《釋疑解惑》如何認出佛性

✨ 【 問答：如何認出佛性 】
Q&A: How to Recognize Buddha-Nature

【 弟子提問 】：
最近幾個月，我慢慢開始覺得，佛性這個道理很重要。我發現，我們很多的欲望、焦慮、孤單，其實都是因為一直向外尋找，希望外在的人、事、物來讓自己滿足。

如果我們真的能認出自己的佛性，或者只是稍微嚐到一點，對「自己本來就有佛性」生起一點確信，那麼要感到快樂、充足、滿足，好像就會容易很多。也就不會那麼急著去抓外面的東西。心可以比較安穩、平靜，也比較能有愛，能夠打開。

可是我不知道，要怎麼認出佛性。甚至，我也不知道要怎樣對「人人本具佛性」生起更深、更穩的信心。所以，要怎樣才能稍微嚐到一點、看見一點呢？我覺得，如果能做到這一點，真的可以解決很多問題。

【 仁波切 】：
這可以從兩個方面來說。這兩個方面，也和二障有關：一個是煩惱障，一個是所知障。這兩個我們都要認識，要確認，要去觀察，也要讓自己慢慢生起確信。

先說所知障。從外在的對境來看，一切事物的本性都是清淨的。

我們說「一切本來清淨」，意思是什麼？意思是：很多時候，那些侷限的想法、侷限的判斷，其實不是外在事物本身帶來的，而是從我們自己這裡出來的。

所以我常常舉一個例子：一位大廚，和一個完全不會做菜的人。

如果你把一顆馬鈴薯放在一個不會做菜的人面前，他可能會覺得很煩惱，不知道該怎麼辦。可是如果我是一位很好的廚師，我看到這顆馬鈴薯，心裡會很歡喜。因為我知道，我可以用一百種方法、一千種方法來料理它。

所以，馬鈴薯的限制，不在馬鈴薯本身。是我的能力有限，才把這顆馬鈴薯看小了。

一切事情都是這樣。

我們生活中遇到的人、事、物，它們的價值，並不是被它們自己的本性限制住。是我們自己太有限，所以沒有辦法好好運用它們，看見它們真正的可能。

那麼，這樣的了解會帶給我們什麼？

它會讓我們開始珍惜一切，欣賞一切。也會慢慢切斷我們對外境的負面想法。這個了解真的很有幫助，因為它會讓我們不再一直向外責怪。

就像那顆馬鈴薯一樣，馬鈴薯的價值不是被馬鈴薯限制住，而是取決於我的能力、我的手藝。同樣地，不是外面的事物本身有限，而是限制在我自己這裡。

所以從今天開始，你要怎麼做？

如果你對這件事真的生起了確信，如果你真的是一個修行人，一個願意改變自己行為和看事情方式的人，那麼這個了解會幫助你：不要再責怪外境。

一切事物的本性都是清淨的。限制在我自己這裡。

所以，從今天開始，問題就變成：我要怎樣慢慢增加自己的能力？我要怎樣讓自己的心量變大？我要怎樣讓自己的智慧和方法慢慢增長？
這是一個很重要、很開闊的看見。它真的會把你的心打開。

然後，用同樣的道理，再回來看你自己。
你看這隻手。這是我的手。佛陀也有同樣的手，同樣的手指。佛陀不是有六根、七根、八根手指，佛陀也是五根手指。佛陀也有同樣的腳。
可是佛陀善用了這個身體。

同樣地，你也有這雙手。這雙手可以利益一個人，也可以利益幾個人，甚至利益很多很多人。它可以用在很多地方，可以做很多事。
所以，不要把自己看得太小。不要輕易限制自己。

那麼，真正的限制在哪裡？

如果我們仔細看，就會發現，是那顆會判斷的心。是那顆說「我做不到」、「我沒有這個能力」、「我不能這樣」、「我不可能那樣」的心。
所以，接下來就要再回來研究這顆心。

到底是什麼樣的心，讓我們變得這麼小？這顆心本身的本性又是什麼？

如果你能解開這個很大的問題，那麼一切都變得沒有什麼好責怪的。無論你在哪裡，你其實都擁有機會，而且是很大的機會。

甚至，在你還沒有真正深入觀察心之前，光是明白「我不是被這個身體限制住，也不是被外在的事物限制住」，你就已經會感到比較喜悅、比較樂觀、比較健康、比較快樂。

你會開始覺得自己是有價值的。你也會感恩，感恩自己得到這麼好的機會。

因為這樣的對話，這樣的觀察，這樣的思惟，只有人身、只有人的心識，才比較有這樣的條件。動物也可以很可愛，也可以很活潑，但牠們沒有辦法這樣討論、這樣觀察。

所以，透過這樣的發現，我們會生起喜悅，也會生起感恩。到了這個時候，生活中很多壓力，其實已經放下不少了。

接下來，只要繼續去觀察這顆心。

你會發現，現在這顆心有很多造作，有很多想法、反應和習氣。這是因為我們過去的業力和習慣。因為這些影響，也因為我們以前不懂，所以心一直造作出很多東西。

可是，一旦我們知道了，我們就還有選擇，我們還有機會。我們可以開始學習怎樣運用這顆心。

當你懂得怎樣跟自己的心工作，開始觀察它，你就會發現：眼睛看到任何東西的時候，心也會跟著生起。你看到一個東西，心就會有反應。

這時候，你就可以開始淨化自己的心。

一開始，要從淨化開始。慢慢地、慢慢地，最後會有一種不需要太用力的狀態出現。那時候，不再是靠很刻意的努力，而是自然的。
可是現在，我們還需要努力。

淨化自己的心，需要一點點用心。需要慢一點，需要正念，需要覺察。需要你自己幫助自己。

如果你只是很隨便地看，然後讓心照著老習慣去反應，那就不太好。你要幫助自己的心。你要看見：現在生起的是什麼樣的心？然後想辦法轉變它。

所以，現在還需要努力，還需要扶持。

但是慢慢地、慢慢地，那種不費力的狀態會到來。到了那個時候，你就從自己的心裡解脫出來了。

【 弟子 】：
謝謝仁波切，這非常有意思。

【 仁波切 】：
這只是其中一種方法。還有很多方法。你會慢慢自己找到的。

【 弟子 】：
我覺得自己很幸運。因為在像您這樣的人面前，好像一切都變得很自然、很不費力。
我不需要特別做什麼，心就清明起來。無論過去有多少烏雲，累積了多少年，甚至好像是一輩子的烏雲，忽然之間就豁然開朗。

【 仁波切 】：
我們的心識也是這樣。

不管我們把多少染污放進去，你看，一個房間裡，就算黑暗已經存在了幾千年，甚至幾百萬年，只要你一開燈，黑暗當下就沒有了。
就是像這樣。所以說，空性是最好的清淨。空性能清淨一切。

「光明」比較接近大手印裡常用的說法，「空性」則是大乘裡常用的名相。在金剛乘裡，我們會說「光明」、「明性」、「淨光」等等，也會說「大手印」。名稱不同，但所指的意思是相近的。

［ 噶奇美多傑仁波切訪台學生問答，2023.12.21 ］
Student: I would like to turn back to the topic of Buddha-nature. In recent months I have gradually come to appreciate this concept, because I found that many of our desires, anxieties, and loneliness are related to seeking outer conditions to fulfill us. If we can truly recognize, or even just have a taste of, or conviction in, our own Buddha-nature, then it becomes quite easy to feel happy, fulfilled, and satisfied, and we will not be so eager to grasp at things outside. We can be very stable and calm, and we can have love and openness.

However, I do not know how to recognize this Buddha-nature, or even how to develop a stronger, more solid conviction that we all possess it. So what is the way to get a little taste, a glimpse of it? I believe that could truly solve many problems.

Rinpoche: There are two different approaches, based on two aspects to be understood, which relate to the two obscurations: the afflictive obscuration and the cognitive obscuration. These we need to know, to confirm, to investigate, and to reassure ourselves about.

Regarding the cognitive obscuration, in terms of objective things: everything is pure by its nature. When we say everything is pure by its nature, it means that our limited thoughts and limited judgments actually come from ourselves.

This is why I always give the example of the master chef versus the person without any skill. Put one potato in front of the unskilled person, and they feel frustrated. But if I am a greatly skilled chef, I feel joyful: I can cook it in a hundred different ways, a thousand different ways. The limit of the potato is not set by the potato itself. The potato is made small by the limits of my skill.

Everything is exactly the same. The value of the things around us in life is not made small by the nature of the things themselves. It is we who are so limited. That is why we are unable to make use of them.

Now, what does this understanding assure us of? What does it give us? Appreciate everything. Our negative thoughts and thinking toward outer things are cut off. This understanding truly helps us never to blame anything. Just as in the example, the value of the potato is not limited by the potato itself; its limit depends on my skill, my capacity. It is exactly the same with all phenomena. It is not that something is limited out there. The limit is within myself.

So from today onward, what are you going to do? If you are truly sure about what you have discovered, if you are truly a seeker bringing changes to your behavior and way of approach, then this understanding will help you never to blame the outside. Everything is pure by its nature; the limit is within me. From today onward, the question becomes: how do I gradually increase my skill? This is such an enlightening insight. It will truly open you up.
Then, on exactly the same basis, look at yourself. Observe again with the same principle. What is the limit of your hand? This is my hand. The Buddha also had the same kind of hand, the same fingers. He did not have six, seven, or eight fingers; he had exactly five. And he had the same feet. He utilized them. In just the same way, you have everything in this hand. It can serve one individual, a few, or millions of individuals. It can be utilized in so many ways. So never limit yourself.

Then what is the limit? When we look into it, it is that judging mind, the mind that says we do not have the capacity for this or that. So study the mind again. What mind makes us so small? What is the nature of the mind itself? Once you solve this great equation, everything becomes unblamable. You have opportunity, great opportunity, always, wherever you are.

And even before studying the mind, you already feel very joyful, optimistic, healthy, and happy, discovering that you are not limited by this body, not limited by objective things. You already feel joy and a sense of value. And you feel grateful to have this great opportunity, because this whole conversation, this whole way of reflection, only a human body, only human consciousness has this kind of access. Animals can be playful, they can be cute, but they cannot have this kind of conversation. So through this great discovery, we are joyful, we are grateful, and at that stage much of life’s stress is already gone.

Now, simply explore the mind. You will find that right now the mind has formations of this and that, many things, because of our karmic influences and our habits. Because of these influences, and because we did not know, we have been creating many things. But once we know, we still have a choice, an option. Then somehow we are able to put the mind to work.
Once you know how to work with the mind, once you observe it, then with every single thing your eyes engage, no matter what you see, along with that vision, mind arises. Now you are able to purify that. Begin from purifying. Then slowly, slowly, an effortless state comes, without any effort.

Right now, the purification of mind needs your effort: a little attention, slowing down a little, your mindfulness, your awareness. Your support is needed. If you just look at things casually and let the mind do its usual job, that is not good. It needs your support: notice what kind of mind is arising, and find your way to change it. Your effort is needed, your support is needed. Then slowly, slowly, the state of effortlessness will come. At that time, you are free from your own mind.

Student: Thank you. This is very interesting.

Rinpoche: Well, this is one way. There are also many ways; you will figure them out.

Student: I feel very fortunate, because it seems very effortless when I am in the presence of someone like you. I do not need to do anything, and my mind clears up, no matter how many clouds there have been, for years, for a whole lifetime.

Rinpoche:Our consciousness, no matter what kind of pollution we put into it… You see, no matter how much darkness has been stored in a room, perhaps for thousands, even millions of years, the moment you turn on the light, it is gone. It is something like that. That is why emptiness is the greatest cleansing.

Luminosity is like Mahamudra, and emptiness is a term we use in the Mahayana. In the Tantrayana, we use “luminosity” and “clear light” and related terms, also “Mahamudra” and so on. We have different names, but they are similar.

［Q&A with Gartul Chimi Dorjee Rinpoche, Dec 21,2023, Taiwan]

［ Q&A with GarTul Chimi Dorjee Rinpoche, Dec 21, 2023