..續本文上一頁n returns immediately to the hall to continue to meditate. We don”t want to waste even one minute or second of the session, because who knows in which minute or second we”ll become enlightened

　　 This is why we treasure every moment of time.

　　所謂「不離這個」。不離哪個？不離「念佛是誰？」不離念佛是誰，那就是智慧劍，斬斷七情六欲。這種習氣毛病一除盡，本性就現前；本性現前，菩提道果就成就了。

　　As it”s said, "Do not depart from this!" Don”t depart from what

　　 Don”t depart from the question, "Who is reciting the Buddha”s name

　　" This "Who" is a wisdom-sword that cuts through the seven emotions and six desires. Once you”ve gotten rid of your faults and habits for good, your fundamental nature can appear. Once your fundamental nature appears, the fruition of Bodhi will be accomplished.

　　我們在參禅期間，要面對現實，克服一切環境，抱定宗旨。苦就是快樂的開始，我常對你們說：

　　受苦是了苦，

　　享福是消福。

　　As we work at Chan, we must maintain a practical attitude regarding the surrounding states. We must not lose sight of our principles. Bear in mind that pain is the forerunner of pleasure. As I often tell you,

　　To endure suffering is to end suffering;

　　To enjoy blessings exhausts blessings.

　　古人說：

　　禍兮福所依，

　　福兮禍所附。

　　The ancients said,

　　Disasters bring blessings along;

　　Blessings usher in catastrophes.

　　就是說在不吉祥的事情後面，會有吉祥的事來；在吉祥的事情後面，會有不吉祥的事來。世間法都是相對待的。

　　This means that following a run of bad luck we often encounter very lucky events. Disasters often follow lucky events. The phenomena of the world come in pairs of opposites.

　　我們在往昔不知造了多少業？所以要受果報。若能努力用功，勇猛精進，把業果受完，就會成就道業。各位要注意！無論遇到「順」的境界或「逆」的境界，都要忍受，忍受不了也要忍受。

　　Who knows how much evil karma we”ve created in the past

　　 For this reason, we must endure the retribution. If we can work hard at our meditation and courageously advance, then when we”ve patiently endured our karmic retribution to its end, we can accomplish our work in the Way. Pay heed to this, all of you! No matter whether we encounter states that please us or states that go against the grain, we must patiently endure them all. Even the ones we can”t endure, we still need to endure.

　　修道，就是修忍受。所謂「忍是無價寶」，能忍受得住，才能得到真正的快樂。好像練過武術的人，沒有經驗，等打架的境界來了，就把所學的招式忘了；等境界過去了，想起招式，已經太晚了。參禅也是這樣，等境界來了，要忍受，要吃虧，咬緊牙根，度過難關，便得到自在。

　　Cultivating the Way is simply a matter of gaining the ability to endure. As it”s said, "Patience is a priceless jewel." You can experience true happiness only if you can bear up under all situations. As martial artists know, when an inexperienced fighter steps onto the mat to spar, he often forgets the moves he has just learned. Once the match is over, he recalls his techniques, but it”s too late. Cultivating Chan is the same way. When a situation comes up, you have to endure it; you have to be willing to suffer a loss. Grit your teeth, and when you make it through the gate of difficulty, you”ll gain a bit of self-mastery.

　　參禅要朝于斯，夕于斯。在早晨也修這個禅定，在晚上也修這個禅定，修得時間久了，自然就有成就。要能忍耐，腰酸不要管它，腿疼不要管它，一心一意參「念佛是誰？」這樣就時刻不會打妄想，能攝受身心，令其清淨，一點妄念不生。心不離「念佛是誰？」四個字，時時提起來，刻刻不忘記，這就是用功的目標。

　　Chan meditation requires that you cultivate this same way morning and evening. In the morning you should practice Chan meditation, and in the evening you also must practice Chan meditation. When you cultivate long enough, you”ll naturally succeed. But you must be patient. If your back aches, pay it no mind. If your legs hurt, pay them no attention. Simply turn your thoughts to single-minded investigation of "Who is mindful of the Buddha

　　" This method will prevent you from indulging in random thoughts, and it will help you gather back your body and mind. You must make them pure, until not even one idle thought arises. When your mind no longer leaves the topic, "Who is mindful of the Buddha

　　" and you can bring up these words over and over, when you don”t forget them for even an instant, then you”ll have realized the aim of your effort.

　　參話頭是一個妄想，雜念是多個妄想。用以毒攻毒的辦法，所以用參話頭的妄想來控製多個妄想，慢慢將妄想一個一個消滅，不再起作用。這時候，無論什麼境界來了，都不會迷惑。你分析清楚，就不會走火入魔，古德說：

　　甯可千生不悟，

　　不可一日著魔。

　　To investigate the meditation topic is one idle thought; our scattered thoughts are a great many idle thoughts. Employing the method of fighting fire with fire, we use one idle thought to stop the many idle thoughts. Slowly, one by one, we bring these random thoughts under control and eradicate them, so they no longer arise. At that time, no matter what situation appears, you won”t be deluded by it. You will discriminate clearly and not become possessed by demons. The ancients said,

　　It would be better to go without

　　enlightenment for a thousand lifetimes, Than to be possessed by a demon for even

　　a single day.

　　修禅定要謹慎小心，不可偏差，要正大光明，不要給魔找機會。你有雜念，就是替魔開門；而參話頭，就是驅魔的法寶。

　　As we cultivate Chan meditation, we must be cautious and circumspect, and not get carried away. We must be proper, magnannimous, and forthright, so that demons have no chance to trouble us. Idle thoughts open the door to demons, but the meditation topic is the Dharma-treasure that exorcises those demons.

　　一九八○年禅七十二月開示

　　A talk given during a Chan Session

　　in December, 1980

《參話頭 On Investigating a Meditation Topic》全文閱讀結束。