..续本文上一页ouble. When we cultivate the Dharma-door of reciting the Buddha”s name, we should be constantly mindful of the phrase, "Namo Amitabha Buddha," and never stop reciting it. We recite the name both when we are awake and when we are asleep. We recite this eight-syllable great name "Namo Amitabha Buddha" continuously, until our recitation cannot be cut even with a sword, and the power of our recitation is even more solid than a diamond. Then there is no way to interrupt our recitation of "Namo Amitabha Buddha." This state is known as the Buddha Recitation Samadhi.
念佛是这样,念经也是这样,持咒也是这样。在这情形之下,想打妄想也打不起来。修行并不容易的,看果真(三步一拜的恒实师)为什么他发愿不喝牛奶?因为他知道牛奶的厉害。一喝牛奶,便有一股牛性;牛性来了,比老虎还要厉害。
Not only should we recite the Buddha”s name this way, we should also recite Sutras and mantras this way. In this state, we cannot indulge in idle thinking even if we want to. Cultivation is really not easy. Take a look at Guo Zhen (Master Heng Sure, who cultivates "three steps, one bow.") Why did he make a vow not to drink milk
Because he knows how harmful milk is. As soon as he drinks milk, a bovine nature appears, and this bovine nature is more fearsome than a tiger.
凡是对身体有营养的东西,你身体若不缺,都不能用的。用了,就有很多麻烦,所谓「过犹不及」,太过和不及都是不好的。
As long as our diet isn”t deficient and our bodies are in balance, we don”t need to eat any food that is rich in nutrition. If we do, we”ll have a lot of trouble. That is to say, "Too much is the same as too little." Neither excess nor deficiency is good.
娑婆世界的众生,一举一动,都是贪,都是瞋,都是痴。世间法,他用贪瞋痴去修行;出世法,他还是用贪瞋痴去修行。修行,他贪着开悟,坐了两天半禅,想要开悟;修了两天半法,想要有神通;念了两天半佛,便想得到念佛三昧!你看这贪心多大,都是贪心鬼的表现。
The deeds of living beings in the Saha World are, without exception, full of greed, hatred, and stupidity. We pursue worldly matters with that greed, hatred, and stupidity. We also use greed, hatred, and stupidity when we cultivate world-transcending dharmas. As we cultivate, we”re greedy to get enlightened. We sit in meditation for two and a half days, and expect to get enlightened. We cultivate a Dharma for two and a half days, and want to gain spiritual powers. We recite the Buddha”s name for two and a half days, and want to master the Samadhi of Buddha Recitation. Look at how huge that greed is! These are the thoughts of a greedy ghost!
修行,要把它看作各人的本分,不需要贪,久而久之,功德自会圆满,菩提果也会成就。本来应该成功的,贪多却嚼不烂,吃饭要一口一口吃,把一碗饭统统塞到嘴里去,挤得口里一点地方也没有,你说这怎样吃?嚼也嚼不动,更咽不下去。吃饭是最简单的比喻。这叫「贪多嚼不烂」。
We should see cultivation as our basic duty. There”s no need to be greedy. Over time, our merit and virtue will naturally be perfected, and we”ll accomplish the fruition of Bodhi. It may be that we were due to accomplish it, but then we bit off more than we could chew. We must eat one mouthful at a time. If we try to stuff too much food into our mouth at once, leaving no room for chewing, how can we eat it
We can neither chew nor swallow it. Eating is a very simple analogy. This is called "biting off more than you can chew."
修行,要行所无事,不要有贪心,不要想我要如何如何?我想开悟,我想得神通。哪会这样快?把种子种到地下,要等它慢慢长出来;时间到了,它自然成熟。古人说:「铁杵磨绣针,功到自然成。」但是你要不怕费事,时间久了,自然会磨成针。
When we cultivate, we should feel as if nothing special is going on. We shouldn”t be greedy and calculate, "What”s in it for me
Can I get enlightened
Can I get spiritual powers
" Who could expect results so quickly
A farmer plants the seeds in the ground and waits patiently until they sprout. When the time is right, they will ripen by themselves. The ancients had a saying, "Rub an iron pillar down to the size of a sewing needle. When your spiritual skill is mature, you will naturally succeed." You should not fear that you might be wasting effort. Over time, you will naturally rub the iron pillar down to the size of a needle.
所以修道,就要去毛病。什么是毛病?你欢喜喝茶,这是毛病;欢喜喝牛奶,这是毛病;欢喜打妄想,也是毛病。如果你一切贪图自在,用功便不相应。用功,是不怕苦、不怕难、不怕疲倦,才会有成就。在这里要向你们诸位道歉,因为我欢喜说笑话,所以你们胖的人,听我说了以后,不要急着去减肥。要不然又变成头上安头,弄出很多麻烦来。
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