面面融通 林钰堂

言词视野尽二分,欲描无限成多面;
融通之钥一旦悟,圆照十方运转活。

欲以有限观点、二分言词描述无有主客对立的境界,只能多面分述,并且滞于“隔靴搔痒”的地步。佛教方便接引众生,而有智悲二足、智悲力三德、四种大悲、五智、等等名相之区分。学佛者若是执于分位,便难融通佛理。当知会通之钥,在于领悟一切本是无有对立之无限一体。一悟此无限一体之根本情境,便见一切方面之种种特色都是自然融通的。

即使密法之教授亦不离此理。例如修本尊观所讲求之明显、坚固、佛慢,若不会如此融通,极易沦为意识作用之坚持,而恒处于主客对立之心态中,因此难达证入。愿实修者细心体会此中奥妙。


                     二○○四年六月廿一日
                     养和斋    于加州


Unifying All Aspects Yutang Lin

Linguistic expressions as well as scopes of view are all dualistic,
To describe boundless it takes skillful division into many aspects.
Once the key to harmonization and unification is comprehended,
One sees simultaneously in all directions and turns around lively.

Comment:

In order to describe the state that is free from the dualism of subject-versus-object in terms of limited points of view and dualistic linguistic expressions, one could at most attempt to describe through division into many aspects while falling short of completion at the step of "scratching itches from outside the boot." In Buddhist teachings, in order to guide beings through skillful means, there are classifications of terminologies such as "the two feet of Wisdom and Compassion," "the three virtues of Wisdom, Compassion and Strength," "the four kinds of Great Compassion," and "the Five Wisdoms," etc. If a Buddhist were to grasp to such divisions and distinctions, then it would become difficult for the Buddhist to harmonize and unify the Buddhist theories. One should realize that the key to harmonization and unification of Buddhist teachings is to comprehend that all things are originally in limitless oneness that is free from duality. Once such a fundamental state of limitless oneness is comprehended one would see immediately that all particular characteristics of all aspects are naturally in harmonious unification.

Even tantric teachings of Vajrayana are not deviations from this principle. For example, without harmonization into oneness, the requirements of Yidam visualization: distinct, firm and Buddha pride could easily deteriorate into merely a conscious act of mental grasping that is constantly within the sphere of a mentality that is based on subject-versus-object duality. Consequently, the transcendence into non-duality could hardly arise. May serious Dharma practitioners carefully reflect on this point to comprehend the subtleties in this remark!


Written in Chinese on June 21, 2004
Translated on June 22, 2004
El Cerrito, California


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