(This text is free for sharing and distribution, BUT no alterations should be made to it for further circulation. Thank you for your kind co-operation).
懺悔真正的意思 - 第240集
The real meaning of repentance
懺悔真正的意思,我在年輕的時候章嘉大師教我,真修懺悔法,因為那個時候我沒出家,我還在工作,大師告訴我,佛法重實質不重形式。形式就是它的儀規,那個時候沒有人教我,有人教我,我也很難接受。
When I was young, Great Master Zhangjia taught me the real meaning and true practice of repentance because at that time, I was not a monk yet and was still working. The Great Master told me that Buddhism emphasizes substance (i.e., true practice) rather than formality (i.e., etiquette). Nobody taught me this at that time, but even if there was someone teaching me, it was also hard for me to accept.
大師對我非常清楚,用善巧方便來誘導我,告訴我重實質。實質是什麼?後不再造,這叫真懺悔。在佛菩薩面前懺悔了,懺悔完了還造,還照幹,這是假的不是真的。所以我們的業障懺除不淨,原因就是在此地。非常有可能懺悔也是造業障,為什麼?
The Great Master understood me very well, so he skilfully guided me, telling me that repentance emphasizes true practice. What is true practice? It is never repeating the same mistakes again. This is called ‘true repentance.’ If we repent before buddhas and bodhisattvas, but still repeat the mistakes later, such repentance is deceiving and not true. That’s why we fail to eliminate our karmic obstacles completely and very likely, we are also committing karmic obstacles when we do repentance. Why is that so?
沒有真誠心、沒有恭敬心,把懺悔當作兒戲。在佛菩薩面前發願,願都不能兌現,都是假的,這假的就變成欺騙佛菩薩。諸位想想,欺騙佛菩薩那不是罪過嗎?甚至於在做早晚課,早晚課沒有真心在做,敷衍塞責。
Because we repent without sincerity and respect, treating it as child’s play. After making vows in front of buddhas and bodhisattvas, we cannot fulfil them. That’s why our vows have become deceiving buddhas and bodhisattvas. Let’s think about it: isn’t it an offence to deceive buddhas and bodhisattvas? We do not even use the true mind to perform the morning and night prayers as we do them perfunctorily and irresponsibly.
道場規定要做早晚課,不能不參加,做早晚課有口無心,念誦著經本還照樣打妄想。而且這個妄想負面多,沒有把自私自利放下,沒有把名聞利養放下,沒有把五欲七情放下。這樣的早晚課,求佛菩薩保佑你升官發財,哪有這個道理!所以這種懺悔就變成造業了,而且造很重的罪業。
We have to participate in these prayers because they are compulsory in the cultivation centre, but we are unmindful during the prayers as we still give rise to wandering thoughts while reciting the sutras. Moreover, since we did not let go of our selfishness, fame and profits, as well as the Five Desires and Seven Emotions, our wandering thoughts are more of negative ones. For such morning and night prayers of seeking buddhas and bodhisattvas to bless us with promotion, fortune and good luck, how can there be no karmic misdeeds! That’s why such repentance has turned into committing very heavy karmic misdeeds.
