參話頭

　　On Investigating a Meditation Topic

　　參就是找，找這個念佛是誰？

　　To "investigate" means to look, to look for the one who is reciting the Buddha”s name.

　　參話頭，就是研究「念佛是誰？誰在念佛？」這句話的來龍去脈。所謂：

　　大疑大悟，

　　小疑小悟，

　　不疑不悟。

　　When we investigate a meditation topic, we examine the question, "Who is mindful of the Buddha

　　" back and forth. It”s said that,

　　When one has a large doubt, then one”s

　　enlightenment can be large.

　　When one has a minor doubt regarding this

　　topic, one”s enlightenment will be small;

　　When one has no doubts about this topic,

　　one will have no enlightenment.

　　參透「念佛是誰？」，就是金剛王寶劍，能斬斷一切欲念，只留有參話頭的念，別的念一概沒有了，這時道心就生出來了。

　　A thoroughgoing investigation of this topic, "Who is reciting the Buddha”s name

　　" acts as an adamantine sword which can mow down and sever every thought of desire. All that remains is the single thought of the meditation topic; no other thoughts are left. At that moment the resolve for the Way can come forth.

　　「念佛是誰？」在沒打禅七之前，先打個佛七。打完佛七之後，再打禅七，比較有功效。先念佛，後參「念佛是誰？」參就是找，找這個念佛是誰？是鬼，是哪個鬼？是人，是哪個人？是我，我死了，還會不會念？裝在棺材裏，就沒有人念佛。找究竟對「誰」念佛？念「誰」呢？找念佛是「誰」？「誰」在念佛？找不到。永遠地找，也找不到。這個「誰」如果找到了，什麼妄想也沒有了。爲什麼還有妄想？因爲沒有找到「誰」的緣故。

　　Before a Chan Meditation Session, we always have a Buddha Recitation Session. After the recitation session, we hold the Chan Session; this way we can expect better results. First we recite the Buddha”s name, and then we investigate the question, "Who is reciting the Buddha”s name

　　" To "investigate" means to look, to look for the one who is reciting the Buddha”s name. Is it a ghost

　　 Which ghost is it

　　 Is it a person

　　 Which person is it

　　 Is it me

　　 After I die will I still be able to recite

　　 After I”m put in the coffin, no one will be reciting. Find the final answer to the question "Who

　　" How about the asker of "Who"

　　 Can you tell who is reciting the Buddha”s name

　　 Who is asking

　　 You can”t find out. No matter how long you look, you won”t find out who it is. If you actually find out "Who

　　" then you won”t have the least bit of idle thinking left. Why do you still have idle thoughts

　　 It”s because you haven”t found out "Who

　　"

　　這個「誰」字，可以找上一個大劫。老修行坐在那裏不動，就是在定中找這個「誰」字。因爲專參這個「誰」字，一切妄想沒有了，豁然開悟，在黑暗中現出光明，什麼都看見了。所謂：

　　迷時千卷少，

　　悟時一字多。

　　This question of "Who" can be sought for a great eon. When you see those meditation adepts sitting absolutely still, it”s because they are working on finding the "Who." Their search for this one word brings them to a state of concentration where not even one idle thought arises. Suddenly at that point, they can get enlightened and, in the midst of darkness, bring forth bright light that shows them absolutely everything. It”s said,

　　When one is confused, an entire library

　　of books is too few;

　　But when one is enlightened, even a single

　　word is too many.

　　這就是「念佛是誰？」的道理。所以，誰能不打妄想，誰就有功夫；誰要是打妄想，什麼功夫也用不上，這就是參禅的中心思想。

　　This expresses the principle we use to investigate the meditation topic. Anyone who can be entirely free of idle thoughts is a person with skill. Anyone who entertains idle thoughts is someone whose spiritual skill is still immature. This is the central idea underlying the practice of Chan meditation.

　　參禅的功夫，就是專一其心來參，行也參，住也參，坐也參，臥也參。總而言之，時刻在參，不放棄參的機會。所以在打禅七的期間，不拜佛、不念經、不上殿，也不過堂。到時候去吃飯，吃完飯立刻回到禅堂，繼續參禅；到時候去廁所，方便後即刻回禅堂，繼續參禅。不浪費一分一秒，因爲不知在哪一分、哪一秒就會開悟了？所以要分秒必爭。

　　The skill of Chan meditation comes from concentrating the mind and looking into the topic, so that when walking, sitting, and reclining, you are investigating at all times. To sum it up, you must work at it constantly. Don”t pass up this opportunity to investigate. This is why during the Chan session no one bows to the Buddha, recites Sutras, does ceremonies, or eats in the formal style. At lunchtime we take our meal, then we hurry back to the meditation hall and continue to meditate. When one has to go to the bathroom, one takes care of business and the…

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