中元節Hungry Ghost Festival

南禪朋友早安！

中元節

Hungry Ghost Festival

今天逢中元節，中元節期間的超渡是台灣的一個重要民俗信仰，但我們有時候又很矛盾的認為鬼是看不見、不存在的！

看不見、不存在的靈魂，卻要用一個很重要的節日來超薦、拜拜，這意義在台灣人心裡應該是重大的！

我在讀書會裡有講過，現在包括一些華人地區都在攻擊到底有沒有淨土宗的極樂世界，有些人更直指這是一場騙局！

我說：我親眼看過廣欽老和尚，我覺得他口中的極樂世界應該是在指祂自己修行構造成的道力福報，所以他在講祂的世界，而不是我們的世界與經歷。

Today is the Hungry Ghost Festival, a major event in the folk

 religion of Taiwan. The focus is on rescuing wandering ghosts from

 their unfortunate circumstances. It’s a popular festival, even though

 we often dismiss ghosts as imaginary beings.

However, the widespread belief in the existence of ghosts in Taiwan

 is borne out by the importance of this annual festival and all the time

 and money people put into ancestor worship.

It’s similar with the existence of other worlds, and in the book club

 we’ve discussed the debate in some Chinese communities as to

 whether or not the Western Pure Land actually exists, with some

 going so far as to dismiss it as a con game!

What I can say from my own experience is that I’ve met Master

 Guangqin, and my impression is that the pure land he spoke about is

 something that came about as a result of the powerful virtue he

 generated through his Buddhist Practice. So the pure land he spoke

 about isn’t really a part of our own experience, at least not at

 present.

 

所有的人都在講自己的經歷，不是嗎！？

如同我們對看不見的靈魂的尊敬，那為什麼要這樣做是民族性、文化性，還是個人的經驗使然！

一個有著高度文化的社會，一定有著許多精英份子，

一位佛法大德的出現，也有著代表性的意義，慶幸自己拜見過高僧大德，那是聖人的指標，「絕絕不帶世人文字的說謊描述」。

 

（更何況還有一個說法，「戰亂興淨土」請不要忘記戰爭的痛苦，人們心裡必須有的依靠，唸佛！）

 

想了解別人的經歷的時候最好爬到那一座山看看！我從不敢高估自己的人性，唸佛，是一定要的！

半寄

We can only speak from our own experience, isn’t it?

 

By the same token, if you believe in the existence of an invisible

 aspect of a human being, variously called a spirit, soul, ghost, etc., is

 it based on your own experience, or is it simply a belief you’ve

 inherited from the culture you grew up in?

 

In a cultured society, there will always be a few elites. The

 appearance of a great Buddhist sage is of  representative

 significance. I am glad that I have met some eminent monks,the

 models of saints.  Lies, belonging to the worldly languages, will

 never exist in the description/world of eminent monks.

 

As for the saying “The Pure Land is produced in the chaos of war,” if

 you are caught in a war zone, you’ll naturally look for something to

 rely on; nianfo!

 

To understand the experience of a true sage, you need to make the

 effort, and climb the same mountain he has climbed; only then will

 you get the same view.

 

I’ve never been one to over-estimate my ability; nianfo is essential! 

Master Ban Ji

 Translated by Ken Kraynak

 

不昧因果 3Unambiguous cause and effect 3

 

南禪朋友好！

不昧因果3

       百丈禪師是開創華人佛寺「一日不作、一日不食」清規的一位重要高僧！

華人佛寺規矩到他手裡重新規範，制定，令人讚嘆！

「不昧因果」亦是百丈禪師修行上重要的開示之一，

 

「我在前面貼文提到，

而「度疑離惑」被解釋成不再疑惑、不再畏懼時，修持的過程人性被抹殺！

 

我們可能懂或清楚一個問題後，再往下走都不再有疑慮的產生嗎？」

 

「不昧因果」完整說明修行者對因、緣、果的內容是清楚、明白的，

 

如若後世人在記載上加了一個500世的狐狸身體報應，也是我們無法考據的！

 

按常理來說，一隻當了500世的狐狸還有著人性的思考，狐狸會擔心自己沒辦法再當人?

而這中間已經有500世的狐狸身體距離，這樣如何思維，完全不能明白！

 

佛陀的教育也說：見法，得法，解法，知法。

理解佛法必須是這樣的狀況，

 

      面對諸多離文釋義的佛法，我都當佛法裡又被植入 陷阱，自己小心！

 

半寄

(增加參考資料由林俊榮做)

 

Hello Nanchan friends!

Unambiguous cause and effect 3

        Zen master Baizhang (百丈禪師)is an important eminent monk

 who created the clear rule of "no work for a day, no food for a day"

 in Chinese Buddhist temples!

The rules of Chinese Buddhist temples have been re-regulated and

 formulated in his hands, which is amazing!

"Not ignoring cause and effect" is also one of the important

 teachings of Chan Master Baizhang in his practice.

 

"As I mentioned in my previous post,

And when "eliminating doubts and dispelling confusion" is

 interpreted as no longer doubting and no longer fearing, the human

 nature in the process of practice is obliterated!

 

Is it possible that after we understand or clarify a problem, we will

 no longer have any doubts when we go down? "

 

"Not ignorant of cause and effect" fully explains that practitioners

 are clear and understand the content of cause, condition and effect.

 

If people of later generations add a 500-life fox body retribution to

 the records, we will not be able to verify it!

 

According to common sense, a fox that has been in existence for 500

 lives still has human thinking, and the fox will worry that he will not

 be able to be a human again?

And there are already 500 worlds of fox body distance in the middle

, so how to think like this is completely incomprehensible!

 

The Buddha's education also said: see the Dharma, obtain the

 Dharma, understand the Dharma, and know the Dharma.

 

To understand the Dharma must be in such a state;in the face of

 many Buddhist teachings that are out of context, I feel like I have

 been planted in a trap in the Buddhist teachings, so be careful!

 

Ban-Ji

 

不昧因果2 Unambiguous cause and effect 2

南禪朋友早安！ 

不昧因果2

Unambiguous cause and effect 2

       百丈禪師與狐狸的故事，我們在讀書會裡面都探討過了，

 我在讀書會裡面就直接講「說錯一句話有五百世的業報，

事實上是不可能的 」

 雖說這是立意本善的要告誡講經說法的人要小心，但是這樣的說法違背了佛法， 說錯一句話而有報應， 應該要探討為什麼會說錯佛法，說的人在想什麼？ 而不是只是想著報應，那不是佛法的本意！ 

（我在前一篇提到， 故事內容還可以商榷，到底是說錯一句話，還是一輩子都錯！） 

        我個人常覺得佛法到華人手裡變成糊裡糊塗的帳本！ 

 我不知道記載這些文字的人有沒有想過500世的折磨是怎麼個過日子的方法？

 如果寫的人有想到5百世的人變狐狸的日子要怎麼過？

 真的有慈悲心是寫不出來的， 

更何況那不是佛陀講的。 

 這些華人代代相傳的因果報應說法，影響華人至深， 是不是該到反思的時候了！ 

佛法講的正確時，從容往前走去。 

半寄

Good morning Nanchan friends!

Unambiguous cause and effect 2

        We have discussed the story of Zen Master Baizhang （百丈禪師）and the fox in the book club,

In the reading club, I directly said that "it is impossible to say a

 wrong sentence and have five hundred lifetimes of karma.

"

Although this is intended to be good, people who preach the

scriptures should be warned to be careful, but such statements violate

 the Dharma.

Say a wrong word and get retribution,

It should be explored why the Dharma is said wrongly, and what is

 the person thinking?

 

Instead of just thinking about retribution, that is not the original

 intention of Buddhism!

(As I mentioned in the previous post,

The content of the story can also be discussed whether it is a wrong

 sentence or a lifetime of mistakes! )

Personally, I often feel that Buddhism has become a muddled

 account book in the hands of the Chinese!

 

I don't know if the people who recorded these texts have thought

 about how the torture of 500 lives is a way to live?

 

What would happen if the person who wrote it thought of the day

 when a 500-year-old person would turn into a fox?

 

It is impossible to be written by one in a truly compassionate heart.

What's more, that's not what the Buddha said.

 

      These karma sayings passed down from generation to generation

 by the Chinese have deeply influenced the Chinese,

Is it time to reflect!

When the Dharma is correct, move forward calmly.

Ban-Ji

 

不昧因果1Unambiguous cause and effect

 

南禪朋友好！

Unambiguous cause and effect 

不昧因果1

    有人問說：

百丈禪師與狐狸的故事，「大修行者不落因果」

比較具體的內容是？

 

我說：去看央掘魔羅的案例，就知道了！

他就是大修行者還得接受果報的具體內容。

 

說到底一句「不落因果」跟「不昧因果」

真的能說的清楚到底為了什麼會變成狐狸！

這是華人學佛，喜歡舉的例子！

 

在《阿含經》還沒有得到重視的時候，

華人《祖師傳》的內容常常讓我們對惡報驚嚇不已，

拿《阿含經》出來比較，

央掘魔羅的故事脈絡清楚。

 

華人佛法把「百丈禪師與狐狸」這個故事解釋成把佛經說錯的果報，

但這中間到底是一句話錯，還是一輩子都錯，並沒有點明！

 實際上那不是一個有前後脈絡的故事，

像央掘魔羅、密勒日巴尊者故事完整易懂，

因為那是連續性質的造業力！

 

或許那個出家人一輩子都是講錯誤的經典詮釋，才比較嚴重吧！

 提供參考。

半寄

Hello Nanchan friends!

Unambiguous cause and effect 1(不昧因果1）

    Someone asked:

The story of Zen master Baizhang (百丈禪師)and the fox, "Great

 practitioners do not lose cause and effect" （大修行者不落因果）

More specific content?

 

I said: Look at the case of Yangdumoluo, (央掘魔羅)you will know!

He is a great practitioner and has to accept the specific content of the

 retribution.

 

In the final analysis, the words "do not fall into cause and effect" and

 "do not ignorant of cause and effect"

Can you really say clearly why you turned into a fox?

This is an example that Chinese people like to cite when they learn

 Buddhism!

 

When the Agama Sutra was not taken seriously,

The content of the Chinese "Patriarch Biography" often makes us

 frightened by the evil retribution,

Take the "Agama Sutra" for comparison,

The story line of Yangdumoluo is clear.

 

Chinese Buddhism interprets the story of "Zen Master Baizhang and

 the Fox" as the result of mistelling the Buddhist scriptures.

But whether it was wrong in one sentence, or wrong for the rest of

 his life, it didn't specify it!

 

In fact, it is not a story with context,

The stories of Yanguromaro and Milarepa are complete and easy to

 understand.

Because that is continuous karma!

 

Maybe that monk has been teaching wrong classic interpretations all

 his life, which is more serious!

 

for reference.

Ban-Ji

(Proof reading by Sophiea Kuo)

 

 

 

 

佛陀 Buddha

 

南禪朋友早安！

佛陀

Buddha

前面的貼文提到，

「竟然認為那些信牛戒、狗戒的人，前世也是相信牛戒、狗戒的！」

這個說法在佛學上除了是違反「不定論」以外，

在邏輯上會落入先有雞跟蛋的問題。

 

而「度疑離惑」被解釋成不再疑惑、不再畏懼時，修持的過程人性被抹殺！

 

我們可能懂或清楚ㄧ個問題後，再往下走都不再有疑慮的產生嗎？

 

佛法之所以值得追求、修持，是佛陀的教育沒有「定論」的存在，並且歡迎質疑，

大智者的教育是「度疑離惑」而不是不會再產生疑惑！

 

華人有一位禪師說：

他因為說佛法主張大修行者「不落因果」（不受因果控制，參照央掘魔羅的故事）

 後來他自己成了一隻狐狸，想問百丈禪師他到底錯在哪裡？

百丈禪師說：我再跟你對答一次！

狐狸變的老人說：「大修行者還落因果嗎？」

百丈禪師說：「大修行者不昧因果」（清楚因、緣、果）

然後那一隻狐狸就解脫而往生！

 

半寄

Good morning Nanchan friends!

 

Buddha

As mentioned in the previous post,

"Those who believe in the precepts of cattle and dogs also believed

 in the precepts of cattle and dogs in their previous lives!"

In addition to the violation of "indetermination" in Buddhism, this

 statement,

Logically, it would fall into a chicken-and-egg problem.

 

And when "eliminating doubts and dispelling confusion" is

 interpreted as no longer doubting and no longer fearing, the human

 nature in the process of practice is obliterated!

 

Is it possible that after we understand or clarify a problem, we will

 no longer have any doubts when we go down?

 

The reason why Buddhism is worth pursuing and practicing is that

 there is no "conclusive conclusion" in Buddha's education, and

 doubts are welcome.

The education of the great wise is to "eliminate doubts and eliminate

 doubts" rather than to stop doubts!

 

A Chinese Zen master said:

Because he said that Buddhism advocates that great practitioners "do

 not fall into cause and effect"

(Not controlled by cause and effect, refer to the story of

 Yangdumoluo)

 

Later he became a fox himself, and wanted to ask Zen Master

 Baizhang what was wrong with him?

Zen Master Baizhang said: I will answer with you again!

The old man who became a fox said: "Do great practitioners still fall

 into karma?

Zen Master Baizhang said: "Great practitioners are not ignorant of

 cause and effect" (know cause, condition, and effect)

Then the fox was freed and passed away!

      Ban-Ji

(Proof reading by Sophiea Kuo)

 

 

阿含經2"Agama Sutra" Eliminates Doubts 2

 

南禪朋友早安！

《阿含經》度疑離惑

"Agama Sutra" Eliminates Doubts 2

        在我個人以往的修行體悟裡挫折感一直很深。

為什麼！

因為在很多經文的解釋裡面，都是高僧大德們ㄧ步到位的開

悟，看似美妙的解釋曾經帶給我個人重大的挫折感！

只因坐破䈬團也達不到一步到位的證悟。

但913《阿含經》原文的「度疑離惑」充分說明了佛陀的教育，

是以修行者自己聽聞佛法後對原來的疑惑，豁然開朗！

 

「度疑離惑」的解析進一步充分說明，對問題的清晰、明白是

學佛法的一個重要關鍵！

 

清晰的思路，帶領修行者邁開步伐一步一步的往前，而非夢幻

想像的一步到位，美妙的一步到位說法，徒增實際修行的苦

痛，這世界上沒有一步到位的案例！

感恩《阿含經》原文的保存。

半寄

Good morning Nanchan friends!

"Agama Sutra" Eliminates Doubts 2

        In my personal practice and understanding in the past, I have

 always had a deep sense of frustration.

Why!

Because in the interpretation of many scriptures, it is the

 enlightenment of eminent monks and great virtues in one step. The

 seemingly wonderful explanations have brought me a great sense of

 personal frustration!

Just because you can't achieve enlightenment in one step .    It is

 useless to meditate hard, it is impossible to achieve enlightenment in

 one step.

However, the original text of the 913 "Agama Sutra" "eliminating

 doubts and dispelling confusion" fully illustrates the Buddha's

 education, so that the practitioners' original doubts after hearing the

 Buddha's teachings are suddenly enlightened!

 

The analysis of "Removing Doubts and Dispelling Confusion"

 further explains that clarity and understanding of problems is an

 important key to learn Buddhism!

 

Clear thinking leads practitioners to take a step forward step by step,

 rather than dreaming and imagining that one step is in place. The

 wonderful one-step approach will only increase the pain of actual

 practice. There is no one-step case in the world!

I am grateful for the preservation of the original text of the "Agama

 Sutra".

Ban-JI