不知

　　Knowing Not

　　討厭的背又開始痛了。

　　Oh no, the bothersome backache is here again.

　　任你春氣乍寒乍暖，春雲或卷或舒，病痛總是不講情面的。使人無心窗外的美好春色。

　　Sickness is anything but merciful. Regardless of the weather—warm or chilly, cloudy or cloudless—it pounces on me and renders me in no mood to enjoy the spring splendor beyond the window.

　　人在生病之時最容易意念死亡。

　　One becomes most susceptible to the thought of death in illness.

　　也許今天就會死去吧！不知《釋尊傳》是否能翻譯完？也不知《大圓滿心性休息大車疏》能否善始善終？因爲沒有時時憶念死亡，空耗無數光陰。如今老之將至，難免有日薄西山之感。在所剩不多的時日裏，更應精勤住持正念，不爲外塵所轉。

　　Perhaps I”ll die today! Who knows if I”ll be able to finish the translation of Great Biography of Buddha Shakyamuni

　　 Will A Treatise on Finding Comfort and Ease in the Nature of Mind end as well as it began

　　 As I have not been mindful about death, I have wasted a huge portion of my life. Now that old age is creeping in, I can”t help feeling my days are numbered, just like the sun setting beyond the western hills. In the little time left, I should always maintain the right view, be diligent and unfettered by worldly affairs.

　　且記一首南宋宏智正覺之語以自勉：

　　To encourage myself, I am citing here the verse on realization by Hong Zhi of the Southern Song Dynasty:

　　“法喜爲食，慈悲爲舍，

　　信佛是歸，視身如借。

　　住正念以唯勤，趣外塵而無暇。”

　　Dharma bliss is my sustenance, compassion is my dwelling,

　　Faith in the Buddha is my final settling place; this body of mine is merely on loan.

　　Being mindful is my sole endeavor; I have no time to spare on earthly affairs.

　　將法喜作爲食物，將慈悲作爲房舍，將信佛作爲歸宿，將身體視爲借物，精勤地住持正念，無有閑暇趨逐塵世。勿涉足名利，勿貪戀外境，時刻視生命如風中之燭。

　　Take Dharma bliss as sustenance; regard love and compassion as dwelling places. Take faith in Buddhism as the final destiny; understand that the body is on loan. Always diligently maintain the right view; spare no time in chasing the mundane affairs. Keep off fame and wealth; crave not external attractions. Always see life as a candle flickering in the wind.

　　能否做到？

　　Can I accomplish all of this

　　難也！

　　It is tough!

　　壬午年正月二十日 　

　　2002年3月3日　

　　20th of January, Year of RenWu

　　March 3, 200