Page 35 - 加拿大佛教会湛山精舍杂志季刊第73期

and law-giver. This is the Dharmadhatu according to tations result from the root delusion as regards the
Buddhadharma. Dharmadhatu of Dharma-sphere is self. The worst possible scenario we can think of is
devoid of personality and ego. The human existence, not, as some might imagine, some natural disaster or
just like the universe, is dynamic, unencumbered, shortage of food, but an on-going violent confronta-
without center and boundary, without beginning and tion between people divided by irreconcilable views
without end. Perfect balance exists between the two. (whatever they may be), which both sides tenaciously
It is not an exaggeration to say one stirs the Pacific hold on to. People destroying people or “the others”,
Ocean using one finger and with one breath one stirs for their own benefit is about as low as mankind can
the air in the entire world. One’s finger is very small, sink.
but it has two sides, and therefore the ocean is affect-
ed. The movement is so subtle it is not perceptible People’s reaction to life and its vicissitudes tends to
by one’s eyesight; the same can be said about one’s be melancholy and the escape routes they devise fre-
breath. History provides many examples of the very quently prove inadequate, with the result that many
real strength or impact of a particular human being on people today feel continually despondent and some
subsequent generations in terms of karmic force. In even take their own life. Self-indulgence appears
the more or less distant past, there lived occasionally to be the most popular and the most deceptive way
some truly great individuals endowed with exception- people deal with problems. Food, drink, sex, enter-
al wisdom, and their influence on mankind is notice- tainment and consumerism are the perennial remedies
able to this day. Their wisdom is reflected in all that often applied to excess; more often that not people
exists, thereby confirming that all of us are inextrica- bring about their own ruin not only financially, but
bly interrelated one with another, as well as with the in terms of their health and their character as well.
rest of the universe. The media cannot be relied upon for support because
they thrive on bad news and we receive a fresh sup-
We find ourselves in a universe without a beginning ply of it daily. The most reliable means to counter
and without end; all we need is a complete under- these states resulting from alienation is to understand,
standing that there is nothing to crave, nothing to first of all, the causes and conditions underlying our
cling to. Then the mind can reach its full potential, relationships with others, and to refrain from making
expand and meet the universe on equal terms by be- sharp distinctions between oneself and others. It is
coming boundless, immeasurable. At such time we healing to realize as often as possible the essentially
are able to understand our life as birthless and death- interactive character of all existence in this universe.
less, and perceive clearly the radiance of the path to
the supreme Bodhi and to enlightenment. The distinctive mark of wisdom is to choose actions
benefiting others, because that is where our own ben-
It is most unfortunate that the uniformed majori- efit is to be found. In the final analysis, when we
ty have not developed yet their capacities to under- hurt others we are hurting ourselves. We can resolve
stand this doctrine. Their idea of “self” is based on many difficult situations by means of a simple re-
assumptions unverifiable by experience, restricted in minder that whatever happiness or grief we presently
terms of space along the horizontal line while along experience is the result of past causes and our present
the vertical line such thinking is restricted by time, actions are the foundations of future results of effects.
Although the self as understood by the uninformed is We interact with the world, it cannot be avoided, and
a delusion, it is vigorously protected against the “oth- therefore we need to be mindful of the effect our ac-
er”, held to incessantly jeopardize the “I”. Such an tions have on others. The sooner we all understand
attitude is at the origin of countless conflicts. All dis- this, the closer we get to the peaceful, happy world
criminatory views which ultimately lead to confron-

33