學習去看(Learning to see)--1

問：對於西方的修行者而言，什麼是重要的？

答：修習佛法最重要的是要為了你們自己修習。親近佛法可以有很多不同的方式。比如說，若一位忙於事業與家庭的俗世中人欲做一些簡單的日常練習，那對於佛法有一些初步的認識就夠了。但是如果你想要廣泛而深入地修行，對於佛陀的教法則得相當熟悉才行。一旦你真正認真地研讀、分析佛陀的法教之後，必須試著將學習到的智識與實際禪修連結在一起，這些知識才得以轉化而成為真實的經驗。佛法是一片廣大而富饒的知識領域，而不僅只是宗教和信仰。正確而適當地學習佛法是會花上一段長時間的。



問：很多人沒有時間進行密集的研究及長時間的閉關修行。在日常生活中，人們要如何達到最好的學習與實修效果？


答：若以研究來說，必須先對「中觀」、「灌頂」的內涵與重要性有一個基礎的認識。若談到實際禪修，盡可能地大量練習絕對錯不了。從以前到現在一直都還有很多成功的行者並沒有進行長期閉關，但仍舊可以透過在家禪修而成就。一開始盡可能地吸收基礎的法教將有助於日後正確的實修。在西方世界，由於老年生活比較安全而有保障，如果能這樣子來著手，你們將得以在那時有更多深入修行的機會，如此所打下的基礎將會延續到下一輩子。




問：為了獲得知識，我們需要依止一位能讓我們生起信心的老師，這樣的信心要如何培養？


答：信心來自於知識。如果你對這條道路沒有足夠的了解，你便不可能擁有真實的信心。信心意味著對道路的了解，並對自己所擁有的知識生起信心。如果你密集地學習，信心會自然地湧現。舉例來說，盲人會需要有一個他能夠完全信賴的嚮導，如果你情願去當那個盲人，你就永遠會需要一個嚮導，但若你不想當那個盲人，你就應該學習「如何去看」。慢慢地你才能打開你的雙眼，嘗試著信任你眼前浮現的道路，並試著走在那條道路上。需要一個老師並非意味著你們的關係必須像盲人與導盲犬一般─你完全地依賴他。




問：您舉這個例子真正想說明的意思是什麼呢？


答：我在描述一種人，在他們在接觸佛法之後，會變成激進的極端主義者或追星族。他們穿著印有「嗡瑪尼貝美哄」咒語的T恤滿街跑，到處交際。如果可以的話，他們恨不得能夠鑽進上師的皮膚。他們甚至試著去模仿他們上師的聲音與言行舉止。在佛教而言，平常心的態度是很重要的。
在西藏我們有一句話說：「一流的生意人修習佛法會成為一流的修行者」。生意人擁有務實的頭腦與清晰的思路，這同時是做為一個修行人所必須擁有的。





問：那應當如何依止老師？

答：應該尊敬，並對老師心存感恩。一旦跟隨了一位老師就要堅持。同時你也要小心，不要在接受了一些深奧的法教之後就把老師丟在一旁，這會帶來負面的結果。就好像你新學了一種語言之後，不會就對老師粗魯無禮、漠不關心，事實上，你虧欠你的老師很多。




Kkö-info: What is important to Dharma practitioners in the West?



Rinpoche: In order to practice Buddhism it is most important to learn for yourself.



There are different ways of approaching the Dharma.



If a worldly person who is busy with his profession or family, wants a simple daily practice, then a limited understanding of Buddhism is sufficient.


But if you want to get into it with some depth and to practice extensively, then you should become quite familiar with the teachings.


Once you have seriously studied, and analyzed Buddha's teachings, you must connect what you have learned with meditation so that it becomes a real experience.


Buddhism is a vast and rich field of knowledge. It is not just a religion or a belief. Therefore, it takes a long time to learn the Dharma properly.


Kkö-info: Many people don't have the time for intensive studies or long retreat. How can people best study and practice in normal daily life?


Rinpoche: Concerning study, one should gain a basic knowledge of the Madhyamaka, and about the empowerments and their significance.


Concerning meditation, it is always good to practice as much as possible.


There were and still are successful practitioners who meditate at home, without going into long retreat.


First learn as much as you can about the basic Dharma in order to be able to meditate properly.


If you proceed in this way, especially in the West where people tend to be more secure in your old age, you could have the opportunity to practice intensively later on in life, because you will have created the basis for it over your lifetime.


Kkö-info: In order to gain knowledge we need teachers we can have faith in. How does this faith develop?


Rinpoche: Faith comes from knowledge. If you have no knowledge of the path, it is impossible to have real faith.


Faith means knowing the way, having faith in your own knowledge.


If you study intensively, faith appears spontaneously.


For example, a blind person needs a guide whom he must trust completely. If you prefer to be blind you will always need a guide. But if you do not want to be blind, you should learn to see. Gradually you can open your eyes and learn to trust your way of seeing and walking along the path. To need a teacher does not mean that you have to hang onto him like a blind person to his seeing-eye dog.


Kkö-info: What do you really mean by this example?


Rinpoche: I am talking about people who when they meet the Dharma become extremists and turn into groupies.


They run around in tee shirts printed with OM MANI PEME HUNG mantras.


They would love to slip into the skin of their teacher. They even try to sound like their teacher, to imitate him in a certain way.


In Buddhism a natural human understanding is important.


In Tibet there is a saying for this, "A first class businessman when learning the Dharma will also be a first class practitioner." A businessman possesses practical understanding and clear thinking so necessary for Buddhist practice.


Kkö-info: How should one follow one's teacher?


Rinpoche: You should respect and feel gratitude towards your teacher. If you do follow a teacher you should be persistent.


You should also be careful that when you have gathered profound knowledge you don't leave your teacher behind.


This would bring negative results. For example, after you've learned a language, you would not be rude to your teacher and not say hello to him anymore. You actually owe a lot to that person.