靜思晨語--20110926《法譬如水》十身 (二)

【證嚴上人開示】
十身：
眾生身、國土身、業報身
聲聞身、獨覺身、菩薩身
如來身、智　身、法　身
虛空身
十身，我們昨天說到，第一是「眾生身」，第二是「國土身」。今天要解釋的就是「業報身」。
業報身，確實，眾生都是乘業報生在人間。我們大家在過去生中，萬般帶不去，但是帶來的就是業。我們的業報帶來到這一生，不論你的身形，是報生什麼樣的身形，是男？是女？是長？還是短？是五官端正、四肢健全？這都是和我們過去生中有關。
所以現在的人，醫學發達，在人的身體中，有一種叫做基因。基因就是叫做遺傳，對現代的人來說，這是由父母的血統遺傳。
其實在佛陀的解釋，比父母的遺傳還深。因為我們過去生中，造什麼業？結什麼緣？我們就受這這對父母，因為有緣，所以報生在這個地方，由不得我們。
所以這個業，只要你過去，和這對父母結的緣，是好緣、是惡緣、是富的緣、或是貧的緣，這要看，由不得我們自己，都是由業而來。
過去因、現在果
現在因、未來果
眾生乘業報生人間
半分都由不得自己
傑博，我們若想到這個孩子，第一次來的時候，我們覺得很不忍心。也感覺這種基因，到底他和父親、母親，是什麼樣的基因去混合？為什麼從在肚子裡，就開始五官不全？而且四肢的肢體也不全。我們看他的手，只有根手指頭，都不完全；腳也是一樣。這種末梢枝末的肢體不健全。
再想到在他的臉，還沒來到臺灣之前，他根本沒有七孔，只是一個大窟窿而已。眼睛、鼻、嘴都合在一起，就是一個大洞。這個孩子，是不是叫做業報身呢？過去生中造了什麼業？出生和這對的父母有緣。
也幸好，幸好那時他出生時早產，因為八個月出生的孩子。醫師把這個孩子接生下來時，大家都嚇到了，不過，醫師對他的母親說：「這個孩子活不過七天。」在這七天之中，你們好好愛他。這句話，這個媽媽很希望，彌補這個孩子，所以她用很愛的心去疼愛他。
第一是骨肉；第二是要彌補他。所以這七天的真愛，愛出了真情，七天過去了，孩子的生命力還留著，就此開始，一個月過一個月，已經到了一歲多那時候。真的他也是有好緣，才會和我們慈濟人有這個因緣，有人介紹被我們發現。從此開始，人間的菩薩，陪伴著這位媽媽菩薩，來陪著這個孩子。
這種愛的會合，我們把孩子接到臺灣，就在大林(慈院)為這個孩子做了很多。孩子本身也很辛苦，我們的醫療團隊，壓力也是很大。尤其是母親的擔心，心靈的折騰，真的也是很折磨。慈濟人的愛共同陪伴。
業！這種業報身，除了他的身體自身以外，他生活的環境、家庭貧困，父親本身有心臟病，又是在做小工，邊做邊停，稍微做一下就要再休息。所以家庭就是要靠媽媽，修指甲、擦指甲，如此來維持家庭。你們自己想，這個孩子一生下來，殘而貧，貧窮實在是苦不堪言。這叫做業報身。
另外有一個孩子，大家應該記得諾文狄，比傑博更嚴重，他是齒堊瘤。這是非常罕見的，生下來在牙床裡，就有這種瘤，已經變得，孩子的臉像河馬臉。
在二００二年，我們去巴淡島義診，這個孩子，聽到他的鄰居對他們說，有來自新加坡的醫生，慈濟人醫會在巴淡島義診。這麼貧窮的家庭，這個孩子有這麼畸形的大瘤，所以趕緊把這個孩子帶來給我們的醫生看。
來了，語言不通，我們翻譯的人跟他說明天再來，但是他聽錯了，以為是說沒救了，明天也不用來了，就這樣帶回去了。他們家要來到這裡，也是很遠，跋山涉水很遠，就這樣隔天沒來了。
我們在義診時覺得，奇怪，約好的這個孩子，應該要來，整形外科可以幫他看，是不是能開刀？但是就此沒有信息。經過再幾次義診，還是一樣，這個孩子都沒有消息。又過了一年多後，這個孩子又出現了，他的母親把他帶過來。一看，比過去一年多前，(瘤)長大了，大得很快，大家看了大家怕。
看他雖然七孔分明，但是瘤已經把整個嘴撐開了，沒辦法吞口水，裡面都已經破了，發出很重的臭味。那時在新加坡的人醫會，把相片轉回來，把這張照片帶回來給我看時，「怎麼可能呢？」給醫生看，妙手、妙法、妙人醫，父母心的醫師，他們願意接。
願意接，到底有可能(醫治)嗎？我們的醫師還是去看他了，試看看，接來了，這個孩子，這段時間在花蓮，得到多少人的同情？得到多少人的疼愛？孩子自己本身很樂觀，所以那段時間，為他一次又再一次開刀整形。
但是這種病，醫師已經說了：「還會不會繼續長大，至少到十八歲。」就是等到他的身體成長為止，十八歲，對這個孩子來說，是多麼長的歲月？一次開刀，要花多大的心神！也不是一次就好，一邊刻，刻過了還要再刻，光是臉上的骨、肉，那個瘤取下來就有好幾公斤。這個孩子的臉形，好不容易經過幾次開刀整形，那是很大的刀。
兩、三個月後回去了，經過同樣一年多的時間，諾文狄又帶來了。這個孩子的臉形又變了，雖然不是第一次來，那樣的形態，不過，用肉眼看看得出，臉形又再長大了。
但是這次來，問題不在臉上，問題是在他的肺部。發育、營養都不夠。因為家庭貧困，尤其是住在偏遠的地方，除了貧窮以外，營養不良，所以這個孩子照顧也不良，所以常常感冒、肺的感染等等。
這次來就喘。本來我們的醫生為他診斷，最好是幫他氣切，開個洞，讓他呼吸較順暢，而且營養也可以補給。但是這也不是很安全的事，他的父母再三考慮；其實這對我們來說，也有很大的風險，尤其是現在才五歲而已。要等他十八歲，還要十幾年。
那張臉齒堊瘤，還是會不斷成長，會再大。
尤其是現在的肺部已經非常衰弱了，後來只好再讓他們回去。再交代，萬一他肺部呼吸不順暢時，就會很快離開。
果然，帶回去之後不久，報回來的消息，這個孩子一早起來，依照他生活的習慣，五點多起來，開電視，先看看電視，很樂觀、唱歌、搖啊搖。我們還記得這個孩子只要一聽到音樂就是搖啊搖。之後他媽媽又讓他：「好啊！聽好了就好，趕快再去睡吧！」又帶他去睡。就這樣七點多，聽到這個孩子呼吸的聲音不太對勁，去看看他，已經是呼吸需要急救了。趕緊通知，就是要送他去急救，也已經來不及了。就這樣，這個孩子五歲多，結束了他多災多難的業報身。雖然捨不得啊！
現在在說這個孩子，他過去在我們這裡和我們互動，音樂放出來，你就可以看到這個孩子很可愛，全身一直搖，很樂觀。從那張臉大大的沒有表情，嘴巴張開沒表情，一直為他整容、整容，整容到看到他能笑了，看到他的臉部有表情。
從不會走路，在我們這裡一直養、養。養到他可以站起來，養到他可以牽著手走過來，養到牽著會走過來，看到他用走的，走出精舍的門口，只要有人牽著。
亖、四個月的過程，再來時，還是看到他臉部的表情，只是聽到他呼吸的時間，很異常，內心就有一種不吉利那種感覺，但是內心很矛盾。感覺他還要再等十幾年，很辛苦。
說不定這一生這裡，這麼多人祝福他，這回結這麼多好緣。
他也很懂得感恩，若對他說：「諾文狄！感恩！」他的手就會感恩(手語)，看到人就會感恩！感恩！最少也培養他一分感恩心，至少也培養他一分歡喜、樂觀的心。所以希望這個孩子，過去的業報身消除，但願他帶著這分與慈濟人，結了這麼多好緣，這麼多人祝福他，帶著這分福再來、這分好緣再來。所以說，他這一生五、六年的時間結束，應該也是要說祝福！重業輕受！
若不是和慈濟人在一起，他這個重業，不知道還要多久，希望他的重業，能縮短為輕的業。所以這叫做業報身，有很多由不得自己。
所以師父常常會對大家說：「因果可畏。」這一生，人與人的互動，不是過去就好了，我們還有來生來世，由不得我們自己。
要去哪裡選擇我們的父母？就要看我們這一生，和人結的是什麼的緣！我們是要在貧或是富的家庭？要看你這一生，造了什麼福沒有。來生你是要受苦還是快樂？要看你這一生。
很多的劇本，就是在這一生完成的，來生就是要上舞台了。
因果可畏
來生會去什麼家庭
有何業報在身
端看此生
所結的緣與福
各位，業報身很可怕，所以我們要很慶幸，我們四肢健全，我們的思想健康，我們的身體也還不錯。所以我們要時時感恩，感恩我們得此人生，還能得聞佛法，還能身體力行，在道場中修行。所以我們要時時說「感恩」！
所以，各位，我們真的要多用心。
業報身就是「煩惱為因，所感業報。」這叫做「業報身」。所以大家要時時多用心。

束，應該也是要說祝福！重業輕受！

若不是和慈濟人在一起，他這個重業，不知道還要多久，希望他的重業，能縮短為輕的業。所以這叫做業報身，有很多由不得自己。

所以師父常常會對大家說：「因果可畏。」這一生，人與人的互動，不是過去就好了，我們還有來生來世，由不得我們自己。

要去哪裡選擇我們的父母？就要看我們這一生，和人結的是什麼的緣！我們是要在貧或是富的家庭？要看你這一生，造了什麼福沒有。來生你是要受苦還是快樂？要看你這一生。

很多的劇本，就是在這一生完成的，來生就是要上舞台了。

因果可畏
來生會去什麼家庭
有何業報在身
端看此生
所結的緣與福

各位，業報身很可怕，所以我們要很慶幸，我們四肢健全，我們的思想健康，我們的身體也還不錯。所以我們要時時感恩，感恩我們得此人生，還能得聞佛法，還能身體力行，在道場中修行。所以我們要時時說「感恩」！

所以，各位，我們真的要多用心。

業報身就是「煩惱為因，所感業報。」這叫做「業報身」。所以大家要時時多用心。

Lecturer: Master Zheng-Yan
Subject: Ten Bodies Part 2 (十身二)
We have been discussing the Ten Bodies. The first is Sentient-Being-body. Second is the Land-body. Today we will talk about the Karma-body.

As living beings, we are all born as a result of Karma. From our past lives, we took nothing with us into this life except karma. Whatever physical form you are born with, whether male or female, tall or short decent-looking, healthy, these are all related to your past lives.

We now know that humans have genes and that genetic traits are passed from parents to child. The Buddha’s explanation, however, is more profound than heredity. In our past lives, the karma and affinities we created led us to our parents. Conditions we created caused us to be born here. It is based on karma and cannot be escaped. The affinities with our parents that we created, whether good or bad, whether conductive to a rich or poor life, all determine our lives now. It is based on karma and cannot be escaped.

Past causes result in present conditions. Present conditions result in future conditions. All sentient beings come to this world because of past causes and conditions. There is no escaping this.

I remember when this child named Jayvo first came here, we felt so sad. I wondered how his parent’s genes combined to cause his face and four limbs to be malformed. He only had two fingers on his hands and his feet were also deformed. The deformities were due to peripheral nerve damage. Before coming to Taiwan, he didn’t even have all of his facial features. There was just one big hole with his eyes, nose and mouth in one place. This child had such a body as a result of karma. What had he done in previous lives to create affinities with his present parents?

Luckily he was born prematurely. He was born after only eight months. When the doctor delivered him, everybody was startled. The doctor told the mother that the child would not live more than 7 days, so in those 7 days, they should love him dearly. Heeding the doctor’s words, the mother tried her best to make it up to her child. She loved him with all her heart. He was her son and she wanted to make it up to him. So in those 7 days of loving care, she showed him true affection.

After 7 days, he was still alive. Months went by, until he was one year old. He had good affinities, and was found by Tzu Chi volunteers through someone’s introduction. Those living Bodhisattvas accompanied the mother and her child, with love, to the Tzu Chi Dalin Hospital in Taiwan. A lot was done for the child, but he suffered greatly.

Our medical team was also under great pressure. And the mother was debilitated by anxiety and emotional pain. Tzu Chi volunteers accompanied her with love. Karma had led to this kind of Karma-body. Besides physical deformities, his family was very poor. His father had heart disease, and was a laborer who worked intermittently. He had to rest after working brief periods. So the family’s livelihood depended on the mother, who worked as a manicurist.

We can imagine life as a child born deformed and poor. Poverty is suffering beyond words. This is Karma-body.

Around that same time, there was another child. You should remember Novemthree. His condition was even more severe. He had Gigantiform cementoma, which is rare. It was an autosomal dental tumor that disfigured the child’s face completely.

In 2002, we held a medical outreach in Batam Island. This child’s parents heard from neighbors that doctors from Singapore’s Tzu Chi Medical Assoc. were doing outreach on Batam Island. The impoverished family had a child with a severe deformity caused by the huge tumor. So they brought the child to our doctors. When they arrived, there were language barriers. The interpreter asked them to return the next day, but they heard it wrong. They thought he said it was incurable and they didn’t need to come back tomorrow. So they took the child home. They traveled far to see the doctors, crossing mountains and rivers. Yet they did not return the next day.

The doctors wondered why the child did not show up for his appointment. The plastic surgeon would have seen whether surgery could be performed. But there was no news of the child. After several more medical outreaches, they still had not heard about the child. After more than a year, the child appeared with his mother. During that year, his tumor had grown so quickly that it frightened others. Though he had distinct facial features, his tumor had forced open his mouth. He could not even swallow his own saliva. It had ruptured inside, emitting a foul odor.

The Singapore Tzu Chi Medical Association sent back a photo for me to see. I could not believe it and showed it to the doctors. The doctors with wondrous skills, knowledge and loving hearts, were willing to take the case. But was the condition treatable? Our doctors went to see him and wanted to try. They brought the child back.

During his stay in Hualien, the child received a lot of sympathy and love. He was very optimistic. He had surgeries one after another. Yet as the doctors said, despite surgery, the tumor would keep growing until he reached 18, when his body stopped maturing. For him, the time until he was 18 was very long. Each surgery required a lot effort it would not be just one surgery, the tissue had to be removed repeatedly. The tumor removed just from his face weighed up to several kilograms.

After several major reconstructive operations, within a period of 2 to 3 months, he returned home. More than a year later, he was brought back again. His face had changed. Although it was not severe, one could still tell that his face was enlarged.

But this time, the problem was not with his face, but his lungs. Without proper nutrition, he did not develop well. His family was poor and lived in a rural area. Besides malnutrition and poverty, he did not receive proper medical care either. He often had flu, pulmonary infections, etc. He also had shortness of breath. Based on our doctor’s diagnosis, it would be good to perform a tracheotomy to open an airway for him to breathe more easily and replenish his body with more oxygen. But it was a risky procedure.

His parents considered it for a long time. It also presented a lot of risks for us, since he was only five. It would be over 10 years before he would turn 18, so the tumor would continue to grow. His lungs were already very weak. So finally we let him return home and reminded the parents that if his breathing became irregular, he could die at any time.

They went home. News later came that one day he had got up early as usual, at about 5 am, and switched on television and switched on the television. He was very cheerful. He sang and moved his body. We all remember that he would his body to the music. His mother let him listen, then took him back to bed. At about 7am, she heard that his breathing was irregular. When she checked on him, she saw he needed to go to the emergency room. She sent him at once, but it was too late. In this way, this five-year-old child ended the suffering of his Karma-body.

Though we were sad to let him go, while he was here, he touched us. When music played, you would see this adorable child moving his body. He was very cheerful. Initially, his large face had no expression, he could open his mouth. After the surgeries, however, we saw him laugh and show expression. At first, he could not walk. We took care of him till he could stand up and start walking with others holding his hand. We saw him walk out of the Abode’s gate with someone leading him. This process took 3 to 4 months. When he came again, and I saw his facial expressions, and heard his abnormal breathing, I had an ominous feeling. My heart was in conflict. For him to wait another 10 years or more would be difficult. In this cycle of life and death, perhaps he had obtained good wishes and affinities here. He also learned gratitude. If someone said to him, “Novemthree, thank you,” he would gesture gratitude in sign language. He would show gratitude when he saw others. We had at least fostered a grateful, joyful, and optimistic heart in him.

So I hope that the child has ended his karma and can come back with the blessings and good affinities he created with all the Tzu Chi volunteers. May he return with blessings and good connections. Though his life ended before he was six, it was not without blessings. He received lighter retributions for serious karma.

If he was not with Tzu Chi volunteers, his serious karma might have taken longer to dissipate. I hope his serious karma may become lighter. That is Karma-body. There are many things not under our control.

So I always tell everyone to heed cause and effect. In the life, the interactions we have with others have effects on our future lives. It is not up to us to choose our parents. It all depends on the affinities we created with others. Whether we will be born in a rich or poor family depends on the merits we create in this life. Whether you will suffer or rejoice in future lives depends on your present life. So many future scripts are completed in this life. They’ll be performed on the stage of future lives.

Be apprehensive of cause and effect. The family that we will be born into depends upon the connections and blessings we create in this life, which produced the karma that will lead us to our next life.

Everyone, Karma-body is frightening. So we should be grateful that we were born with four healthy limbs, with healthy minds and bodies. We must be grateful always to have a human body, to hear Buddha-Dharma and put it into practice in a place of spiritual cultivation. So we have to show gratitude often.

Everyone, we should truly be more mindful. Karma body is “the result of karma caused by afflictions. So everyone, please always be mindful.
(Source: Da Ai TV 靜思晨語法譬如水)