中英版：護僧的基本認知（十）

 

護僧的基本認知（十）

開仁法師著

 

九丶同續佛慧命

 

護僧的意義非常深遠，除了本身要對佛法有正確的認知以外，更要瞭解出家人修行清淨梵行之禁忌。莫還未完成護衛出家人的使命，反倒過來令大有前途的修行人夭折，那可真是本末倒置了。

 

身為在家眾要懂得護僧，這除了能夠幫助出家人安心辦道以外，其實同時也是在令三寶繼續住世。佛陀在入滅前曾對弟子交代說：只要往後有佛弟子實踐佛法，正法即可以淵源長流不息。再加上佛陀建立僧團的最終目的，就是為了正法久住，而出家人又是僧團的一份子，我們豈可不全心盡力的護持出家眾呢？

 

在解脫的觀點上，出家與在家也許不會有什麽差異，但只要論及所投入的用心丶時間與耐力，不消說彼此亦心知肚明的。當然，對於悍衛佛教丶續佛慧命的責任，出家在家是平等的，只是各別所展現的能力與範疇不太一樣罷了。但在現實上，由於出家人是沒有經營生產的，且加上有弘法利生與修戒定慧的工作，故很多生活上的瑣碎事情無暇處理，這才必須要有在家眾人力丶財力丶心力的護持。

 

探究佛陀出家修道的用心與動機，不難發現一個出家人對於修行與度生的工作是責無旁貸的，單是這一點就值得居家者尊敬護持了。護僧，看起來是護他人，實則同時也是在護持自己的法身慧命，以及讓正法有人延續下去。因為僧眾若是可以安心辦道的話，我們就可以有聽聞佛法的機會；有人在修道，正法自然能流傳下去。

 

 

The Fundamental Knowledge in Safeguarding the Sangha Members（十）

By Ven Kai Ren

 

9. Continue the life of Buddha together

 

There is great significance in safeguarding the Sangha members because one should have correct perspective on Buddhism but also the taboos of the Sangha. Otherwise one may ruin the future of the monks.

 

Lay Buddhist should know how to safeguard the Sangha members as such action could let the Sangha members have a peace of mind to concentrate with their noble cause. Buddha did tell his disciples before his Nirbana that genuine Dharma would stay forever as long as His disciples could put the Dharma into practice. The ultimate objective of setting up the Sangha by Buddha was to let the Dharma to stay forever. And the monks and nuns or Bhikkhus or Bhikkhunis are part and parcel of the Sangha, how could we not go all out to safeguard the Sangha members?

 

There is no doubt that both the Sangha and lay Buddhists equally share the responsibility in shouldering the task of defending Buddhism and continue with the life of Buddhism. In real life, the monks and nuns or Sangha did not indulge in any productive activities and concentrate only in Dharma propagation and meditation. Therefore, lay Buddhists are needed to help them to manage the trivial issues in daily life.

 

When we study the intention and motive of Buddha to renounce the household to look for Nirbana, the complete cessation of suffering, it’s not difficult for us to discover that a Bhikkhu is duty bound to practise the Dharma and help the sentient beings. Such merit is worth every lay Buddhist to support. It looks as if we are safeguarding another person by safeguarding the Sangha, in reality, we are also safeguarding our life in the Dharma and genuine Dharma could be propagated endlessly. When Sangha members could have a peace of mind in running the temple affairs, lay Buddhists will have the opportunity to listen to Dharma.