菩提心、大悲與方便

認識《大日經》16 Understanding the Mahāvairocana Sūtra – Part 16 不空師父/文 Written by Master BuKong

執金剛秘密主提問後，大日如來說： 「善哉！善哉！執金剛！你的提問真殊勝。你現在應當仔細聆聽，現在我將開始為你解說。」 After Vajra-holder, the Secret Lord, raised his question, Mahāvairocana said: "Excellent! Excellent, Vajra-holder! Your question is truly noble. Now you should listen carefully, and I shall begin to explain it to you."

執金剛秘密主說：「世尊！我非常渴望聽聞您要教導的法義。」 Vajra-holder, the Secret Lord, replied: "World-Honored One! I am eager and joyful to hear the Dharma that you will teach."

大日如來說：「菩提心為因，大悲為根本，方便為究竟。」 Mahāvairocana said: "Bodhicitta is the cause, great compassion is the root, and skillful means is the ultimate fulfillment."

以上三句，作為《大日經》法義的三句精髓，意思是說，要如同諸佛一樣成就佛道，並獲得究竟偉大的「一切智智」： These three statements are the essence of the teachings in the Mahāvairocana Sūtra, meaning: to attain Buddhahood like all Buddhas and to realize the supreme and complete wisdom, one must—

🔹是要從「菩提心的因緣」中發起出生的。 Arise from the causes and conditions of Bodhicitta.

🔹是要以「大慈悲為根本」而產生作用的。 Act based on the root of great compassion.

🔹是要用「方便圓滿究竟」來利益有情的。 Benefit sentient beings through the perfection of skillful means.

菩提心好比種下一棵種子，大慈悲如水澆潤，使種子生根、發芽，方便如同種種養分，土壤、陽光、自然或人為的照護，使之持續成長，直至開花結果。 Bodhicitta is like planting a seed; great compassion is the water that nourishes it so it can sprout and take root. Skillful means are like the nutrients—soil, sunlight, and both natural and human care—that help it grow steadily until it blossoms and bears fruit.

大日如來接著說： 「那什麼是『菩提』呢？所謂『菩提』就是『如實知自心』。」 Mahāvairocana continued: "Then what is 'bodhi' (awakening)? Bodhi means 'to know one's own mind as it truly is.'"

「執金剛祕密主！『菩提』是『如實知自心』，但這個『自心』卻無法被把捉、被得到。為什麼呢？因為菩提的本性，無法透過解釋去理解，也不能顯示出來讓人觀看。執金剛祕密主！菩提如同虛空，本來無相，一切法也本是無相。」 "Vajra-holder, Secret Lord! 'Bodhi' means to truly know one's own mind. Yet this mind cannot be grasped or possessed. Why? Because the nature of bodhi cannot be understood through explanation, nor can it be shown for others to see. Vajra-holder! Bodhi is like empty space—it has no inherent form. Likewise, all dharmas are originally without form."

上面的經文是說，行者們觀照「自心」時，應明白這個「自心」清淨如虛空般，超越妄想分別。行者應在這樣的內觀中，建立對於法的堅定信心，這樣一來方能遠離業力招感的生死輪迴，萬行功德便得以展開。 The above passage means that when practitioners contemplate their own minds, they should realize that the mind is pure like empty space, beyond delusion and conceptual discrimination. In such inner contemplation, one must develop firm faith in the Dharma. Only then can one escape the karmic cycle of birth and death, and thereby allow countless virtuous practices to flourish.

因此，大日如來才說：「從「菩提心的因緣」發起出生偉大的『一切智智』。」 Therefore, Mahāvairocana stated that the supreme wisdom arises from the causes and conditions of Bodhicitta.

這就是我們常聽到的「菩提心作為成佛之因」的真正意義。 This is the true meaning of the common teaching: "Bodhicitta is the cause of attaining Buddhahood."

然而，能夠帶領我們證悟菩提的唯一指標，即是具備—清淨無染的信心。如《大智度論》說：「佛法如大海，只有具備信心者能入。」 However, the one essential key to realizing bodhi is possessing pure and undefiled faith. As the Treatise on the Great Perfection of Wisdom says: "The Buddha's Dharma is like a great ocean—only those with faith may enter it."

又如梵天王請釋迦牟尼佛轉法輪時，釋迦佛當下說了一首偈：「我今開甘露法門，凡生起信心者，便能得到歡喜。」 Likewise, when Brahmā requested Śākyamuni Buddha to turn the Dharma Wheel, the Buddha recited a verse: "Now I open the gateway to the nectar of Dharma; those who give rise to faith will experience great joy."

這時釋迦佛並沒有立刻提到布施、持戒、忍辱、精進、禪定、智慧等法門，而是特別強調「具備信心」的人才能得法喜。 At that moment, the Buddha did not mention practices like generosity, morality, patience, diligence, meditation, or wisdom. Instead, he emphasized that only those who possess faith can truly rejoice in the Dharma.

因為佛所說的第一義諦，是最深奧微妙、無量無邊、不可思議、無所執、無所得的法，因此必須具備堅固的信心，才能作為入門的條件。 This is because the ultimate truth spoken by the Buddha is most profound, subtle, immeasurable, and inconceivable—it is unattached, without acquisition. Therefore, strong faith is required as the foundation for entering the path.

佛門非以聰明才智入門，而是以一種清淨、堅固的信心才能入門，直達不退轉乃至成就無上菩提。 The Dharma gate is not entered through cleverness or intelligence, but through a pure and unwavering faith—only then can one reach the stage of non-retrogression and ultimately attain unsurpassed enlightenment (Anuttara-samyak-saṃbodhi).

Translated into English by ChatGPT.