參禅要克服痛關

　　In Chan Meditation, We Must Pass Through the Gate of Pain

　　我們是來這裏參禅，不是來混光陰的。

　　We have come here to practice Chan, not to fritter time away.

　　今天是新年，我祝各位新年快樂。本來這是世間的風俗，我們出世的人，不應該再有這種習氣。可是要知道我們大家還在這個世界上，如果和世間距離太遠，那麼和人的距離也遠了。所以還是依世俗之禮，向你們說一句「新年快樂」。那麼我再對你們說一首偈頌：

　　今逢一九八二年，

　　十方聚會來參禅；

　　回光返照觀自在，

　　萬佛城中選聖賢。

　　Today is New Year”s Day, and I bid all of you a Happy New Year. This is, in fact, a worldly sentiment and we who seek to realize world-transcending wisdom should not dwell on such mundane habits. Nonetheless, we should recognize that we are still part of this world, and if we leave the mundane world too far behind, we”ll also be leaving people too far behind. That”s why I invoked a bit of standard etiquette to give you all my greeting: Happy New Year! I”d also like to recite a verse:

　　The year 1982 is now close at hand;

　　All ten directions” cultivators come to

　　practice Chan.

　　Reverse the light and introspect:

　　contemplate at ease.

　　At the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas,

　　we will choose sages and worthies.

　　新年是快樂，我們參禅應該得到禅悅爲食，以參禅做爲飲食。真正參禅的人，吃飯或未吃飯？忘了。穿衣服或未穿衣服？忘了。睡覺或未睡覺？忘了。參到極點處，上不知有天，下不知有地，中不知有人，和虛空合成一體，到無人、無我、無衆生、無壽者的境界。既然是這樣子，那麼腿痛也不怕痛了，腰酸也不怕酸了，一切一切都要用忍耐的功夫來忍受著。既無人、無我、無衆生、無壽者，那又有誰在痛呢？尤其是這種痛要過關，痛過去就不知痛。如果過不了關，便總是在痛中；若過了關，不但不知痛，而且非常自在，非常快樂。

　　Since the New Year brings happiness, we can all realize the state of "taking the bliss of Chan as our food," and let our sustenance come from Chan meditation. A person who is genuinely doing the work of Chan has forgotten whether or not he has eaten. He has forgotten whether or not he got dressed. He has forgotten whether or not he slept. When one investigates to the ultimate point, he is no longer aware of heaven above, earth below, or people in between. He has merged completely with empty space. He no longer has any sense of self, others, living beings, or a life span. In this state he fears neither the pain in his legs nor the ache in his back. No matter what comes up, he uses the skill of patience to endure it. Since he has no sense of self, others, living beings, or a life span, who remains to feel pain

　　 Once you pass through the gate of pain, you are no longer aware of any pain. If you don”t pass the gate, however, then the pain is still there. If you pass through the gate, then not only does the pain stop, but you also feel very carefree and happy.

　　「參禅」這一法門，沒有再比它更妙的，能得到禅悅爲食，法喜充滿的境界。因爲這個緣故，所以古來參禅的人，可以連坐幾天，不起于座。那麼他的腿痛不痛？當然痛啊！可是他能忍受，能忍人所不能忍的，受人所不能受的。他有一種勇猛精進的力量，只知向前進，不知向後退，所以才有成就。

　　The Dharma-door of Chan meditation has no rival in its wondrousness; one attains the state of "taking Chan bliss for food, and being filled with the joy of Dharma." This is the way Chan meditators in ages past could sit for days on end without leaving their benches. Do you suppose their legs hurt

　　 Of course they hurt! But they were able to endure the pain; they could tolerate what others found intolerable; they could endure what others found unendurable. They had the strength and vigorous courage to only advance and never retreat; this is how they succeeded in cultivation.

　　參禅要有忍耐心，那是開悟的本錢。好像做生意一樣，有了本錢，生意才能發展，才有希望賺大錢。我們參禅，要克服痛關；通過痛關，過了關之後，光明大道就在眼前，直達明心見性的境界。沒有過關時，就好像「山窮水盡疑無路」的境界；過了關，好像「柳暗花明又一村」的境界。

　　Chan meditation requires patience; patience is the basic capital of your enlightenment. For example, when we go into business, we need some capital. Only then can our business expand; only then can we hope to earn money. In Chan meditation, we must make it through the gate of pain. Penetrating this gate comes first. Once we”re through, a brightly-lit road appears before us, and we travel on it straight ahead to the state where we can "understand our mind and see our nature." Before we pass through the gate, we are in a state where "the mountains have ended, the rivers have vanished, and we doubt there is a road ahead." But then once you pass the gate, your state becomes like "another village appearing, there beyond the bright flowers and shadowy willows."

　　舍不了死，換不了生；

　　舍不了假，成不了真；

　　舍不了苦，得不了樂。

　　If I can”t renounce death,

　　I”ll never gain life.

　　If I can”t renounce what”s false,

　　I”ll never gain what”s true.

　　If I can”t let go of suffering,

　　I”ll never attain happiness.

　　我們參禅，要有這樣的精神，才能有所成功。要把困苦艱難的關打破，然後才能得到另外一種境界。因爲這個緣故，所以我們要專一其心來參禅。各位注意！我們是來這裏參禅，而不是來這裏混光陰的，要拿出真正的志願來參，拿出真正的忍耐來坐。要知道世間的事，沒有不勞而獲的，沒有出力，而想得到代價，哪有這樣容易的事？那是癡人妄想，不可能的事。非得拿出真正的力量來，才能有所成就。新年大家都有新希望，希望今年開悟，希望大家向這個目標邁進，若不到開悟的境界，不停止參禅。

　　We must use this kind of spirit in our investigation of Chan if we want to have any accomplishment.We have to smash through the gate of trouble and difficulty before we can attain another state of reality. This is why we must concentrate our minds as we meditate. Please pay attention! We have come here to practice Chan, not to fritter time away. Apply yourself to the investigation with genuine determination and true forbearance. We know that nothing in the world comes easily; how can you expect something in return for nothing

　　 Only fools think that way; only they dream such impractical dreams. The only way to success is through your own efforts. We all bring forth our brand-new aspirations at the New Year, hoping to get enlightened, perhaps. Let”s all make that our goal ahead, and not stop meditating until we actually reach the enlightened state!

　　一九八二年禅七一月一日至八日

　　開示于萬佛聖城萬佛寶殿

　　A talk given during a Chan Session from January 1-8, 1982, The Hall of Ten Thousand Buddhas, The City of Ten Thousand Buddhas

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