淨極光通達

　　When Purity Reaches the Ultimate Point, the Light Shines Through

　　參禅的功夫，是由忍耐中得來的，是從受苦中換來的。

　　The spiritual skill used in investigating Chan arises from patience.

　　It is attained through the endurance of suffering.

　　參禅的功夫，是由忍耐中得來的，是從受苦中換來的。不是說我參得腿痛，就向後退；遇著困難，就要投降。這樣，不會有相應處。必要坐到極點，自有境界現前。

　　The spiritual skill used in investigating Chan arises from patience. It is attained through the endurance of suffering. As you meditate, as soon as your legs ache, do you retreat

　　 As soon as difficulty arises, do you surrender

　　 If you do, then you will gain no responses from your efforts. You must sit still, right to the ultimate point, and then you will naturally experience a state.

　　所謂「淨極光通達」，淨到極點，智慧光明便現出，通達宇宙，照天照地。這時，沒有貢高我慢的心，沒有驕傲自大的心，沒有嫉妒他人的心，也沒有障礙他人的心，看大地衆生，皆有佛性，皆堪作佛。這時智慧時時現前，愚癡時時減少，心明如鏡，光明普照，無拘無束，無罣無礙。

　　That is to say, "When purity reaches the ultimate point, the light shines through." When you are pure to the ultimate point, then the light of your wisdom will emerge. It will pervade the entire universe. It will shine up to the heavens, and it will shine down on the earth. At that time, you won”t have any thoughts of arrogance; you won”t have any thoughts of pride or egoism. You won”t have any thoughts of jealousy towards others and you won”t wish to hinder others” progress. You will see all living beings on earth as possessing the Buddha-nature and sharing the potential to become a Buddha. At that time, your wisdom will shine constantly and your ignorance will diminish constantly. Your mind will be as bright as a mirror and your light will radiate everywhere, without fetters or restrictions, without hindrances or obstructions.

　　在禅堂裏，是修「戒、定、慧」叁無漏學。在禅堂不講話，沒有妄言、绮語、惡口、兩舌，把口造四惡的門關上了。在禅堂專一其心參話頭，不生貪念、不生瞋念、不生癡念，把意造叁惡的門關上了。在禅堂靜坐不動，不會殺生、不會偷盜、不會邪淫，把身造叁惡的門關上了。

　　Here in the Chan Hall, we are cultivating the Three-fold Non-outflow Studies of precepts, concentration, and wisdom. In the Chan Hall, we don”t talk, so we can”t tell lies. We don”t talk frivolously or harshly, and we don”t gossip. We close the door to all four of the evil deeds done by the mouth. In the Chan Hall, we concentrate our minds and investigate the meditation topic. We don”t have any thoughts of greed, hatred, or stupidity. We have closed the doors through which we create the three evil deeds of the mind. We sit still and unmoving here in the Chan Hall. We don”t kill, we don”t steal, and we don”t involve ourselves in lustful behavior; and thus the doors leading to the three evils of the body are closed.

　　這時候，五戒十善具足；行住坐臥，都修習定，定力具足；然後慧力就現前，所以才說「淨極光通達」。淨極，就是定；光通達，就是慧。

　　At that time, the Five Precepts and Ten Good Deeds are perfected in our conduct. Whether walking, standing, sitting, or lying down, we are constantly cultivating samadhi. When our samadhi power is full and complete, our wisdom power comes forth. That”s why we say, "When purity reaches the ultimate point, the light shines through." This ultimate purity is samadhi, and the light that shines through is our wisdom.