Jan 17, 2020
Master Huijing’s Short Dharma Teachings about Attributes of the Pure Land School: Worldly Truths
淨土宗宗風俗諦
We all carry the karma accumulated over many lives spanning many eons. We form another life here and now depending on causal conditions. Where are all of these karmas accumulated? In Buddhist terms, in the area of our minds called the Store or 8th Consciousness.
The karma inside the Store Consciousness is generally in a static state. However, the karma can be activated upon encountering certain circumstances. This function is known as the 7th Consciousness.
What we learn through education in this life is within the scope of the 6th Consciousness. With respect to the self-attachment in the 7th Consciousness and the karma in the 8th Consciousness, they are not affected. Their changes and effects are within the scope of cultivation. It is not just a matter of seeking knowledge.
Thus, we must always perceive, review, and observe our minds. This is known as “perceiving while reading”, and “to train our minds through experience in all circumstances”. If we don’t do this, the more knowledge we accumulate, the more karmic obstructions we have.
If our objective is changing our internal lives and personalities on a deeper level through knowledge, or even to change our karma, we must always perceive, review, and observe our minds.
我們都是帶著累生累劫的業習,經由因緣和合而投生在此時此地,這一些業習在哪裡?以佛法的名相來說就是「藏識」,也就是第八識。
「藏識」裏面的東西是靜態的,可是它有隨著境緣而發動的功能,那個功能就是第七識。
我們今生今世所受的教育是屬於第六意識的範圍,對於第七識的我執,第八識的業力,並沒有影響到。要影響、改變它,那是修行的範圍,不只是求知而已。
因此,我們要時刻反觀自省、觀心自照,所謂隨文入觀、藉境練心,不然就有可能學問愈深反而業障愈重。
若期望將已知學問轉化成為內在生命,改變我們的深層個性,進而改變自己的業力,就必須要時常反觀自省,不斷地觀心自照。
Namo Amituofo!
