《中英版》两极哲理之（三）再谈心灵平静的益处

两极使者

两极哲理之（三）再谈心灵平静的益处

现以宗教的角度来谈谈宗教是怎样使人的心灵平静。各宗教的宗旨是希望信徒能获得心灵平静，有了心灵平静的信徒才能有更高层次的收获；直接了当地说，这个高层次的收获就是发掘一个人的内智慧。各宗教如佛教、基督教、印度教等都把人类的智慧分成两类，即内智慧与外智慧。在圣经里内智慧又称为上帝智慧，外智慧则称为世俗智慧。所谓外智慧是人类学习东西所运用的智慧，是能被看到听到的智慧，如：我们学习语言、学习艺术、学习科技，再而写出文章、创作艺术品、发明新东西等等，都是人类外智慧的贡献。但当人类的外智慧越来越发达，从创造文字、发明电灯飞机以及上太空等等的同时，我们的内智慧却愈来愈被遗忘了。
　　
什么是内智慧呢？那就是人类的超自然能力，这种能力是看不见听不到更摸不到的。譬如有的人能知道某地发生了什么事情，有的人能做出某种科学所不能解释的事情，如病人因他的触摸而痊愈等。从前人类的内智慧是很发达的，但由于它是人们看不见听不到摸不到的东西，而只能从口传或文章里得知有这么一回事，因此多数人还是半信半疑，例子如耶稣基督与佛祖释迦牟尼的超自然事迹、新加坡广播电台播放某美国人以第六感协助警方破案等等的超自然本领，及我们听某人有某些特异功能等，这些都是内智慧充分的表观。
　　
由于内智慧是人们看不见听不到及摸不到的东西，人们至今还无法以科学方式来证明具有内智慧的人的这种本领，以至到了高科技发达的九十年代，内智慧仍然令人觉得它是一种非常神秘的东西。其实，如果我们以接受的态度来探讨内智慧的话，它不但不神秘，而且对我们人类的未来发展，将能作出无限的推动作用和不平凡的贡献。
　　
内智慧也和外智慧一样有着不同高低层次的，但当一个人的内智慧达到较高层次时，他是生活在最完美最和谐的境界里，也往往希望人们去追求这种境界，这种境界就是所谓的天堂或极乐世界，圣人如耶稣基督、释迦牟尼、默罕末德等都是这种具有高层次的内智慧的典范。当他们还在人间时，他们的灵体已经生活在天堂或极乐世界里。这种说法，在一些人听来，甚觉得好笑，实则不是趣谈，它是一种现实存在的、还没有被人们所承认的东西。
　　
虽然各宗教有不同的方法来发掘人类的内智慧，但它们的方法都相当的一致，可归纳成以下几个步骤或方式：
（一）要发掘一个人的内智慧，必须先让那个人的心灵保持绝对平静，而且心灵平静必须持久，在这种状态下内智慧才容易被发掘。
（二）要心灵平静必须先完全净化身心。
净化身心包括：
1、守口戒：即遵守某些饮食习惯，如佛教的吃素、宗教的不喝酒等。
2、守口德：如不说谎、不挑拨离间等等，这方面各宗教的经典都以许许多多的例子或戒律方式告诉教徒去做。
3、行善：因为行善能很有效的让一个人达到心灵平静，但必须是诚心自然地行善才行。行善除了要求一个人心理没有任何邪恶的念头之外，就是做有益社会人群的事。
（三）以仪式帮助信徒心灵平静，如静坐、念经、祈祷、祷告等等方法。佛教的金刚经、观音法门，或基督教及回教的祈祷与祷告皆是。
　　
也许读者现在会问，假如一个人的心灵平静之后，又怎能得到内智慧呢？各宗教都告诉同一个答案，就是内智慧就在你的心中（并非指心脏里，是指意念的生产中心），你要得到它，先要以平静的心灵去推动你的灵魂进入内智慧世界（即所谓的天界或天堂，见下文《天地图》）。内智慧世界据经书记载最少有七个境界，一般的圣人活佛最低能到达第二或第三个境界，能到达第七境界的非常的少。我的一位基督朋友告诉我圣经里也有记载某人到达第七境界的事迹，可惜我无法找到材料。
　　
刚才提到灵魂，也许你会问灵魂是什么？虽然很难把灵魂说得清楚及证明出来它是怎么个样子，但当你面临生命危险时，你也许会很容易地体验到灵魂是存在的；或当你同时要办两件紧急的事情时，你也可能有机会体验到你的身体和灵魂是分别存在的。
　　
我不知道当一个人的灵魂进入了内智慧世界之后，他又如何能因此而获得超自然的能力或本领（当然本领会有大或小及各有不同），但当一个人具备了内智慧之后，他的行为也有所改变。别人会发现他具有某些意想不到的才华或能力，他逐渐不再“执我”（“执我”是佛家所说的“空”的反意词，乃是笔者自创）。他具有某些超自然的本领但不会利用它来谋利或伤害人。当他静坐闭目养神时能看到或听到世上所没有的光或音等，如果他有信仰的话，他已经体验了他心中的主或佛了。
　　

写了这么多，其实要说的是：请大家接受人类有内、外智慧的事实，一旦接受了这个事实，我们非旦对那些神秘的事件不会感到害怕，而且还可以利用内智慧来造福人群呢。另一个要接受的事实是，内智慧是可以通过方法而获得的（虽然它有高低之分），如果我们能理解宗教的教导宗旨也是为了达到这个目标，那么参加宗教就会另有意义了。
　　
两极哲理基本上是帮一个人以自己的思考来判断善恶以达到心灵平静的境界，而宗教却是以教义戒律及例子训练一个人达到心灵平静的境界。宗教还多了一个仪式如静坐祈祷等来帮助人达到心灵平静，因为仪式能让一个人暂时忘了一切的烦恼。但两极哲理则是要一个人以分辨善恶的方法去根除他的烦恼，而使他的内心情绪平静下来。我以两极哲理去理解各宗教的义理戒律，结果发觉更容易明白其中道理。例如佛教及回教的守口德事例，如果以两极哲理去理解，就是你如果羞辱人，是恶性前极，会导至恶性后极，即你会被别人羞辱或被恨等，这就是因与果，用宗教的话说，是上帝或阿拉的处罚。倘若两极哲理能与宗教互相配合的话，这对宗教的劝善劝上的目的及发掘人类的内智慧，相信是有很好的促进作用。
　　
顺笔提一提文中说到的守口戒，到底守口戒有什么益处呢？宗教都反对喝酒，因为酒能乱性，即你的行为因喝了酒而改变，如变得爱说话、容易发脾气，或产生邪恶意念等。佛教也反对吃肉，因为吃肉也能造成乱性，为何这样说呢？有这么个理论：当动物面临死亡威胁时，它会由于惊怒愁恨及为了逃命和不想身躯被敌人吃掉而身体自然地分泌了某些激素，就像人类在危急时，身体也自然地产生肾上腺激素而使心跳加快，及体力增加以方便逃亡的原理一样。当动物在那种情况死亡后，这些被分泌出来的有害激素就会遗留在身体内，人们吃了这种有害激素，就会像肾上腺激素那样在我们的身心产生作用，而造成乱性。比如你会对某些原本是很小的事情发怒而后来又后悔，或对某些事情很担忧而后来又觉得是小题大作等等。佛书有记载，如果不得已要吃肉，是可以吃自然死亡的动物的肉。佛教另一个反对吃肉的主要原因是吃肉会残杀生命，会造成恶性的因果轮回。喝酒能乱性，某些人喝了一杯就醉，但某些人要喝了很多杯才会醉。吃肉乱性也会因人而异，但却不像喝酒乱性那么明显。读者不妨自己做个实验，先吃素最少七到十四天，然后再吃回肉食，尤其是牛肉，看看你的生理及心理在吃素期间或改吃肉食后的第二、三天的反应如何。


英文版
Part Three: Further Deliberations on the Benefits of Spiritual Tranquility

Now let us investigate how religions enable spiritual tranquillity. Religions, without exception, urge their believers to strive for spiritual tranquillity, which ensures a higher-level of achievement. To put it clearer, the higher-level of achievement refers to the development of inner wisdom.

Religions, such as Buddhism, Christianity and Islam, classify men into two kinds of human wisdom, i.e., inner and outer wisdom. In the Bible, the former is referred to as the wisdom of God, the latter wisdom of men. Outer wisdom is that used by human beings to learn and create, and is perceptible. Outer wisdom contributes to the acquisition of skills associated with language, arts, science and technology, artistic creations and inventions. True, at the present stage, the human outer wisdom is highly developed. Unfortunately, the more developed the outer wisdom, the less we use our inner wisdom.

What is inner wisdom? It is the supernatural power possessed by human beings, which is invisible and imperceptible. For instance, some people are capable of perceiving the happenings in the far distance; some can cure a disease simply by touching the patient. These phenomena, still beyond the comprehensibility of scientists, are related to the inner wisdom. In the past, the human inner wisdom was highly developed. However, owing to its imperceptibility, there are few records available. This makes it even more mysterious. Yet we may find specific instances manifesting the existence of inner wisdom, such as the legends of Jesus Christ and Sakyamuni, and other stories about people possessing extraordinary abilities.

Being invisible and imperceptible, inner wisdom still remains a mystery even for scientists in the 1990s, who are equipped with high technology. Yet if we take an objective view about developing it, it will inevitably contribute to the advancement of the human society.

Similar to outer wisdom, inner wisdom can be divided into different levels. When reaching a higher-level, one lives in a state of harmony which he wants to share with others. Such a state is what is referred to as Heaven or Paradise. Sages like Jesus, Sakyamuni and the Prophet Mohammed all reached this level. When still on Earth , their souls had lived in Heaven. It may sound ridiculous, yet it is true.

Religions vary in their methods to develop the inner wisdom, however, these methods are similar in essence, which can be grouped into the following steps or ways:

1. To exploit one's inner wisdom, perpetual spiritual tranquillity is the prerequisite, for only in such a state can a person’s inner wisdom be developed.

2. To achieve spiritual tranquillity, one must first purify himself physically and spiritually, which may include:

a. going on a strict diet, such as being a vegetarian or abstaining from alcoholic drinks;
b. being discreet in word, such as not telling lies, not sowing discord;
c. doing good deeds, for good deeds help one to achieve spiritual tranquillity. Good deeds include being free from evil ideas; being beneficial to people and society. Good deeds should be done naturally and without any ulterior motive behind.

3. To help the believers with rituals, such as meditation, scripture chanting and prayers. These rituals are recorded in Christianity, Islam, Guanyin Method and Jingangjing.
How to acquire inner wisdom once spiritual tranquillity has been achieved? Religions all agree that inner wisdom lies within — not in the heart, but in the consciousness. So, to achieve it, you should reach a tranquil mind which can then propel your soul towards the world of inner wisdom (i.e., Heaven or Paradise; see ‘‘Map of Heaven and Earth’’). Accordingly to Buddhist scriptures, the inner wisdom world consists of seven states. Normally, the sages and living Buddhas can reach the 2nd or 3rd state, few can reach the 7th state. One of my Christian friends told me of the Bible recording people who have reached the 7th state. But I do not have any evidence. So far as I know, the Qinghai Supreme Master is the only person who claims that she can reach this state.

One may question about the essence of soul, because it is beyond description. Yet when your life is in danger, you may clearly feel the existence of your soul. Also, when caught in the meantime by two emergent cases, and the decisions must be carried out immediately, you may feel that the soul and body exist separately.

I have no idea as to how a person acquires the supernatural power the moment his soul enters the world of inner wisdom. What is true is that when he acquires the inner wisdom, his behaviour changes. He is found to possess extraordinary capabilities and gradually loses his ‘‘self-consciousness’’ (‘‘self-consciousness’’ is the opposite of ‘‘void’’ in Buddhism). Though equipped with extraordinary capabilities, he will not use it for self-interest or will not use it to harm others. If he close his eyes, he may hear a sound or see a light which would never be sensed by worldly beings. If he has any faith, he can see the visions of God or Buddha.

The purpose of my writing so much about the inner and outer wisdom, is to hopefully convince you of accepting the existance of such wisdom. Once you accept this fact, instead of being scared by some seemingly unusual and mysterious occurrences, you can learn to contribute to mankind by the proper use of the inner wisdom. Another fact is that inner wisdom can be acquired through certain methods which has been described in this Part earlier.

Religions are all striving for this goal. To understand this ultimate goal behind religions may make religious faith more meaningful.

LEE enables one to achieve spiritual tranquillity on the basis of his own judgement, while religions through preaching and the enforcement of admonishment and training. Furthermore, religions resort to rituals, such as prayers and meditation. Rituals may make one temporarily forget his vexations. Different from religions, LEE intends to eradicate vexations by making one tranquil and enabling him to judge good and evil on his own. By using LEE, I find it easier to understand the creeds and admonishments of religions. For instance, the admonishment of ‘‘being discreet in word’’, if interpreted with LEE, is: you insult others (as a bad starting event) incurs hatred for you (as a bad subsequent event). Such a relation of causality, in terms of religion, would be the punishment by God or Allah. Hence, should religions combine with LEE, it would be conducive to the development of human inner wisdom and to the ultimate goal of religion which is to persuade followers to do good deeds.

What are the benefits of adhering to the admonishment of a strict diet? Religions are against alcoholism, because alcohol influences one’s mind which in turn affects the behaviour. When drunk, one is liable to be talkative, hot-tempered or full of wicked ideas. Likewise, Buddhism opposes flesh-eating, because it, too, influences one’s mind and behaviour. Why so? As we know, human beings when in face of danger tend to generate more adrenaline which helps to speed up blood circulation thus increasing strengths. Similarly, when animals are threatened by an approaching danger secrete certain unknown hormones which remain in their bodies after death. Meat containing these unknown hormones has the similar effect as adrenaline, thus affecting one’s mind and behaviour. That is why people sometimes get angry easily or over-worried over the small matters, but regret it afterwards.

So Buddhism allows believers to eat the meat of animals that have died a natural death, when they have no other choice but to eat meat. Buddhism opposes flesh-eating for another reason. That is, to get meat from animals inevitably involves slaughtering which leads to bad subsequent event. True, both alcoholism and flesh-eating affects one’s mind and behaviour. Yet the amount consumed, sufficient for a such influence, varies from person to person. In general, flesh-eating, though affecting mind and behaviour does not have such a strong effect as alcohol. You may do an experiment. Be a vegetarian for a couple of weeks, then try some meat, beef in particular. You may feel the physical and psychological changes within you.