陪阿嬷到大林浴佛，皆大欢喜。
看这就是智慧！为了一个人一百岁的生日，本来不知道要杀多少的生灵！有了一位委员的智慧，来和这些人接触，就能够拯救这么多的生命，又能启发这么多人明理。能知道理，又能够持斋，能为他们的母亲尽孝道，能为她祝福，老人也很欢喜，这就是智慧。
去一分无明，除一分烦恼，证一分菩提。
最近一直都在说，最怕的就是痴、无明、无知。我们应该就是要把心照顾好，尽量要把无明、无知去除。要赶快去除无知，要让我们心灵的光明能够照耀出来。
所以说起来，吃的只不过是一个入口的感觉，吞下去在肚子内，就都变成了不净物。你看看有些人去酒家饭店，吃很好的东西、很贵的东西、喝酒等等。喝醉酒之后，刚才吃了很多的东西到肚子里，有的人酒醉之后，吐出来的东西又是些什么？令人很害怕、很脏、很垢秽。何况每一个生灵它的身上，无论是外面的皮毛，一直到内脏里面，所潜伏的病毒、病菌都很多。
所以我们如果运用智慧，就会知道，其实吃只是维持我们的生命，维护我们身体的健康。我们若是不去杀害生灵，我们素食吃得饱又健康，同时又达到爱心的表达，一举两得。这就是智慧。假使说：「不然我吃一餐素食就好，因为一天要我吃三餐很痛苦。」这叫做无知。
对啊！就是只在无知、痴念当中，这个痴念的心境，会引导我们去做一些莫名其妙的罪业。所以众生共业，很多都是因为莫名其妙这样合起来的业力。所以我们学佛，真的要时时多用心啊！
Our minds were originally pure and full of positive, clear wisdom. But ignorance covered that pure, clear wisdom.
Ignorance is the root of all disasters.
External conditions lead our minds to give rise to deviant and false thinking. When our minds connect top external conditions, greed, anger and ignorance arise. When a greedy thought arises, it leads us to create bad karma When, an angry thought arises, it causes us to harm others and ruin ourselves. Actually, greed and anger mostly arise out of ignorance
Ignorance is truly blinding. It covers our pure intrinsic nature and causes us to be easily influenced by external conditions, resulting in the arising of various afflictions.
Ignorance means being blind to truths. ln a rather neutral environment, not good yet not bad, (ignorant people) seem to live an ordinary life. They are not terribly bad. They do not kill, steal or commit sexual misconduct. They are not particularly good either. They are not giving, loving or helpful to others. They think, “I will just take care of myself.” “Why bother with so much trouble?” They only care for themselves.
If these people truly took good care of themselves, at least they would not create karma. Unfortunately, they fail to do so and are easily influenced by external conditions. Though they do not commit obvious bad deeds, their trivial mistakes accumulate unnoticeably until they can become serious issues.
Recently I have been promoting vegetarianism. To adopt a vegetarian discipline is to have respect for life. We should know that many illnesses enter through the mouth. How?
From all the food we consume, especially animals. All moving, sentient beings have Buddha-nature. All animals want to live and fear death, and have a body of flesh and blood just like us. Their lives are also very precious. But we humans love to eat; to satisfy our palate, we consume all the myriad creatures on Earth.
Though the Buddha ate whatever was placed in His alms bowl, He still urged everyone to cherish life. Hence, He taught us that all moving, sentient beings have Buddha-nature and told us about the endless cycles of rebirth in the Six Realms. Perhaps we will end up in the Animal Realm. Therefore, animals are just like us, except they have a different appearance. Thus, as sentient beings, we are truly ignorant.
Ignorance prevents people from clearly understanding the truths in life. This results in mistaken views.
During the Buddha's time, there was a king who planned a grand national religious ceremony. This meant that many animals would be killed. When the Buddha found out, He asked the king, “Why are you “”holding such a large religious ceremony?” The king said, “For my mother's birthday. 70 years is a rare and major milestone. So I want to host a national celebration and sacrifice many animals as offerings.”
The Buddha told him, “True filial piety is to pray for your mother's longevity and wish her well. Think about it. If you first sow the seeds of killing and cause the deaths of many animals, if you shorten the lives of other animals by killing them, how can such seeds produce the effect of extending your mother's life? Karma from killing shortens life it doesn't extend it.”
The king heard the truth in the Buddha's words. If he killed all these creatures for his mother's birthday, it would be for her sake, and she would have to carry the karmic burden. He thought the Buddha's words made sense, so he canceled this celebration that required living sacrifices. This happened during the Buddha's time. The Buddha revealed to the king that to increase longevity and health, not only should he not kill, he should release captive animals.
A volunteer at Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital shared a similar story about a 100-year-old grandmother. Her children and grandchildren were very filial. They felt that few people lived to 100, centenarians are very rare.
Their family and friends told them; “It is so rare to have a family treasure who is turning 100. You should hold a grand celebration” Her children and grandchildren agreed “Yes, we must hold a big celebration.”
So they began the preparations. They planned for it to be this year. However, the elderly woman fell, and her health declined. She was brought to our hospital. Her children and grandchildren were very worried. They were very filial and felt that their mother had worked so hard to raise them. Now that they were married and successful, it was time for her to enjoy her blessings.
And turning 100 is such a rare event. Hence they were very filial and cherished her. They cautiously took care of her. Alas, she fell and ended up in the hospital. Her children and grandchildren took turns staying with her.
One day, they met a volunteer. As they chatted, the children started to share stories of their mother's past. People of her generation went through a lot. The women were truly strong and resilient. Her story was very moving.
A few days later, the old woman began to recover. The children and grandchildren were more at ease. While chatting, one of them unwittingly said, “After she is discharged, we should focus even more on her 100th birthday celebration.“
Our volunteer asked “A 100th birthday is truly a big occasion. You should definitely celebrate.” “How do you plan to celebrate?” He said, “Usually, people celebrate by killing pigs and lambs. My mother has many children, grandchildren, relatives and friends. She treats everyone very well so she has many friends. “We will invite a lot of guests. We hope you can come too. You've taken very good care of us during this time. You are wonderful.“
Our volunteer said, “Indeed, a 100th birthday is truly rare. You should definitely celebrate. Please invite us to be a part of it. But we are vegetarians.“ He replied, “No problem, we can prepare special vegetarian food for you”
Our volunteer then said, “It's truly wonderful how filial you all are. But Master Cheng Yen says that to pray for others longevity, release animals and save lives on their behalf, do not kill for their sake. You know, every animal killed is one life ended. Every life counts. What will the final total be? If you take others' lives as a prayer for your mother's longevity, that karma will fall on her. She will bear that burden because you killed for her sake.”
After they heard this, they asked, “Is it true?” “Yes, that is really true. Haven't you heard the butchers say, ”If they didn't eat, I wouldn't kill? A volunteer once said this. In this case, you are taking all those lives because it is grandma's birthday.” Our volunteer continued to explain this concept.
The son asked, “What should we do then? Her 100th birthday is a very special day for her. It is a very important event for most people.”
Our volunteer told him, “We are now celebrating the Buddha's birthday. Can you participate by adopting the vegetarian diet on her behalf? The precept is to not kill. If you join us in our abstention, you will not take the lives of others. If you become vegetarian and sincerely pray, you may help increase her lifespan.”
“Otherwise, there is a folk saying that if we preemptively tell the King of Hell our age he may summon us earlier. So it is better to be low-key. If you are vegetarian for her sake, the merits will be dedicated to her.“
He said, “This makes sense, but we have many relatives, so we will have to discuss it with them. But if we don't hold a celebration, won't my mother be displeased?” Our volunteer said, “Don't worry. I will talk to your mother while you talk to your brothers and sisters.“
A few days later, before the celebration for Buddha's birthday was about to begin, these siblings came and asked, “Is this the right thing to do?” Our volunteer replied, “It is. You should be very sincere and be vegetarian on her behalf for a few days. The celebration is about to start. Since your mother is better, let us take her to the ceremony. There will be many people at the ceremony. All those people will give her their blessings. Since you all are so sincere and so many people will wish her well this will increase her blessings and longevity.“
Hearing this, the children were very happy. Their mother also said, “This is wonderful. I won't need to report early to the King of Hell.” It worked out perfectly. That day, her children, grandchildren, friends and neighbors all accompanied her to the Buddha's birthday celebration. Everyone was joyful.
See, this is wisdom. For the sake of one person's 100th birthday, an entire village of relatives and friends would have killed so many living beings. The commissioner's wisdom created an affinity which saved many lives. She inspired in them a clear understanding that observing a vegetarian diet is a way to be filial to their mother and a way to bless her. The old woman was also very happy. This is wisdom.
When we eliminate a portion of ignorance and eradicate a portion of affliction, we realize a portion of Bodhi.
Recently I have been saying that we should be most afraid of ignorance, ignorance and delusion. We should take good care of the mind. We need to quickly and thoroughly eliminate ignorance and delusion so the brilliance of our minds can shine through.
When we eat, there is only a taste as food enters the mouth. After the food is swallowed, it becomes waste. We see people going to restaurants to eat expensive gourmet meals, drink wine, etc. With so much food in their stomach, after they are drunk, some people will vomit. The stuff they discharge is revolting, foul and filthy. Moreover, most animals have germs on their hair, skin and all the way down into their internal organs.
Hence, if we use our wisdom, we know that we eat to sustain our lives and to stay healthy. If we are vegetarians, we can be full without taking lives and thus express our love, achieving two aims simultaneously.
This is wisdom. Some may say, ”I'll be vegetarian for only one meal. To be vegetarian for all three meals is painful.” They are deluded.
Indeed, only a state of delusion and ignorance can lead us to create unaccountable acts of karma. Sentient beings share collective karma, most of which is created and accumulated in unaccountable ways. So as we learn Buddhism, we should truly always be mindful!
出处：http://moya.iyard.org/bin/view/Blog/BlogEntry2224
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