唯命是從

 

簡繁轉換 - 繁體

林鈺堂

 

「唯命是從」的要求,在世間實際上的結果往往是「陽奉陰違」。所以,應該是只有迷於權勢或慾望者纔會做這種要求。

在密法裡有教示說,弟子對於皈依的上師應該「唯命是從」。實際上,能確實遵循的弟子是罕有的,一般都會因爲私下的考量,而自行打折扣。而充任上師者並沒有辦法可以要求弟子一定遵從,所以這條教示往往淪於空談。

然而流傳千古的麻巴祖師對弟子密勒日巴的磨鍊,爲了使弟子消業而令其揹巨石蓋屋,建成又令拆,移他處再蓋,一再重複,結果密勒背上磨出瘡洞,令師母落淚,助其逃離。但是離師修法,感應不生,只得回去繼續磨鍊;終究造就大成就者,一代宗師。對於這樣一對師徒而言,上師是忍耐著不忍的慈憫來不斷雕琢,而弟子則是捨命地「唯命是從」來修行;結果留下「千古佳話」的楷模。

可見,在密法裡「唯命是從」的教示並沒有問題,只是在世間難有不顧世俗見解的上師遇上「心如白紙」的弟子吧了。

 

二〇二三年九月十三日
養和齋    於加州

 

 

Complete Obedience

Yutang Lin

 

Demanding ″complete obedience″, its results, as matters of fact in the world, are often ″superficial compliance with actual deviations″. Hence, it seems that, only when deluded by power or desires would a person make such demands.

In Tantric Buddhism there is a teaching that, a disciple should observe ″complete obedience″ to his Guru. In fact, disciples who could solidly follow this teaching are rare; usually, due to personal considerations, disciples would deviate from the teaching to some extent. While those serving as Gurus have no way to require that disciples must follow this teaching, and hence, this teaching often deteriorates into empty talk.

Nevertheless, the legendary trials, as bestowed by Patriarch Marpa on his disciple Milarepa in order to diminish the disciple′s karmic debts, such as ordering him to carry boulders to build a house, and then ordering him to take down the house and build another one at another location, and repeating such tasks, had caused a sore hole on Milarepa′s back, and caused Marpa′s wife to weep upon seeing such torment. Hence, she helped him to escape. Nevertheless, leaving Guru behind to practice Dharma could not yield inspirational attainments; consequently, he went back to the Guru to continue the trials. Thus, eventually a great yogi was accomplished who founded an important school. To such a pair of Guru and disciple, the Guru was holding back his compassionate mercy to add hardships incessantly on the disciple, while the disciple was following ″complete obedience″ despite his life in his Dharma practices; consequently, they set a legendary model for posterity.

Thus, one comprehends that, the teaching on ″complete obedience″ in Tantric Buddhism is sound; except that, in this worldly realm it is difficult to encounter a Guru in defiance of worldly views with a disciple whose mind is ″as blank as a white sheet of paper″.

 

Written in Chinese on September 13, 2023
Translated into English on September 20, 2023

El Cerrito, California

 

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