Bruce Lee - Finger Pointing to the Moon - 《大佛頂首楞嚴經》《大乘百法明門論》

 

佛告阿難。汝等尚以緣心聽法，此法亦緣，非得法性。

如人以手，指月示人。彼人因指，當應看月。若復觀指以為月體，此人豈唯亡失月輪，亦亡其指。

何以故。以所標指為明月故。豈唯亡指。亦復不識明之與暗。

何以故。即以指體，為月明性。明暗二性，無所了故。

汝亦如是，若以分別我說法音，為汝心者。此心自應離分別音有分別性。

源自：《大佛頂首楞嚴經》卷二

。。。。。。

如世尊言。「一切法無我」。

何等一切法。云何為無我。

一切法者。略有五種。一者心法。二者心所有法。三者色法。四者心不相應行法。五者無為法。.........

言無我者。略有二種。一補特伽羅無我。二法無我。

源自：《大乘百法明門論》- 天親菩薩造

俞敏洪

每個人都會有這樣的經歷,在物質過剩的時候,便會變得十分膩煩和不知所措。。。

當我看到一個肥胖的人牽著一條肥胖的狗從路上走過,我不僅為人感到痛苦,也為狗感到痛苦。它本來應該健康地奔跑在田野上,追逐野兔或白雲,現在卻被害得連路都走不動。我想這條狗被過剩的物質毀掉了,同時犧牲的還有它本來應該更加快樂健康的生活。

每當我做一件事情,我都要先問間自已,我最終能得到心靈的富足嗎? 如果回答是否定的,我就沒有必要做這件事情。p196

。。。。。。

我曾經跟我老婆說過,我最喜歡的歸宿是到廟(寺)裡去,我最崇拜的人是弘一法師。

我有一個這樣的觀念,人生的苦難肯定是沒有盡頭的、人要做的是在苦中奮發起來,做自己能夠做的和應該做的事情，這就是我的世界觀。p194

。。。。。。

一個人應該懂得滿足,生命最大的滿足就是心靈的富足,這並不意味著我不去追求物質財富、七情六欲。在我有了足夠的食物、衣服和躲避風雨的住所之後,任何追求如果沒有更高層次的人生的情與理意義,最終將會歸於無聊和空虛。p192

。。。。。。

每個人心中都有等量的痛苦

一路走來,我這個創業的過程真是挺不容易的,人生就是這樣的,你不受這個苦就會受那個苦。所以我有一個理念,人生來就是苦的｡

一個人如果從苦中能找到樂和幸福,那麼他就是幸運的。如果人生來認為自己就應該是幸福的,那他一輩子會更加苦,因為這樣的人總能碰到更多的煩惱。

如果你認為生下來就是為了迎接痛苦和傾惱的,那麼你做任何事情有痛苦和煩惱,你都會心安理得,坦然面對。因為你知道,你做這件事情有痛苦和煩惱,你不做這件事情,另外的痛苦、煩惱一定是一樣的。p192

。。。。。。

所以最後為什麼要走進佛的境界？

就是要越過生老病死的這痛苦,最後達到一種平和的境界,這就是佛產生的原因。

現實社會中每一個人不管他有錢還是沒錢,有房還是沒房,有家還是沒家,都越不過人生所給我們設定的各種苦惱和絕望,以及那些考驗我們的備種困難。

弘一法師的傳記我全讀過,但是到今天我也沒有弄明白,他怎麼從一個繁華世界突然就看破紅塵,遁入空門.而且那麼決絕。他生命中一定發生了某種重大的事情,他解決不了,在世俗世界中解決不了,必須到那種空靈的世界中才能解決。

但是我很佩服他的就是,他一輩子變成了兩輩子。

前半輩子,中國話劇創始人(李叔同),文采奕奕,“長亭外,古道邊,芳草碧連天"；

後半輩子,變成了中國律宗量偉大的大師之一,變成了中國所有出家人的榜樣。我覺得這個是了不起的。

但是他那種決絕呢我總想做也是做不到的。

他的老婆帶著他的孩子在廟門外,哭三天三夜,他就是不出來見,寧可一個人在裡面流淚,就是不見,從此跟世俗世界就告別了。

想我要是往廟裡一待,我孩子在邊上一哭,我一分鐘就跑出來了,所以凡根沒淨。p193

《在痛苦的世界中盡力而為》- 俞敏洪

(編者：記得《佛說過去現在因果經》- 卷二 有兩段話....

【爾時太子。聞王師語。以深重聲答王師言。「我豈不知父王於我恩情深耶。但畏生老病死之苦。是以來此。爲斷除故。」

。。。。。。

即向太子具說 大王摩訶波闍波提及耶輸陀羅憂苦之情。太子 即以深重之聲 而見答言。「我豈不知 父王親戚恩情深耶。但畏 生死 愛別離 苦。爲欲斷除 故來此耳。如是種種 言辭所說。志意堅固 如須彌山 不可移動。捨我而去 如棄草芥。」】

說 「愛染 起 妄情」「渴仰 明 虛想」 - 《首楞嚴經》卷八

        古德祖師有言：「開智慧《楞嚴》，成佛的《法華》。」

    《楞嚴》者，《大 佛頂 如來密因 修正了義 諸菩薩 萬行 首楞嚴 經》卷八 有以下一段經文：

    【阿難。一切眾生實本真淨，因彼妄見，有妄習生。因此分開，內分、外分。

。。。。。。

    阿難。內分即是，眾生分 內，因諸 愛染，發起妄情。情積不休，能生愛水。

    是故眾生，心憶珍羞，口中水出。心憶前人，或憐或恨，目中淚盈。貪求財寶，心發愛涎，舉體光潤。心著行婬，男女二根，自然流液。

    阿難。諸愛雖別，流結是同。潤濕不升，自然從墜。此名內分。

。。。。。。

    阿難。外分即是，眾生分 外，因諸 渴仰，發明虛想。想積不休，能生勝氣。

    是故眾生，心持禁戒，舉身輕清。心持咒印，顧盻雄毅。心欲生天，夢想飛舉。心存佛國，聖境冥現。事善知識，自輕身命。

    阿難。諸想雖別，輕舉是同。飛動不沈，自然超越。此名外分。

。。。。。。

    阿難。一切世間生死相續。生從順習。死從變流。臨命終時，未捨煖觸，一生善惡俱時頓現，死逆生順，二習相交。

。。。。。。

    純想，即飛，必生天上。若飛心中，兼福兼慧，及與淨願，自然心開，見十方佛，一切淨土，隨願往生。

    情少想多，輕舉非遠。即為飛仙，大力鬼王、飛行夜叉、地行羅剎、遊於四天，所去無礙。其中若有善願善心，護持我法。或護禁戒，隨持戒人。或護神咒，隨持咒者。或護禪定，保綏法忍。是等親住如來座下。

    情想均等，不飛不墜，生於人間。想明 斯聰。情幽 斯鈍。

    情多想少，流入橫生，重為毛群，輕為羽族。

    七情三想，沈下水輪，生於火際，受氣猛火，身為餓鬼，常被焚燒，水能害己，無食無飲，經百千劫。

    九情一想，下洞火輪，身入風火，二交過地，輕生 有間，重生 無間二種地獄。

    純情，即沈，入阿鼻獄。若沈心中，有謗大乘，毀佛禁戒，誑妄說法，虛貪信施，濫膺恭敬，五逆十重，更生十方阿鼻地獄。循造惡業，雖則自招。眾同分中，兼有元地。

。。。。。。

    阿難。此等皆是彼諸眾生自業所感。造十習因。受六交報。】

。。。。。。

    《首楞嚴經》文字優美，條理分明，絲絲入扣。

......

    此段先說 ，

• 一切眾生；(天，仙，人，橫生(畜生)，餓鬼，有間(段)地獄，無間(隔)地獄)，各道眾生的「妄習」之所生，因源在「妄見」；(看見，聽見，嗅見，嚐見，觸見，還有意見)。
•  眾生的「妄習」，有內、外分額。
•  眾生內分 那塊，因為 愛欲 的染(不清不淨)，發、起 「妄情」。「妄情」不停不休的累積，生出愛，形成水。「潤濕 不升，自然 從墜」。
• 眾生外分 那塊，因為 渴望、仰慕，發、明 「虛想」。「虛想」不停不休的累積，生出 勝 氣，「飛動 不沈，自然 超越」。

 接著再說，

• 一切所有的世間(時空)，生和死的相續，所謂「生」 隨從著順著「習」。所謂「死」隨變著「流」。
• 臨命終時，未捨煖觸，一生善惡俱時頓現，死逆、生順，「情、想二習」相交。
• 一生善惡，臨命終時，俱時頓現時，情習、想習的比例的多少，就趣往引往那一道(天，仙，人，橫生(畜生)，餓鬼，有間(段)地獄，無間(隔)地獄)。

    眾 同分 中，情習、想習的比例的多少，兼有元地(源頭，原因)。但此等，皆是 彼諸眾生 「自業」所「感」。與人無猶，與天無猶，與地(獄)無猶，自想，自見，自習，自作。誰敢不信因果？

。。。。。。

    怪不得古德祖師言：「菩薩懼因，凡夫畏果。」

。。。。。。

    說到「純想，即飛，必生天上。若飛心中，兼福兼慧，及與淨願，自然心開，見十方佛，一切淨土，隨願往生。」這使我想起十多年前看過的『長春百國興隆寺-常慧法師的經歷事蹟』活生生的示範。

    有機會再紀錄。

【常慧法师事迹（闭关、般舟三昧、见佛、遇山神等） - 明续法师讲于新加坡净宗学会】

    

北溪天然氣管線炸毀 《濁世惡苦第三十五》

        經云：「其二者，世間人民，不順 法度。奢、婬、驕、縱，任心 自恣。居上不明，在位不正。陷人冤枉，損害忠良。心口各異，機偽多端。尊卑中外，更相欺誑。瞋、恚、愚、痴，欲 自厚己，欲 貪多有。利害勝負，結忿 成讐(仇)。」

        ( ---源自：濁世惡苦第三十五《佛說大乘無量壽莊嚴清淨平等覺經》)

        

北溪天然氣管線炸毀

視頻：「北溪天然氣管線炸毀兇手是...法德心知肚明氣得牙癢癢?!」

視頻：「北溪2號被炸 加速推動俄德脫鉤？」

視頻：「籲認真對待普丁的話 梅克爾想恢復俄德結構？」

色，即是空。....受、想、行、識，亦復如是。

  《般若波羅蜜心經》言：

「...色，即是空。空，即是色。

色，不異空。空，不異色。

受、想、行、識，亦復如是。...」

佛經裡，如是闡釋【六根，如斯接觸 六塵境界】。

眼 見「色」

耳 聞「聲」

鼻 齅「香」

舌 嘗「味」

身 覺「觸」

意 知「法」

......

所以，眼所見的都稱「色」；

用我們現在人的話說。。

「色」，就是 物質 現相 (型態)。

「受想行識」，就是 心理 現相 (狀態)。

。。。。。。

最近，在以下兩段 YouTube 視頻看到，黃江南老師講解，現今真實世界有別於「傳統經濟學」的「觀念經濟學」，自己對《心經》的體會又有了更深入一層。

資本戰爭：普通人如何應對？——全球經濟衰退（上）

美國的失策與中國的機會——全球經濟衰退（下） 美國的失策與中國的機會——全球經濟衰退（下）

。。。。。。

也更深一步了解到為何祖師大德常言：「佛法重實質，不重形式。」

.......

      「一切法，無所有，畢竟空，不可得。」

--- 《般若經》

「一切有為法，如夢幻泡影，

如露亦如電，應作如是觀。」

---《金剛經》

「觀 自在 菩薩，行 深 般若波羅密多 時，

照見 五蘊 皆空，度 一切 苦 厄。」

--- 《般若波羅蜜心經》

參觀 慈山寺

        感謝Johnny Jessica，從每天400個抽籤名額，一個月前，有幸搶到門票，參觀以李嘉誠基金所建造，地處大埔洞梓的 慈山寺，據稱為龍脈潛龍所在。是日為2022年8月12日，農曆七月十五日中元節。

        

        建築、用料、珍藏，均不亞於剛開幕的故宮博物館。

        遊覽的重頭戲自然是寺內博物館珍藏，看到唐朝以還，至清時的各種佛，菩薩，阿羅漢，護法相像。展館內分三區，護法神四天王區，釋迦牟尼佛第一批弟子的羅漢區，和老師菩薩和先佛區。

【釋迦摩尼佛】

【阿彌陀佛 毗盧遮那佛 藥師佛】

【阿難尊者】

。。。。。。

        但最精彩的，還是出現的導賞員女士，三言兩語就將釋迦牟尼佛，四十九年所教導的一切講盡，實屬高人。

        ［其所講解大意謂：

        「四天王是護(佛)法的神；還是離不開生死輪迴。」

。。。。。。

（細說，世界者，三世和三界。三世；過、現、未來。三界；欲界、色界、無色界。

..........

    欲界；地獄、餓鬼、畜生、人、修羅、天(第一重的四王天+向上 五重天)。

    色界天和無色界天；共二十二重(層)天。

    我們是人，歸三善道，向上有修羅，天(我們稱神)，向下三惡道有畜生，地獄，餓鬼，共六道。善往上趣，惡往下墮。

    我們是生生死死，在六道裡來來去去，輾轉相生。三善道享福，三惡道受苦。

    欲界裡，三惡道 和 三善道的人，修羅，和欲界的天，有六層(重)，第一層就是四王天。還是在六道之中。）

。。。。。。

    六道中，層次高低，在於定功、定力的深淺。要向上趣，談何容易，簡直不可(能)思，也不可(能)議，但就算趣到最高二十八天；非想非非想處天，終歸還是出不了生生世世的六道輪迴，該怎麼墮落，還是怎麼墮落。

    只有靠修行，完全去掉身心的貪、瞋、癡、慢、疑五毒，絲毫不留。才能出三界。

    修行是 因，當修到能，結到 阿羅漢 果，才能 超越了六道輪迴，不再退回輪轉六道裡去，也就是這批釋迦牟尼佛的真正佛弟子們所追所求的。

。。。。。。

    但是，憑我們博地凡夫，根本沒有一絲機會能修到，只有靠外力扶持，這就是阿彌陀佛發的四十八大願救度。

    條件有兩個：(一)臨命終時，不驚不怖。(二)不懷疑、不夾雜、不間斷的念誦 阿彌陀佛 名字。和 阿彌陀佛 感應到，命終時，待佛 接引離開這個三世三界，前往 (生到)另一個世界，名 極樂的世界。...

。。。。。。

    佛法就是說這些，這位導賞員，也就在短短的幾分鐘道盡了。。

.........

    導賞員最後說道，建此宏偉慈山寺，和蒐羅如此多的歷代佛像等瑰寶，只為希望提起參觀者對佛法的興趣，知道佛法，之後能自行去接觸佛法。。。］

。。。。。。

        至於其他，也就乏善可陳，沒有太多值得記載者。

「科學」懷疑為本質

        兩百多年西方「文明」，標榜並奉為圭臬的「科學」，是建立在「懷疑」的基礎上。

        「科學」，最大的限制，在於所需研究課題，必須先做出「假設」。簡單的說，就是必須把先圈起範圍來研究。而科學家們，所埋頭鑽研的是，如何推翻前人所建立的「理論」，取代之，對於這些理論。科學家最終追求和嚮往的，是自己或自己人所得結果得到同行的認可，最大的榮耀是冠以自己的名字，名傳後世。

        這和西方人的所生活的個人為尚的社會一樣，「科學」理論也是無法有延續性的，是隨時等著被取代，丟棄；汰弱留強。現代人，膜拜科學家，依賴科學，不是建基於這些間斷時空中一時所謂學說理論嗎？牛頓推翻前人理論，愛因斯坦又推翻牛頓，後人又推翻愛因斯坦，世界就是這般流轉。

        有了這些理論，以金錢為尚的重商社會，也就名正言順的，可以不計後果的以此建立，生產、製造所謂「科學」理論下的商品，現在的新冠疫苗不是這樣嗎？

        佛在三千年前所說的「飲苦食毒」，「以盲引盲」不是這些真實寫照嗎？

。。。。。。

        有別于西方的「文明」，被認為老舊東方的「傳統」，一切卻必須建立在「信」之上，否則無法將屬於遠古無量祖宗文化留和傳到今天。

        古人說過，「信，為 道 源 功德 母，能養一切諸 善 根。」

        【德，就是得。功德者，因你長久歷練，因功夫得力，而得的結果也。道者，宇宙人生一切的理論方法。。。信，是 道的 源頭，是 功德 的母體。】

。。。。。。

        「信」和「善」觀念、概念甚至兩者的關係，古人傳統以來，是非常清晰明確，而且悠遠流長，一脈相傳，沒有改變過。雖然是百川萬流，最後都歸於大海。

。。。。。。

        三千年前，古印度的大智者 天親菩薩，有著簡單、直接、異常明確的解說，一點不含糊。他在《大乘 百法 明門 論》六類五十二種心所有法中，第三類 「善」法簡單分類的十一之中，「信」排第一。

        也就是說，沒有「信」，一切基礎都沒有。

        同時，在第六類「煩惱」心所有法中，也就是「惡」法中，指出「疑」是我們這些含靈（包括 人）的六種毒，心毒。（六毒者，貪、瞋、癡、慢、「疑」、不正(邪)見）

。。。。。。

        自古爾來，自始至終，真正的善惡是有著跨越「時」「空」的標準，是傳下來的，不是某個時空點上的某人說了算。

        正如有智者說過，現代人（包括我自己）對人，對自己，對傳統文化文明，對宇宙人生都失去了「信」，所以一切善的基礎，都被摧毀中。佛說的這叫「可憐憫者」。

。。。。。。

        以下有一篇多年前所節錄的一篇關於科學的文章。看到「科學」本質上的局限性和毀滅性。

源自：「攪亂了世界的3項科學成果」

        自己有時慨嘆，這個世界懂科學又懂傳統文明，甚至懂佛法文明的科學家，哲學家等知識分子太少太少，卻太多自以為是，心中充滿六毒，傲慢的知識者，而非大智慧者。

        佛說的「哀哉可傷」，無可避免地，大眾跟著一齊，在漫長廣闊的時空中「輾轉其中，累劫難出，難得解脫，痛不可言。」

「生死」不是問題，「死生」才是「一」生中最大的難關！

    以前有人說過，「生死」還不是問題，「死生」才是我們遇到這「一」生中最大的難關；也就是說的「死所趣向」。

    由於我們對「科學」這個「宗教」的迷信，使我們陷入了無知的，障礙的境界，無翻身之地。

    有人，包括我自己以前，也不信轉世，投胎(reincarnation)。十年前吧，我被介紹和解說了這本書。。。《Many Lives, Many Master》 by Dr. Brian Weiss，書中描述他的病人是如何親身進入體驗到(reincarnation)。我嘗試留下這段我讀過的紀錄，和往後再閱讀時的思路吧！

。。。。。。

    作者 Dr. Brian Weiss 在本書 Preface 中，先講到自己學歷：絕對是美國頂尖學府極「優秀」心理學家，是一位完全「科學」的「科學家」。

    “I was graduated Phi Beta Kappa, magna cum laude, from Columbia University in New York in 1966. I then went to the Yale University School of Medicine and received myM.D. degree in 1970. Following an internship at the New York University-Bellevue Medical Center, I returned to Yale to complete my residency in psychiatry. Upon completion, I accepted a faculty position at the University of Pittsburgh.

    Two years later, I joined the faculty of the University of Miami, heading the sychopharmacology division. There I achieved national recognition in the fields of biological psy. chiatry and substance abuse.

    After four years at the university, I was promoted to the rank of Associate Professor of Psychia-try at the medical school, and I was appointed Chief of Psychiatry at a large university-affiliated hospital in Miami. By that time, I had already published thirty-seven scientific papers and book chapters in my field.

    Years of disciplined study had trained my mind to think as a scientist and physician, molding me along the narrow paths of conservatism in my profession. I distrusted anything that could not be proved by traditional scientific methods. I was aware of some of the studies in parapsychology that were being conducted at major universities across the country, but they did not hold my attention. It all seemed too farfetched to me."

。。。。。。

    再說到他一生的轉捩點，來自一位他的病人Catherine個案。

    （心理學家，心理醫生，因應所治療病人，會以催眠 (hypnotic)的方式，找回病者所留下以往「一生」中烙印所在，讓他們親歷當時的境界，然後使他們再重回現在，試著使之明白，那已經過去，是虛妄的，不復存在。）

    “Then I met Catherine. For eighteen months I used conven-tional methods of therapy to help her overcome her symptoms. When nothing seemed to work, I tried hypnosis. In a series of trance states, Catherine recalled "past-life" memories that proved to be the causative factors of her symptoms. She also was able to act as a conduit for information from highly evolved "spirit entities," and through them she revealed many of the secrets of life and of death. In just a few short months, her symptoms disappeared, and she resumed her life, happierand more at peace than ever before.”

。。。。。。

    Dr. Brian Weiss幫助Catherine多次的治療和催眠，一直找到她童年甚至到0歲，也找不到使之恐懼的來源，直到Catherine 自己「突破時間的界線」，卻使Dr. Brian Weiss震驚地經歷三段久遠回憶(1863 B.C., [A.D.] 1756, 1568 B.C. )，這個治療才得到了解決。

    "While hypnotized, Catherine spoke in a slow and deliberate whisper. Because of this, I was able to write down her words verbatim and have quoted Catherine directly. (The ellipses represent pauses in her speech, not deletions of words nor editing on my part. However, some of the material that is repetitious is not included here.)

    Slowly, I took Catherine back to the age of two, but she recalled no significant memories. I instructed her firmly and clearly: "Go back to the time from which your symptoms arise." I was totally unprepared for what came next.

    "I see white steps leading up to a building, a big white building with pillars, open in front. There are no doorways. I'm wearing a long dress ... a sack made of rough material. My hair is braided, long blond hair."

    I was confused. I wasn't sure what was happening. I asked her what the year was, what her name was. "Aronda . . . I am eighteen. I see a marketplace in front of the building. There are baskets. . . You carry the baskets on your shoul-ders. We live in a valley.....There is no water. The year is 1863 B.C. The area is barren, hot, and sandy. There is a well, no rivers. Water comes into the valley from the mountains."

    After she related more topographical details, I told her to go several years ahead in time and to tell me what she saw."

.....

    These were memories of some sort, but from where? My gut reaction was that I had stumbled upon something I knew very little about-reincarnation and past-life memories. It couldn't be, I told myself; my scientifically trained mind re-sisted it. Yet here it was, happening right before my eyes. I couldn't explain it, but I couldn't deny the reality of it either.

    "Go on," I said, a little unnerved but fascinated by what was happening. "Do you remember anything else?" She remembered fragments of two other lifetimes.

    "I have on a dress with black lace, and there is black lace on my head. I have dark hair with gray in it. It's [A.D.] 1756. I am Spanish. My name is Louisa and I'm fifty-six. I'm dancing; others are dancing, too. [Long pause] I'm sick; I have a fever, cold sweats. . .Lots of people are sick; people dying.....The doctors don't know it was from the water." I took her ahead in time. "I recover, but my head still hurt; my eyes and head still hurt from the fever, from the water.....Many die."

    Later she told me that she was a prostitute in that lifetime but she had not relayed that information because she was embarrassed by it. Apparently, while hypnotized, Catherine could censor some of the memories she transmitted back to me.

......

    Since Catherine had recognized her niece in an ancient life time, I impulsively asked her if I was present in any of her lifetimes. I was curious about my role, if any, in her remembrances. She responded quickly, in contrast to the previou very slow and deliberate recall.

    "You are my teacher, sitting on a ledge. You teach usfrom books. You are old with gray hair. You're wearing a white dress [toga] with gold trim. Your name is Diogenes. You teach us symbols, triangles. You are very wise, but I don't understand. The year is 1568 B.C." (This was approximately twelve-hundred years before the noted Greek Cynic philosopher Diogenes. The name was not an uncommon one.)"

。。。。。。

    久遠的歷史中，人們對轉世，投胎，輪迴等，是一般尋常不過的普通的觀念。

    但是， 還是源自人的權利和慾望，真相的事實被埋藏起來。Dr. Brian Weiss 是在非常艱辛的尋找資料中，才發現當年羅馬帝國的大帝為了統治，將宗教中的轉世部分刪除，以鞏固對其帝國奴隸統治。可悲的是，這西方宗教卻一直延續使用至今甚至擴大更大的版圖，令我們深信沒有來世的這樁事，非常接近經濟學中，劣幣驅逐良幣。

    "During the week I had reviewed my textbook from a comparative religions course taken during my freshman year atColumbia. There were indeed reference s to reincarnation in the Old and the New Testaments. In A.D. 325 the Roman emperor Constantine the Great, along with his mother, Helena, had deleted references to reincarnation contained in the New Testament. The Second Council of Constantinople, meeting in A.D. 553, confirmed this action and declared the concept of reincarnation a heresy. Apparently, they thought this concept would weaken the growing power of the Church by giving humans too much time to seek their salvation. Yet the original references had been there; the early Church fa-thers had accepted the concept of reincarnation. The early Gnostics-Clement of Alexandria, Origen, Saint Jerome, and many others-believed that they had lived before and would
again.

    I, however, had never believed in reincarnation. Actually, I had never really spent much time thinking about it. Although my earlier religious training taught about some kind of vague existence of the "soul" after death, I was not convinced about this concept.”

。。。。。。

    Dr. Brian Weiss 開始蒐集「科學」「文獻」，發現確實是有「科學家」對上千的孩童做過轉世追蹤(reincarnation)的研究紀錄，但可惜這些都是不能成主流研究的偏門文獻。

    "With a new insatiable hunger for any scientific papers that had been published on reincarnation, I hunted through the medical libraries. I studied the works of Ian Stevenson, M.D., a well-respected Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Virginia, who has published extensively in the psychiatric literature. Dr. Stevenson has collected over two thousand examples of children with reincarnation-type memories and experiences. Many exhibited xenoglossy, the ability to speak a foreign language to which they were never exposed. His case reports are carefully complete, well-researched, and truly re-markable.

    I read an excellent scientific overview by Edgar Mitchell. With great interest I examined the ESP data from Duke University, and the writings of Professor C. J. Ducasse of Brown University, and I intently analyzed the studies of Dr.Martin Ebon, Dr. Helen Wambach, Dr. Gertrude Schmeidler, Dr. Frederick Lenz, and Dr. Edith Fiore. The more I read, the more I wanted to read. I began to realize that even though I had considered myself well educated about every dimension of the mind, my education had been very limited. There are libraries filled with this research and literature, and few people know about it. Much of this research was conducted, verified, and replicated by reputable clinicians and scientists. Could they all be mistaken or deceived? The evidence seemed to be overwhelmingly supportive, yet I still doubted. Overwhelming or not, I found it difficult to believe. "

。。。。。。

    我自己不知道應該如何翻譯這個，在人死後「見到」的'Master'一字。導師？智者？菩薩？佛？

    "We live inland, not near the sea. County ....Brennington? I see a farm with pigs and lambs. This is our farm." She had gone ahead in time. "We have two boys. The older is getting married. I can see the ... a very church steeple old stone building."

    Suddenly her head hurt, and Catherine was in pain, clutching her left temple area. She reported that she had fallen on the stone steps, but she recovered. She died of old age, in her bed at home with her family around.

    She again floated out of her body after her death, but this time she was not perplexed or confused.

    "I am aware of a bright light. It's wonderful; you get energy from this light." She was resting, after death, in between lifetimes. Minutes passed in silence. Suddenly she spoke, but not in the slow whisper she had always used reviously. Her voice was now husky and loud, without hesitation.

    "Our task is to learn, to become God-like through knowledge. We know so little. You are here to be my teacher. I have so much to learn. By knowledge we approach God, and then we can rest. Then we come back to teach and help others."

    I was speechless. Here was a lesson from after her death, from the in-between state. What was the source of this material? This did not sound at all like Catherine. She had never spoken like this, using these words, this phraseology. Even the tone of her voice was totally different.

    At that moment I did not realize that although Catherine had uttered the words, she had not originated the thoughts. She was relaying what was being said to her. She later identi-fied the Masters, highly evolved souls not presently in body, as the source. They could speak to me through her. Not only could Catherine be regressed to past lifetimes, but now she could channel knowledge from the beyond. Beautiful knowledge. I struggled to retain my objectivity.

    A new dimension had been introduced. Catherine had never read the studies of Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross or Dr. Raymond Moody, who have both written about near-death experiences. She had never heard of the 'Tibetan Book of the Dead'. Yet she was relating similar experiences to those described in these writings. This was a proof of sorts. If only there were more facts, more tangible details I could verify. My skepticism fluctuated, yet remained. Maybe she had read about near-death research in a magazine article or had seen an interview on a television show. Although she denied any conscious emembrance of such an article or show, perhaps she retained a ubconscious memory. But she went beyond these previous writings and transmitted a message back from this in-between state. If only I had more facts.

    After she awakened, Catherine remembered the details of her past lives, as always. However, she could not remember anything that happened after her death as Elizabeth. In the future she would never remember any details of the inbetween states. She could remember the lifetimes.

    "By knowledge we approach God." We were on our way.

    時間似乎在這書裏所記載的，已經超越時間空間限制。

    但這書本裡只提及到過去？可是回想，說的人Catherine 卻是現代人，那就是過去那段回憶中人的未來。

    這還是令自己想起......《無量壽經》佛所說：「不知生所從來，死所趣向。不仁 不順。悕望長生。慈心教誨 而不肯信。苦口與語 無益其人。心中閉塞 意 不開解。大命將終 悔、懼交至。不豫修善 臨時乃悔。悔之於後 將何及乎。」

源自：《佛說大乘無量壽莊嚴清淨平等覺經》-濁世惡苦第三十五