空性、推理和修行

The third type of sastra is called the Middle Way. Simply speaking, it refers to the view in the middle, in neither extreme. The core concept in the Middle Way is emptiness; the extreme views are existence and non-existence, eternalism and nihilism, etc. The Middle Way is one of Mahayana Buddhism’s most important sastras.

第三种论典，叫做中观。也即不极端的、中间的观点。中间是空性,极端是有和无、常见和断见等等。这是大乘佛教最核心的论典之一。

The fourth type of sastra is called logic, which is a very special and sophisticated form of dialectics. Its approach is similar to the major and minor premises in Western philosophy, but Buddhist logic covers a lot more fronts. A very comprehensive and rigorous logic, it should be studied by those with interest in this subject.

第四种论典，叫做因明。这是比较接近于西方逻辑学的一个非常出色的超级辩证法。它的辩证、推理方法，与西方哲学里的大前提、小前提等等比较相似，但因明所涉及的内涵，却牵涉到方方面面。这是一个非常严密的逻辑，喜欢学逻辑的人应该去读一下因明。

Logic is the study of reaching conclusions based on a series of logical steps. In many Tibetan monasteries, it is common to see monastics engaged in debate. It is through debate that views are established.

因，就是原因、理由。因明就是通过层层理由，来推导出结论。在很多藏传佛教的寺庙里，常能看到很多僧人在辩论。辩论的内容，就是用这种思维方式来建立观点。

The fifth type of sastra is called Ornament of Clear Realization, which deals primarily with the Mahayana Buddhist practice. What do we mean by practice? Although many people are very learned in literature and the arts, what constitutes cultural refinement is just knowledge. The problem is whether we can integrate this knowledge into our life. For example, a person can be proficient in Confucian philosophy and very well versed in the Analects and Di Zi Gui (Standards for Students); whether this knowledge can be applied to his or her life, however, requires special practice. In this sastra, the entire process of the Mahayana Buddhist practice is clearly laid out.

第五种论典，叫做《现观庄严论》。它的主要内容，是讲大乘佛法的修行。什么叫做修行呢？虽然很多人的文化水平很高，但其所谓的文化水平，全都是知识。能不能将这些知识融入生活当中，这就是一个问题了。比如说，即使一个人懂得很多伦理道德的理论，能将《论语》、《弟子规》等传统经典倒背如流，但怎样去把这些知识落实到现实生活当中，就需要一种训练。在这套论典当中，就详尽清晰地宣说了整个大乘佛法的训练过程。

未完待续

欢迎点击阅读原文，进入慧灯坊微店，请购法宝