禅意

Diamond Sutra – understanding can be sudden, which sweeps away all mental blockages, practice is not sudden, which get perfected in stages – 金刚经 – 理即顿悟,乘悟并消;事非顿除,因次第尽

After expounding that real Buddha is beyond image and sound, the all compassionate Buddha reminds us that real Buddha does not mean no image and no sound either, and that we should not satisfy with just the proper understanding of truth and should diligently practice it in our life.

Why did the Buddha say so?  Because our mind likes to attach itself to dualistic opposites: when someone say of something, we immediately follows the “something”; when someone say of nothing, we immediately follows the “nothing”.  In reality, we are neither “something” or “nothing”, neither the content or context, neither the teaching or non-teaching, this is the essence of Zen (Chan).

Secondly, after getting the above proper understanding, it is tempting for our mind to declare victory and say that, ok,  we have got it now, we have arrive the final destination, and that there is no more work need to be done, nor anyone there to do anything anymore.   Is it really so?  Only your honest self could tell.  What we usually find in the history and even nowadays, is that many students and teachers had fallen into this side track understanding, became an “enlightened” person in understanding,  but lack honesty, virtue and diligent to make further progress (if not recline).  This is why the Buddha said while perfect appearance doesn’t necessary implies Buddhahood, to claim the lack of it (appearance an virtue) is Buddhahood is wrong either.

In actual practice, there are standard stages of transformation one would go through, which are reported by advanced masters across different traditions and geographical regions.   In the Buddhist tradition, a detailed report of truth and roadmap towards it is provided in the Shurangama Sutra (see suggested Buddhist readings).

Therefore, the Shurangama Sutra saids, “理即顿悟,   乘悟并消;事非顿除, 因次第尽” (understanding can be sudden, which sweeps away all mental blockages, practice is not sudden, which get perfected in stages).

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无断无灭分第二十七

NOT DESTROYED NOR ANNIHILATED, TWENTY-SEVEN

须菩提!汝若作是念:如来不以具足相故,得阿耨多罗三藐三菩提。
须菩提!莫作是念:“如来不以具足相故,得阿耨多罗三藐三菩提。”
“Subhuti, if you have ( in your mind) this thought: ‘The Tathagata does not rely on His possession of characteristics to obtain supreme Enlightenment,’
“Subhuti, banish that thought.

须菩提!汝若作是念,发阿耨多罗三藐三菩提心者,说诸法断灭。
莫作是念!何以故?
发阿耨多罗三藐三菩提心者,于法不说断灭相。
“Subhuti, if you think it while developing the Perfect Enlightenment Mind, you will advocate the annihilation of all Dharmas.
“Do not have such a thought. Why?
“Because one who develops the Supreme Enlightenment Mind, does not advocate the annihilation (of things).阐述了真正的佛是超越形相和声音后,慈悲的佛陀提醒我们,真正的佛也不一定是没有形相和无有声音; 并提醒我们不要满足于与真理的认识和觉悟,更要努力的从认识和觉悟的基础上修行。

佛为什么这样说呢?因为我们的心习惯把世界看成非黑则白的对立:当有人说了“有”,我们便紧抓着这个“有” ,当有人说“空”,我们就紧抓着这个“空” 。其实在正觉中,我们既不是“有”,也不是“空”,既不是不空不有,也不是即空即有,强名曰:真空妙有。这是禅的精髓。

其次,得到了上述正确的认识后,有些人可能会说,好吧,我们已经觉悟了,现在,我们已经成佛得道了,不用再修也没人可修了。。。 真是这样吗? 也许只有诚实的自我也知道。 但是,我们在历史上乃至今天却经常会发现,是很多学生和老师因落入了这个理解,虽然成为了一个思想上“觉悟”的人,但却缺乏真正的诚实,美德和精进,而得不到进一步的成长(如不倒退) 。这就是为什么佛陀说,虽然完美的外观并不一定代表佛,没有完美的德行而能成佛的说法是错误的。

在实际的修行中,是有特定的过程和验证的,这是不同地方,不同传统的大师们都报告过的。 在佛家的传统中,楞严经就对修行真理的蓝图和阶段作出了详细的描述(见佛家经典) 。

因此,楞严经中论到, “理即顿悟,乘悟并消; 事非顿除,因次第尽” 。觉悟是可以突然的,扫除一切心理的障碍,但修行却是一步一步前进的 。

共勉之, 察之。

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无断无灭分第二十七

须菩提!汝若作是念:如来不以具足相故,得阿耨多罗三藐三菩提。

须菩提!莫作是念:“如来不以具足相故,得阿耨多罗三藐三菩提。”

须菩提!汝若作是念,发阿耨多罗三藐三菩提心者,说诸法断灭。

莫作是念!何以故?

发阿耨多罗三藐三菩提心者,于法不说断灭相。


Comments

2 responses to “Diamond Sutra – understanding can be sudden, which sweeps away all mental blockages, practice is not sudden, which get perfected in stages – 金刚经 – 理即顿悟,乘悟并消;事非顿除,因次第尽”

  1. 妮姬 Avatar
    妮姬

    Is the Buddha trying to emphasize to us the importance of 功夫 (lifelong (never-ending) dedication to practice requiring much time and effort)?

  2. Yes. Intellectual understanding is not the end, proper understanding is only the beginning. There is a long road of transformation in different levels one would go through before arriving at full enlightenment. Sharpen your wisdom, deepen your virtue, and prepare for a life time of dedication and practice if spiritual enlightenment is your goal.

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