文/蓮生活佛盧勝彥
有人問:「密教行者誦咒、修法。相應時會出現什麼現象?」
我回答:
「密教行者誦咒、修法,努力用功,是有很多相應現象,這些現象是在禪定中見之,或夢中見之,甚至清醒時見之。例如:看見佛菩薩本尊,見自身飛騰在虛空中自在自如,或親臨佛國淨土,這都是大證驗之相。」
「還有看見蓮花座,吃白果吐黑物,或吞下日月星,看見自身放光明,用梳子梳頭,有很多蟲掉了出來,都是罪業消滅之相。」
「有人以前看不懂經書,如今一看就明白能夠總持而不忘,且句句能演多義,智慧增長,通曉一切經律論。一想本尊,本尊就和自己合一,這已接近成就之相,也就是一味瑜伽也。」
「有人看見種種光明,有人看見奇特的蓮花,有人看見煙,看見火,看見光,或見佛像旛蓋會動,或聽天上的天樂,或齒落重生,髮白返黑,這都是貪瞋癡消滅的好現象也。」
我說,密教行者有了相應之現象,不要生起取捨之心,不要高興欲狂,以平常心對之。仍然努力用功,勿對人自我貢高,但可以和同門師長互相鼓勵,不是為了名利稱讚,方可說之。
當三昧法門得相應之時,福慧增長,便知一切所逢之境界全是如夢如幻,法界一心也。
此時當知,如如不動,神通任運,證無上正等正覺,直求成佛而已。

 

ThePhenomenaandSignsofAttainingResponse

WrittenbyLian-shenLinvingBuddhaSheng-yenLu
TranslatedbyChengYewChungeditedbyVictorHazen
TrueBuddhaFoundationTranslationTeam

Someone asked,"When ajrayana ractitioners attain esponse from mantra chanting and cultivation, what are the phenomenon and signs that will occur?"
My reply as, "As Vajrayana ractitioners, when you recite mantras and cultivate your practices diligently, you will experience many phenomena and signs of response. These phenomena are seen during meditation, in the dream
state or even the waking state. For example, you may see the appearance of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas or your principal deity. You may find yourself flying through space in total freedom, or you may reach any of the Buddha Pure Lands. These are signs of great verification."
"You may also see lotus thrones, may experience consuming white fruits and vomiting dark filth, or swallowing the sun, the moon and the stars. You may see yourself radiating light, or may find yourself combing your hair where many worms will drop away. Such are the signs of karmic clearance.
"An individual who could not comprehend a sutra previously will now understand it with clarity, memorize it, and be able to, from its scriptural text, weave a multitude of insights. Your wisdom shall improve, and you shall gain mastery in all Sutras, Vinayas, and Sastras. Should you think of your principal deity, you shall at once be come one with the deity. You are approaching the level of accomplishment, which is the Yoga of One Taste.
"Some may see different lights, while others would see a variety of strange blossoms of lotus flowers. Some may see smoke, fire orlight, or may find Buddha statues or canopies moving. Some may hear celestial music being played, or experience the growth of a new tooth, or find that their white hair is turning black again. These are signs of the eradication of greed, anger and ignorance."
My view is that when Vajrayana practitioners gain spiritual responses, they should neither reject nor grasp them, and should not be overjoyed, but rather should look at them as normal. They must continue their practice diligently, and should not become vain and proud. However, they may share these experiences with their fellow practitioners and seniors as a way of mutual encouragement, but not for self-glorification and personal benefits.
When spiritual responses are attained with the Samadhi Dharma teachings, they experience an enhancement of blessings and wisdom, and yet know that all that they encounteris dream-like and illusory, for they realize the truth that the Dharma realm exists as a singular non-dualistic reality.
At this point, you come to know that you are abiding in an immovable state of absolute being, where you can freely
express yourself and exercise your spiritual powers and attain the unexcelled state of Perfect Enlightenment. At this point, you seek only Buddhahood.