尋法

　　Seeking Dharma

　　作爲一個修行人，爲了尋求正法，而舍棄一切，持頭陀行，是理所當然的。

　　It goes without saying that for the sake of pursuing the Dharma, a spiritual seeker should let go of all worldly belongings and abide by an austere life style.

　　釋迦牟尼佛在因地時曾轉世爲喜法婆羅門，爲了獲得一個偈子的佛法，毫不顧惜自己的身命，縱身躍入火坑。那個佛陀以“抛頭顱、灑熱血”的沈重代價換來的偈子就是：“恒喜行布施，常受清淨戒，精勤修善法，以智得勝法。”

　　Buddha Shakyamuni was once reborn as the Brahmin named Dharma Loving. For the sake of obtaining a one-verse Dharma he did not hesitate to give up his life by leaping into a flaming pit. The verse he paid for so dearly, by “risking life and limb without a care for flesh and blood,” is: “Always strive ardently to practice generosity and never commit transgressions of the pure precepts. Perform good deeds to the best of your ability and practice the supreme Dharma with wisdom.”

　　佛陀還曾轉世爲一婆羅門，那時正值遇無佛出世之際。婆羅門在一帝釋天化身的羅刹前，聽聞了八個字的法後，將偈子寫于岩石、牆壁、樹木之上，留與後人。爲報答帝釋天化現的羅刹賜法之恩德，毅然從樹上跳下，以身殉道。以其求法的清淨心，圓滿了十二大劫的資糧。那八個佛陀以鮮血和生命換來的字就是：“生後滅已，寂滅爲樂。”

　　Another time the Buddha was incarnated as a Brahmin during a period devoid of Buddha”s doctrines. From a raksas disguised by the god Indra, he received a few words” teaching and immediately wrote it down on rocks, walls, and tree trunks in order to benefit future beings. He then leaped from a tree to his death to repay the raksas”s kindness of conferring the Dharma. In that instant, his pure intention of seeking the Dharma allowed him to accumulate vast merits that otherwise would take 12 great kalpas to accomplish. The teaching he paid dearly for with the price of his blood and life is:

　　When both becoming and cessation cease to operate,

　　Cessation of change with its bliss of perfect rest arises.

　　這些佛陀以“舍身忘死求正法”之發心求得的偈子，凝聚了先輩的廣大悲心，包含了叁世十方諸佛的加持。哪怕是片言只語，我們也應該認真地受持讀誦，並爲衆生傳授。

　　These Dharma verses, obtained by the Buddha with his zealous quest of “giving up body and life for the Dharma,” are the quintessence of the vast compassion from past great masters; they are fully imbued with the blessings of the Buddhas of ten directions and three times. We should study these treasures, even down to a single word or phrase, with veneration and make them known to others as well.

　　記得法王如意寶在傳講《白蓮花論》時，講到這些事迹，禁不住老淚縱橫，用哽咽的聲音告誡我們：“釋迦牟尼佛爲了濁世衆生，不惜舍棄生命尋求正法。如果我們不好好修持，真是可悲可歎！”

　　I remember when our Guru H.H. Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche recounted these stories during the transmission of The Great Biography of Shakyamuni Buddha (the White Lotus), he often became so moved that tears streamed down his cheeks and his voice choked up. He advised us: “For the sake of beings in the degenerate times, Buddha Shakyamuni sacrificed his own life to search for the Dharma. If we are indolent in our practice, it”s absolutely sad and lamentable!”

　　如今我們值遇了與佛陀無別的大恩上師，並爲我們傳授了如海般的精妙佛法。若不珍惜，真是“枉來世間走一遭”了。

　　We have now met the supremely kind teacher who is indistinguishable from the Buddha and who has transmitted to us the ocean-like sublime Dharma. If we do not cherish this opportunity to the utmost, our trip to this world would be a total waste!

　　壬午年二月二十四日　

　　2002年4月6日　

　　24th of February, Year of RenWu

　　April 6, 2002