Learning the Buddhist Dharma—III
佛法有八萬四千法門，其法義浩瀚如海，圓滿的佛法修持，貴在於解行並重。能在法義中得理、智相契，在契機之後，能德行實踐。
佛法修行，絕對不單只是在法義上的「相即」或「理同」，亦須在法理上深觀、實踐。依持不落二邊的佛法行持，方能使人的生命之存在意義，不斷地成長至圓滿完成。
「不落二邊」即為佛法中之中道，若不能體會實踐佛法之中道，而在解與行之間有所偏重，就無法在菩提道上行得圓滿、行得清涼自在。若能如實觀照於現實生活，若能體驗「空性的存在」，而深刻體悟中道空義，方可成就圓滿人生。
若離緣起法而論「空義」，是無法理解空義的中道實相，要先有緣起性空的正觀。也唯有緣於緣起的法則下去觀察空性，才能真正了知空義。
而在談空義實踐之前，需先對「空」有充分的理解，在理解之後而實踐之，才能知道吾人是否真「離二邊」而實踐中道，這也是行者在修行過程中的體證而作的適當調整。
資料來源：心靈甘露(二)，隆門圓通法師著。英文翻譯：張惠平
Learning the Buddhist Dharma—III
There are 84,000 approaches in the Buddhist Dharma. Their doctrines are as vast as an ocean. What’s important in the consummate cultivation of the Buddhist Dharma is the equal stress on understanding and action. Principles and wisdom should match and then should be put into practice.
The cultivation of the Buddhist Dharma focuses not only on the closeness or sameness of the Dharma meanings but also on the deep observation and fulfillment of the principles. Reliance on and abiding by the Buddhist Dharma should be equally emphasized. Both can enhance the significance of life to the utmost.
Being equally emphasized is the middle way of the Buddhist Dharma. If one does not understand and fulfill the middle way of the Buddhist Dharma, but emphasizes either understanding or action unduly, then he won’t be able to practice perfectly on the Bodhi path and won’t gain a cool and unrestrained mind. Only when he realistically observes the real life, experiences the existence of emptiness, and deeply realizes the middle way and the meaning of emptiness will he achieve a consummate life.
If one talks about the meaning of emptiness without appealing to the Dharma of the rising affinities, he cannot understand the real form of the middle way in the meaning of emptiness. Only when one has the right observations of rising affinities and emptiness of nature under the rule that all dharmas arise from affinities can he really understand the true meaning of emptiness.
We should have a full understanding of emptiness before talking about the fulfillment of the meaning of emptiness. If we fulfill it after we really understand it, then we will know if we are really practicing the middle way without stressing either side. This is also a proper adjustment the practitioners make from the realization and confirmation of the cultivation.
Source: Sweet Dew for the Soul (Vol. II), Written by Master Shih Longmen Yuantong. Translated by Huei Ping Chang.