Dec 11

Dec 11, 2017
慧淨上人法語
正依經典

“Evidence by scriptures” refers to sutras [spoken by the Buddha] and commentaries explained by patriarchs. These scriptures form the bases of our teaching, without which it is just an empty talk. Nowadays, there are many new religious beliefs, of which the teachings are invented by respective founders, without any reference to scriptures of the Buddhist sutras and the patriarchs’ commentaries. So, “evidence by scriptures” is the primary source or root [of our teachings].

The principles and reasoning spoken in the sutras are “evidence by commentaries”.  These commentaries, of course, have to follow the tradition passed on by patriarchs of the school’s linage, because we may not be able to understand the principles and reasoning in the sutras. We have to rely on explanations made by the patriarchs. This is the meaning of “evidence by commentaries”.

(continued tomorrow)

「文證」就是經文及祖師的釋文，這些證文可以當做根據，否則就是空口說白話。現代有很多新興的宗教，教理都是教主自己造出來的，並沒有佛經的文證或祖師的文證，所以文證是第一個根源。
經文裏的道理就是「理證」，當然理證也需要有祖師的傳承，因為有可能看不出經文的理，所以需要依靠祖師的解釋，這就是理證。

Namo Amitabha!