修道人不可打妄語

　　Cultivators of the Way Must Not Tell Lies

　　自己做錯事不承認，還替自己辯護，有這種思想和行爲，焉能修道？

　　Don”t want to admit mistakes, so we rationalize for ourselves.

　　How can a person who behaves like this cultivate the Way

　　在禅堂裏要循規蹈矩，不能標異現奇，不能自以爲是，而不守禅堂的規矩。要知道禅堂是造聖人(開悟)的處所，不可以破壞道場，令人失去開悟的機會。這一點，凡是參加參禅的人，要特別注意，要嚴守戒律，不可放逸。

　　Here in the Chan Hall, we must be orderly and well-mannered; we cannot put on airs or try to stand out. We cannot do as we please and defy the regulations of the Hall. Realize that the Chan Hall is a place where sages are created; thus we may not disturb the Way-place and deprive others of their chance at enlightenment. Those of you who are taking part in the Chan Session should pay attention to this point. You must hold the precepts strictly and not be lax.

　　參禅的機會是很難得的，千萬不可錯過。現在大家共同來參禅，這是因爲往昔所種下的善根，才有今天的機緣。用功修道的人，遇到打禅七的良好機會，要把握開悟的時機，就是一分一秒的時間也不浪費。不可因爲一時的快樂，而躲懶偷安。這樣會耽誤開悟的機會，又會墮落在叁惡道，到時候，後悔也來不及了。所以我說：

　　莫待苦時方學道，

　　叁塗都是懶惰人。

　　It”s most difficult to get to join in a Chan Session; under no circumstances should we let this chance slip by. All of you have this chance to investigate Chan together only because you planted down good roots many lives ago. Given the opportunity to join in a Chan Session, a hardworking cultivator of the Way will certainly seize the time and won”t waste an instant. He”d never let a fleeting moment of pleasure lull him into laziness; if he did, he”d lose his chance to become enlightened and would fall into the Three Evil Destinies. That would certainly bring him regrets, but to no avail. That”s why I say:

　　Don”t wait till the pain sets in before you

　　decide to cultivate the Way.

　　The Three Evil Destinies are full of lazy souls.

　　所以要時時在用功，刻刻在精進。在禅堂裏，將話頭放在心上，行也參話頭，坐也參話頭，參來參去，把話頭參透了，就見到本來真面目。爲什麼？因爲話頭能照破妄想。乃至于上不知有天，下不知有地，中不知有人，哪會有時間去打妄想呢？要曉得妄想就是妄語，對基本的五戒不守，爲爭而打妄語，爲貪而打妄語，爲求而打妄語，爲自私而打妄語，爲自利而打妄語。打妄語就是騙人，自己做錯事不承認，還替自己辯護，有這種思想和行爲，焉能修道？

　　So we should work hard and be vigorous in every moment. In the Chan Hall, hang your meditation topic squarely before your mind”s eye, and investigate it both when walking and when sitting. Investigate it back and forth until you penetrate right through it. Then you will see your original identity. Why

　　 Because the meditation topic cuts through all idle thoughts. Keep investigating until "you are unaware of the heavens above, the earth below, and the people in between." At that point, how could you have time for idle thoughts

　　 We should realize that idle thinking is simply false speech. We have failed to observe the five basic precepts: we tell lies when we contend; we tell lies when we are greedy; we tell lies as we seek gratification; we tell lies as we are selfish; we tell lies as we chase personal advantages. Telling lies deceives people; we don”t want to admit mistakes, so we rationalize for ourselves. How can a person who behaves like this cultivate the Way

　　人爲什麼用功不進步？就因爲妄語打得太多了。打一句妄語，就有一百個妄想生出起。這時，坐也坐不住，站也站不穩，這是掉舉。不知如何是好，進也不知對不對？退也不知對不對？無所適從，很不如法。

　　Why would someone who works hard fail to make progress

　　 It comes from having told too many lies in the past. Once you utter a single lie, it stirs up a hundred idle thoughts. Then when you meditate, you won”t be able to sit still, nor will you be able to stand firmly. You”ll be restless and at a loss: "Should I advance

　　 Should I retreat

　　" You”ll be in a muddle, totally out of harmony with the Dharma.

　　真正修行人，處處守規矩，時時勤精進，絕對不打妄語，不去攀緣。希望大家不要向打妄語的人學，更不要向不守規矩的人學，這樣不但得不到利益，反而受其害。這一點要謹慎，要小心，如果被傳染，後患無窮。

　　Genuine cultivators adhere to the rules in everything they do. They are constantly diligent and would absolutely not tell lies, nor would they ever exploit situations. I hope that you all will not imitate liars and unruly characters. Not only will you fail to benefit from such people, on the contrary, you”ll suffer their harm. Be careful, take heed! Once you catch the infection, the results are disastrous.

　　真正修行人，不怕苦，不怕難，時刻認真在修行，不爲外來境界動搖其心。

　　Real cultivators fear neither suffering nor hardship. They cultivate earnestly at all times and don”t allow external situations to disturb their minds.

　　參！參！參！參到水落石出，就是本地風光。

　　Investigate! Investigate! Investigate until the waters recede and the rocks appear (the truth is brought to light). Then you will see your original appearance.

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