..续本文上一页 times; they carefully attend to them at every moment. Therefore these precious pearls glow brighter each day, as the dragons guard them attentively day and night. People who practice Chan meditation are just the same, in that they never allow their minds to ramble with scattered thinking. An ancient worthy said, "When not even a single thought arises, the entire substance comes into view." We can rephrase it to say, "When idle thoughts no longer arise, the entire substance comes into view." When one is free of idle thoughts, then one can have some success.

　　参禅的人，不想成佛，不想开悟，不想得智慧，只是努力用功，勤加修行，到时候自然会开悟。不要去想什么时候能开悟？如果这样一想，想到无量劫，也不会开悟。在禅堂里，行行坐坐，坐坐行行，时间久了，自然会有成功的机会，所谓「久坐有禅。」

　　Meditators don”t think about becoming Buddhas, getting enlightened, or gaining wisdom. They simply work hard and cultivate vigorously. When the time comes, they naturally become enlightened. You can”t think about when you will get enlightened. If you think like that, you can think to the ends of time, but you”ll never get enlightened. If you stay in the Chan Hall, and sit and walk, walk and sit, then after a long time, you”ll have a chance to get enlightened. As it”s said, "Chan comes with long-time sitting."

　　参禅，又好像「猫捕鼠」一样用工夫，要聚精会神守在老鼠洞旁，等待老鼠出来，就一爪捕之，不可以懈怠，一散乱其心就不能注意了。参禅的人，亦复如是，时时刻刻要提起正念，不生妄念，这是参禅初步入门的知识。

　　Investigating Chan is done the way a cat stalks a mouse. The cat concentrates its energy and focuses its attention, patiently sitting beside the mousehole, waiting for the mouse to appear. As soon as it comes out, the cat pounces on it. The cat cannot slack off; once it becomes distracted, it will no longer be able to concentrate. Chan meditators are the same: at all times, they maintain proper thoughts and avoid idle thoughts. This is basic knowledge for beginners in Chan meditation.

　　修道人，不要到南山去找「道」，也不要到北海去找「道」。道，就在你的身边。你能结双跏趺坐，专心致意参禅，这就是道。不要有好高骛远的心，向外驰求去找道，那是永远找不到。舍近求远，到处找困难的事，这就是自找麻烦，自讨苦吃。

　　Cultivators should not go running off to the mountains in the south or to the ocean in the north to seek the Way. The Way is right with you at all times. If you can sit in full lotus and concentrate your mind as you investigate Chan, just that is the Way. Don”t let your mind hanker after remote mysteries, running outside in search of the Way, for you”ll never find it there. You”ll be forsaking what”s near to search afar; and everywhere you go, you”ll be searching for trouble. You”ll be causing yourself needless hassle and making your life miserable.

　　一九八○年禅七十二月开示

　　A talk given during a Chan Session

　　in December, 1980

《控制妄想的秘诀 The Secret to Controlling Random Thoughts》全文阅读结束。