传承｜Lineage

传承对治的是修行的疑问，圆满的传承可以完全遣除修行中的一切疑问、消除一切障碍。这就是修行者要得到传承的原因。

但传承不仅仅是在导师面前听闻一遍传承便是万事大吉，念诵传承的功德固然不可思议，可以在众生的相续中播下解脱的种子，然如是传承仅为名言传承。历代传承祖师都是依圆满传承实修而获得证悟，可不是天天听口头念诵仪轨而解脱，因此通达修法理趣和方便并依教实修者，才算得到传承。而证悟与历代传承祖师无别之密意者，才堪称清净传承的持有者。若完全不懂修行理趣与方便，哪怕在一千位导师面前听 闻一千遍传承仪轨，仍然不算得到传承。

有些修行者有疑问：“通过录音、光盘等方式通达传承修法，但没有在传承导师面前亲自得到教授，是否算得到传承？”

其实真正的传承来自于信心，如老妇将狗牙当做佛牙而祈祷终获解脱，老妇并没有得到任何导师的传承，她的解脱主要来自于信心。因此信心就是最大的传承，只要有信心，传承就已经得到了。

但有的人只是仅凭书面句义东拼西凑的理解佛法，这不过是断章取义，真正付诸实修时一定要在导师面前得到指正，否则自以为是的修行，并不算真正的得到传承。

Lineage is the antidote to doubts during Buddhist practice. Any doubts and obstacles could be eliminated by perfect lineage during the practice. This is the reason why lineage is crucial to practitioners.

However, Lineage is more than listening to the Guide. There is no doubt that the merit of lineage recitation is incredibly huge. It can sow seeds of liberation in the continuum of sentient beings. Even so, the lineage would just stay at the linguistic level. Former lineage masters achieved enlightenment by the perfection of lineage practice instead of just hearing and reciting the ritual every single day. Therefore, the practitioner who comprehends the practice principle and skillful methods of practice according to Buddha’s teachings can receive the lineage completely. Also, the practitioner whose secret motivation is consistent with former lineage masters can be called the holder of purity lineage. If the practice principle and skillful methods of practice did not be comprehended at all, even though thousands of lineage rituals have been enlightened by thousands of Guides, the lineage still cannot be received. 

Some practitioners would have a doubt about whether lineage could be received by sound recording, video recording or some other ways instead of face-to-face teachings by lineage Guides. 

Actually, the true lineage comes from faith, just like an old lady prayed to the dog tooth as to the Buddha's tooth and achieved enlightenment eventually. The old lady’s enlightenment came from her faith rather than any lineage from the Guides. Therefore, faith is the biggest lineage. Lineage is already there once faith is there.

When somebody tries to understand the Dharma by putting all sorts of written sentences together, he or she could only garble quotes out of context. In fact, it is crucial to receive feedback from Guides during Buddhist practice. Otherwise, self-righteous practice will not follow the true lineage.

——嘉样堪布

Khenpo Jamyang