閉關

　　On Retreat

　　離開喇榮已經142天，臨走之前，學院的360多位修行人共同發願，在那具有殊勝加持的聖地閉關142天修持密法，每天按照閉關教言修習至少4-6座。當時我也曾有此願望，但因公務繁雜、病魔纏身，而未能如願。

　　It”s been 142 days since I left Larung Gar. Before my departure, 360 practitioners there vowed in unison that in the supremely blessed land of Larung, they would devote 142 retreat days to Vajrayana practice, following strictly the retreat manual to meditate at least 4 to 6 sessions every day. I had the same aspirations at that time, but alas, my busy administrative duties and illness thwarted my wishes.

　　幾個月以來，我幾乎是在病床上度過了這段寶貴時光。目睹過衆多病人的痛苦，耳聞過無數患者的慘叫。昨日的病友已被死神喚去，今日的同室也不知有幾人能享明日之春光。若不利用如今的大好時光苦修，在臨死之時，終將不由自主地隨業力流轉，誰也不能救護。

　　Instead, I have been confined to a hospital bed for almost the entire three months, wasting this precious time period. I have witnessed the suffering of many patients, and listened enough to the horrible shrieks of the sick. Some fellow patients of yesterday were escorted away by the Lord of Death, and who knows how many of today”s roommates will still be able to enjoy the spring day tomorrow

　　 Unless we take advantage of our excellent opportunity to practice, at the time of death we will be propelled by karmic force into the rounds of samsara; there will be no protector whatsoever.

　　今天，閉關共修已經圓滿，世間的人們時常在毫無意義的日子大搞各種名目繁多的紀念活動。與他們的主題相比，此事就更應該紀念及慶賀。在此五濁興盛之時，能以內觀心的本性爲日程的修行人是十分罕見的。不論他們的修行結果如何，都應該有很大功德。

　　As of today, the 142-day group retreat is completed; this occasion is indeed a feat to commemorate. Such celebration is far more worthwhile than those elaborate ceremonies carried out on worldly, meaningless days. In this period of five degenerations, there are very few people who meditate daily on the mind”s true nature. The retreatants, whatever their actual level of accomplishment may be, must have generated tremendous merit.

　　很巧，此時正翻開《宣說決定真如經》，佛于經中雲：“舍利子，何人以守持十戒而聽聞之功德，與此人于彈指間修習真如等持之功德相比，後者更爲超勝。”經中所言，真實不虛，世間之人爲了財色名食睡尚且“衣帶漸寬終不悔”，更何況爲了自他之解脫。如果實修之人能將閉關要訣再進行廣修有多好啊！

　　“Sariputta, one practitioner, listens to Dharma teachings while upholding the 10 precepts; this same person also practices meditation on the mind”s true nature one-pointedly, just for one instant. When comparing the merits of these two activities, the latter is far more superior.” This is a saying from the scripture, an unfailing truism. For earthly wishes—wealth, sex, fame, food, and sleep—worldly people would strive until “pining away without regret”, how much more effort we should exert for the liberation of self and other beings! Wouldn”t it be great if practitioners were to continue to apply the retreat”s instructions to broader scopes!

　　壬午年正月初六　　

　　2002年2月18日

　　6th of January, Year of RenWu

　　February 18, 2002