佛教說，有一個能生萬法的本源，叫做自性清淨心、第八識等等，祂有很多個名字。你在參究當中突然發現核心真相，不只外面的境界相是由這個東西所模擬出來的，連能思想、能認識外部境界相的主體，也就是被你稱之為「我」的東西，也是自性清淨心製造出來的。發現這兩點之後，產生了很大的震驚和感動，你就會想：「既然這樣，我為什麼要辛苦地去維護這個虛假的『我』呢？」
Buddhism says that there is an origin capable of producing myriad phenomena, called the innate pure mind, the eighth consciousness, and so on, and it has many names. In your quest for understanding, you suddenly discover the core truth: not only is the external environment created by this entity, but the subject capable of thinking and recognizing the external environment, which you call “I,” is also created by the innate pure mind. After discovering these two points, you’ll be greatly shocked and moved, thinking, “Since that’s the case, why should I struggle to maintain this false ‘I’?”
大家不要以為，我只是用一些電影和小說來講這件事情，電影和小說的情節雖然是假的，但所根據的理論卻是符合現實的。例如，你並沒有直接看到東西，這一點大家應該是可以確認的。在二千五百多年以前，佛陀就已經講，認識的過程分為內六入處和外六入處兩個階段。外六入處是色、聲、香、味、觸、法，內六入處是眼、耳、鼻、舌、身、意。例如，光線射到視網膜，這個叫做色入處。然後從視網膜通過神經傳送到大腦，在大腦裡形成一個東西讓你的眼識和意識能夠了別得到，這叫眼入處。大約幾百年前，西方的哲學家也發現了這個真相。
Don’t think that I’m only using movies and novels to talk about this. Although the plots of movies and novels are fictional, the theories they are based on are consistent with reality. For example, you don’t directly see objects, which everyone should be able to confirm. More than 2,500 years ago, the Buddha explained that the process of cognition is divided into two stages: the inner six entrances and the outer six entrances. The outer six entrances are form, sound, smell, taste, touch, and phenomena, while the inner six entrances are the eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, and mind. For example, when light hits the retina, it is called the form entrance. Then, from the retina, it is transmitted through nerves to the brain, where it forms something that allows your visual consciousness and mental consciousness to recognize, called the eye entrance. A few hundred years ago, Western philosophers also discovered this truth.
佛經還講，我們之所以認為有一個「我」存在，形成種種偏執的性格，其實都是認假為真的結果。反過來說，如果能夠發現核心真相，就能開悟。開悟的人看待生命和世界，和一般人是完全不同的，如《金剛經》說「一切有為法，如夢幻泡影，如露亦如電，應作如是觀」，《證道歌》說「夢裡明明有六趣，覺後空空無大千」。
Buddhist scriptures also say that the reason we believe there is an “I” and form various paranoid personalities is actually the result of mistaking the false for the truth. Conversely, if you can discover the core truth, you can attain enlightenment. The way enlightened people view life and the world is completely different from ordinary people. As the “Diamond Sutra” says, “All conditioned phenomena are like dreams, illusions, bubbles, and shadows, like dewdrops and lightning. They should be contemplated in this way.” The “Song of Enlightenment” says, “In dreams, there are clearly six realms; after awakening, the vast universe is empty.”
簡單地說，禪宗的開悟就是發現核心真相：能夠認識世界的我，還有被我所認識的世界，它們都是從第八識（自性清淨心）當中生出來的影像。既然我和我所都是由第八識所出生，所以整個打成一片，稱之為「一真法界」。在一真法界當中，沒有「我」跟「我所」的差別對待相，也沒有一切的憂悲惱苦，它是本來自性清淨涅槃。這是用語言文字所能夠解釋到的極致。實際上，開悟的人所安住的解脫境界，是「言語道斷，心行處滅」，這是唯證乃知的，無法用語言文字來形容。
Simply put, Chan enlightenment is the discovery of the core truth: both the “I” that can perceive the world and the world perceived by the “I” are images born from the eighth consciousness (the innate pure mind). Since both the “I” and what it perceives are born from the eighth consciousness, they blend together, forming what is called the “One True Dharma Realm.” In the One True Dharma Realm, there is no distinction between the “I” and what it perceives, and there is no suffering and sorrow. It is the innate pure Nirvana. This is the ultimate explanation that can be given using language and words. In reality, the liberated state in which enlightened people dwell is “beyond words and thoughts.” This can only be known through direct experience and cannot be described using language.
贊助實證佛教研究中心
說明：綠界轉帳適用於信用卡、台灣超商條碼、代碼。