風燈

　　Flickering Candlelight

　　見解不穩固的修行人，對叁寶的信心，猶如風中之燈，隨時都會熄滅。在遭遇違緣時，往往會退失見修，甚至生起邪見，頻造惡業。所以在修行之初，依止善知識，通過聞思，生起八風吹不倒的穩固正見堪爲當務之急。當然，能在此基礎上進行實修，以殊勝智慧斷除分別念，安住真如境界的修行者，更是稀有難得，值得稱道。

　　A candlelight flickering in the wind is likely to die out at any moment. This simile applies to the fickle faith of some practitioners toward the Three Jewels when encountering adverse situations. Lacking a solid foundation, they are likely to lose faith, even to the point of generating wrong views and committing non-virtuous activities. It is of the utmost importance, therefore, to start one”s Dharma practice by relying on an authentic teacher and through listening and reflection, to establish a solid and strong faith that cannot be blown away by the wind. It is seldom seen and more admirable if, on this base, one engages in actual practice and reaches the state of abiding in absolute reality where all concepts cease and supreme wisdom dawns.

　　德巴堪布是我初入佛門的導師，他傳給我的前行修法，是我進入修行大海之明燈；他傳給我的大圓滿法，是從無垢光尊者、麥彭仁波切等前輩祖師處傳下來的無上至寶。每當看到他那瘦弱的身軀，總是讓我信心倍增，他從小依止善知識，精進聞思修行，不僅精通五部大論及甚深密續，而且通曉音律、擅長工巧。

　　Khenpo Dhepa is my kind teacher who initiated me onto the Dharma path. The preliminary practice I received from him has been the bright light guiding me in the big ocean of Dharma practice. The Great Perfection he transmitted to me is a priceless jewel coming down through an unbroken lineage from Longchenpa, Mipham Rinpoche, and many great masters of the past. The mere sight of his slight and frail figure would always arouse in me ever-deeper faith. From an early age, he has relied on many teachers and has been working strenuously in study, reflection, and meditation on the Dharma. Not only has he mastered the Five Major Treatises and the profound tantras, but also he is well versed in the science of using music in communication, fine arts, and crafts.

　　在他28歲至40歲時，正值動亂期間，他雖然被迫放牧和幹木匠活，甚至被關進監獄，仍然不間斷地聞思修行。放牧期間，他的腰間總是藏著經書，一到寂靜地，就展卷苦讀；做木工期間，他白天辛苦勞作，夜晚緊閉門窗，于燈下攻讀至深夜。

　　From 28 to 40 years of age, he was deported to herding and woodworking, and even incarcerated in that politically chaotic period. In spite of all these trials, he still managed to continue study, reflection, and mediation. While herding, he would hide the Dharma leaflets around his waist and study hard whenever he chanced upon a secluded moment. When he was on woodworking duty, he labored painfully during the day; at night, with doors and windows shut tightly, he read until midnight under dim light.

　　我12歲時第一次見到他，當時他穿著灰色的衣服，他告訴我說，在此形勢下，作爲佛弟子，心裏對叁寶的向往不能舍棄。若想在狂風暴雨中也能護持正念，使信心之燈不致熄滅，必須一心祈禱上師叁寶。說完此話，一縷金色的陽光透過窗戶灑了進來，照在他紅潤光滑，沒有一絲皺紋的臉上。使我感到一種發自內心的溫暖。現在想起來，當時的情景仍然曆曆在目，記憶猶新。

　　I was age 12 when I first met him. At that time he was wearing a gray outfit and told me that in the current situation, a Buddhist should never forgo reliance on the Three Jewels. The way to guard our mindfulness and the flame of faith amidst the furious storm is to pray wholeheartedly to our teacher and the Three Jewels. As he was saying this, a ray of golden sunshine streamed through the window and reflected on his rosy and wrinkle-less cheeks. I was struck with a warm feeling aroused from the bottom of my heart. As I look back, scenes of that day still leap before my eyes, as vivid as ever.

　　83年政策緩和以後，智慧淵博、慈心廣大的德巴堪布，就利用他在上羅科瑪鎮的木工房，開始爲大家傳法，我的五加行也是在此期間圓滿的，並最終在他和日嘎喇嘛座前，披上了出家衣，踏上了一條通往解脫的不歸路。

　　In 1983 the turmoil of the political situation abated. The learned and compassionate Khenpo Dhepa began teaching Dharma at his woodworking shop in the town of Upper Luokouma and that”s when I completed the five preliminaries of the Great Perfection. Finally, in front of him and Lama Rid Gar, I donned the monk”s robe and began my journey of no return toward liberation.

　　作爲修行人，我能否也像德巴堪布那樣，在任何艱難歲月，都能護持佛法之燈長明不滅呢？

　　As a Dharma practitioner, will I be able to emulate Khenpo Dhepa—to uphold and protect the torch of Dharma from dying out under all adverse circumstances

　　壬午年四月二十叁日　

　　2002年6月3日　　

　　23rd of April, Year of RenWu

　　June 3, 2002

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