鞭策

　　Spurring On

　　一位剛從印度歸來的堪布，向我講起了他在印度哲蚌寺四年的修學生涯及體會。

　　A khenpo who has just returned from India told me about the life and experiences of his four years” study at the Drepung Loseling Monastery there.

　　在那裏，聚集了叁千多名僧衆，每天淩晨五點，起床的鍾聲就把他們從美夢中驚醒，一天繁重的功課從此開始，除了短暫的休息，直至晚上十一點，一直處于高強度的學習中，若有想偷睡懶覺或不聽從管教者，無情的皮鞭就會抽打在身上。

　　Drepung has about three thousands monks. Every morning at five they are roused from sleep by the wakeup bell, and the day is followed by a heavily packed schedule until 11 at night, with very few breaks in between. They work intensely around the clock; unforgiving whips will surely reprimand anyone who dozes off or acts against the rules.

　　所有的僧衆都接受著非常嚴格而有序的教育，第一年學習因明基礎《心類學》及《因類學》，然後是《現觀莊嚴論》七年，《中觀》叁年，《俱舍論》及戒律共四年，《釋量論》則貫穿于整個修學課程。其間每年都必須背誦60篇以上的長頌詞，若不能完成，則取消參學資格。在所有的顯宗課程結束後，經過嚴格的考評，方可進入密宗的修習。

　　All students are subject to a very strict and progressive education program. The first-year curriculum includes basic Buddhist Logic (Hetuvidya), studying the knowledge gained by means of the senses and the knowledge gained by means of inference. This is followed by a seven-year study of Ornament of Clear Realization, three years on Madhyamaka, four years on Abhidharma-kosa Shastra and Vinaya, while Compendium of Valid Cognition runs through the entire program. Everyone is expected to learn by heart 60 prose chapters or more, and failing to do that means expulsion. Only after a student finishes all these curricula in Sutrayana and passes strict examination and evaluation can he embark on the secret Mantrayana studies.

　　“桃李不言，下自成蹊”。由于這種幾近苛刻的管理，致使該寺聚集了各路精英，培養了一大批出類拔萃的僧才。

　　As the saying goes, a man of true worth naturally attracts admiration. The monastery”s strict and nearly oppressive administration has attracted elites and brains from all over the world, and it in turn has graduated many preeminent monks.

　　聽了他的講述，令我對該寺的管理體製欽佩不已，多年以來，由于缺乏外力的鞭策，致使我的惰性與日俱增，想看的書、想做的事，常常因爲懈怠與散亂而放棄。對于我這種缺乏自製力的人，實在需要外力的鞭打，使我精進、令我警醒、促我進步。

　　His description stirs in me great respect for the administrative system of the monastery. For many years I have grown lazier due to the lack of external push. My sloth and distraction have killed many of my plans to read certain books or undertake tasks. For a person lacking self-discipline, I really could use a strong, external lash to incite in me diligence, rattle me up, and force me to make progress.

　　壬午年五月二十叁日　

　　2002年7月3日

　　23rd of May, Year of RenWu

　　July 3, 2002