蓮池

　　Lotus Pond

　　閩南佛學院大殿前有一泓寬闊的蓮池，晚春臨近，池中的荷花也相繼開放。一場春雨過後，霁日從雲層裏露出笑顔，照著花瓣和葉子上凝聚著的晶瑩雨滴，使之散發出五彩的光芒，將白色的花兒映得分外妖娆。翠綠的荷葉，如凝脂般地透出雍容華貴的氣質，將蓮池裝點得生機盎然。蜻蜓、點水鳥穿梭其間，肆無忌憚地享受著花葉的芬芳；放生的魚兒遨遊淺底，向蓮莖訴說著自由的舒暢；岸邊的樹木新綠蕩漾，爲歸燕譜寫出春的樂章；往來的僧衆步履悠閑，是否已體會到“春在枝頭已十分”的境界？

　　Right in front of the main hall of the Minnan Buddhist Academy, there is a large lotus pond; late in the spring, lotus flowers start to blossom one after the other. When the sun comes out smiling from behind the clouds after a shower; the crystalline water droplets on leaves and blossoms sparkle brilliantly. White flowers, reflecting a riot of colors, become notably charming to the eye. Verdant lotus leaves, ever elegant and poised, give the pond exuberant vigor; dragonflies and birds glide smoothly over the pond, taking in the flowers” fragrance to their hearts” delight. Fish whose lives have been saved are now swimming at will in the pond, chitchatting to the flowers of the marvel of freedom. The trees around the bank are bedecked with green baby buds, as if composing a spring symphony to welcome the returning swallows. Monks promenade leisurely and meditatively; have they felt in the air that “spring is making a full display of itself over the treetops”

　　這令人陶醉的春色莫非是佛菩薩的化現？身臨其間，不僅身心通泰，更令我體會到“青青翠竹，無非般若；郁郁黃花，盡是法身”的深刻涵義。

　　This spring scenery is utterly enchanting; could it be anything but the display of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas

　　 As I immerse myself fully in it, not only do I feel refreshed mentally and physically, but also am inspired to realize the profundity of this Zen poem:

　　Bamboos, all green and vibrant, are nothing but the display of wisdom

　　Flowers, all yellow and lush, are entirely the expression of Dharmakaya.

　　修建蓮池的法師，可謂具有真知灼見，在修建蓮池之初，即在四周建造了圍牆，使這裏遠離了世間的喧囂，爲修行人提供了一個寂靜的場所。難怪連一牆之隔的廈門大學的學子，也喜歡到此溫習功課，享受這佛門獨具的幽靜。

　　The layout of this pond was well conceived by the monks who built it. Having a wall built around it, the pond is isolated from the noise and busyness of the city and provides a quiet retreat for practitioners. No wonder even students from next-door neighbor Xiamen University also like to visit here, to enjoy the unique seclusion of the monastery while doing their homework.

　　想起曾見過的一副對聯：“風聲、水聲、蟲聲、鳥聲、梵呗聲，總合叁百六十五天擊鍾聲，無聲不寂；月色、山色、草色、樹色、雲霞色，更兼四萬八千丈峰巒色，有色皆空。”

　　An antithetical couplet comes to my mind:

　　The sounds of wind, water, insects, birds, and chanting, all together with those of gongs of 365 days—there is no sound that is not silence.

　　The forms of moon, mountain, grass, tree, and sunset, as well as those of 48,000 mountains—all forms are nothing but emptiness.

　　若能將之題于大殿，也許也能給人以一些啓迪吧。

　　This couplet, if posted inside the main hall, may invoke some inspiration in people who read it.

　　在如此的環境裏修行，真是令人惬意的事。我多麼希望喇榮聖地也能有這樣的一汪蓮池啊！

　　To do one”s spiritual practice in such a setting is quite a blessing. How I wish we could have a lotus pond just like this at Larung Gar!

　　壬午年叁月初七　　

　　2002年4月19日 　

　　書于蓮池畔

　　7th of March, Year of RenWu

　　April 19, 2002

　　By the Lotus Pond