Realization of the Dharma with Pure Aspiration佛言。博聞愛道。道必難會。 The Buddha said: "If you endeavor to embrace the Way through much learning, the Way will not be understood.
守志奉道。其道甚大。If you observe the Way with simplicity of heart, great indeed is this Way." 英文版经文转载自 菩提字幕屋，英译者 D.T. SuzukiEnglish version sourced from Bodhi Fansubs, translated by D.T. Suzuki △ 英文 | 释宏添 中文 | 妙音 02 : 12 开始
法师讲解：返本會道
Commentary: Realization of the dharma with pure aspiration
The main idea of this chapter is that if we are only fond of hearing the dharma without reflecting on it or practising it earnestly, or if we just consider Buddhism as another science for study, we can hardly realize the true meaning of the dharma. However, if we pursue the truths of Buddhism in good faith with perseverance, not for the purpose of fame or money, we will certainly be able to make great achievements in the path of cultivation.
For example, some scholars in Buddhism can talk about the dharma eloquently. However, they may only consider Buddhism as a subject of study rather than their faith. They even may not have taken refuge in the Three Jewels. Therefore they can hardly be benefited from Buddhism learning, and any success in cultivation would simply be out of the question.
According to the Sutra of an Upasaka's Precepts, if a person takes refuge in the Three Jewels, his bliss will be as enormous as the four treasures, which could not be emptied in seven years even if all the people of a country were mobilized to remove them. However, if we learn a whole lot about the dharma without taking refuge in the Three Jewels, we are just like leaving the treasures empty handed.
In the Surangama Sutra, Ananda was hallucinated by Matangi's daughter, and his precept substance was almost destroyed. However, he was eventually rescued by the Bodhisattva Manjusri sent by the Buddha. After returning to the Buddha’s place, Ananda confessed to the Buddha that he had only cared about erudition but failed to practise the doctrines diligently in his past lives, and that was why he had got hallucinated by witchcraft. As witnessed by Ananda, many disciples of the Buddha had attained arhatship already, but Ananda himself had only reached the first degree of attainment during the Buddha’s lifetime.
