Voice of Master Jingzong - Q and A about the Purpose of Life
淨宗之聲 - 人生目的問答
Question about the meaning, the aim, and the pursuits in the lives of Buddhas
Answer (continuation to Q11 - 5/5):
A Buddha is free from any obstructions. His existence is eternal and omnipresent.
◎ Independent and free from any obstructions - his existence does not depend on any
other factors or conditions
◎ Eternal existence - permanent existence, free of the boundaries of time
◎ Omnipresent - existing everywhere
A Buddha is united with the original source underlying all states of existence. Those who are not Buddhas cannot fully understand the meaning of his existence. He restores the meaning of life to all living beings. The original state of existence is called “True Suchness”.
As a Buddha fully realizes all of these states, he coexists with all matter and phenomena. His consciousness is described as “ infinite kindness and compassion”. We seek the meaning of life because we are so far away from the original state of our existence, living far away from the homeland of Buddha Nature.
A Buddha is independent, free from any obstructions, has infinite life, and is omnipresent. He lives in suchness. There is no longer any reason for a Buddha to pursue the meaning of existence , as a Buddha himself is the meaning.
It is just like a person who leaves home and then wishes to return home. However, if he is already at home, he will not ask to go home. As home can render warmth to those who have wandered in cold areas away from home, home is seen as synonymous with warmth.
Unlike ordinary beings, a Buddha always dwells in his Buddha Nature, in the realm of permanence, joy, true self, and purity.
佛是自在、永在、遍在。
◎ “自在”是不依他而存在;
◎ “永在”是三世一切劫、恆久地存在;
◎ 遍一切處地存在,他是一切存在意義的本源。
不能再問他存在的意義是什麼,他賦予一切生命、一切萬物存在的意義。但是,這也是一切萬物本來的狀態,所謂“真如”。
佛證悟這一切,所以跟一切萬物的存在同體,所謂“無緣大慈,同體大悲”。因為人遠離了這種存在的本來狀態,遠離了佛性家鄉,所以我們才要尋求存在的意義。佛本身就是自在、本在、永在、遍在,這種狀態是不動的。那當然就沒有追求存在意義這回事,他本身就是意義。
就好像離了家的人想要回家,但本來在家的人還說什麼要回家啊?沒有這回事。也是因為家給了外面流浪的人溫暖,賦予這個意義。佛本身就安住在佛性,安住在常樂我淨的境界當中,不像我們凡夫這樣。
Namo Amituofo!
