依佛法做人最殊胜 -- 【编辑室】

在我们漫长的学佛历程中,是否真正地了解到“佛法”与“人生”之间的关系,这是我们这一代学佛人一定要弄清楚、搞明白的事。中国近代高僧大德在这方面都有精辟的见解,圆瑛大师在1943年,于上海静安古寺的佛学讲座中就这样说过:“严持五戒是佛教的做人之法,广修六度是佛教大乘所说做人的道理。”

太虚大师也于1943年作过一次《佛教与人生》的讲演,认为“佛法实在是人类的救星,最低限度,佛法值得我们在日常生活上借镜”。

什么叫佛法?佛法就是释尊成道后所说的一切教法,它包括了各种教义,以及这些教义所表达出来的佛教真理。

什么叫人生?人生就是我们这个世界上的每一个人对于生活应该持有的一种态度。换句话说,就是人生在世,究竟应该怎样生活?也就是说,一个人究竟应该如何立身处世?应该如何对待周围的环境?应该如何掌握自己的命运?

佛法与人生,有着非常密切的关系。六祖慧能在《坛经》中说:“佛法在世间,不离世间觉;离世觅菩提,恰如觅兔角。”这说明佛法是离不开人世间的。这是因为,佛陀出生在人间,说法度生在人间,佛法是源出人间并要利益人间的。佛法最根本的目的,就是广度众生,利益人群。因此,我们可以这样说,佛法主要是解决人生问题的,并不是在人生问题之外再去解决什么问题。当然,人生问题也并非仅仅是一个生死问题而已,它包含着极为丰富的内容。

要知道,佛法是在为大众谋幸福,佛法是绝不为己,而为一切众生谋利益的,若要人类更进一步地去修菩萨六度万行,完成最殊胜的修行,改变人类社会,唯一的途径就是依据佛法指示做人,这才是最高道理,最殊胜的方法。

【Editorial】

Know the Dharma

The Singapore Buddhist community is highly blessed when it comes to studying the Buddhist doctrine. Not only are Buddhist libraries located all over Singapore, they also carry a variety of materials for studying and doing research on the Dharma. Libraries-in-focus, page 45 and 47, features up-to-date information of some of these libraries.

Make the Dharma Known

Five months ago we featured an article about how the Heart Sutra had inspired Singaporean wood carvers to come together to produce works for the first Heart Sutra Wood Carving and Inscription Exhibition held in Singapore to help rebuild a monastery. In Walking the Wisdom Path (Hong Kong), page 43, find out what this ancient scripture had inspired wood carvers in Hong Kong to do.

Apply the Dharma

For those who are contemplating to give Dharma service, find out how selfless service can contribute to your mental well-being and the path of liberation from The 10 Prohappinessant Effect of Service, page 46. For those who are already giving Dharma service, use it as a guideline to examine how much sympathetic joy you are generating, and how to avoid wearing out while servicing.