The Body is a Vessel for Spiritual Practice
各位，学佛，我们应该要时时提高警觉，我们前面一直在说，我们要常常起惭愧心，在惭愧中去体会人生的无常，我们要起恐怖的感觉，如果我们不会怕，不觉得恐怖，就是过着很空洞的日子，不想要精进的日子，所以我们不能放荡，日子要踏实地过。
因为人生无常，所以想到无常，我们就要起恐怖心。我们在昨天已经说过了，在短暂的人生中，如果我们的身口意业，稍微没有守护好，就造了罪业。造罪的因缘很多来诱惑我们，如果去做了，命终之后，堕入地狱、饿鬼、畜生，那就无了时了，这实在是很可怕的事情。
所以我们现在应该要再进一步厌离，对于这个无常，尤其是造罪、陷阱偏重的地方，所以我们要赶紧厌离。
第三厌离者，相与常观生死之中，惟有无常、苦、空、无我，不净虚假，如水上泡，速起速灭，往来流转，犹如车轮。生老病死，八苦交煎，无时暂息。众等相与，但观自身从头至足，其中但有三十六物，发毛爪齿、眵泪涕唾、垢汗二便、皮肤血肉、筋脉骨髓、 肪膏脑膜、脾肾心肺、肝胆肠胃、赤白痰癊、生熟二脏，如是九孔常流。是故经言，此身众苦所集，一切皆是不净，何有智慧者而当乐此身？生死既有如此种种恶法，甚可患厌。
「第三厌离者，相与常关生死之中，唯有无常、苦、空、无我，不净虚假。如水上泡，速起速灭。往来流转，犹如车轮。生老病死，八苦交煎，无时暂息，众等相与。但观自身从头至足，其中但有三十六物——发毛爪齿，眵泪涕唾，垢汗二便，皮肤血肉，筋脉骨髓，肪膏脑膜，脾肾心肺，肝胆肠胃，赤白痰癊，生熟二脏，如是九孔常流。是故经言，此身众苦所集，一切皆是不净。何有智慧者而当乐此身？生死既有如此种种恶法，什可患厌。 」
回头看这段经文。从「第三厌离」这样念下来，大家应该也可以了解了、看懂了。但是虽然了解、知道，要真正彻底体会实在是很难。其实身体是每个人最亲近的，将这个身体从头开始说到脚底，大概说起来差不多是这三十六物，从头发、皮肤、指甲，一直到我们的内脏等等…一共大概有三十六物。
这些东西包在我们身体的皮里面，我们不知道里面多么不净，无论什么部位，你只要碰到就会破皮、流血，很可怕、很吓人。每一个人都一样，皮如果破了，外面的感染传进来，就开始病毒与细菌结合起来，有的时候就不可收拾了。
我们可还记得，过去在大林慈济医院启用的第一天义诊，有一位老婆婆，这位老婆婆被救护车送来时，就觉得一阵的恶臭。医生赶紧为她处理，看到她的脚被一层一层的包裹着，脚上包着的东西都已经很脏了。我们的医师，剪开来了脚上包的东西，看到里面原来都是用青草敷的。草药再拿开来，脚都已经化脓了，把脓包刺破，里面都是虫。又臭又都是脓、血还有虫。
记得那一天，我走到急诊室去看看，刚好医师在抓虫，听到护士说：「这里有一只，这里又有一只。」医师就很小心用镊子，把那些虫一只一只的夹起来。看看人啊，皮包着的时候，我们都不知道，里面有这么多的不干净，等到破了、烂了，就会长虫、很臭，世间最臭的东西，就是人的身体腐烂时那种臭味。
又想到有一次到了恒春，因为恒春贫户散布的距离很远，行车到了车埕天色已经暗了，在那个村庄里，大家看到慈济人来了，就知道我们要去哪个家庭，就赶快带路。当他带着我们来到房屋旁边，就闻到一股很臭的味道。从北部跟我下去的委员，很多人进去之后就又赶快跑出来，里面除了灯火昏暗以外，空气很差、又很臭。
这个臭味是从哪里来的呢？原来这个人他坐在床边，他的脚底好像一颗花菜一样，整个都开花了，爆开来。那是什么呢？癌症，长在脚底。听说有一次他去园子工作时被刺到，刺到以后，以为没什么就随便敷敷药，但是伤口没有好，反而开始溃烂。最后才去看医生，医生宣布他是癌症。
看看，只是一个小小的刺到、受伤，就感染了，造成病毒入侵，拖久了，医生就宣布是癌症。很臭，而且这个伤口造成的病，已经从脚底蔓延到上面去了，连肺部也都已经感染了，人瘦得不成人形。这也让人印象深刻。
在更早以前，我们功德会刚成立时，在花莲那时的个案，也都是我亲自去访视。记得在寿丰乡，有一个小家庭，案主才四十多岁，他有四个孩子还有太太。那时候是夏天。到了那里只看到一间草屋，门半掩着，就开始叫了：「到底里面有没有人啊？」里面应声了：「有啦！请你们进来，门推进来就好了。」
当时就真的推门进去，一进去里面，里面是暗的。问说：「里面怎么这么暗呢？」那个人就出声说：「在你们站的地方上面有电灯，你们伸手就可以打开电灯了。」手往上一摸，真的有灯泡在那边荡来荡去，赶紧开了灯。
看到这个人躺在墙边的竹床上，看了很心疼。我赶紧走近他的床边，问他说：「你是怎么了呢？」他说：「我全身都不能动。」我问说：「为什么会全身不能动呢？这样已经多久了？」他回答说：「已经四、五年了。」「为什么呢？」「做工的时候从高处跌落，颈椎受伤，全身都瘫痪了。我现在只剩下头还是活着的，全部的身体都死了。」
突然委员叫说：「唉呦！怎么会有那么大的老鼠？」我问说：「老鼠在哪里呢？」在他的脚上，在咬他的脚。看看他的脚养那只老鼠已经养得很肥，脚神经都已经没有知觉了。
老鼠在咬他脚上的肉，不知道咬多久了。你想要赶走那只老鼠，可是那只老鼠却还是悠哉悠哉的不怕人，平时可能都没有赶它吧！看这种情形，实在也是令人心疼。
人生这个身体，我们健康时，皮包着，皮肤看起来很干净，因为我们每天都会为它清洗。至于头发，尤其是在家人，头发也常常在梳洗，看起来都很美。但是我们可知道，我们皮肤里面所包裹的东西，有多少是不干净的东西？
尤其是有一天，听到简副院长，只用了五分钟为大家简单分析、介绍病毒如何侵入人体。他说：「我们每一个人的身体里面，至少有六百种病菌，尤其是在肠胃的地方，就存在有上百兆个益菌。至于百兆的数字有多大呢？很难解说。若是以重量来计算，差不多有一公斤那么多。」看看，这就是我们的身体。
不过，体内必须要有细菌。这上百万兆的细菌是好的细菌，可以让我们的身体能新陈代谢。在我们的体内也都要有这些细菌的协助，才能让我们的身体可以吸收营养，让我们的身体可以消化。但是在这么多的细菌中，也还有另外六百种的病菌。这些病菌和这些好的细菌有时也会互相冲突、不调和。
身体是由四大五蕴，假合而成。
所以佛陀说四大假合。假使我们身体的地、水、火、风这四大假合能够调和，那就健康了。所以我们的体内，单说到这些细菌，有好的细菌，有病菌，如果能够调和，我们的身体就能够健康。但假使这些细菌彼此不调和，互相冲突，病菌侵占了正常的细菌的地方，那就会生病了。
各位，我们现在都知道，还有我们人身体以外没有的细菌。这种病菌本来我们人没有，在动物的身上，但现在这种病菌、病毒，都已经不断和人的病菌互相交叉，所以说起来，人生真的是很不清净。
若能以身载道，借假修真就是修行，若是为身体计较，就是造业。
所以佛陀总是提醒我们要多用心，这段经文刚才念起来那么很长，其实都是在我们身上那么脏、那么不清净，还有什么好为了这个身体去贪、瞋、痴，去计较那么多呢？
我们应该要知道可憎，这是一个非常可憎厌的东西。所以我们要好好反省，要恐惧，人生无常，我们要好好利用这个身体，当成「载道器」。我们想要修行，要借身体来「借假修真」。有这个身体，我们才能看透人间的千形万种，才能启发我们的道心。
各位，我们要先自爱，我们就能爱人。爱不能贪，要将爱扩大，爱己爱人。我们不要只贪着在人身，要好好利用。我常说：「只有使用权，没有所有权。」难得这一生为它吃为它睡，好好地照顾它，若不好好利用它来修行，这辈子就真的很可惜。所以请大家对于「道理」要多用心啊！
Fellow practitioners, as we learn Buddhism, let us constantly be vigilant. As we discussed earlier, we must always have a sense of shame, and then realize the impermanent nature of life. We must also develop a sense of fear. If we are not afraid or cannot develop fear, we may lead an empty life and may not be motivated to be diligent. So we cannot become lax. We must be grounded in our daily living.
Life is impermanent. So when we think about impermanence, a sense of fear must arise. As we said yesterday, life is truly short. If we do not guard our actions, speech and thoughts, we will create bad karma.
There are many temptations to commit wrongdoings. If we succumb to them, after this life, we will fall into the Hell, Hungry Ghost or Animal Realms. There will be no end in sight. This is truly horrifying. Therefore, let us develop a sense of renunciation. This world is impermanent and full of traps and chances for wrongdoing. So we must quickly renounce it.
According to the text, constantly contemplate life and death, and find only impermanence, suffering, emptiness, no-self. They are impure and illusory, like ephemeral water bubbles. The cycle of rebirth constantly turns like a wheel. Birth, old age, illness, death, the 8 Sufferings are constant and never-ending. "The Assembly", including you and me, all of us together, should contemplate the body from head to toe. There are 36 elements, which are hair, body hair, nails, teeth, rheum, tears, mucus, saliva, sweat, urine, feces, skin, blood, flesh, tendons, veins, bones, marrow, fat, brain, spleen, kidneys, heart, lungs, liver, gall bladder, intestines, stomach, brown and white phlegm, and two digestive organs. Impurities flow from the nine Orifices of the body. According to the sutras, sufferings are centered in the body. Everything about it is impure. How can any wise person find joy in the body? Since this existence is full of such ills, it is indeed detestable.
Constantly contemplate life and death, and find only impermanence, suffering, emptiness, no-self. They are impure and illusory, like ephemeral water bubbles. The cycle of rebirth constantly turns like a wheel. Birth, old age, illness, death, the eight Sufferings are constant and never-ending. "The Assembly", including you and me, all of us, together, should contemplate the body from head to toe. There are 36 elements, which are hair, body hair, nails, teeth, rheum, tears, mucus, saliva, sweat , urine, feces, skin, blood, flesh, tendons, veins, bones, marrow, fat, brain, spleen, kidneys, heart, lungs, liver, gall bladder, intestines, stomach, brown & white phlegm, and 2digestive organs. Impurities flow from the 9 Orifices of the body According to the sutras, sufferings are centered in the body. Everything about it is impure. How can any wise person find joy in the body? Since this existence is full of such ills, it is indeed detestable.
Let us review this section on renunciation. Having read this, I believe we all can understand it But even though we know what it means, it is difficult to thoroughly comprehend it.
The body is our most intimate possession. This body extends from the top of the head to the bottom of the feet. It is roughly composed of 36 Elements, such as our hair, skin, nails, and even our internal organs, etc. There are roughly 36 elements.
All these things are wrapped in the skin that covers the body. We have no idea just how unclean it is inside. Wherever the skin breaks, we bleed. This can be scary and frightening. This is the same for everyone. If the skin is broken and the body is infected by viruses and bacteria, then the results are unmanageable.
We may remember, when Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital first opened, an ambulance delivered an old lady to the hospital. She had a foul odor. So the doctor treated her immediately. Her foot was under layers of wrapping, which had already become very dirty. The doctor cut through the wrapping and found a poultice of herbs. When the doctor removed it, he found that the foot had already festered. He pricked the pustule and found maggots. There was a terrible smell, blood, pus, and maggots.
I remember that day. When I arrived at the emergency room, the doctor was removing the maggots. I heard a nurse say, "There is one here and another one there." The doctor quickly and very carefully picked them up one by one with tweezers.
You see, when humans are covered by skin, we do not realize how impure the insides are. Once the skin breaks and festers, maggots will grow and it will reek. The foulest odor in the world is the smell of festering human flesh.
This reminds me of a trip to Hengchun. The poor households there were spread far apart. When we arrived at Hengchun, it was dusk. When the villagers saw the arrival of Tzu Chi volunteers, they knew which home we were going to visit, so they quickly led the way. When they brought us to the side of the house, we smelled a very strong stench. The Tzu Chi Commissioners who traveled with me went in but quickly ran out again. Inside, apart from the dim lighting, the air was very stuffy and smelly.
Where was this stench coming from? From a person sitting at the edge of the bed. The sole of his foot looked like a cauliflower. The flesh was completely exposed and festering. What caused this? Cancer in the sole of his foot. Apparently, one time he stepped on something while working in his garden. He thought it was nothing and applied some ointments. Then the foot began to rot. He eventually went to the doctor and was told it was cancer.
Look how easily it happened. It was just a slight puncture in the skin that became infected. He left it alone too long, and the doctor diagnosed it as cancer. The smell was awful. The cancerous cells had already spread to other parts of his body. His lungs were infected. There was nothing left of him but skin and bones. This left a very deep impression.
There were also other cases before him. When Tzu Chi was first established, I personally visited care recipients in Hualien. I remember a particular family in Shoufeng Village. The person we visited was only in his 40s. He had a wife and four children. When we arrived, it was summertime, and all we saw was a straw hut. The door was left ajar so we called out, "Is anyone home?" A voice responded, "Yes, please come in. Just push the door open."
We pushed open the door and when we entered, we saw that it was dark. Why was it so dark inside? The person spoke again, "There is a light above you. You can reach up and turn it on." Indeed, when we reached up, there was a light bulb swinging from the ceiling. We quickly turned it on.
We saw a person lying on a bamboo bed by the wall. Seeing him, my heart broke I quickly walked towards the bed and asked him, "What is wrong?" He said, "I cannot move any part of my body." "Why can't you move? How long has it been?" "Four or five years." "What happened?" "I fell down at work and was paralyzed by spinal injuries. Only my head is alive. The rest of my body is dead."
One of the commissioners exclaimed, "Oh my, how can there be a rat this big?" I looked around to find the rat, "Where was it?" On his leg, gnawing at it. The rat grew big by feeding off his leg. He had no feeling in his legs. Who knows how long that rat had been eating the flesh of his legs? We tried to drive it away, but it was unafraid and did not budge. It had probably never been driven away before. It truly was a heartbreaking sight.
In life, when the body is healthy, skin envelopes everything and appears to be clean. Every day, we wash our bodies and hair. Lay people, especially, wash and brush their hair very often. They look very beautiful. But we should know that there are so many unclean elements wrapped within the skin.
One day, Dr.Jian, Asst. Superintendent of Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital, gave a simple, 5-minute explanation on gave a simple, 5-minute explanation on "How germs enter the human body." He said, "In a person's body, there are over 600 different kinds of disease-causing germs. In our stomach and intestinal areas alone, there are over 100 trillion beneficial bacteria. How large is 100 trillion? It is hard to describe. If we calculate it by weight, it is roughly 1kg." Our bodies need bacteria, such such as the trillions of beneficial bacteria in our intestines that help with our metabolism. They allow us to absorb nutrition and help our digestion. So we need these beneficial bacteria in our bodies. But among all these bacteria, there are over 600 kinds that will cause diseases. These good and bad bacteria will sometimes be in conflict.
The body is formed by the temporary union of the Four Elements and Five Skandhas.
So the Buddha told us that, our bodies exist as a temporary union of the 4 Elements, earth, water, fire and air If these Four Elements are in harmony, we are healthy. This is just like the bacteria in our bodies; if good bacteria are in balance with the bad ones, our bodies will be in good health. If these bacteria fall out of balance and start fighting one another, the bad bacteria will overcome the good and disease will arise in that part of the body.
Fellow practitioners, we all know that some bacteria did not originate from the human body. These germs did not exist in humans, they came from animals. These bacteria and viruses have continuously crossbred with human bacteria and viruses. Talking about it, we see that life is truly impure.
If we use our illusory bodies as vessels to cultivate truth, we are engaged in spiritual practice. If we take issue on behalf of this body, we are creating karma.
So the Buddha asked us to be mindful. The text we just covered was quite long, it describes how filthy and unclean our bodies are. So why do greed, anger and ignorance arise on behalf of this body? Why do we often take issue on its behalf?
We should recognize that the body is undesirable. So we must self-reflect and be fearful. Life is impermanent. We must make good use of this body as a vessel for spiritual practice. We must use this illusory body to practice and attain what is true. With this body, we can see through the countless phenomena of life and be inspired to practice.
We must first have self-respect before we can love others. Love cannot be greedy. Let us expand our love to love ourselves and others. Do not be greedily attached to this human body. Make good use of it. I often say that "We do not own it, we can only use it." It is rare to attain a human body. We eat and sleep for its sake, to take good care of it. If we do not use it earnestly for spiritual practice, this lifetime will be an awful waste.
Everyone, please always be mindful of the Truth.
出处：http://moya.iyard.org/bin/view/Blog/BlogEntry2259
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