四力

　　Four Powers

　　我們知道藏傳佛教無論格魯派還是甯瑪派等其他教派，忏悔時都依四對治力。修習漢傳佛教的有些人卻以爲這是藏地修法，沒有必要采用，這種見解實爲井蛙之見。

　　It is well known that in Gelugpa, Nyingmapa, or other schools of Tibetan Buddhism, every purification practice relies on the four powers of antidote. Some Han Buddhist practitioners, however, consider it a mere Tibetan tradition and hence neglect it. Such a viewpoint misses the big picture.

　　其實，這也是藏傳佛教將佛經竅訣靈活應用于修法的具體體現。四對治力在《大藏經》的經論中多有記載。如《宣說四法經》雲：“彌勒，菩薩若具四法，則能壓製所造所積之一切 罪。何爲四法？厭患對治力、現行對治力、返回對治力、所依對治力。厭患對治力即若行不善業則多生悔心；現行對治力即雖作不善業但也極爲精勤行善；返回對治力即真實受戒後獲得不再就犯之戒；所依對治力即皈依佛、法、僧叁寶與不舍菩提心。”

　　In fact, this practice epitomizes how Tibetan Buddhism aptly applies Buddha”s pith instructions. In the Chinese Buddhist canon Tripitaka, there are many accounts of the four powers in sutras and shastras. For instance, the Sutra Teaching the Four Dharmas says: “Maitreya, if a Bodhisattva possesses these four Dharmas, all the evil deeds which have been performed and accumulated will be overcome. What are these four

　　 They are: the power of regret, the power of action, the power of resolution, and the power of support. As for the power of regret, if we have done negative actions, we repent them strongly. As for the power of action, it is the remediation of our evil deeds; we strive to do wholesome actions. As for the power of resolution, we make genuine vows never to repeat the same evil deeds again. As for the power of support, we go for refuge in the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, and always uphold bodhichitta.”

　　不僅僅是四對治力，包括金剛薩埵心咒，也不是藏傳佛教特有的忏悔咒，在《叁猛厲調服經》中對此也有詳細記載。

　　Thus the four powers of antidote are not exclusively found in Tibetan Buddhism. Moreover, the recitation of the Vajrasattva mantra has been described in detail in the Sutra of Three Wrathful Ways of Taming as well.

　　現在的衆生往往只知道造作惡業，具足智慧而厲行忏悔的人卻微乎其微。《彌勒獅吼請問經》雲：“愚人造惡業，不知忏悔罪，智者忏悔罪，不與業同住。”

　　People these days are committing non-virtues all the time and hardly anyone bothers to repent sincerely with wisdom. The Sutra of the Great Lion”s Roar Requested by Maitreya says: “The fool commits evil karmas and knows not to confess faults. The wise person purifies faults and dissociates from negative karmas.”

　　所以不論是藏傳佛教還是漢傳佛教，若依四對治力忏悔，即能遣除無量罪障。如果因前世習氣難以更改，不能完全斷除殺生、妄語等惡習，但如果能每天誠心念誦金剛薩埵心咒，也會有不可思議功德。

　　Therefore, either Tibetan Buddhism or Han Buddhism contains the practice of confession with four antidotes that, if followed properly, will purify innumerable non-virtues. However, someone with recalcitrant habits from past lives may find it difficult to renounce completely bad tendencies such as taking lives or telling lies. In this case, by reciting sincerely the Vajrasattva mantra every day, one can still accrue incredible merits.

　　但願人們在散亂之余，不要忘了忏悔。

　　I hope people will not forget the purification practice besides tending to other distractive activities!

　　壬午年二月初十　　

　　2002年3月24日

　　10th of February, Year of RenWu

　　March 24, 2002