中英版：護僧的基本認知（六）

 

護僧的基本認知（六）

開仁法師著

 

五丶如法之建議

 

出家眾發好心獨自到邊地去度化眾生，動機本是滿感人的，不過若不曉得自愛，很快就會被惡因緣所征服掉。現在這個時代眾生普遍得不到心靈的安慰，再加上科技盲目的迅速發展，導致人的內心無法獲取平靜。此時此刻，身賦重任的釋迦子弟豈能不伸出援手呢？所以，做為一個護法大德，應體諒出家者之用心，若有出家人離開僧團自化一方，理應更加要珍惜有師父的因緣，多與法師配合，全力協助支持他。除了要助師父一臂之力外，亦應在適當的時間，鼓勵初學比丘到外去參學，每年重溫僧團的生活，若非課業或法務繁重，實應抽空回去頂禮師長，與師兄弟保持聯絡。

 

另外，若出家眾是能言善道者，要多建議其開設一些佛法的講座，不管是通俗教化或是有條理的佛學課程，這除了可以提升信徒的素質外，出家眾本身亦能達至教學相長之作用。往往沒有外緣的催促，久了出家人也會怠慢下來。然而，只有講課也不行，一定要配合法門的修持，如可以帶領共修，不論是念佛丶打坐丶佛七丶禪七丶八關齋戒等都好，這無形會產生自他向上的作用。

 

法會丶放生丶義診丶慰問等，出家人亦能參與，但主事者應該主動建議師父隨緣弘法講開示，一來可以讓大眾知道佛教舉辦這些活動的意義，再者同時能夠使出家者回到佛法的本位，時常憶念正法。

 

一個出家人如果住在一個由在家眾負責的團體當中，身為白衣的要知道出家人是不能開口說要錢的，甚至是一分一毫，故此團體應該每月作適度的供養，以便出家者有可以運用的零用錢（大致上出家人會花費的主要是購買佛書丶交通費及瑣碎小費等）；若知道其欲到外去參學時，也應作一恰當的支持，令他無有後顧之憂。

 

在家的護法居士，要記得善意及有建設性的建議，出家眾一定會接受的，只要是出自一片真心真意就好了。溝通的技巧很重要，千萬莫以老賣老，也萬萬不能氣勢淩厲，忘了自己是 白衣 居士的身份。

 

 

The Fundamental Knowledge in Safeguarding the Sangha Members（六）

By Ven Kai Ren

 

5. Proper Suggestions

 

Preaching alone in places where the Dharma is unheard of can be very touching, but if self control is not strong, there is the possibility to be swallowed by bad factors. Sentient beings nowadays generally do not get spiritual peace, coupled with blind and rapid technological developments, many people do not enjoy inner harmony. At this moment, as students of the Buddha, we must render our assistance. If a monk prefers to propagate the Dharma alone at a particular place, lay persons should understand the monk’s motives and support him fully. At appropriate time, lay persons should also encourage new monks to go out to learn, but every year they should come back to the monastery to pay respect to their elders and to maintain relationship with other monks, unless their lessons or Dharma activities are so tight that they cannot do so.      

 

In addition, if monks / nuns are good at speaking, lay persons should suggest to them to start Dharma talks, casual and ordinary preaching or systematic Dharma course. This can help to raise the quality of followers and the monastics can also get the benefits of teach-and-learn. It is quite common that without an external push, gradually a monk will become lax, but merely Dharma talks are not enough, there must be supplemented by other activities such as chanting, meditation, eight precepts etc. All these will naturally produce a force to improve for the monk as well as others.   

 

Monks and nuns should participate in activities like Dharma assemblies, voluntary medical consultation and outdoor visits. Organisers should have the initiative to invite monks / nuns to give short Dharma explanations wherever and whenever possible so that participants understand the true meaning of the activities; at the same time such opportunities allow the monks to return to their proper role.

 

If a monk stays at an association run by lay persons, the lay persons should know that the monk cannot open his mouth to ask for money, not even for a single cent. The organisation should provide appropriate dana monthly, so that the monk will have some petty cash to spend on books, transport etc. If the monk wishes to go outstation, support should be rendered to him so that he does not have to worry. 

 

Lay persons should remember well-intentioned and constructive suggestions will be accepted by monks / nuns. Communication skill is important. One should not count on seniority nor be arrogant, forgetting one’s position as a lay person.