参禅要先打地基

　　In Investigating Chan, First Lay the Foundation

　　地基没打好，房子必不坚固，风一吹就倒，雨一冲就散。

　　If you don”t lay a good foundation, your house will not be sturdy;

　　the wind will blow it down and the rain will wash it away.

　　学佛的人，有人欢喜参禅，有人欢喜学教，讲经说法，有人欢喜研究律宗，有人欢喜密宗，有人欢喜净土宗。无论欢喜哪一宗，你都要专心致志，用功修行，才能达到目的，成就自己的希望。

　　Among the students of Buddhism, some like to investigate Chan; some like to study the teachings, speak the Dharma, and lecture on the sutras; some like to investigate the precepts; some enjoy cultivating the Secret School; and some like to practice the Pure Land School. No matter which school you like, you must concen-trate single-mindedly and cultivate with diligence. Then you will be able to achieve your goal and realize your hopes.

　　若不专心致志，学什么也等于没有学一样。参了二天半禅，就想去念佛；念佛念了半天，又想去学律；学律不久，又想学密。常把自己的目标弄乱，而不能专一。为什么不能专一？就因为向外驰求，脚踏两条船，不知到江北好？或江南好？这样就会自误一生。

　　But if your mind isn”t concentrated, then no matter what you study, it”s the same as not studying. So after investigating Chan for two and a half days, you decide to recite the Buddha”s name; after reciting the Buddha”s name for half a day, you wish to study the Vinaya (moral code). After studying the Vinaya for a while, you decide to study in the Secret School. Since you keep changing your goal, you cannot concentrate. The reason you cannot concentrate is because you are seeking outside. You have your feet in two boats, and you can”t decide whether you want to go north or south on the river. In that way, you end up wasting your whole life.

　　所以参禅就要时时刻刻精进，一分一秒也不躲懒偷安。参到：

　　山穷水尽疑无路，

　　柳暗花明又一村。

　　In investigating Chan, you must be vigorous at all times; don”t be lazy for a single minute or second. You should investigate until:

　　The mountains disappear and the waters vanish, and you doubt there is a road ahead.

　　Beyond the dark willows and the bright flowers is another village.

　　就别有洞天，别有一种天然妙趣。但必定要参到极点，到登峰造极，然后才有一点点希望，但并不多。虽有一点点的希望，也不要抱着希望，否则又变成头上安头。参禅，就是要老实用功。

　　At that point there is another heaven, another natural paradise. But you must investigate to the utmost point and reach the summit. Then there”s a bit of hope, but not much. Although there”s a tiny bit of hope, don”t hang onto it, because that would be superfluous (adding a head on top of a head).

　　首先，要把腿练得听话，不捣乱也不痛，怎么腿会不痛？是否有个咒可以念一念，腿就不痛了？或者吃个什么药令它不痛？不是的。必须要经过这个痛，然后它才听话不痛。你要是忍不住，一痛你就要换腿，休息一下，那么腿永远不会听话，因你已惯坏它。它一痛，你就哄它，好像哄小孩子似的，小孩知道父母怎样也舍不得他受苦，所以将来他就什么苦也不能受了。腿也像小孩子一样，你若怕它痛，它什么时候都会痛，痛时也要痛，你不想痛时也要痛，就都因为惯坏了它。

　　To investigate Chan, you must honestly put in the effort. First of all, you must practice sitting until your legs are compliant－until they don”t hurt or cause any trouble. How can you get your legs to stop hurting

　　 Is there a mantra you can recite to stop the pain

　　 Is there a medicine you can take to keep them from hurting

　　 No. You must endure the pain, and then they will become obedient and stop hurting. If you cannot endure it, and you move your legs and let them rest as soon as they start hurting, your legs will never become obedient because you are spoiling them. Whenever they hurt, you simply placate them as if placating an unhappy child. If the child knows his parents cannot bear to see him suffer, he won”t be able to endure any suffering in the future. Your legs are just like a child; if you fear the pain, they will hurt all the time, even when they aren”t supposed to hurt. That”s because you”ve spoiled them rotten.

　　你把腿练得听话，把腰也练得听话，不酸也不痛。眼、耳、鼻、舌、身、意也都听话，六根不向外驰求，不被色、声、香、味、触、法所转，六根不为六尘所转，而能转回来，这就是听话了。所谓：

　　眼观形色内无有，

　　耳听尘事心不知。

　　You must train your legs and your back to be compliant, so that they won”t ache or hurt. When your eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and mind are all compliant, so that they don”t seek after sights, sounds, smells, tastes, objects of touch, or dharmas; when you are not influenced by the six sense organs and six sense o…

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