星雲大師點撥
《迷悟之間》：觀照一切
佛教有一個修行的法門，名為「觀照」。凡今日社會人士，不管士農工商、政經名流，甚至演藝人員等，如果能夠懂得「觀照」，在生活中必有幫助。
「觀照」什麼呢？
第一、觀照我與他人的關係；自問我是否有負於他人？
第二、觀照我與物質的關係；自問我是否有浪費物資？
第三、觀照我與金錢的關係；自問我是否有無理聚斂？
第四、觀照我與情愛的關係；自問我是否有濫用感情？
第五、觀照我與社會的關係；自問我是否有與社會互動？
第六、觀照我與自心的關係；自問我是否做到心地清淨？
人，往往只看到別人，看不到自己；看到表面，看不到內心。由於自他的「觀照」不夠，無法明白真相，因此產生煩惱。假如我們懂得「觀照」自己，常常自我反省，明白我與社會人間的關係，才能自我健全。
《般若心經》說：「觀自在菩薩行深般若波羅蜜多時，照見五蘊皆空」。因為懂得「觀照」，才能成為「自在」菩薩；因為「照見五蘊皆空」，才能「度一切苦厄」。
《觀無量壽經》又名《十六觀經》，例如觀日、觀月、觀水、觀地等；如果對大地山河、日月星辰，都能在內心裏有安放的地位，自然就會我心與外境調和、本體和現象一致，如此觀照，又何能不離苦得樂？
佛陀說教，要「觀照」眾生的根機，才能觀機逗教；醫生要觀察患者的病症，才能對症下藥；農夫要觀看天時氣候，才能適時播種；父母要求子女，也要明白子女的根性，才能給予適性教育。
所謂觀照，才能彼此和諧；所謂觀照，才能彼此相應；所謂觀照，才能如魚得水；所謂觀照，吾人才能得道。
經商的人，要做市場調查，這就是觀照；建築大樓，要對土地環境了解，這就是觀照；從政的人，苦思解決民間社會的問題，這都是觀照。
會觀照的人，能夠探測因緣的關係；能觀照的人，能夠深入了解事相的內容。禪者觀心，心中有佛；淨人念佛，佛在心中。心中有佛，佛在心中，還怕人生會不圓滿嗎？
Contemplation
"Contemplation" is a very important practice in Buddhism. It will bring unlimited benefit to our lives, regardless of our profession or social stature. But what is the objective of contemplation?
1. We must carefully examine our relationship with our fellow human beings to see if we have brought harm to them.
2. We must carefully examine the way we treat our material possessions to see if we have been wasteful.
3. We must carefully examine the way we accumulate our wealth to see if we have engaged in any unlawful acts.
4. We must carefully examine our love for others to see if we have indulged in any irrational behavior.
5. We must carefully examine our relationship with society to see if we have interacted improperly therewith.
6. We must carefully examine our minds to see if we have achieved the state of mental purity.
Very often, people have the tendency to neglect the "self" and to concentrate their minds on others' faults. Very often people have a tendency to judge a book by its cover and overlook its contents. Without and be troubled by worries. If we want to understand our relationship with the society that we are a part of and we want to achieve mental soundness, we must actively engage ourselves in reflection and introspection.
The Heart Sutra says, "Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva was moving freely in the deep course of wisdom when he beheld the five aggregates, and saw that in their own being, they were empty." Only when we arrive at an understanding of "contemplation" can we become a bodhisattva of true "freeness." Only when we have gained insight into the true nature of the five aggregates can we overcome all suffering.
The Sutra of Contemplation of Amatiyus, also called the Sutra of Sixteen Contemplations, teaches different kinds of contemplations. Similarly, if we can behold in our mind the moon, the sun, the water and the earth, we will be one with nature. If we can contemplate the true nature of all existence, our minds will be one with all phenomena. With such insight, we will rid ourselves of all miseries and receive infinite joy.
When the Buddha taught, he would first seek to understand the temperament of his listener. When a doctor treats a patient, he will first diagnose the nature of the illness. When a farmer plants the seeds of next sea-son's harvest, he first observes the weather pattern. When a parent asks a child to complete a task, he will know firsthand the limitations of his offspring. Therefore, to have success in our undertakings, we must have proper understanding and observation.
To have contemplation is to have harmony. To have contemplation is to have support and relevance. To have contemplation is to have satisfaction and pleasantness. To have contemplation is to set foot on the path of enlightenment. For a businessman, "contemplation" means market research. For a developer, "contemplation" means land survey. For a politician, "contemplation" means a thorough understanding of peoples' problems and needs.
If a person knows how to contemplate, he will have insight into the relationship of cause and effect. If a person is willing to contemplate, he will have a firm grasp on the true nature of existence. A practitioner of Buddhist meditation has the ability to rediscover his Buddha Nature through introspection. He has the ability to calm his mind through insightful contemplation. Once the dust has been wiped off and the Buddha Nature resurfaces, there is no doubt in one's mind that life will be complete. There will be absolute completeness, with nothing to add or subtract.
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