Voice of Master Jingzong - Q and A about the Purpose of Life
淨宗之聲 - 人生目的問答
(continuation of Q5 - 3/6)
Regarding the meaning of “no-sadness” and “no-happiness”, they are simply two kinds of false thoughts and judgements, such as“meaningless”, “no big deal”, etc.
We question their value because we can’t fully understand the physical and mental emancipation of eradicating all kinds of afflictions in the stage of Nirvana (stillness, tranquility, no birth, and no death) These states transcend any of our concepts of the universe, and are the source or origin of all existence. They express a kind of great emancipation - realization of the ultimate truth.
It is similar to riding on a bus, in that we might be interrupted by traffic accidents, traffic jams or traffic fatigue. However, when we become a Buddha or Bodhisattva, our Dharma bodies are omnipresent. We can immediately reach anywhere at any time, without any obstruction.
All of these states are beyond our ability to grasp. “How is that possible? Ignorant ordinary beings like us may think, “ I don’t want that kind of fairy tale life!” However, they are actually an expression of the innate functional capacity of our Buddha-Natures.
So, Nirvana or becoming a Buddha is described as a state of “permanence, bliss, no-self, and purity”.
(to be continued tomorrow)
至於說“不悲不樂有什麼意義?”這也是我們自己在這裡的妄想;我們覺得的“不悲不樂”,好像就很無聊,沒什麼事,那有什麼意義呢?
所以,我們不瞭解佛說的這種不生不滅、涅槃寂靜,滅除一切煩惱所獲得的身心大自在,跟宇宙——也無所謂跟宇宙,因為它本身就是一切萬法存在的根源,就是契悟真理的本體,是一種大自在、大解脫。
比如說我們現在出門就要搭車,搭車就有交通事故、交通堵塞,也有交通疲勞,但不搭車就不可以。如果成了佛菩薩,法身遍一切處,一念可以到達任何地方,同時可以遍在一切地方。
這些都完全超過我們的想像,“怎麼可能呢?”甚至我們凡夫心智狹劣,“我也不想過那種神仙生活”——不是那樣,這是我們佛性裡本來就有的功能。
所以,成佛、涅槃稱為“常樂我淨”。
Namo Amituofo!
