禅七的規矩

　　The Rules of the Chan Session

　　時刻用自己應該用的功夫，時刻把功夫提起來。

　　Without wasting a single moment, I worked relentlessly at my investigation, constantly applying my efforts to it.

　　法界佛教總會，成立于一九五九年，該會的前身，就是中美佛教總會。自從成立之後，每一年都舉行佛七和禅七數次；但是都在無聲無息中過去了，很少人知道法界佛教總會所屬的金山聖寺在打佛七或禅七。因爲我們對外不宣傳，不攀緣，而是老老實實在修行。假如有人知道我們打禅七，願意來參加，我們是歡迎之至！但是我們絕對不到外邊化緣，叫人幫助，對人家說：「我們金山聖寺在打禅七，有一些無心道人在那兒修行，你們應該來供養，那就功德無量了。」我們從來就沒有做過這樣的宣傳。

　　The Dharma Realm Buddhist Association was established in 1959. Its predecessor was the Sino-American Buddhist Association. Every year since its founding we have conducted Buddha Recitation Sessions and Chan Meditation Sessions. The sessions, however, have passed by without notice, and without fanfare. Rarely do people pay attention to the recitation and meditation sessions going on at Gold Mountain Monastery. This is because we don”t advertise or exploit opportunities. We simply mind our own business and honestly cultivate. When someone finds out about the session and requests permission to join, he or she is certainly welcome! All the same, we resolutely do not beg, solicit offerings, or seek help. We don”t say, "Gold Mountain is holding a Chan session. Several piritual adepts who have tamed their minds” will be attending. If you come make offerings to them, there will be limitless merit and virtue." We have never done any publicity to promote ourselves in this way.

　　在中國打佛七的時候，善男信女所樂捐的功德香油錢，足夠道場一年的開銷，有時還有盈余。在打禅七時，有很多善士發心供養來結緣，所以這個法緣，源源而來，米、面、油、醬等等，收入很多。

　　In China, when a Chan session was held, the donations contributed by the faithful laity during the session were enough to cover the monastery”s operating expenses for an entire year. Sometimes the revenue exceeded a year”s proceeds. During the session, the participants would often take the initiative to make offerings and establish good affinities with the assembly by donating great quantities of rice, noodles, oil, miso, soy sauce, dried foods and so forth.

　　在美國，佛教剛開始，一切要往好的方向去做，要將過去的陋習鏟除，所謂「好的開始，就是成功的一半。」我們不采取任何方法來化緣，所以這種緣就沒有了。如果會用方法，也許會化得更多。

　　Now in America, where Buddhism has just begun, we want to reform the bad practices of the past. As the saying goes, "A good beginning is halfway to success." Because we refuse to employ any tricks to beg, we haven”t created those particular affinities. If we had any schemes for bringing in offerings, it”s likely we could improve on the situation in China and attract even more supplies and money than they did.

　　我們爲什麼不去化緣？因爲我們要老老實實認真修行，聽佛菩薩的安排。佛菩薩和天龍八部、護法善神，看我們用功修道，自然會有感應；如果我們不認真修行，就是有人來供養，也應該生大忏悔心。

　　所謂：

　　叁心不了水難消，

　　五觀若明金也化。

　　Why don”t we solicit offerings

　　 Because our first priority is to genuinely and honestly cultivate the Way and, in so doing, to simply accord with whatever the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas have arranged for us. When the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, the gods, dragons, and the eightfold pantheon of Dharma-protectors and good spirits see us working hard and walking the Way, they spontaneously respond to our efforts. If we fail to sincerely cultivate, however, and donors still come to make offerings, we should feel deeply ashamed. It”s said,

　　If you have not put the three thoughts to rest,

　　then plain water is hard to swallow.

　　Yet if you can understand the five contemplations,

　　then even gold will digest.

　　我們要是存有過去心、現在心、未來心，這叁種心不能了，那麼施主即使只供養一杯清水，也難消受。如果能把五觀的道理明白了，就是吃金子(金，譬如珍貴的食物)，也能消受得起。什麼是五觀？

　　If we hang on to thoughts of the past, the present, and the future and don”t put them to rest, then if a donor offers us even a glass of plain water, we will find it difficult to drink. But if we can understand the principles underlying the five contemplations, then even gold (and this means the most delicious vegetarian delicacies) will be digested without problems. What are the five contemplations

　　(一)計功多少，量彼來處。

　　(二)忖己德行，全缺應供。

　　(叁)防心離過，貪等爲宗。

　　(…

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