2016.11.5
尊貴的第十七世嘉華噶瑪巴泰耶多傑，在第十六世嘉華噶瑪巴圓寂週年紀念日時，分享了以下這篇關於慈悲的開示。
在西元七世紀前期，月稱菩薩在其作品《入中論》中首先提到：
（聲聞中佛能王生，諸佛復從菩薩生，大悲心與無二慧，菩提心是佛子因。
法尊法師原譯）
法尊法師原譯）
聲聞緣覺寶王生，諸佛復從菩薩生，慈悲心與不二智，菩提心生諸菩薩。
這個由偉大的佛教大師月稱菩薩所倡導的教法，是我每天祈禱和練習的功課之一，不僅僅因為我是佛教徒，更因為我是人類。這句話完全喚醒了我的意識，讓我進一步覺知，瞭解並接受〝愛能征服一切〞的說話是無誤的，這法語也成為了我日常修行觀照的一部分。
為甚麼？因為最終的關鍵價值觀就是〝無私的關愛〞。〝無私關愛〞是我們應該學習的教法。唯有透過〝無私關愛〞，我們才能找尋到喜悅。〝無私〞意味無條件的，而〝喜悅〞意味着放下焦慮和痛苦，在佛教術語的解釋即是擺脱業力和煩惱魔（煩惱）。
在無常變化的短暫生命當中，真正值得我們去證得的是慈悲。慈悲是我們能留給他人的唯一實質的事物，也是我們生命結束之際唯一能帶走的東西。在我們生命結束之時，任憑此生有多大權勢、財富、聲望，都無法帶走。無論是生命的最終篇或者邁向另一段生命之旅之際，慈悲是唯一能帶著並傳承給他人的禮物。
慈悲不侷限於生命的邏輯與框架，超越生、老、病、死。慈悲的特質能幫助我們理解這些生命歷程並非可怕的，而是真理的，是無常性的，是自然存在的。因此，慈悲可讓我們找到勇氣，活出有意義的生命。然後那個當下，當我們認知並接受生命的無常性，我們因而發掘更多生命的喜悅與人生的意義。
慈悲造就了聲聞、緣覺的聖者。他們與我們沒有差別，不同的是他們有勇氣放下造成生命困擾與焦慮的根源，即自大。自大和自我會傷害眾生。慈悲也成就了佛菩薩。即便祂們知道眾生如恆河沙數，但祂們依舊勇敢無畏地與有情眾生分享慈悲的體悟。
如果在生命中有東西值得你去珍惜的話，就只是慈悲心而已。慈悲是無條件的，猶如一個母親對獨子的愛。為了孩子，一個母親甚至願意犠牲自己的生命。這孩子未來會變成怎麼樣的人？母親對孩子的慈悲與愛卻不會更改。
祈願我們能看到自身的珍貴寶藏，喚醒慈悲的正念，不是明年，不是明天，就在此時此刻。
Karmapa’s Teaching on Compassion
November 5, 2016
November 5, 2016
Thaye Dorje, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, shares the following teaching on compassion, on the anniversary of His Holiness the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa’s paranirvana.
Mahabodhisattva Chandrakirti, who lived in the first half of the seventh century CE, started his famous work, the Madhyamikavatara (“Introduction to the Middle Way”) with the lines:
“Shravakas and Pratyekabuddhas are born from the Muni king;
Buddhas are born from bodhisattvas;
And, from the mind of compassion, non-duality and Bodhicitta, bodhisattvas are born.”
“Shravakas and Pratyekabuddhas are born from the Muni king;
Buddhas are born from bodhisattvas;
And, from the mind of compassion, non-duality and Bodhicitta, bodhisattvas are born.”
This particular quote by the great Buddhist master Chandrakirti is a part of my daily prayers and practices, not just because I’m a Buddhist – but because I am a human being. The quote speaks to my consciousness, which allows me to recognize, understand, and accept that the saying ‘love conquers all’ is justified. In other words, these four lines are part of my daily practice because they are true.
Why? Because, ultimately, what really matters, what is worthwhile, is genuine care. It is only through genuine care that we can find joy. ‘Genuine’ means unconditioned, and ‘joy’ means being free from all forms of anxiety and pain, which in Buddhist terms means being free from karma and klesha (afflictive emotions).
In this ever-changing and brief, abrupt life, the only meaningful thing that we can achieve is compassion. Compassion is the only substantial thing we can leave behind for others, and it’s the only substantial thing that we can take with us. No matter how great the power, the financial fortune, the fame that we might amass, at the end of our life’s chapter, and on the journey from one life to another, compassion is the only gift that we can take with us and pass on to others.
Compassion defies the logic and laws of life, transcending birth, ageing, illness and death. Compassion is the only quality that can help us understand these four stages of life not as something terrible but as truth, impermanence, and nature. Therefore, it helps us to find courage to live meaningful lives. Suddenly, through knowing and accepting the impermanence of life, we discover much more joy, much more purpose in life.
Compassion gives birth to extraordinary beings, such as the Shravakas and Pratyekabuddhas. These are individuals just like ourselves, but who achieve the courage to let go of the source of life’s anxiety: the ego, which harms all sentient beings. Compassion also gives birth to other extraordinary beings, such as the Buddhas and bodhisattvas, who develop the courage to share the experience of compassion with all sentient beings – even though they know that there is no limit to the number of sentient beings.
Therefore, should we wish to cherish anything in life, it should be none other than compassion. A compassion that is unconditioned, like a mother’s love for her only child. For her child’s sake, a mother is willing to sacrifice even her own life. What kind of person might this child might become in the future? Such a question is irrelevant when it comes to a mother’s love and compassion.
May we see our human existence as a precious human existence, which will enable us to cherish qualities like this, not next year, not tomorrow but right here, right now.
