文章如下:
2.2 Equalising and exchanging oneself with others
This second method for developing the bodhichitta was transmitted through the wisdom lineage. It originated with Shakyamuni Buddha and was passed to Manjushri and then, via Nagarjuna, Shantideva and so on, to Atisha and then to Je Tsong Khapa. It is a method of both training in, and generating, bodhichitta.
The seven cause and effect transmission is more easily practised by the majority of people. Bodhisattvas of any level, whether they have sharp wisdom or not, can practise it. The second method is sometimes a little more difficult because it involves the extraordinary attitude of being willing to exchange one's own happiness for the suffering of others. The method of equalising and exchanging oneself with others was maintained as a secret practice for a long time. It was passed on in the form of oral instructions from master to disciple because it was felt that it was too difficult for the common person to embrace. It was the great Kadampa master, Geshe Chekawa, who changed this. He felt that the practice was so precious that it should be composed into a text to ensure that it was not lost. The great Indian Bodhisattva, Shantideva, whose works are so extensively quoted throughout this Path to Enlightenment, is most often associated with this method of developing bodhichitta. Due to his great influence on the development of mahayana Buddhism, it is worth knowing something of his life.
From a young age, the great Bodhisattva Shantideva showed skill in all fields of knowledge. He received initiation into the tantric practice of Manjushri, and thereafter was always able to communicate directly with Manjushri and receive teachings from him. Shantideva received the teachings on the method of equalising and exchanging oneself with others directly from Manjushri, and he practised this bodhichitta method constantly. Later in life, Shantideva took ordination at the great seat of Buddhist learning, Nalanda monastery. He lived there amongst the other monks but, as he never gave teachings or did any visible practice, the other monks did not understand what he was up to. All they saw him do was the three activities of eating, sleeping and defecating, and so they nicknamed him 'Three Discriminations!' Having decided that Shantideva was an embarrassment, and a sizeable blot on the good name of their institution, they began to plot a way to have him thrown out of the monastery.
The monks decided that the best method to get rid of 'Three Discriminations' was to request him to give Dharma teachings. They assumed that Shantideva was dull and stupid and that his lack of knowledge would be publicly exposed causing him to leave in embarrassment. Shantideva accepted their request, but said that a throne should be erected for him to teach from. The monks agreed, and made a very high throne with no steps, thinking that this would be an added joke to play on 'Three Discriminations'. The arrangements were made and Shantideva arrived at the throne. To the amazement of all present, Shantideva put out one hand and pushed the throne down and ascended it with ease. Unperturbed, he asked the monks whether they wanted him to teach from the sutras, or whether they would rather that he gave a completely new teaching. Thinking that it was a sure way to trap Shantideva, the monks asked that he teach something new. 'How could someone as stupid as this add anything to the Buddha's words?' they chuckled to themselves. But their amusement was short-lived. Shantideva began,
Respectfully I prostrate myself to the Sugatas
Who are endowed with the body of truth,
As well as to their Noble Sons
And to all who are worthy of veneration.
He went on to give the explanation of bodhichitta, and the path of practice leading to enlightenment, that has become one of the greatest Buddhist classics. It was the teachings of Engaging in the Bodhisattva Deeds quoted so extensively in mahayana texts. The ninth chapter covers the true nature of phenomena from the point of view of the highest school of mahayana tenets, and explains the correct view of emptiness. As he taught this to the monks, Shantideva ascended into space and eventually disappeared altogether, so that the assembled monks could only hear his voice while he completed the teaching.
There is a great lesson to be learnt from the story of Shantideva. Before he was asked to teach he appeared to do nothing but sleep, relax and enjoy himself, and showed no outward signs of doing any Dharma practice. However, inwardly he was continuously concentrating on bodhichitta. This illustrates how difficult it is to assess others' levels of attainment, and to know who is, and is not, a Bodhisattva. Bodhichitta is an inner practice, so you cannot judge others' attainments by their outer appearance.
Even Buddhas and high Bodhisattvas often appear as ordinary beings and we are unable to identify them.
Shantideva introduced the equalising and exchanging oneself with others bodhichitta method in his Engaging in the Bodhisattva Deeds as follows:
Those who wish to give protection
To both self and other beings,
Should practise the holy secret:
The exchanging of self for others.
There are five stages in the bodhichitta method of equalising and exchanging oneself with others:
1. Equalising yourself with others.
2. The advantages of exchanging self with others.
3. The disadvantages of not exchanging.
4. The ability to exchange self with others.
5. Taking and giving.
1 Equalising yourself with others.
The first stage is to develop equanimity by considering yourself and others to be equal. You can establish this by recognising that, just as you wish for happiness and wish to be free from suffering, every living being equally has this innate wish. All, without exception, want to be free of whatever form of suffering they experience, and to have greater and greater happiness.
Whether old or young, human or non-human, man or woman, all living beings are equal with oneself in that all desire happiness and wish to be rid of suffering. It ten people contracted the same disease under the same circumstances, you would consider their problem and desire to be cured in an equal light. Like this, every living being has equally contracted the same virulent disease of cyclic existence's suffering. All want to be cured and none are satisfied with their level of 'health'. The Offering to the Guru by Panchen Losang Chökyi Gyältsen tells us:
No-one desires even the slightest suffering,
Nor is ever content with the happiness he has.
As there is no difference between myself and others,
Bless me to rejoice in the happiness of others.
By reflecting in this way you will come to recognise the way in which yourself and all other living beings are equal. You can also use the methods of the preliminary stage to the seven cause and effect bodhichitta transmission to enhance this realisation. Equalising yourself with others provides an even foundation on which it is possible to build the realisation of bodhichitta. It is not possible to realise bodhichitta without this.
2 The advantages of exchanging self with others.
Shantideva said in his Engaging in the Bodhisattva Deeds:
Whatever joy there is in this world
All comes from desiring others to be happy.
The exchange that is referred to is exchanging the attitude of cherishing yourself with the attitude of cherishing others. The advantages of doing so are that all happiness and good conditions arise from the attitude of cherishing others, whereas all suffering and problems arise from the selfish approach of cherishing oneself.
It can be shown that all happiness and good conditions arise from cherishing others by the following line of reasoning. Happiness and good conditions are a result of positive karma. Positive karma arises from virtuous minds and virtuous minds arise from the attitude of cherishing others. Let us take some examples.
A long life is the result of the positive karma of protecting the lives of others. The compassion that motivates you to protect others' lives comes from cherish-ing, or caring for, those living beings. Beauty is the result of patience, and being patient and tolerant of others arises from caring for them, or cherishing others.
Happiness of mind and health are the results of pure morality, or not harming others. Moral restraint arises from not wishing to hurt others and that comes from caring for them, or cherishing them, in the first place.
Wealth comes from generosity and that comes from cherishing others. A high position results from respect which is a factor of cherishing others. Every positive result, every form of happiness, every positive mind, all good conditions and higher rebirths have cherishing others as their basis. As the Offering to the Guru says:
The mind cherishing mothers and securing them in bliss
Is the gateway to infinite qualities.
Seeing this, even should they rise up as enemies,
Bless me to cherish them more than my life.
Our present birth of leisure and fortune, with its opportunity to practise the path to enlightenment, is a direct result of past actions of generosity, ethics and so on, which themselves arose from cherishing others.
The attainments of the great Bodhisattvas and the final great bliss and omniscience of buddhahood are all gained on the basis of cherishing others. As Shantideva said in his Engaging in the Bodhisattva Deeds:
What need is there for much explanation?
The childish work for their own welfare;
The Buddhas work for the welfare of others.
Just look at the difference between the two!
3 The disadvantages of not exchanging.
Engaging in the Bodhisattva Deeds says:
Whatever suffering there is in this world
All comes from desiring myself to be happy.
Compared with the beneficial results of exchanging the thought of self with the thought of others, the disadvantages of not doing so are exactly the opposite.
All forms of suffering and all unwanted circumstances arise from the attitude of selfishly cherishing oneself.
The same form of reasoning applies. All suffering arises from negative karma, which itself is a result of non-virtuous states of mind, which in turn derive from the self-cherishing attitude. The unwanted circumstance of a short life with poor health is a result of killing others in the past. Killing others is done on the basis of anger or attachment, both of which are forms of self-cherishing. Poverty is a result of miserliness, the self-cherishing attitude of clinging to your wealth reasoned fear is the karmic result of malice, disregarding the happiness of others by wishing to hurt them.
Lacking success and resources is a result of excessive attachment and grasping for such things due to self-cherishing. All the sufferings of the human realm, as well as the sufferings of the three lower realms, arise from negative actions based on the delusions of attachment, anger, ignorance and so on, which themselves arise from self-cherishing. As the Offering to the Guru tells us:
The chronic disease of cherishing myself
Is the source giving rise to unwanted suffering.
Perceiving this, bless me to blame, begrudge
And destroy this great demon of selfishness.
Whatever suffering, problems, unhappiness or difficulty you encounter has self-cherishing as its source.
Self-cherishing brings no benefit to others, nor does it produce anything but suffering for you. When you see clearly the disadvantages of indulging the self-cherish-ing attitude, and compare those with the limitless advantages of cherishing others, you will develop the intention to be rid of the innate habit of self-cherishing.
4 The ability to exchange self with others.
Having seen the advantages of cherishing others and the disadvantages of self-cherishing, the main practice is to exchange self with others. This does not mean that you swap roles and become others, or that they become you. Rather, you swap the attitude of cherishing yourself for the attitude of cherishing others. For countless lives you have been afflicted with the innate habitual tendency toward selfish concern. Selfish concern has driven you to kill, steal, lie, cheat and so on.
It has fed your attachment, anger, jealousy and other delusions, so that you have remained bound to the sufferings of cyclic existence. Now is the time to exchange this poisonous, mind-altering drug for the nectar of cherishing others, the magical source of everything that is worthwhile, beneficial, happiness-producing and sustaining. The Offering to the Guru says:
Cherishing myself is the doorway to all downfalls,
While cherishing mothers is the foundation of all good qualities.
I seek your blessings to take as my essential practice,
The yoga of exchange of self for others.
All holy Bodhisattvas have the attitude of cherishing others as their heartfelt, core practice. With this attitude they continuously create positive karma and become a source of happiness for both themselves and others. Every Buddha has attained his enlightenment on the basis of cherishing others and abandoning self-cherishing. Even the worldly pleasures of humans and the higher rebirths of gods arise from positive actions based on cherishing others. Seeing this, become determined to exchange the view of cherishing oneself for that of cherishing others.
As Shantideva says in his Engaging in the Bodhisattva Deeds:
If I do not actually exchange my happiness
For the sufferings of others,
I shall not attain the state of buddhahood
And even in cyclic existence will have no joy.
5 Taking and giving.
The final stage of this method for training the mind in the development of bodhichitta is to practise the meditation known as 'taking and giving'. Taking and giving is an exceptional means to transform the ordinary self-cherishing attitude to the attitude of cherishing others. It trains your mind to reverse its innate trend toward self-cherishing, and establishes mental habit patterns that transform your behaviour into that of cherishing others.
'Taking' refers to taking all beings' suffering from them and 'giving to giving all your happiness and good conditions to others. It reverses self-cherishing because the last thing the self-cherishing mind would wish for is to take on the suffering of others and give away all enjoyment and happiness to them. Likewise it greatly strengthens the mind cherishing others. The meditation has two parts:
Taking on the suffering of others using the power of the motivating vision of compassion
Giving away your happiness to others using the power of the motivating vision of love
Taking on the suffering of others using the power of the motivating vision of compassion
In this part of the meditation you visualise yourself surrounded by all living beings. For a time you reflect on the suffering that they experience. See the suffering of the beings in the hot and cold hell realms; the suffering from hunger and thirst of the hungry spirits; the animals' suffering of ignorance, being preyed upon and being used by humans; humans' suffering of birth, sickness, old age and death; the demigods' suffering of conflict and jealousy; and the suffering of the gods as they approach death. Seeing the pitiful plight of living beings, generate the compassionate wish that they be free from suffering. Then visualise that you actualise this wish in conjunction with your breath. As you breathe in slowly, feel that you are taking away the suffering of all living beings. Visualise that their suffering is drawn from them in the form of black smoke and that you take this into yourself by breathing it in through your nostrils. At your heart visualise your self cherishing attitude in the form of a tight rock-like ball.
As you breathe in the suffering of living beings in the form of black smoke, see it come down into your chest and completely smash and destroy the rock of self-cherishing at your heart. Feel that the suffering of living beings and your self-cherishing attitude have both been obliterated. Repeat this process each time that you breathe in. Taking away the suffering of all living beings is the practice of great compassion.
At first you may find it difficult to get your mind around the idea of taking on the suffering of all living beings, and if so, the following method will allow you to gradually move to that stage. On the first one or number of breaths concentrate on removing your own suffering, the suffering you experience now, or will experience in the future. Breathe it in as black smoke and smash the self-cherishing at your heart as explained above. Then take on the suffering of your mother.
Draw from her all suffering that she has experienced in the past, is experiencing now, or will experience in future. Think of the sufferings she has as a human, has had in lower rebirths, or will have in future ones, and take it all away as described above while you are breathing in. Then do the same for your father, then your brothers and sisters, and next for other relatives.
Take the suffering of your friends, then strangers, then enemies and step by step all humans. Next take the sufferings of animals, then hungry spirits, hell beings, demigods and gods all in stages. Finally visualise taking the suffering of all living beings together.
In reality, of course, you cannot take away the sufferings of others. If it were possible to do so, the Buddhas would certainly have done it by now! The real purpose of the practice, though, is to train your own mind. Doing this meditation will eliminate the poison of self-cherishing and gorge your mind with the nectar of cherishing others. You accumulate limitless merit and quickly purify negative karma. Hindrances are overcome, and you develop your realisation of bodhichitta.
Giving away your happiness to others using the power of the motivating vision of love
Having practised 'taking', now you engage in 'giving.
The 'giving' is sending out all your happiness, realisations and good conditions to other living beings. This time, as you breathe out slowly and smoothly, feel that you are giving away all your happiness, good conditions, realisations and the merit that you have collected in the past, are collecting now, or will collect in future, as well as all the blessings you have received from Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. All your happiness and all the causes of happiness that you possess are breathed out in the form of white light which emanates to the beings of all six realms of cyclic existence, where it transforms into whatever is required by those beings.
When the light reaches each realm it purifies all beings' negative karma and delusion, eliminates their suffer-ing, and gives them unimaginable happiness and bliss.
In the human realm the light transforms into precious objects, gold, silver and jewels as well as all material requirements of humans. When the light reaches the hungry spirit realms it transforms into nectar which has the power to satisfy completely their hunger and thirst, making them blissfully happy and content.
When the light reaches the hot hells it turns to rain, cooling the suffering of the beings there. In the cold hells it becomes warm sunlight and sandy beaches. In the animal realms it becomes food and light eliminating ignorance. In the god and demi-god realms, it transforms into the heavenly pleasures that gods are prone to enjoy. The light also transforms into Dharma texts and Dharma teachers bringing the light of the Dharma to all living beings. Mounted on the out-breath this motivating vision of love brings happiness to all living beings.
Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are able to create merit every time they breathe by using their breath in this way to benefit all living beings. Now you are also able to join the practice of great love, great compassion and bodhichitta with the breath. When you practise heal-ing, breathe in and feel, 'I am taking the suffering of this person. See the sick person's suffering dissolving into your heart and destroying your self-cherishing, as it is also destroyed. Then breathe out and give the patient your positive karma, love, wisdom, compassion and merit. Whenever you are in the situation of helping a dying person or animal, use this supreme method of taking and giving.
2.3 The combined method
A third way of developing bodhichitta is the eleven step technique which combines the seven cause and effect transmission with the five steps of equalising and exchanging oneself for others. The eleven steps are:
Developing equanimity.
Perceiving all beings as mother.
Remembering kindness.
Repaying kindness.
Equalising yourself with others.
Contemplating the disadvantages of not exchanging.
Contemplating the advantages of exchanging self with others.
Practising great compassion by taking on the suffering of all living beings (combining the great compassion of the seven cause and effect method with the 'taking' part of the fifth stage of equalising and exchanging oneself with others, motivated by the intention to exchange self with others).
Practising great love by giving happiness and love to others (combining the great love of the seven cause and effect method with the 'giving' part of the fifth stage of equalising and exchanging oneself with others, motivated by the intention to exchange self with others).
Pure superior intention.
Bodhichitta.
Of the eleven steps, the first ten are causes and the eleventh is the effect.
To attain buddhahood you must realise renunciation, bodhichitta and wisdom, the three principal paths. The great Shakyamuni taught many different levels of Dharma teachings and a great variety of methods of practice. You should use your judgement to ascertain what practices are most suited to your development and focus on these. It is not necessary to practise everything that the Buddha taught, just that which is most useful for you.
In a sutra the Buddha said:
Monks and scholars
Should well analyse my words,
As gold is tested by melting, cutting and rubbing.
Then adopt them, but not for the sake of showing me respect.
You should first check any teaching before accepting it, as a goldsmith checks the quality of gold. The goldsmith will carefully cut, weigh and assay gold before purchasing. If he then finds the gold to be pure, he can buy it and use it to good purpose in making jewellery. Like this, when you use analysis to establish that a particular teaching from among the three vehicles is helpful in removing your sufferings, you can accept and practise it.
Verses of Developing Bodhicitta 🙏
I. Seven-Point Cause and Effect (Atisha’s Tradition)
Translated and adapted from teachings by Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche and the Lamrim tradition.
1. Equanimity (平等心) May I be free from attachment to those close to me and aversion for those who are distant. Grant me blessings to develop equanimity toward all beings.
2. Recognizing All Beings as Mothers (知母) Recognizing that in the beginningless cycle of existence, there is no being who has not been my mother. Grant me blessings to see all beings as my kind mothers.
3. Remembering Their Kindness (念恩) Remembering the infinite kindness they have shown me when they were my mothers. Grant me blessings to cherish all beings with gratitude.
4. Repaying Their Kindness (報恩) Deeply wishing to repay the kindness of these mother-beings by leading them to liberation. Grant me blessings to fulfill this debt of gratitude.
5. Heartwarming Love (慈心) Wishing that all beings, who lack true happiness, may possess every form of joy and its causes. Grant me blessings to cultivate great love.
6. Great Compassion (悲心) Wishing that all beings, who are oppressed by suffering, may be free from all pain and its causes. Grant me blessings to cultivate great compassion.
7. The Extraordinary Resolve (增上心) Taking the personal responsibility to bring about the welfare of all beings. Grant me blessings to generate this exceptional resolve.
8. Bodhicitta (菩提心) To benefit all sentient beings, I must attain the state of a fully enlightened Buddha. Grant me blessings to generate the precious Mind of Enlightenment.
II. Exchanging Self and Others (Shantideva’s Tradition)
Excerpts from "A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life" (Bodhicharyavatara).
1. Equalizing Self and Others (等視自他) Since others and I are the same in wanting happiness and avoiding pain, I should protect others as I do myself. Grant me blessings to equalize self and others.
2. Exchanging Self and Others (自他相換) "All the joy the world contains comes from wishing happiness for others. All the misery the world contains comes from wanting pleasure for oneself." Grant me blessings to exchange self-cherishing for cherishing others.
3. Taking and Giving / Tonglen (取捨) May the suffering of all beings ripen upon me, and may all my virtue and happiness be given to them. Grant me blessings to practice the profound path of Tonglen.
2.2 自他平等與自他交換
這第二種修持菩提心的方法是透過「深見派」傳承下來的。它源於釋迦牟尼佛,傳至文殊菩薩,再經由龍樹菩薩、寂天菩薩等,傳到阿底峽尊者,最後傳至宗喀巴大師。這是一套訓練並發起菩提心的方法。
「七因果」的傳承對大多數人來說較易修持,無論是任何程度的菩薩,慧根利鈍皆可練習。而這第二種方法有時較為困難,因為它涉及了一種非凡的心態:願意以自己的快樂來換取他人的痛苦。「自他平等與自他交換」的方法曾長期作為「密傳」修法。它以師徒口耳相傳的方式傳遞,因為當時認為這對一般人來說太難領受。直到噶當派的大德——切喀瓦格西(Geshe Chekawa)改變了這一點。他認為這項修持極為珍貴,應將其編纂成文,以確保不致失傳。印度偉大的菩薩寂天大師,其著作在《菩提道次第》中被廣泛引用,他正是與此修心法門關聯最深的一位。鑑於他對大乘佛教發展的深遠影響,了解他的生平是非常值得的。
寂天菩薩自幼便在各個知識領域展現出天賦。他接受了文殊菩薩的密法灌頂,從此便能直接與文殊菩薩交流並聽聞教法。寂天菩薩直接從文殊菩薩處領受了「自他平等與自他交換」的教法,並恆常修持。成年後,寂天在佛教最高學府那爛陀寺受戒。他雖住在僧團中,但因從不教法或顯露任何證見,其他僧人並不了解他的修為。他們只看到他做三件事:吃飯、睡覺和排泄,因此給他取了個外號叫「三想者」(或譯「三斷者」,指只會吃、睡、拉)。僧人們認為寂天是學府的恥辱,玷污了名聲,於是密謀想把他趕出寺院。
僧人們決定,趕走「三想者」最好的方法就是請他上台講經。他們假設寂天愚笨無知,一旦在公眾面前露餡,必然會羞愧離去。寂天接受了請求,但要求為他搭建一座法座。僧人們同意了,並故意造了一座沒有梯級的高座,想以此戲弄他。法會準備就緒,寂天來到座前,在眾人驚愕之下,僅用一隻手按下法座,便輕易登座。他神色自若地問僧眾,是想聽佛經原典,還是想聽全新的教法?僧人們以為這下抓到陷阱了,便要求聽全新的教法。他們心裡竊笑:「這麼愚笨的人,怎能在佛陀的聖言之外增加什麼?」然而,他們的笑聲很快就凝固了。寂天菩薩開示道:
敬禮一切佛菩薩!
善逝法身佛子伴,及諸應敬我悉禮。
他接著對菩提心和通往覺悟的修行之道進行了闡述,這部作品後來成為了佛教最偉大的經典之一——《入菩薩行論》(Engaging in the Bodhisattva Deeds)。其中第九品從大乘最高的宗義觀點探討了現象的本質,並解釋了正確的空性見。當他向僧眾傳授此法時,寂天的身體升入空中,最後完全消失,眾僧只能在虛空中聽到他完成教法的聲音。
寂天菩薩的故事帶給我們巨大的啟示。在受邀講學前,他表面上看來無所事事,只顧睡眠休息,毫無修行跡象;然而在內心深處,他始終恆常專注於菩提心。這說明了要評斷他人的成就水平,或是分辨誰是菩薩,是多麼困難。菩提心是一種內在的修持,因此你不能由外相來判斷他人的證量。即便是佛菩薩也常化現為凡夫,而我們卻無法識得。
寂天菩薩在《入菩薩行論》中如此介紹「自他平等與自他交換」的方法:
若欲速救護,自及他人者,當行秘密行,自他互易修。
(如果想要快速地救護自己和他人離苦得樂,就應該修學『自他相換』這個殊勝密法。)
「自他平等與自他交換」的菩提心修法包含五個階段:
自他平等。
思惟換位(愛他)的功德。
思惟不換(愛自)的過患。
修持自他交換的能力。
取與法(自他交換)。
1. 自他平等
第一階段是透過思考自己與他人的平等來培養「平等心」。你可以藉由體認到:正如你渴望快樂並希望遠離痛苦一樣,每一個眾生同樣擁有這種本能的願望。所有眾生,無一例外,都希望解脫於所承受的各類痛苦,並獲得越來越大的快樂。
無論老幼、人類或非人、男女,所有眾生與自己都是平等的,因為大家都希求安樂、厭惡痛苦。如果有十個人在同樣的情況下感染了同樣的疾病,你會認為他們的痛苦以及渴望痊癒的心願是平等的。同樣地,每一個眾生都平等地染上了「輪迴苦」這種惡疾。所有人都想痊癒,沒有人對目前的「健康」狀況感到滿足。班禪大師洛桑卻吉堅贊(Panchen Losang Chökyi Gyältsen)在《上師供養法》(Offering to the Guru)中告訴我們:
無餘眾生微苦皆不欲,所有安樂何時亦不滿,
我與他人於此無差別,祈求加持喜他樂如自。
透過這樣的反思,你會體認到自己與眾生平等之處。你也可以利用「七因果」修法前的預備階段來加深這種體悟。「自他平等」提供了一個平坦的基礎,在此之上才可能建立菩提心的證悟。
2. 思惟自他交換(愛他)的功德
寂天菩薩在《入菩薩行論》中說:
世間諸幸福,皆從利他生。
這裡提到的「交換」,是指將「執愛自己」的心換成「愛護他人」的心。這樣做的優點在於,所有的快樂和順境都源於愛他心,而所有的痛苦和問題都源於愛自(自私)的心。
透過以下推論,可以證明所有的快樂與福德皆源於「珍愛他人」:快樂與福德是善業的果報,而善業源於善心,善心則源於珍愛他人的心。讓我們來看幾個例子。
長壽是保護他人生命之善業的果報。驅使你保護他人生命的慈悲心,正是源於你對這些眾生的珍愛與關懷。美貌是修持忍辱的果報,而能對他人保持耐心與包容,是源於對他們的關愛與珍愛。
心靈的快樂與健康是純淨戒律(即不傷害他人)的果報。持戒的自律源於不願傷害他人的心,而這歸根結底是源於對他人的關懷與珍愛。
財富源於布施,而布施源於珍愛他人。高位的成就源於尊敬,而尊敬則是珍愛他人的要素之一。每一個善果、每一種快樂、每一個善念、所有的福德以及善趣的轉生,皆以珍愛他人為基礎。正如《上師供養法》所言:
愛護諸母令入安樂地,即是引發無邊功德門,
觀見於此雖與我為仇,祈求加持愛之逾自命。
我們現世所擁有的「閒暇與圓滿」(暇滿),以及修習覺悟之道的機會,正是過去生中布施、持戒等行為的直接結果,而這些行為本身皆源於愛他心。諸大菩薩的成就,乃至最終佛果的大樂與遍智,全都是在愛他心的基礎上獲得的。
3. 思惟不換(愛自)的過患
《入菩薩行論》說:
世間諸痛苦,皆從自利生。
與愛他心的益處相比,不願交換(執著自利)的過患恰恰相反:一切形式的痛苦與不順遂,皆源於執著自我的自私心。
同樣的推理也適用:所有痛苦源於惡業,惡業源於不善的心態,而不善的心態最終源於「我愛執」。短壽與多病是不受歡迎的境遇,這是過去殺生的結果。殺生是基於嗔恨或貪執,這兩者都是我愛執的體現。貧窮是慳吝的結果,即出於我愛執而緊抓財產不放。恐懼是傷害他人(損害他人快樂)的業果。
缺乏成功與資源,是因為我愛執所產生的過度貪婪與攫取。人道的所有痛苦,以及三惡道的痛苦,都源於基於貪、嗔、痴等煩惱的惡行,而煩惱本身則源於我愛執。如《上師供養法》所云:
愛護自身即是眾苦門,觀見此心乃是不悅處,
祈求加持以此為怨仇,破除愛自極大之魔羅。
無論你遇到什麼痛苦、問題、不快樂或困難,其源頭都是「我愛執」。
4. 修持自他交換的能力
在見證了「珍愛他人」的利益與「愛自心」(自我中心)的過患後,核心的修持便是「自他相換」。這並非指換位變成他人,或他人變成你;而是指將「珍愛自己」的心態與「珍愛他人」的心態互換。在無數的輪迴中,你一直受困於與生俱來的自私習氣。這種自私的考量驅使你去殺生、偷盜、妄語、欺詐等等。
它滋養了你的貪戀、嗔恨、嫉妒及其他煩惱,使你始終束縛於輪迴的痛苦之中。現在,是時候將這種毒害心靈的藥物,換成「珍愛他人」的甘露了——那是所有具備價值、利益、產生快樂並能持之以恆的法術源頭。如《上師供養法》(上師會供)中所說:
愛自即成眾苦因,愛母則是萬善根。自他相換為精要,勤修加持求加持。
(註:對應漢譯慣用偈頌:愛自即成眾苦門,愛母則是萬善根,自他相換為精要,祈求加持修瑜伽。)
所有神聖的菩薩都將「珍愛他人」作為他們內心最核心的修持。憑藉這種心態,他們不斷創造善業,成為自己與他人快樂的源泉。每一尊佛都是在「珍愛他人」並「捨棄愛自心」的基礎上證得圓滿覺悟。即便是一般人類的世俗快樂,或是天人的高位轉生,也都是源於「珍愛他人」的善行。見及此,請下定決心,將「珍愛自己」的見地轉換為「珍愛他人」。
正如寂天菩薩在《入菩薩行論》中所說:
若不真切將自樂,與他苦難作交換,非唯不成正覺果,生死輪迴亦無樂。
5. 自他交換法(施受法)
這是訓練菩提心的最後階段,稱為「自他交換」禪修(Tonglen,施受法)。這是一種將自私心轉化為愛他心的殊勝手段。因為對於一個凡事以自我為中心的心靈來說,最不願意的就是承擔別人的痛苦,並把自己所有的享受與快樂通通送給別人。同樣地,這也能極大地增長「珍愛他人」的心量。這項禪修分為兩個部分:
「取」是指取走眾生的痛苦。
「與」是指將自己的快樂與順境施予他人。
這部分禪修中,觀想自己被一切眾生環繞。花一點時間觀察他們所經歷的痛苦:看見熱地獄與寒地獄眾生的煎熬;餓鬼眾生所受的飢渴之苦;畜生眾生因愚昧、被捕食以及被人類勞役的痛苦;人類生、老、病、死之苦;阿修羅鬥爭與嫉妒之苦;以及天人臨命終時的痛苦。看見眾生這般可憐的處境,生起願他們離苦的慈悲心。
接著觀想你配合呼吸來實現這個願望。當你緩緩吸氣時,感受你正取走一切眾生的痛苦。觀想他們的痛苦化作黑煙從他們身上抽離,而你透過鼻孔將其吸入體內。在你的心間,觀想你的「愛自心」(自我中心)化作一個如岩石般堅硬緊實的球體。
當你將化作黑煙的眾生苦難吸入時,看著它進入你的胸膛,徹底擊碎並摧毀你心間那顆愛自心的頑石。感受眾生的痛苦與你的愛自心兩者都已湮滅。每次吸氣時都重複這個過程。取走一切眾生的痛苦即是大悲心的修持。
起初,你可能會發現心靈很難接受「承擔全眾生痛苦」的想法,若是如此,以下方法能讓你逐步進入那個階段:在起初一次或幾次呼吸中,專注於取走你自己的痛苦——包括你現在正經歷的,或未來將會經歷的痛苦。將其吸入化為黑煙,並如前所述擊碎心間的愛自心。接著,承擔你母親的痛苦。
取走她過去、現在或未來所經歷的一切痛苦。思考她在人道、在惡趣、或未來世將受的苦,吸氣時如前所述將其全部取走。接著對你的父親、兄弟姊妹、其他親屬也如法修持。
接著取走朋友的痛苦,然後是陌生人,再到仇敵,一步步擴及全人類。接著依序取走畜生、餓鬼、地獄眾生、阿修羅與天人的痛苦。最後,觀想同時取走一切眾生的痛苦。
當然,現實中你無法真的取走他人的痛苦。如果可能的話,佛菩薩們肯定早已經這麼做了!然而,這項修持真正的目的是訓練你自己的心。做這項禪修能消除愛自心的毒素,並讓你的心充滿珍愛他人的甘露。你將累積無量福德並迅速淨化惡業,克服障礙,並增長對菩提心的證悟。
利用慈心的動力觀想,將你的快樂施予他人
練習過「取」之後,現在你進行「捨」。 「捨」是將你所有的快樂、證量與良好的條件送給其他眾生。這一次,當你緩慢且平穩地呼氣時,感受你正將你所有的快樂、良好的條件、證量,以及你過去、現在、未來所累積的福德,還有你從佛菩薩處得到的所有加持,通通施捨出去。你所擁有的一切快樂與樂因,都隨呼氣化作白光散發給輪迴六道的眾生,並轉化為那些眾生所需要的任何事物。
當光芒到達每一道時,它淨化了眾生所有的惡業與妄念,消除了他們的痛苦,並給予他們難以想像的快樂與法喜。
在人道中,光芒化作珍寶、金銀與所有人類所需的物質資具。當光芒到達餓鬼道,它化作甘露,能完全止息他們的飢渴,使他們感到欣喜滿足。當光芒到達熱地獄,它化作雨水,清涼了那裡眾生的痛苦。在寒地獄,它變成溫暖的陽光與沙灘。在畜生道,它變成食物與消除愚昧的智慧之光。在天道與阿修羅道,它化作天人所喜愛的種種勝妙享受。光芒也化作佛法經卷與導師,為一切眾生帶來佛法之光。承載著呼氣,這份慈心的動力觀想為一切眾生帶來了快樂。
佛菩薩們透過這種利益眾生的方式,在每一次呼吸間都能創造功德。現在,你也能將大慈、大悲與菩提心的修持與呼吸結合。當你進行療癒工作時,吸氣並感受:「我正在承擔此人的痛苦。」看著病人的苦難消融於你的心間,摧毀並湮滅你的愛自心。然後呼氣,將你的善業、愛、智慧、慈悲與福德給予病人。每當你身處幫助垂死之人或動物的境況時,請運用這套殊勝的施受法。
2.3 綜合修法
第三種方法是將「七因果」與「自他平等與自他交換」結合的十一法:
平等心。
知母。
念恩。
報恩。
自他平等。
思惟愛自過患。
思惟愛他功德。
以大悲心行「取」苦。
以大愛心行「與」樂。
增上心。
菩提心。
在前十個步驟中,前十者為「因」,第十一者為「果」。
偉大的釋迦牟尼佛傳授了許多不同層次的佛法教義與多樣的修行方法。你應當運用自己的判斷力,去確認哪些修持最適合你的根器與發展,並專注於此。我們並不需要修持佛陀所教過的每一種法門,而應選擇對你最有幫助的那一個。
佛陀在經中曾說:
比丘與智者,當觀我教言,如金受切磨,勿因敬我信。
(大德與智者,應如淬煉、切割與打磨黃金般, 對我的教法進行嚴謹的剖析與檢驗。 唯有在確認其真實後才予接納,而非僅僅出於對我的尊重。)
在接受任何教法之前,你應該像金匠檢查金子的品質一樣先行檢驗。金匠在購買黃金前,會仔細地切割、稱重與鑑定。如果他發現黃金是純淨的,他才會購買並將其製成精美的首飾。同樣地,當你透過分析,確認三乘法義(小乘、大乘、金剛乘)中的某個教法確實能幫助你消除痛苦時,你便可以接納並依教修持。
菩提心偈 🙏
一、七重因果(阿底峽尊者)
【修平等心】 恩怨中庸今雖現,思量各各無決定, 不應虛妄分愛憎,勤修捨心求加持。
【知 母】 生死流轉無其始,入胎受生亦無初, 故知有情皆是母,願生斯見求加持。
【念 恩】 今生愛我母為最,眾母愛護亦如是, 思此厚恩未能報,憶念母恩求加持。
【報 恩】 若知有恩猶捨棄,似我下劣更有誰, 是故圖報當拔苦,並與勝樂求加持。
【慈 心】 有恩母等乏安樂,我以身財善根施, 願諸有情皆得樂,一切圓具求加持。
【悲 心】 母等眾生苦所逼,苦因苦果願盡離, 縱有餘殃我代受,勤修悲心求加持。
【增 上 心】 一切世間諸有情,獲無漏樂斷苦根, 我應決定如是作,願速堪能求加持。
【菩 提 心】 任運成辦自他利,世尊而外更有誰, 以此為利有情事,願速成佛求加持。
二、自他交換(寂天菩薩)
【等視自他】 自他於苦皆不欲,願得安樂此心同, 他之求樂亦如我,自他等視求加持。
【自他相換】 愛自即成眾苦因,愛他則是萬善根, 生佛差別從此出,自他相換求加持。
【發心取捨】 以我善樂諸因果,他苦因果盡無餘, 如風去來行取捨,由此發心求加持。
中文:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1asJe1N-t74p50O0L7vekGfNXoI5PgXaYOvbsW6O-S_A/edit?usp=sharing
英文:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qhJ3PLrDfI6XctEaemPenmaYwLNj-jGkTxEqpQ1Vk_4/edit?usp=sharing