中英版：護僧的基本認知（四）

 

護僧的基本認知（四）

開仁法師著

 

三丶遠離於戲論

 

在家眾在和出家眾交談時，應該多注意談話的內容，莫但在論人我是非，或不必要的戲論。有的居家者因尋找不到可以傾訴的物件（那怕是有關家庭丶婚姻丶感情丶朋友乃至時事等），只好向信賴的出家人求援，有的要出家眾放下工作來陪他談，有的則用電話侵佔出家者的自修時間。若真的有急難，出家人當然義不容辭拯救眾生，但是其本務並非是作為信徒的傾聽對象而已，站在護僧觀點而言，這種行為是要不得的。

 

現代的出家人，要遠離於戲論還真不容易。佛在經中有說明，除了止觀的內容，一切都是戲論，如：飲食論丶政治論丶賺錢論丶名聞利養論丶庸俗凡情論丶占卜星術論丶琴書詩畫論等，無一不是違背佛之教法的，既然身已出家，內心就要捨棄這些，莫再念念不忘。（若以菩薩不入虎穴焉得虎子的立場來說的話，則另當別論。）

 

在家者要防範的真的還很多，如：不該請出家人去戲水玩沙丶植花種菜丶砍伐草木丶欣賞影視丶遊山玩水等，因為一旦染成習性，那就會荒廢道業了。很多時候，除了說出家者本身要懂得自愛自製外，外緣的引誘亦是挺關鍵的，故身為白衣，不該成為出家眾放逸的因緣。相反的，應作為修道者的增上助緣才是。

 

 

The Fundamental Knowledge in Safeguarding the Sangha Members（四）

By Ven Kai Ren

 

3. Keep away from empty talk

 

When lay persons converse with monks / nuns, they should be mindful of the contents. Gossiping or empty talks are not right. There are lay persons who cannot find a listener to their family, marriage or friendship problems, they turn to monastics for help, requesting them to put aside their work to listen to them. Of course, if lay persons have emergencies, monastics should assist unreservedly. But we have to bear in mind that the primary duty of a monk / nun is not to be a listener of a follower only.  

 

It is rather hard for present monastics to keep away from empty talks. Buddha said apart from śamatha-vipaśyanā, all other talks like politics, ways to make money and gain reputation are empty talks against the teaching of Buddha. Since they have become monastics, they should forgo all these. (It is a different story, if from the point of Bodhisattva that one has to be involved in order to save sentient beings)

 

There are many things which lay persons have to be mindful of, for instance, do not invite monks / nuns to have picnic, have fun, plant flowers or vegetables, enjoy film shows and tour for fun etc. This is because when a habit is developed, it will hinder his / her path towards Dharma practice. Self constraint of monastics is important, but lay persons should not provide external temptations.