獅堡

　　Lion”s Fortress

　　獅堡，是上師如意寶年輕時傳講《七寶藏》的寂靜地。我對此地一直深懷神往之情，但此願望直至今日方得實現。

　　Lion”s Fortress, or Shi Bao, is the sacred place where H.H. Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche in his youth studied and taught the Seven Treasures. It has always enchanted me but my yearning to go there has not been realized until today.

　　吃過中飯，慈誠羅珠、齊美仁真和我一起相約朝拜阿拉神山，走出喇榮溝不遠，即到了有叁座佛塔的水庫旁。慈誠羅珠說：“我很疲倦，想在山坡上睡一會兒，你們去吧。”

　　After lunch, Tsultrim Lodro, Chimed Rigzin, and I decided to make a pilgrimage to the sacred Ala Mountain. Shortly after leaving Larung Valley, we came upon a water reservoir with three stupas nearby. Tsultrim Lodro said: “I am tired now and would like to take a nap on this hillside. You two continue on.”

　　齊美仁真和我只好抛下他，沿著山溝向上攀登。溝中的泉水清澈透底，陽山的柏樹和陰山的松樹遙相呼應，刺目的陽光照在背脊上，不一會兒，就感覺背上已沁出密密的汗珠。

　　Obliged, Chimed Rigzin and I left without him and began to scale upward along the ridge. A limpid brook ran through it; the pine trees in the sun and the cypresses in the shade were echoes of each other into the distance. With the intense sun hitting on us, in no time my back was wet with copious sweat.

　　走入茂密的森林，高大的喬木重重疊疊，遮擋了我們的視線。蔭翳蔽日，使林中顯得十分幽暗。爲提防人熊的出現，我們發出高昂的喊叫聲以示威。

　　We then walked into a deep forest; towering trees dense with growth hampered our view. Thick leaves blocked the sunlight, making it quite dim in the woods. We made high-pitched sounds to steel ourselves and guard against mountain bears.

　　目的地終于到了，令人賞心悅目的奇妙風景立刻吸引了我們的視線，使我感到的確不虛此行。白色紅色的岩石有的像獅子、有的像堡壘、有的像堆放的經書，不知“獅堡”的名字是否由此而出？

　　At length we arrived at our destination and were immediately captivated by a wealth of amazing views; it was indeed worth the trip! There were white and reddish rocks, some shaped like lions, others like a fort, some like a pile of scriptures. Perhaps that”s how the name “Lion”s Fortress” for this place came about.

　　草地上盛開著缤紛的花朵，讓人目不暇接。許多可食的野生果實令人垂涎地挂在樹上。

　　Flowers in full bloom all over the fields dazzled our eyes, and the many wild edible fruits hanging among the tree branches whetted our appetites.

　　雖然經過了40年的滄桑歲月，上師當年茅屋的遺迹仍清晰可見，齊美仁真和我叁頂禮後，開始念誦《大圓滿願詞》。

　　The remains of the hut where our teacher used to stay was still clearly visible, even after the comings and goings of 40 years. Chimed Rigzin and I made three prostrations to the hut and we started to recite the Aspiration of the Great Perfection.

　　念誦圓滿後，我對齊美仁真感慨道：“這個地方泉水甘洌、野果清香，真是修行的好地方，晚年應該到此修行。”齊美仁真說：“何必等到晚年，現在又未嘗不可？”我們又互相講述了許多華智仁波切、無垢光尊者對寂地的贊頌之詞。感歎之余不由得一致認爲：如果今生能抛棄一切，在此地度過余生，遠離嘈雜的鬧市那真是人生快事！

　　Finishing the recitation, I remarked to Chimed Rigzin, “Isn”t this place, with its crystal clear brook and abundant wild fruits, a perfect place to do a retreat

　　 We should retire here to practice in our later years.” He answered: “Why wait until then

　　 It”s not impossible to do it now.” Recalling how often Patrul Rinpoche and Longchenpa praised reclusive places, we sighed deeply and came to a conclusion: If we could cut off all worldly concerns and come to live here for our remaining years, far away from the bustling mundane life, it indeed would be the most desirable thing in life!

　　不知不覺，夕陽西沈，齊美仁真和我只得戀戀不舍地離開。見到慈誠羅珠，他一副望眼欲穿的樣子：“我等了你們很久！”齊美仁真和我只得竊笑，有道是：“山上一盤棋，世間幾千年。”聖山的加持力讓我們恍若隔世，早已忘記時光的流逝，沒讓你等上幾千年都算不錯了！

　　Without us noticing it, the sun was setting; Chimed Rigzin and I had to take leave with much reluctance. We met Tsultrim Lodro who, having been anxiously awaiting our return, said: “I have been waiting for you for so long!” Jigme Richen and I exchanged a knowing smile, thinking of our secret pleasure: “The time to play a game of chess in Heaven is equivalent to thousands of years on earth.” Through the power of the sacred mountain”s blessing, we had been transported to another era and lost track of the time. Tsultrim Lodro should be contented that he had not been made to wait for thousands of years!

　　如果您問這個美妙的地方怎麼走。告訴您，就從阿拉神山下水庫旁的叁佛塔上去，一直走就會到達。去一趟，您一定會領略到新的感受。

　　You may be curious and ask how to get to this wonderland. I”ll tell you, just climb up near the three stupas next to the water reservoir. Go straight up, and you”ll get there. Try it; you are bound to enjoy a refreshing experience!

　　壬午年六月二十五日　

　　2002年8月3日　　

　　25th of June, Year of RenWu

　　August 3, 2002

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