獨立

　　On One”s Own

　　城市裏的人時常會對出家人提出這樣一個問題：“你們能結婚嗎？不結婚怎麼行呢？不孤獨寂寞嗎？”仿佛世間的一切安樂都必須通過結婚方能領略。

　　People in the city often raise these questions to those who have taken the monastic ordination: “Are you allowed to marry

　　 How will you get on without being married

　　 Won”t you be lonely and feel lonesome

　　” These questions infer that all the pleasures in the world cannot be experienced unless one lives a married life.

　　記得一位在家人曾向我傾訴婚姻生活的種種苦惱：人人都知道婚姻是愛情的墳墓，一旦結婚，戀愛時僅存的一點浪漫也灰飛煙滅，只剩下無止境的責任和矛盾。首先是生子，如果不生，別人會認爲你身體或心理有問題。一旦生下來，就要爲他的成長發育操勞。等他讀了書，就要爲他的學習操心。然後是他的工作、家庭、孩子，從此仿佛套在一副永遠不能卸下的纖繩上，直至離開人世。

　　However, a layman once confided to me the troubles of a married life as follows: It is known to all that marriage is the tomb of love. When lovers get married, any little sentiment of romance vanishes, leaving behind only endless responsibilities and conflicts. First there is the baby. Without procreating people suspect you have problems, either physically or mentally. Once the baby is born, we must make ourselves subservient to his growth and development. When he goes to school, we are concerned about his studies. This is followed by worries over his job, family, children, and on and on without a break, as if we are tethered to a rope that can never be undone, until we die.

　　是啊！人人都自以爲這樣才是在爲社會盡責，但曆史的車輪卻永遠也不會因你的婚姻生活而停滯。細想起來，婚姻生活又有何用呢？

　　It is so true! Everyone believes that this is how one fulfills his duty to society. However, the wheels of history will never stop moving because of your marital status. Come to think of it, what on earth is a married life good for

　　其實，出家的生活才是最潇灑、自在、快樂的。安樂不一定要在人群當中獲得。天上的月亮，因爲具有獨立的品德而傲視群星；山澗的松樹，因爲具有不撓的精神而參天屹立；洞裏的行者，因爲具有快樂的源泉而獲得大安樂。

　　In fact, the ordained life is a life most unrestrained, carefree, and pleasant. Happiness does not have to come from being in a crowd. High up in the sky, the moon outshines all the stars, thanks to its sublime qualities. Near the mountain brooks, pine trees stand tall and reach to the sky, thanks to their indomitable spirit. In the meditation cave, the recluse attains great bliss, because he has tapped into the fountain of happiness.

　　博朵瓦說過：“現在的人將大量的時間用于籌劃未來，他們不懂得，一個修行人要耐得住寂寞，獨立自主很重要。”臧巴加惹也說：“如果想幸福快樂，就應選擇獨處。食物豐盛的時候，就可以盡情饕餮，無須與人分享；如果(食物)匮乏，也怡然自得，不必擔憂有誰需要養活，當然快樂無比。即使挨凍受餓，也由獨自承擔，所以十分幸福。”

　　Geshe Potowa says: “Nowadays people invest a huge amount of time to plan for the future. But they are unaware that for a practitioner to withstand loneliness, it is important to become self-reliant first.” Tsangpa Gyare also says: “If you want happiness, choose to live by yourself. When food is abundant, enjoy it to your heart”s desire; there”s no need to share with others. If food is scarce, you still feel at ease because there is no worry to feed others, and you are happy. Even during perils like cold and starvation, you can endure them all by yourself. This kind of life is a pleasant one.”

　　喀巴格西也說：“頑冥粗暴易怒自利者，增長有漏眷仆無則妙。吾之眷屬乃智慧精進，成辦一切所需無疲厭。”

　　Geshe Khapa says: “Worldly people are rude, brutal, irascible, and selfish, I am better off without having them as my retinues. The subjects I keep are diligence and wisdom; they never tire me and can fulfill all that I need.”

　　最後，再將巴 瓦的一段言教贈予大家“具有財富名望之時，唯命是從隨聲附和；無力損害利益之時，以恩護養也相輕淩。惡時眷屬極難有利，獨自烹調世人皆知，不離親眷乃自妙手，無須欺诳詐現威儀。獨自享樂悠閑舒暢，苦行飲食無窮無盡。獨自生計何處皆覓，獨自衣衫怎樣皆暖。絕地妙火熾熱十分，獨自安住何等亦勝，無我茅棚逸然溫馨。”

　　Lastly, I offer everyone a teaching from Geshe Bawa:

　　When you possess great wealth and fame, people are obedient and submissive to you.

　　When you become powerless to exert any favor or damage, you are humiliated, even by those who have been cared for by you.

　　In degenerate times, it”s difficult to benefit or care for followers. Prepare your own meals and do not order people around.

　　The best and most reliable attendant is our own pair of hands; there is no need to put on a pretense for them.

　　Enjoying good things by oneself is relaxing and delightful.

　　For an ascetic the food supply never exhausts, sustenance for one person is easy to find everywhere.

　　Clothes for one readily give enough warmth; practicing Tummo Yoga brings excellent heat.

　　The pleasure of living by oneself is indeed great, cozy and sweet is my thatched hut, toward which I hold no clinging.

　　壬午年叁月二十八日　

　　2002年5月10日 　

　　28th of March, Year of RenWu

　　May 10, 2002

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