﹝三﹞三學/戒.定.慧
The Three Learnings
下面跟諸位介紹的是佛法的課程標準。
我們在本質上已經知道佛教是教育,不是宗教。其課程是非常之多,內容幾乎無所不包,絕對不是一所大學的課程所能含蓋的。這無量無邊的課程,課本就是經書。諸位要知道,佛經不是全部流傳到中國來。因為當時交通非常不便,印度高僧到中國來,中國的法師到印度去,都是選之又選,挑之又挑,好的才帶到中國,次等的、再次等的,都捨掉了。所以傳到中國的經書全都是精華!
We
know that the very nature of Buddhism is education. It encompasses a large
number of subjects, which cover the perfect knowledge of life and the universe.
The textbooks for these subjects are sutras. However, not all of the sutras in
India were brought to China. Because of the difficulties in the long journey
between China and India in ancient times, both the Indian monks who visited
China and the Chinese monks who returned after visiting India, had to limit the
number of books they carried. They selected the most important ones and had to
leave the others behind. So, all the books that were introduced into China were
considered the essence of Buddhism.
來到中國之後,並不能夠全部翻譯,只好再挑選,只有最好的、最重要的被譯出。譯經的工作相當困難。從前譯場的經費靠國家支持,集合全國出家、在家、中國、外國各類人材之菁英,從事於大規模的翻譯工作。歷史上記載,鳩摩羅什大師的譯場,編制有四百多人;玄奘大師的譯場有六百多人。
However,
after their introduction, not all of the books could be translated. Further
screening had to be done and only the best and the most essential were selected
for the difficult translation process. The project was financed by the central
government. Experts, who were monks and laypeople from all over China as well as
from foreign countries, were invited to participate in the mammoth translation
effort. According to historical records, Master Kumarajiva’s translation
institute had over four hundred people while Master Xuan-Zhuang’s institute had
more then six hundred people.
我們在經書上所見的譯者,那是用譯場的主持人(好像學校的校長)來作代表,並不是他一個人翻譯的,而是譯場內大家共同努力的成果。現在保存在中國的,是漢文系統佛經,是相當完整的。印度的梵文經典已經散佚失傳了,殘留下來的很少。佛經除了漢文經典之外,第二個大系,是藏文經典。藏文經典一部份是從梵文直接翻譯,另一部份是從漢文轉譯的。
The
name of the translator that we see today at the beginning of the sutra is the
chief of the institute and represents all the translators in the group. The
Chinese sutras that we have today are fairly complete. However, the Indian
Sanskrit versions have been largely lost with few remaining. After the Chinese
sutras, the second largest collection is that of Tibet. Part of this collection
was translated directly from the Sanskrit and the rest came from the Chinese
versions.
這是文成公主嫁到西藏之後,把佛法帶到西藏;所以佛法傳入西藏比中國晚六百年。在藏王對佛法生起信仰心之後,又從印度傳進一支,因此,西藏的佛法是由中國和印度傳入的。
Princess
Wen-Cheng of the Tang Dynasty brought Buddhist sutras to Tibet when she was
married to the Tibetan king. This is why the introduction of Buddhism to Tibet
was some six hundred years later than the introduction of the teachings to
China. As the Tibetan king built up belief in Buddhism, a new school from India
found its way into Tibet.
佛無論在那個國家、地區說法,其內容不外乎戒、定、慧三學;其目的是對治我們這個時期、這個地區眾生的種種苦痛。地區指的就是地球,時期是指釋迦牟尼佛的正法、像法、末法共一萬二千年的法運。
An
important part of the teachings are the Three Learnings of abiding by the
precepts or self-discipline, deep concentration and wisdom. Accomplishment of
these can relieve the suffering of this world. Buddha Shakyamuni told us how
long the teachings would remain on this earth. The Dharma Perfect Age would last
five hundred years. The Dharma Semblance Age would last one thousand years. The
Dharma Ending Age, that we are now, in will last ten thousand years.
這個時代、這個地區的眾生,病痛到底在那裡呢?第一、造惡--造十惡業。佛用「戒」學來對治。戒學是對治惡業的藥。第二、人心散亂,不能得定、不能清淨。所以用定學來對治;「定」學是對治散亂的。最後用「慧」學對治愚癡。
What
are the sufferings of the sentient beings in our current age? The first is
committing the wrongdoings of the Ten Bad Conducts. The Buddha taught us the
First Learning of self-discipline to overcome these. The second suffering is the
inability to remain serene and at peace. The Buddha taught us the Second
Learning of deep concentration to achieve purity of mind and tranquility. The
third suffering is ignorance. The Buddha taught us the Third Learning of wisdom
to overcome our current state of ignorance.
造惡、散亂、愚癡是這個時代、地區眾生的三大病,佛就用戒、定、慧三帖妙藥來對治。佛陀說法是因眾生而說的,眾生如果沒有病,佛就無法可說。這跟大夫因病用藥的道理是一樣的。所以說眾生有病,佛就有法;眾生沒病,佛就沒法。就如金剛經上所說:「法尚應捨,何況非法。」眾生沒有病了,佛法也不需要了,硬要佛法也會變成病。這如一個健康的人天天吃藥,那有不出毛病的道理!所以說佛法的一切經典依功用歸納起來,不外乎這三大類。
Committing
wrongdoings, being confused and remaining in ignorance are three of the major
problems of sentient beings in our contemporary world. The Buddha will teach
when these problems afflict the sentient beings in our world. However, if the
beings are not ill, there will be no need for the Buddha to teach. The Diamond
Sutra says, “in the end we even have to lay aside the Buddha’s teachings, let
alone worldly teachings”. When beings are well, the teachings are unnecessary
and introducing them might even lead to more problems. This is similar to a
healthy person taking medicine every day and eventually falling ill.
佛經分「經、律、論」三藏;定學就是經藏,戒學就是律藏,慧學就是論藏。這是圖書分類的方法,最早是從佛教傳來。此後,中國人也把所有的書加以分類。清朝康乾年間,把全國圖書做一個總整理,再分類,依經、史、子、集,分成四庫。庫跟藏意思相同,庫是倉庫,藏是收藏。所以「四庫」是從佛法「三藏」得到啟示的。三藏,有分大乘、小乘。小乘有聲聞藏、緣覺藏;大乘是菩薩藏,再分就愈分愈細了。
總而言之,戒學是調身的,定學是調心的,慧學是調行的--我們身心的行為。因此,一個學佛的人,起心動念,言語造作,無不是智慧。你說他怎能不快樂呢!
Self-discipline
cures our body, deep concentration cures our mind and wisdom cures our behavior.
Therefore, a person who practices Buddhism is wise in thought, speech and
behavior. So how could such a person be unhappy?
The Three Learnings
下面跟諸位介紹的是佛法的課程標準。
我們在本質上已經知道佛教是教育,不是宗教。其課程是非常之多,內容幾乎無所不包,絕對不是一所大學的課程所能含蓋的。這無量無邊的課程,課本就是經書。諸位要知道,佛經不是全部流傳到中國來。因為當時交通非常不便,印度高僧到中國來,中國的法師到印度去,都是選之又選,挑之又挑,好的才帶到中國,次等的、再次等的,都捨掉了。所以傳到中國的經書全都是精華!
We
know that the very nature of Buddhism is education. It encompasses a large
number of subjects, which cover the perfect knowledge of life and the universe.
The textbooks for these subjects are sutras. However, not all of the sutras in
India were brought to China. Because of the difficulties in the long journey
between China and India in ancient times, both the Indian monks who visited
China and the Chinese monks who returned after visiting India, had to limit the
number of books they carried. They selected the most important ones and had to
leave the others behind. So, all the books that were introduced into China were
considered the essence of Buddhism.
來到中國之後,並不能夠全部翻譯,只好再挑選,只有最好的、最重要的被譯出。譯經的工作相當困難。從前譯場的經費靠國家支持,集合全國出家、在家、中國、外國各類人材之菁英,從事於大規模的翻譯工作。歷史上記載,鳩摩羅什大師的譯場,編制有四百多人;玄奘大師的譯場有六百多人。
However,
after their introduction, not all of the books could be translated. Further
screening had to be done and only the best and the most essential were selected
for the difficult translation process. The project was financed by the central
government. Experts, who were monks and laypeople from all over China as well as
from foreign countries, were invited to participate in the mammoth translation
effort. According to historical records, Master Kumarajiva’s translation
institute had over four hundred people while Master Xuan-Zhuang’s institute had
more then six hundred people.
我們在經書上所見的譯者,那是用譯場的主持人(好像學校的校長)來作代表,並不是他一個人翻譯的,而是譯場內大家共同努力的成果。現在保存在中國的,是漢文系統佛經,是相當完整的。印度的梵文經典已經散佚失傳了,殘留下來的很少。佛經除了漢文經典之外,第二個大系,是藏文經典。藏文經典一部份是從梵文直接翻譯,另一部份是從漢文轉譯的。
The
name of the translator that we see today at the beginning of the sutra is the
chief of the institute and represents all the translators in the group. The
Chinese sutras that we have today are fairly complete. However, the Indian
Sanskrit versions have been largely lost with few remaining. After the Chinese
sutras, the second largest collection is that of Tibet. Part of this collection
was translated directly from the Sanskrit and the rest came from the Chinese
versions.
這是文成公主嫁到西藏之後,把佛法帶到西藏;所以佛法傳入西藏比中國晚六百年。在藏王對佛法生起信仰心之後,又從印度傳進一支,因此,西藏的佛法是由中國和印度傳入的。
Princess
Wen-Cheng of the Tang Dynasty brought Buddhist sutras to Tibet when she was
married to the Tibetan king. This is why the introduction of Buddhism to Tibet
was some six hundred years later than the introduction of the teachings to
China. As the Tibetan king built up belief in Buddhism, a new school from India
found its way into Tibet.
佛無論在那個國家、地區說法,其內容不外乎戒、定、慧三學;其目的是對治我們這個時期、這個地區眾生的種種苦痛。地區指的就是地球,時期是指釋迦牟尼佛的正法、像法、末法共一萬二千年的法運。
An
important part of the teachings are the Three Learnings of abiding by the
precepts or self-discipline, deep concentration and wisdom. Accomplishment of
these can relieve the suffering of this world. Buddha Shakyamuni told us how
long the teachings would remain on this earth. The Dharma Perfect Age would last
five hundred years. The Dharma Semblance Age would last one thousand years. The
Dharma Ending Age, that we are now, in will last ten thousand years.
這個時代、這個地區的眾生,病痛到底在那裡呢?第一、造惡--造十惡業。佛用「戒」學來對治。戒學是對治惡業的藥。第二、人心散亂,不能得定、不能清淨。所以用定學來對治;「定」學是對治散亂的。最後用「慧」學對治愚癡。
What
are the sufferings of the sentient beings in our current age? The first is
committing the wrongdoings of the Ten Bad Conducts. The Buddha taught us the
First Learning of self-discipline to overcome these. The second suffering is the
inability to remain serene and at peace. The Buddha taught us the Second
Learning of deep concentration to achieve purity of mind and tranquility. The
third suffering is ignorance. The Buddha taught us the Third Learning of wisdom
to overcome our current state of ignorance.
造惡、散亂、愚癡是這個時代、地區眾生的三大病,佛就用戒、定、慧三帖妙藥來對治。佛陀說法是因眾生而說的,眾生如果沒有病,佛就無法可說。這跟大夫因病用藥的道理是一樣的。所以說眾生有病,佛就有法;眾生沒病,佛就沒法。就如金剛經上所說:「法尚應捨,何況非法。」眾生沒有病了,佛法也不需要了,硬要佛法也會變成病。這如一個健康的人天天吃藥,那有不出毛病的道理!所以說佛法的一切經典依功用歸納起來,不外乎這三大類。
Committing
wrongdoings, being confused and remaining in ignorance are three of the major
problems of sentient beings in our contemporary world. The Buddha will teach
when these problems afflict the sentient beings in our world. However, if the
beings are not ill, there will be no need for the Buddha to teach. The Diamond
Sutra says, “in the end we even have to lay aside the Buddha’s teachings, let
alone worldly teachings”. When beings are well, the teachings are unnecessary
and introducing them might even lead to more problems. This is similar to a
healthy person taking medicine every day and eventually falling ill.
佛經分「經、律、論」三藏;定學就是經藏,戒學就是律藏,慧學就是論藏。這是圖書分類的方法,最早是從佛教傳來。此後,中國人也把所有的書加以分類。清朝康乾年間,把全國圖書做一個總整理,再分類,依經、史、子、集,分成四庫。庫跟藏意思相同,庫是倉庫,藏是收藏。所以「四庫」是從佛法「三藏」得到啟示的。三藏,有分大乘、小乘。小乘有聲聞藏、緣覺藏;大乘是菩薩藏,再分就愈分愈細了。
總而言之,戒學是調身的,定學是調心的,慧學是調行的--我們身心的行為。因此,一個學佛的人,起心動念,言語造作,無不是智慧。你說他怎能不快樂呢!
Self-discipline
cures our body, deep concentration cures our mind and wisdom cures our behavior.
Therefore, a person who practices Buddhism is wise in thought, speech and
behavior. So how could such a person be unhappy?