蜘蛛

　　A Spider

　　剛從睡夢中驚醒，就想起麥彭仁波切在《贊供文殊燈》中提到的，在文殊像前供燈有很大功德的內容，連忙將熄滅的酥油燈點亮。翻開《茗山夢遊記》，忽見牆上趴了一只大肚蜘蛛，正拼命地往上爬。

　　Having just started from my sleep, I recalled Mipham Rinpoche”s teaching in Praise of Light Offering to Manjusri that to offer light to Bodhisattva Manjusri”s image is very meritorious. I immediately lit the extinguished butter lamps. As I was ready to read Journal of a Dream Trip to Ming Shan, I saw suddenly a big-bellied spider trying very hard to crawl up the wall.

　　我所見的蜘蛛有兩種，一種是夏天較多，喜在角落結網，然後在網上守株待兔，以黏附在網上的小昆蟲爲生，性格詭計多端的“夏蜘蛛”。一種是秋天特多，不會殺生，以土糞爲食，與夏天的蜘蛛相比較爲遲鈍的“秋蜘蛛”。它，屬于第二種。

　　There are two kinds of spiders that I know of; one commonly seen in summertime is the more crafty “summer spider” that builds its web around the corner and then waits patiently for its prey to get caught in the web. The other is the non-carnivorous “autumn spider” that feeds on soil and feces and is duller compared to its summer cousin. My visitor was of the second type.

　　我決定與這個小家夥開開玩笑。“老蜘蛛，你這樣奔波究竟爲何？你應該觀觀無常，外面秋意漸濃，已開始降下白霜。雖然屋裏暫時溫暖，但屬于你的時日已經不多。死神即將來臨，你爲何還如此安然？”

　　I decided to poke a little fun at this tiny fellow: “Hey you, old spider! You seem so busy, but what for

　　 It”s about time you think of impermanence. Autumn is closing in and frost is out there on the ground. Although it is sort of warm inside the house, the days of your life are numbered. The Lord of Death will soon fetch you; why are you still so unworried

　　”

　　聽了我的話，老蜘蛛停下腳步，昂起頭，不屑一顧地對我說道：“名相上的修行人，口中講的總是那麼漂亮。你爲何不反觀自己，你的兩鬓早已斑白，牙齒也開始疏松，眼望著大雁一次次南飛，手觸著春水一回回轉寒，卻不知好好修行，你的無常修得可真好啊！”

　　Hearing me, the old spider stopped, raised its head high, and sneered at me: “There you are, the pretentious practitioner. How nicely you are always talking! Why don”t you take a good look at yourself instead

　　 You are greying at the temples and your teeth are coming loose. How many seasons have you watched the geese flying to the south

　　 How many times has the warm spring water turned icy cold to your touch

　　 Yet you have not practiced seriously at all. Now, shall I say you are excelling in your practice on impermanence

　　我用不滿的語氣反駁道：“你嘴裏說著不清淨的話，挺著一個肥碩的肚子，不知偷吃了些什麼，你這個貪嗔癡俱全的家夥，有什麼可得意的？”“我肚子雖大，裏面只不過裝了一些土糞，你們整天貪著信財、亡財，卻不知憶念回向。你們的肚子真是填不滿的無底洞啊！”

　　Feeling touchy, I rebuked: “Now you are saying all this rubbish! Look at your potbelly, what have you looted to fill it to the brim

　　 Buddy, you are fully equipped with greed, hatred, and ignorance, what are you being so pompous about

　　” “Fine, I do have a big belly. But in it are only dirt and feces, not like you guys hoarding people”s offerings or money for the dead. You don”t even bother to make proper dedications; it is your appetite that is the bottomless pit!”

　　聽完它的狡辯，我不由得羞愧難當、啞口無言，只有撲哧一笑而爲自己解嘲。盡管它身爲旁生，內心卻一點也不遲鈍，甚至比很多自诩爲智者的人心裏更清澈啊！

　　Its spiky argument left me speechless and ashamed; I could only relieve my embarrassment with a chuckle. A tiny creature it might be, yet it was by no means dim-witted, and it was perhaps more clear-minded than those self-proclaimed wise guys.

　　無地自容的我爲了早點結束這種尴尬場面，只有裝模作樣地說道：“既然你轉爲旁生，我不能幫你做別的，給你念一些佛號吧。聽聞佛號有不可思議的功德，你應仔細聆聽。《涅槃經》雲：“四種法爲涅槃之近因。一者，親近善友；二者，專心聽法；叁者，憶念思維；四者，如法修行。””

　　Utterly deflated, I tried to put an end to my predicament and said pretentiously: “Since you are born a tiny creature, I don”t know how to help you. Why not let me recite the Buddhas” names for you

　　 Just hearing them brings tremendous merit, so listen carefully. In the Nirvana Sutra it says: “There are four direct causes to attain nirvana: one, keep company with virtuous friends; two, listen to the Dharma carefully; three, recall and contemplate on them; four, put them into practice.””

　　聽完我的話，蜘蛛不再調皮，它發出細微的長鳴，身體緊貼板壁，似乎在豎耳恭聽並表示感謝。我爲它念了寶髻佛、釋迦牟尼佛等佛菩薩的名號後，它顯得心滿意足，稍事休息後，沿著板壁悠緩地上行而去。

　　Hearing my words, the spider no longer acted naughty. Instead it emitted a long faint wail and positioned itself tightly against the wall, as if getting ready to listen with all ears and to express gratitude. I then recited for it the names of Ushnisha Buddh, Shakyamuni Buddha, and other Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Finally the spider, seeming very pleased and having rested a while, continued crawling slowly up the wall.

　　22nd of July, Year of RenWu

　　August 30, 2002

　　壬午年七月二十二日　

　　2002年8月30日

《蜘蛛 A Spider》全文閱讀結束。