Voice of Master Jingzong - Q and A about the Purpose of Life
淨宗之聲 - 人生目的問答
Q9: Is it a waste for someone to become devoted to Buddhism and become a Buddhist while in their twenties? Is it worth it for them to give up their jobs to become a full time volunteer in a Buddhist organization? Couldn’t their academic qualifications and talents be better used to contribute to society? They are a disappointment to their parents and the teachers who nourished them. What do you think dear Dharma master?
Answer to Q9:
When Shakyamuni Buddha gave up his status as a prince, and said goodbye to his father who was a King, many people thought it was a “waste”, a “pity” and a “disappointment” to his parents and teachers. A prophet had predicted that he would become a Wheel Turning Sagely King if he didn’t leave home. He could bring peace and joy to all of the citizens in his country.
Leaving home to be a monk is a “waste”?! The prince became a fully enlightened Buddha. How can a Wheel Turning Sagely King be compared with a Buddha? Isn’t it more of a waste if our Buddha-nature is not awakened and developed?
From the Buddhist point of view, all sentient beings have Buddha-nature, which is the capacity to become a Buddha. However, if our Buddha-nature is not nurtured and we continually commit karmic offenses, we will endlessly reincarnate within the Six Realms. Isn’t that the greatest waste?!
(to be continued tomorrow)
問 (9)二十來歲的年輕人入佛門,是不是太可惜?他們對佛教非常信仰,甚至要放棄工作,全職加入佛教團隊做義工。以他們的學歷、能力,原本可以為社會做出很大貢獻,當義工是不是太可惜、太浪費了?而且也辜負了父母、師長的養育和教育之恩。請問法師怎麼看待這種現象?
淨宗之聲:
當初釋迦牟尼佛告別王子的身份去出家的時候,相信很多人也認為“這個太浪費、太可惜了!辜負了父母的養育之恩”,甚至相師說“若不出家,必定能成為轉輪聖王,能造福整個國家人民,能讓社會政治清明,人民幸福安樂”。出家去修行,做個和尚,這不太浪費了嗎?但是佛陀出家,成為圓滿覺悟的佛陀,一個世間的轉輪聖王、一個聖明的君主,那和佛陀怎麼能相比呢?
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【佛性沒有覺悟、開發是最大的浪費】
這是一個價值觀的判斷問題。如果以佛法來說,“一切眾生皆有佛性,有佛性者皆得成佛”,我們眾生有佛性,可是沒有順著佛性去成佛,反而去造罪造業,輪迴六道,這才是最大的浪費。所以,佛性沒有覺悟、開發,這是最大的浪費。因為本來可以成佛的,現在成為一個六道輪迴的眾生,不管在世間有多大的成就,這都是最大的浪費。
Namo Amituofo!
