慈悲道場懺法 7.4

7.4

Today, assembly sharing this karmic endeavor in the bodhimaṇḍa! Since taking refuge, we have known that ultimate virtue can be relied upon and doubt has been severed. In repenting, offenses and delusions are both dispelled. Continuing by generating the aspiration [for awakening] and encouraging combined practice, resentful knots have already been untied, and we roam free without hindrance; how could each and every person not leap with joy? As for what we should congratulate ourselves on, we now proclaim its meaning. The sūtras speak of eight difficulties: first, hell; second, hungry ghosts; third, animals; fourth, borderlands; fifth, long-lived gods; sixth, although obtaining a human body, being crippled, handicapped, or afflicted with a hundred illnesses; seventh, being born into a family with wrong views; eighth, being born before a Buddha or born after a Buddha. Because of these eight difficulties, sentient beings transmigrate in birth and death and cannot attain release. We have been born together in the Tathāgata's Semblance Dharma age; although we have not encountered a Buddha, our reasons for congratulation are glorious and manifold. Generally, regarding the word 'difficulty', the fault lies in the mind. If the mind gives rise to doubt, what is not a difficulty becomes a difficulty; if the mind is without doubt, what is a difficulty is not a difficulty. How do we know this? The eighth difficulty says: 'Being born before a Buddha or after a Buddha is called a difficulty.' Yet the Old Woman of the Eastern City was born in the same generation as the Buddha and was in the same place together with the Buddha, but she did not see the Buddha. Therefore, know that doubt in the mind is the difficulty; it is not necessarily that different ages are all called difficulties. Pāpīyān harbored evil and fell alive into hell; a nāga heard the preaching of the Dharma and thereupon attained awakening; one should know that humans and gods are not necessarily free from difficulty. If the mind is not good, the retribution received is no different: the lord of the six heavens fell into hell, while a lowly animal leaped up to ascend the bodhimaṇḍa. Thus, because the mind is crooked, a light difficulty becomes heavy; because the mind is upright, a heavy difficulty poses no obstacle. Today, assembly sharing this karmic endeavor in the bodhimaṇḍa! Because of doubt in the mind, whatever one encounters becomes a difficulty; for one whose mind can be upright, difficulties are not difficulties. Taking this one principle, it can be applied anywhere. Therefore, know that before a Buddha and after a Buddha is nowhere not the True Dharma; borderlands and animals are nowhere not places of the Way. If one now rectifies the mind, there are no longer the eight difficulties; if one harbors doubt, difficulties become measureless. As for rejoicing in this manner, the matters are truly not few. The assembly uses its benefits daily without knowing its efficacy; now I briefly present my humble view to show the starting points of self-congratulation. If the assembly can understand self-congratulation, then you should also cultivate a mind of world-transcendence. What is self-congratulation? The Buddha said that hell is hard to avoid, yet we together have already attained escape from this suffering; this is the first self-congratulation. Hungry ghosts are hard to escape, yet we together have already attained distance from its acute pain; this is the second self-congratulation. Animals are hard to cast off, yet we together have already attained freedom from receiving its retribution; this is the third self-congratulation. Being born in a borderland, one knows not humaneness and righteousness, yet we together have already been able to dwell in the central realm, where the teachings of the Way circulate and we directly receive the wondrous scriptures; this is the fourth self-congratulation. Being born as a long-lived god, one knows not how to plant blessings, yet we together have already been able to plant causes anew; this is the fifth self-congratulation. A human body is difficult to obtain, and once lost does not return, yet we together have already each obtained a human body; this is the sixth self-congratulation. When the six sense faculties are incomplete, one cannot participate in wholesome roots, yet we together are pure and have attained the profound Dharma gates; this is the seventh self-congratulation. Worldly knowledge and eloquence contrary-wise become a difficulty, yet we together single-mindedly take refuge in and rely on the True Dharma; this is the eighth self-congratulation. Before a Buddha or after a Buddha is also said to be a difficulty, or it is said: 'Not seeing a Buddha face-to-face is further a great difficulty.' We together have already been able to make great wholesome vows, vowing to rescue sentient beings in future ages; we do not consider not beholding the Tathāgata to be a difficulty. Merely seeing his form and image once, or hearing the True Dharma once, is naturally the same as being present when it was first proclaimed in the Deer Park of old. What is valuable in this matter is extinguishing sins and generating blessings and karmic merit for people; we do not, because of not seeing a Buddha, call it a difficulty. The Buddha said that seeing a Buddha is difficult, yet we together have already attained beholding his venerated image; this is the ninth self-congratulation. The Buddha said that hearing the Dharma is also difficult, yet we together have already tasted and consumed the sweet dew; this is the tenth self-congratulation. The Buddha said that leaving the household life is difficult, yet we together have already taken leave of family, severed affection, and taken refuge to enter the Way; this is the eleventh self-congratulation. The Buddha said that benefiting oneself is easy, but benefiting others is difficult, yet we together today make every bow and prostration universally on behalf of the ten directions; this is the twelfth self-congratulation. The Buddha said that enduring labor and suffering is difficult, yet we together today each exert ourselves diligently, doing what we do not for our own sake; this is the thirteenth self-congratulation. The Buddha said that reading and reciting is difficult, yet our great assembly now together can read and recite; this is the fourteenth self-congratulation. Practicing seated meditation is difficult, yet now we see those who quiet their minds and stabilize their thoughts; this is the fifteenth self-congratulation. Today, assembly sharing this karmic endeavor in the bodhimaṇḍa! In this way, matters of self-congratulation are immeasurably manifold, no longer something that weak words can fully express. Ordinary people dwelling in the world experience much suffering and little joy; even a single joy or delight cannot easily be harmonized. How much more so now, when we together have so much unhindered freedom! Attaining this unhindered freedom is entirely due to the mighty power of the Three Jewels of the ten directions. It is fitting that each of us, with utmost sincerity, bear in mind this grace, equal in acute feeling, prostrating with our five limbs touching the ground, on behalf of: