Follow the Dharma to Practice Dharma

　　By Oliver Chang

　　Edited by Steven K. Christopher

　　法隨 , 法行

　　作者 張貴人

　　編輯 Steven K. Christopher

　　英譯中 湯華俊

　　In December of 2010, Jade Buddha Temple”s English Dharma Group (EDG), and the Insight Meditation Group (img), held an unprecedented, self-run, private retreat for 18 days. The intensive, long retreat was sponsored by the American Bodhi Center in Hempstead, Texas.

　　在2010年12月，玉佛寺的英語弘法組和內觀禅修組舉辦了前所未有的18天禅修營。這次長期精進禅修由位于美國休斯敦的菩提中心舉辦，完全自我管理，不對外招生。

　　Resident monk Ven. Katapunna guided the retreat, conducted interviews for the participating yogis, and held Dharma talks every night.A significant part of the Dharma talks consisted of an extended examination and discussion of the Maha-Pari-Nibbana Sutra (DN 16), which is about the Buddha”s last days and great passing.This is the longest sutra in the Nikaya, and it took more than two weeks of Dharma talks to finish the discussion.

　　菩提中心的常住圓福法師擔任指導，負責小參和每晚的佛法開示。佛法開示大部分時間用于分析討論《大般涅槃經》(《長部》第16經)，此經講述佛陀入滅前的最後一段弘法日子。這是阿含經中最長的一部經，用了兩周多的時間完成此經的討論。

　　Also during this retreat, students had the honor of emailing additional questions to a well-known meditation teacher, Bhante Sujiva, who lives in Europe.With the help and support of Jade Buddha Temple and the American Bodhi Center, the retreat was a great success.As the retreat began, and the somber gathering of serious-minded yogis settled into the challenging regimen that often accompanies a long retreat. It became clear that the major theme and focus for this retreat would center around one of the Buddha”s most important teachings, “...Follow the Dharma to practice Dharma.”

　　在此禅修期間，學生們很榮幸能夠通過電子郵件向遠在歐洲的著名禅師舍棄我尊者提問，向他請教我們自己不能解答的禅修問題。在玉佛寺和菩提中心的支持和幫助下，這次禅修營辦得非常成功。禅修營是這些精進禅修者的一個莊嚴肅穆的聚會，禅修開始大家就很快進入狀況, 並適應了長期禅修的挑戰性的生活方式。“法隨法行”顯然是這次禅修的主題和焦點，這是佛陀最重要的開示之一。

　　What does this mean

　　The Sutra states “Paripattia” in Pali, to “... follow the Dharma to practice Dharma.”The former word “Dharma“ refers to the Dharma teaching of Buddha, and the latter word “Dharma” denotes the application of Dharma teaching via the practice of meditation.Put simply, the practice of Insight Meditation must be in accordance with Buddha”s teaching and the Sutra.

　　法隨法行是什麼意思呢？巴利經文說“Paripattia”，即“法隨法行”。前一個“法”字指的是佛陀的教法，而後一個“法”字表示通過禅修實踐佛陀的教法。簡單說，就是修內觀禅必須依據經典並遵循佛陀的教導。

　　Furthermore, the doctrine of Sutra declares, to “...go to the Dharma and yourself as refuge, as your own island.”This means that during practice, you should temporarily put aside what you have previously learned and experienced, and with an open mind, experience the body/mind processes within as your teacher.Listen to and communicate with your own mind and body to totally abide in this very present moment.Be fully aware of what is happening here and now.The nature of reality, the Dharma, is the underlying foundation of the very complex mind-body phenomena in each and every present moment.Realization of the Dharma within is the way to practice mindfulness so as to alleviate sorrow and suffering.

　　經中進一步說，“法洲法依，自洲自依”。這是說在禅修中你應當暫時放下過去的學識和經驗，用開放的心態去經曆內在的身心過程，以此爲師。傾聽自己的身心現象並與之溝通，從而達到全然安住于當下，完全覺知此時此地的一切。究竟法的本質，或者說法的本質，是發生于當下每一刹那的非常複雜身心現象的根本機製。從內在去體證法，即培育正念以減輕憂悲苦煩惱。

　　To apply Dharma teaching via the practice of meditation, a basic understanding of what the words “dharma practice” mean is necessary.In addition, a firm, solid knowledge of the rudimentary “building blocks” that will make up the foundation of daily dharma practice also needs to be examined.

　　爲了通過禅修實踐佛陀的教法，我們需要對“法行”一詞具備基本的了解。對日常修行的基本架構，也需有穩固和堅實的知識基礎，以下我們將進行分析。

　　What is Dharma Practice

　　什麼是法行？

　　Meditation, or Dharma practice, in Buddhism is a technique for developing one”s mind to gain control over its functions, to focus its attention and strength, and to use it as a tool for gaining insight.The successful development …

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