人人皆有佛性
文╱美国佛心寺英文研经班学员 传幸

 

  佛法是如此的简洁却又如此深奥。它教导了我许多值得深思的道理,但在过去数年中,对我的人生产生立即性影响的是“众生皆有佛性”的观念。不只我自己,我的女儿、同修、父母,以及一切众生皆有佛性。在内心深处,我们和佛陀拥有全然相同的本质和成佛的潜能。

  在人生旅程中难免会遇见合不来的人,一般人总是直观地想:“我们就是无法相处”、“我讨厌这个人”、“这个人很糟糕”,我们会在这些自己厌恶的人身上贴上种种标签。在我的生命中也有一个人,曾经带给我数年地狱般的生活。在那段期间内,我心中存着许多非常负面的想法。每当看到或想到此人,我总是很害怕;当他做出没有道德的事情时,我感到愤怒;当他回来接近我和家人时,我总是有受到伤害的妄想和恐惧。

  学习佛法,让我改变面对人生的态度,七周缘慈的练习,以及思惟对方也有佛性的道理,我已经能够在看到或想到他时产生同理心,并将功德回向给他,祝愿他成为一个更好的人,将来能够体会自心的佛性。我也能够在他行为不当时更有耐性,并且在他又出现在我们附近时,依然保有心中的平静和安全感。

  现在的我用崭新的方式看待人生,这是一种更清明、更容易接受的角度。从过去到现在,其实是我自己将苦恼带入生活,是我自己无法接受改变,同样也是我自己才有能力改变自身的未来。人人皆有佛性,这是多么不可思议的事!当我们能如此思惟时,就能对众生怀抱多一些仁慈,在看见他人的优点和缺点时,能够让对方依自己的方式行事而不妄加评断。人们或许依旧有着各自的障碍,但是他人的烦恼习气却无法再影响我的心境。

(Everybody Has Buddha Nature

  Buddhism, it is so simple, yet so profound. It has taught me a great many things to contemplate on, but the one that has changed my immediate state of life the most in the past few years is, “everybody has Buddha Nature.” Just like me, my daughter, my husband, my mother and father, and my dog. We possess the same essence as the Buddha himself. We are all the same deep inside. We all have the same potential and the same destination...Buddhahood.

  As most of us cross paths at one point or another with other sentient beings we simply do not mesh well sometimes. We take it at face value that “we just don’t get along,” “I hate that person,” “that person is terrible,” and all the other labels we give those of whom we have distaste for. There was a person from my past that made my life hell for years. Many awful thoughts could be associated with this particular individual at one point in time. I had fears when I saw or thought of this person, anger when he acted out of moral character and paranoia when he came around us.

  Through the Buddha’s teachings of the outlook on life, my practice of the seven round compassion contemplation and reflecting on the fact that he too has the Buddha Nature, I have been able to see or think of him and feel empathy, dedicate merits to him in hopes that he becomes a better person and will one day find his Buddha Nature within, have more patience when he acts immorally, feel safe and stable in my mind when he comes around. He is no longer an issue in our life.

  I see life in a new light, a much clearer acceptable picture. All this time, it was me who brought distress to my own life, me who would not accept change, and me who have the potential to change my own future. Everybody has the Buddha Nature. It’s amazing to think about and when this is reflected upon, it gives all sentient beings grace to live their own life through their rights and wrongs with no judgment passed. People will continue to have his or her own burdens, but they no longer have to affect my mind. )




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