解疑

　　Questions Answered

　　在《賢愚經》或《本師傳》等經論中，時常有描述帝釋天爲了考察釋迦牟尼佛的發心，在其行布施時作大違緣的情節。有人對此表示疑惑，爲何帝釋天要如此爲難釋迦牟尼佛呢？

　　In The Sutra of the Wise and the Fool, the Great Biography of Buddha Shakyamuni, or other scriptures, there are many stories about how the god Indra, in order to test the sincerity of Buddha”s aspiration, purposely created havoc while the Buddha was practicing the paramita of generosity. It puzzles many people: Why should Indra make so much trouble for the Buddha

　　其實，這是因帝釋天的發願力所致，在釋迦牟尼佛初行菩薩道時，爲了釋迦牟尼佛能迅速圓滿資糧，帝釋天與提婆達多一樣發願成爲佛陀布施忍辱的殊勝對境。因布施其他東西相對而言比較容易做到，但布施身體的卻寥若晨星。如果不如此示現，世人也難以了知佛陀的偉大之處。

　　As a matter of fact, this came about as a result of Indra”s power of aspiration. When the Buddha was on the Bodhisattva path, Indra, like Devadatta, made vows to help the Buddha accumulate merits swiftly. To do so they manifested in various forms toward which the Buddha would practice his patience or make body offerings. The deed of offering one”s own body, unlike a material offering that is relatively easy, has been achieved only as rarely as one sees stars in the daytime. However, without such a dramatic offering on the part of the Buddha, worldly people would not come to appreciate his extraordinary qualities.

　　又有人提出，爲何佛陀時常在行布施時，爲了圓滿資糧，而將妻子、兒女布施與吃人羅刹，這樣是否危害了其他衆生呢？

　　Others raise the question: The Buddha often offered his own wife and children to flesh-eating rakshas in order to perfect the accumulation of merit. Aren”t such acts harmful to other beings

　　首先，佛陀的這一做法，只會圓滿妻子、兒女的資糧，而不會對其造成傷害。其次，這一做法的發心非爲自利，而是爲了早日成佛，挽救處于水深火熱之中的廣大有情，沒有絲毫的自私自利心。《入菩薩行論》中說：“經說行施時，可舍微細戒。”又說：“勿因小失大，大處思利他。”在具有殊勝發心的前提下，可以開許身語之不善業，《觀察叁增上品》中雲：“于大菩薩開許七種不善。”《大密方便經》中也有類似教證。

　　To begin with, the Buddha”s activity could only bring tremendous merit to his wife and children; there was no harm to them. Furthermore, his motivation was not in self-interest. It was wishing for swift enlightenment in order to liberate multitudes of beings from dire suffering. There was neither a single trace of selfishness nor the tiniest bit of self-serving. A Guide to Bodhisattva”s Way of Life says: “For it is taught that in times of generosity, the rules of discipline may be suspended,” and: “The great should not be supplanted by the less, and it is others” good that is the highest goal.” Hence there are times a Bodhisattva is permitted to actually commit harmful acts of body and speech, provided the intention is pure bodhichitta. The Chapter on the Three Increasing Activities says: “The Bodhisattvas are permitted to commit the seven harmful actions.” Similar teachings can be found in The Sutra of Great Secret Skills.

　　爲了更多衆生的利益，大悲商主爲令其從無邊輪回中得解脫，可殺短矛黑人；樂行童子爲避免他人因貪己而死，可行不淨行。所以，發心極其重要。如果沒有清淨的發心，表面行持善法，恰如緣木求魚。

　　The story of Captain Great Compassionate Heart tells how the Captain killed the Black Spearman in order to save him from incalculable sufferings in samsara and, at the same time, to benefit many other beings. Brahmin Lover of the Stars, to save a maiden madly in love with him from killing herself, broke his vow of chastity. Therefore, the most crucial point is the motivation. Doing good deeds superficially without pure motivation is like climbing a tree to catch a fish.

　　壬午年二月二十六日　

　　2002年4月8日　

　　26th of February, Year of RenWu

　　April 8, 2002