神通

　　Supernatural Power

　　很多對佛教真谛尚不了解的所謂修行人，非常執著天眼、天耳、天上飛行，或者開中脈、見幻象等神通。經常聽見有人講某人又開天眼了，某人又見到觀音菩薩了等等消息。

　　There are many self-proclaimed practitioners who, due to a lack of authentic understanding of the Dharma, are quite obsessed with the development of clairvoyance—pine eyes, subtle ears, the ability of levitation and opening the central channel, or having visions. Quite often, people are eager to pass the news that so and so has gained pine eyes or so and so has had a vision of Avalokitesvara, and the like.

　　所以，不少的人爲追求這些特異功能而學佛，這樣不但達不到學佛的真正目的，反而很可能會走火入魔。

　　In fact, quite a few people have entered the Buddhist path with a wish to attain these kinds of extraordinary abilities. Such a mindset will not only obstruct them from realizing the ultimate goal in Buddhism, but will also endanger them to the possibility of running amok.

　　神通是修行過程當中自然而然的奇妙成就。若執著于此，只會對修行造成障礙。

　　Attaining supernatural power is an amazing consequence that comes naturally while doing spiritual practices. But to become attached to it only creates obstacles to authentic advancement.

　　如果僅僅是追求神通，世間的許多特異功能、雜技、魔術都能顯示許多常人難以置信的現象。隨著科學日益發達，上天入地早已不是神話。所謂的神通除了盜名欺世，又有何用呢？

　　If a person pursues merely clairvoyance, he may as well join the ranks of paranormal psychics, acrobats, and sorcerers in the world—many of them are capable of displaying inconceivable maneuvers. With the fast development of science and technology, going up in the sky or tunneling into the earth are no longer fairy tales. For a person to show off supernatural powers, it serves no purpose other than trying to fish for undeserved fame.

　　佛教對神通也並不持贊賞態度，佛經雲：“魔鬼、非人也具足神變。”

　　The Buddhist”s tradition has long held a conservative disapproval toward clairvoyance. It says in the scriptures: “Demons and non-human spirits also possess supernatural powers.”

　　喬美仁波切說：“守持清淨戒律才是最大的神通。”

　　Chagme Rinpoche says: “The greatest clairvoyance is none other than to keep pure precepts.”

　　從前，仲敦巴格西與四位瑜伽士前往熱振。一天，已到驕陽當頭，應當食用午餐的時候，他們的食物卻一無所剩。一行人饑餓難耐，正商量如何應對之際。衮巴瓦卻胸有成竹地說：“我將會吃到那個從山嘴往上攀登的人所帶來的食物。”當他示現神通的話音剛落，一位施主便攜帶著豐盛的齋食即時而至。他們終于得以飽餐一頓。仲敦巴格西向來喜歡隱藏功德，所以對衮巴瓦顯示神通的行爲極爲不快，聲色俱厲地訓斥道：“衮巴瓦，你不要妄自尊大！”

　　Once, Geshe Dromtonpa and four yogis were on their way to Radreng. One day beneath the blazing sun they discovered they scarcely had any food left for lunch. As they were trying to figure out what to do with their pressing hunger, Gönpawa already had an answer and said: “I will be enjoying the food that someone is bringing up to the mountain.” No sooner had he finished the sentence than a person showed up with an ample offering of food, which they feasted on heartily. Geshe Dromtonpa, however, was quite displeased with Gönpawa”s flaunting of his supernatural ability, as the Geshe never had the inclination for such display. He reprimanded sternly: “Gönpawa! Stop being so pompous and pretentious!”

　　噶當派的大德們從來就是這樣以隱藏功德爲榮，他們有一種說法：“隱藏功德者，邪魔不能害。”

　　Likewise, the great masters of the Kadampa lineage take pride in concealing their abilities. This is what they say: “He who hides his accomplishment is immune to the attacks of demons.”

　　現在世間的人卻沒有神通也到處炫耀自己的鬼通、魔通。他們不知，若身處五彩缤紛的世間，卻不爲外境所轉，恒持正見，增上出離心、菩提心才是最大的神通。

　　Worldly folks nowadays, however, tend to flash around their dervish spells or wizardly ways even if they possess no real clairvoyance. Ultimately, what are the grandest supernatural powers

　　 They are: to resist the spells of the alluring world, to uphold right views, to strengthen renunciation, and to generate bodhichitta. That”s it. Alas, little do people know this truth!

　　壬午年五月十九日 　

　　2002年6月28日 　

　　19th of May, Year of RenWu

　　June 28, 2002