參禅要回光返照

　　To Investigate Chan, We Must Look Within Ourselves

　　要回光返照，認清自己的過錯，痛改前非，不要緊抱著臭習氣而放不下。

　　We must look within ourselves and clearly see our own faults. Then we need to earnestly repent of these past mistakes. We must not hold onto our stinking habits and fail to let them go.

　　行住坐臥，不離這個；

　　離了這個，便是錯過。

　　A verse goes,

　　While walking, standing, sitting, and reclining,

　　Never stray from "this."

　　Once you stray from "this,"

　　You”ve gone amiss.

　　「這個」是什麼？就是用功參悟的話頭。用真心來辦道，提起綿綿密密不斷的話頭來參悟，來研究。一時一刻，一分一秒，也不生雜念妄想，總是念茲在茲去參悟自己的話頭，哪有時間講話、打閑岔？也沒有時間躲懶偷安，更沒有時間說人家的是非，只是專一其心在參悟話頭。所謂：

　　事事都好去，脾氣難化了，

　　真能不生氣，就得無價寶。

　　再要不恨人，事事都能好，

　　煩惱永不生，冤孽從哪找？

　　常瞅人不對，自己苦沒了！

　　What does "this" refer to

　　 It”s talking about the meditation-topic that we work at in our investigation. We use a true mind to practice the Way. Constantly and ceaselessly, we look into the topic and investigate it. In each successive hour, minute, and second, we allow no scattered or idle thoughts to occur. In thought after thought, we only investigate our meditation topic. Who has time left over to casually talk, or to disturb others

　　 Even less are we at leisure to take a break, or gossip about people. We simply concentrate our minds and investigate the meditation topic, seeking understanding. There is a verse that reads,

　　Things pass by quite easily,

　　But a bad temper”s truly hard to change.

　　If you can never get angry,

　　You”ve got a pearl beyond price.

　　Then, if you can never know hatred,

　　Everything will go your way.

　　Since afflictions never bother you anymore,

　　Your evil karma no longer comes to call.

　　But someone who knows only to criticize others

　　Is one whose own suffering has not yet ended.

　　參禅打坐，具有這種思想，才能入門。在禅堂裏，每個人都要回光返照，反求諸己，問問自己，是在用功？還是在打妄想？看看自己，是回光返照照自己？還是反光鏡照外邊？這一點要特別注意。

　　Only if you maintain these attitudes as you meditate, do you have hope of "entering the gate." People in the Chan Hall must reflect inwardly and seek within themselves. Introspect and ask, "Am I working hard, or am I engaging in idle thoughts

　　" Take a close look at yourself: are you reflecting the light inwardly, or shining it out to mirror the exterior surroundings

　　 Pay especially close attention to this question.

　　在禅堂裏，要記住這兩句話：

　　摩诃薩不管他，

　　彌陀佛各顧各。

　　Remember this statement as you work in the Chan Hall:

　　Mahasattvas pay no attention to others;

　　Amitabha! Every man for himself!

　　時時刻刻管自己，不要去管他人。更不可打閑岔，障礙人家用功修道，耽誤他人開悟的時光，這種行爲最要不得。我常對你們說：

　　真認自己錯，

　　莫論他人非；

　　他非即我非，

　　同體名大悲。

　　At all times watch over yourself, and don”t supervise others. Even less should you disturb others, obstructing them from diligently cultivating the Way and denying them their chance to get enlightened. Such behavior is most despicable. As I often say to you all:

　　Truly recognize your own faults,

　　And don”t discuss the faults of others.

　　Others” faults are simply my own faults:

　　Being one in substance with all is called Great Compassion.

　　人人有這種思想，就會一心一意用功辦道，並無二想，不會亂講話、打閑岔。參禅的人，要把根本問題認識清楚，什麼問題？就是習氣毛病。我們打禅七，就是打掉惡習氣、壞毛病，洗心滌慮，解除妒賢嫉能的心理。把嫉妒障礙心、無明煩惱心，統統滅盡，這樣真心現出，智慧現前，才有好消息。

　　If we can all think this way, then everyone will work hard, with single-minded concentration. No one will have any interest in idle chatter or disturbing others.

　　People who practice Chan meditation should be clear about the basic problem. What is the basic problem

　　 It is our bad habits and faults. When we attend a Chan meditation session, we aim to eliminate those bad habits and faults. Wash the mind clean and purify your thoughts. Purge yourself of jealousy towards worthy and capable inpiduals. Banish forever all thoughts of envy and obstructiveness, of ignorance and afflictions. If you can do this, then your true mind, your wisdom, will manifest, and then there will be good news.

　　人爲什麼講是講非？因爲愚癡。爲什麼嫉妒障礙？因爲愚癡。爲什麼有害人心？因爲愚癡。凡是做出不合理的事，都因爲愚癡。爲什麼愚癡？因爲沒有禅定的功夫，所以沒有智慧，在人我是非圈中轉，跳不出圈外。對于這一點，我們要回光返照，認清自己的過錯，痛改前非，不要緊抱著臭習氣而放不下。

　　Why would people gossip

　　 Only due to their stupidity. Why would they indulge in envy and obstructiveness

　　 Because of stupidity. Why would they want to harm others

　　 Because of stupidity. In fact, we do all sorts of unreasonable things because of our stupidity. Why are we stupid

　　 It”s because we lack the skills of Chan samadhi, and so we have no wisdom. We turn forever in the little sphere of self and others, rights and wrongs, and can”t find our way out of that tight circle. This is the place where we must look within ourselves and clearly see our own faults. Then we need to earnestly repent of these past mistakes. We must not hold onto our stinking habits and fail to let them go.

　　打坐的時候，爲什麼要睡覺？因爲求法心不真實；如果真心求道，絕對不會睡覺。大家不妨試一試這個道理正確不正確？

　　Why do we fall asleep when we should be meditating

　　 It”s because we aren”t sincere in seeking the Dharma. Someone who is sincere in seeking the Dharma would definitely not fall asleep. Why don”t you all check this principle out and see if it is correct

　　一九八○年禅七十二月開示

　　Chan Session Instruction in December, 1980

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