Tergar Asia 8 Days Retreat in Thailand (2018) - 5

■你正確了解「悲心三種層次」嗎？

所謂悲心，就是「看到任何生命受苦，都希望他馬上脫離痛苦」。

很多人對悲心有錯誤理解。悲心可以分為三類，這裡三種分類不是三種對象，而是三種層次：
一， 緣於眾生的悲心；
二， 緣於法的悲心；
三， 無緣大悲。

一，緣眾生的悲心：就是看見眾生受苦，希望眾生都能離苦。

二，緣於法的悲心：

很多人以為這個「法」是現象，其實不是。

緣於法的法，指的是佛法，指我們自己學了佛法，知道業因果和無常的道理，了解佛法的重要；

而眾生因為不知道業因果和無常的道理，因此輪迴受苦不已，我們對這點生起悲心。

當我們對佛法，比如業因果的道理生起信心，會真心希望眾生都能了解這些法，這些法都能利益到眾生，這就是緣於法的悲心。

三，無緣大悲：當你對心性、對實相本質有所體悟，會對還沒認證心性實相的眾生油然生起悲心，希望一切眾生都能了悟心性。

以前很多人以為「緣於法」是「以現象為所緣」，但根據岡波巴大師《解脫莊嚴寶鬘》解釋，這是三種層次，不是三種對象。

■這三種狀況，催生了悲心

那像以上這樣的悲心，如何讓它們在心中發生？這也有三種：

一，見苦：
第一個狀況，是看到任何眾生正在受苦，比如被殺，心中所起的悲心。這種悲心是看到痛苦而生起的，看到有眾生受苦，由衷覺得：「好可憐啊，可以讓他不再受苦嗎？」

這種悲心很好，是一切悲心的基礎，但它沒那麼純正，因為它帶有煩惱，任何有煩惱的悲心就有偏私，這種見到眾生受苦而生的悲心裡，夾雜了我慢，當你覺得人家很慘，表示認為自己不錯。

二，有愛：
第二種悲心和慈愛有關，但指的是針對自己喜愛的對象生起悲心。這種悲心不夠平等，只能給和自己有關的對象，就有貪的煩惱在其中。這種悲心也不錯，但也是有煩惱有偏私的，不是最純正的。

三， 知因：
第三種悲心是建立在「知道原因和道理上所生起的悲心」，這是指「了解一切眾生都希望離苦得樂」而平等生起的悲心，這樣就不會有遠近親疏的問題。知道原因和道理而生起的悲心，才是清淨的悲心。

（2018年「泰國八日禪」第五日9月13日堪布貢噶開示摘要）

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■ Three levels of compassion

Compassion means "when you see somebody suffer, you wish that he or she can be immediately free from the suffering and pain".

However, many people misunderstand the meaning of compassion.

Actually, there are three levels of compassion, but such differentiation is based upon its origination rather than the object of compassion. 

Many people mistakenly believe the difference is based on the object. The three levels of compassion are:
1 Compassion originating from sentient beings
2 Compassion originating from Dharma
3 Compassion originating from no object

1 Compassion originating from sentient beings. When you see other sentient beings suffer, you wish that they can be free from suffering.

2 Compassion originating from Dharma. Many people have the false impression that the "Dharma" here means "phenomena", but actually, it represents the Dharma of Buddha. When we learn about the Dharma and understand its principles on karma, cause and effect, along with impermanence, we realize its importance. However, other sentient beings know nothing of such principles and as a result, they continue to suffer endlessly in samsara. For this reason, our compassion arises. 

When we have faith in the Dharma, and understand karma, cause and effect, as well as impermanence, we will generate a sincere wish that all sentient beings can understand these principles so that the Dharma can bring them true benefits. This is the meaning of compassion originating from Dharma.

3 Compassion originating from no object (Objectless Compassion). When you have realized the nature of mind and the nature of reality, your compassion will naturally arise for all the sentient beings who have not yet recognized the absolute truth, and you wish that all sentient beings can realize their nature of mind.

In the past, many people have misinterpreted "originating from Dharma" as "originating from phenomena", but according to The Jewel Ornament of Liberation written by Gampopa, this actually means the three levels and not the three objects of compassion.

Three ways to cultivate compassion

Now, how can we cultivate the three levels of compassion we have just talked about? 

There are also three ways:

1 The sight of suffering. When you see someone suffers, for example, an animal being slaughtered, your heart is filled with compassion. Such compassion arises due to the sight of suffering. When you see other sentient beings suffer, you genuinely feel "How sad! Is it possible to help him to be free from suffering?"

This compassion is good and is the foundation of all compassion. Yet, it is not pure because it contains slight defilement. When there is defilement, compassion becomes partial. If compassion is generated due to the sight of other people's suffering, actually it is tainted by pride because when you have pity for others, at the same time you will also think that your situation is not as bad.

2 Loving-kindness. The second way to cultivate compassion is through loving-kindness, because it arises naturally for those we love. Again, this compassion is partial and is generated only for those we are close to. As such, it contains an element of greed or attachment. Nevertheless, this type of compassion is not bad, although it is still not of the purest form because it is partial and is tainted by defilement.

3 Knowing the primordial cause. The third way is "knowing the primordial cause and correct view", and compassion arises upon this foundation. When we understand that "all sentient beings want to have happiness and be free from suffering", this is the compassion with equanimity, which is free from attachment and aversion to those near and far. Therefore, the compassion generated by knowing the primordial cause is the purest form of compassion.

(Excerpt from Khenpo Kunga's teachings on 14 Sep 2018 during Day 5 of Tergar Asia 8-Days Retreat)

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