The Sutra of Forty-two Chapters - 41
佛說四十二章經 第41章
後漢 西域沙門迦葉摩騰 竺法蘭 同譯
Translated jointly by Indian Sramana Kasyapa Matanga and Dharmaraksa in the Later Han Dynasty
法师讲解 00:50 开始 单词 03:42 开始
第41章 直心出欲
The Right Mindfulness Overcomes Desires
佛言。夫為道者。如牛負重行深泥中。
The Buddha said: "Those who practise the Way might well follow the example of an ox that marches through the deep mire carrying a heavy load.
疲極不敢左右顧視。出離淤泥。乃可蘇息。
He is tired, but his steady gaze, looking forward, will never relax until he come out of the mire, and it is only then that he takes a respite.
沙門當觀情欲。甚於淤泥。直心念道。可免苦矣。
O monks, remember that passions and sins are more than the filthy mire, and that you can escape misery only by earnestly and steadily thinking of the Way."
英文版经文转载自 菩提字幕屋,英译者 D.T. Suzuki
English version sourced from Bodhi Fansubs, translated by D.T. Suzuki
法师讲解:41 直心出欲
Commentary: The right mindfulness overcomes desires
We have already talked a lot about the fault of the passion of love. Monastics who want to end cyclic rebirth must stay away from the passion of love. For example, in the Surangama Sutra, Matangi inescapably fell in love with Ananda at first sight, and she even forced her mother to use witchcraft to seduce Ananda otherwise she would commit suicide. Why this happened? It’s because Ananda and Matangi were husband and wife for many lives in the past. For this reason Matangi was fond of Ananda like mad. As for Ananda, he almost lost the essence of the precepts, but fortunately the Buddha sent Bodhisattva Manjusri in time to rescue him by using the Surangama Mantra. Ananda was so fortunate to practise under the Buddha’s guidance, and his attainment was already very outstanding. He was firm in his belief for the pursuit of deliverance. However, he was not able to evade the hindrance of the passion of love between Matangi and himself, so it would be even more challenging for ordinary people to do so. The hindrance of the passion of love is like the mire, and it takes persistence to overcome. On the other hand, what does the word “earnest” in the scripture mean? The Vimalakirti Nirdesa Sutra says: “an earnest mind is the Bodhimanda, the place for the Way, for there is no deviousness .” Simply put, an earnest mind is a pure mind which follows the right mindfulness and not the wrong views.
爱欲的过患前面已经讲过很多,出家人要出离生死必须要远离爱欲。就以《楞严经》为例,摩登伽女一见到阿难便就不能自拔,以死相逼她母亲用咒术迷惑阿难。为什么呢?因为她与阿难有多生的夫妻缘份,所以一见到阿难便疯狂地喜欢上他。而阿难也因此差点便失掉戒体,幸好佛陀及时派遣文殊师利菩萨用楞严咒营救阿难。阿难有幸跟随佛陀出家修道,修为已经很好,他道心坚定,一心追求解脱。但他仍然无法摆脱他跟摩登伽女累生的夫妻情执,对我们普通人而言就更艰难了,所以情欲的障碍力有如泥沼一样,如要克服它必须坚持到底。另外,文中说的直心是什么意思?《維摩詰所說经》云:“直心是道場,無虛假故;”简单来说直心就是清净心,要保持正念,心不颠倒。
Just think, the Buddha started the Surangama Sutra with the rescue of Ananda by using the Surangama Mantra, and Patriarchs also prioritized the Surangama Mantra as the beginning of the daily recitation. We can understand how important the Surangama Mantra is in clearing our karmic hindrance. Therefore it is recommended that we recite the Surangama Mantra often. According to the Surangama Sutra, those who recite the Mantra can avoid many disasters, redeem sins, inspire devas and nagas to protect them, and also receive blessing from Buddhas all over the universe. The benefits are simply countless.
试想佛陀以楞严咒营救阿难为《楞严经》的开端,祖师们也是以楞严咒为每天功课之首, 可知楞严咒对消除业障有多重要,所以在此也建议大家多念楞严咒。按《楞严经》,持咒者能灭种种障难,忏除罪业,感召天龙护法护佑,并获得十方诸佛加被,功用数之不尽。
讲解 | 释宏添 北京天开寺
By Bhiksu Hong Tian, Tiankai Temple