参话头

　　On Investigating a Meditation Topic

　　参就是找，找这个念佛是谁？

　　To "investigate" means to look, to look for the one who is reciting the Buddha”s name.

　　参话头，就是研究「念佛是谁？谁在念佛？」这句话的来龙去脉。所谓：

　　大疑大悟，

　　小疑小悟，

　　不疑不悟。

　　When we investigate a meditation topic, we examine the question, "Who is mindful of the Buddha

　　" back and forth. It”s said that,

　　When one has a large doubt, then one”s

　　enlightenment can be large.

　　When one has a minor doubt regarding this

　　topic, one”s enlightenment will be small;

　　When one has no doubts about this topic,

　　one will have no enlightenment.

　　参透「念佛是谁？」，就是金刚王宝剑，能斩断一切欲念，只留有参话头的念，别的念一概没有了，这时道心就生出来了。

　　A thoroughgoing investigation of this topic, "Who is reciting the Buddha”s name

　　" acts as an adamantine sword which can mow down and sever every thought of desire. All that remains is the single thought of the meditation topic; no other thoughts are left. At that moment the resolve for the Way can come forth.

　　「念佛是谁？」在没打禅七之前，先打个佛七。打完佛七之后，再打禅七，比较有功效。先念佛，后参「念佛是谁？」参就是找，找这个念佛是谁？是鬼，是哪个鬼？是人，是哪个人？是我，我死了，还会不会念？装在棺材里，就没有人念佛。找究竟对「谁」念佛？念「谁」呢？找念佛是「谁」？「谁」在念佛？找不到。永远地找，也找不到。这个「谁」如果找到了，什么妄想也没有了。为什么还有妄想？因为没有找到「谁」的缘故。

　　Before a Chan Meditation Session, we always have a Buddha Recitation Session. After the recitation session, we hold the Chan Session; this way we can expect better results. First we recite the Buddha”s name, and then we investigate the question, "Who is reciting the Buddha”s name

　　" To "investigate" means to look, to look for the one who is reciting the Buddha”s name. Is it a ghost

　　 Which ghost is it

　　 Is it a person

　　 Which person is it

　　 Is it me

　　 After I die will I still be able to recite

　　 After I”m put in the coffin, no one will be reciting. Find the final answer to the question "Who

　　" How about the asker of "Who"

　　 Can you tell who is reciting the Buddha”s name

　　 Who is asking

　　 You can”t find out. No matter how long you look, you won”t find out who it is. If you actually find out "Who

　　" then you won”t have the least bit of idle thinking left. Why do you still have idle thoughts

　　 It”s because you haven”t found out "Who

　　"

　　这个「谁」字，可以找上一个大劫。老修行坐在那里不动，就是在定中找这个「谁」字。因为专参这个「谁」字，一切妄想没有了，豁然开悟，在黑暗中现出光明，什么都看见了。所谓：

　　迷时千卷少，

　　悟时一字多。

　　This question of "Who" can be sought for a great eon. When you see those meditation adepts sitting absolutely still, it”s because they are working on finding the "Who." Their search for this one word brings them to a state of concentration where not even one idle thought arises. Suddenly at that point, they can get enlightened and, in the midst of darkness, bring forth bright light that shows them absolutely everything. It”s said,

　　When one is confused, an entire library

　　of books is too few;

　　But when one is enlightened, even a single

　　word is too many.

　　这就是「念佛是谁？」的道理。所以，谁能不打妄想，谁就有功夫；谁要是打妄想，什么功夫也用不上，这就是参禅的中心思想。

　　This expresses the principle we use to investigate the meditation topic. Anyone who can be entirely free of idle thoughts is a person with skill. Anyone who entertains idle thoughts is someone whose spiritual skill is still immature. This is the central idea underlying the practice of Chan meditation.

　　参禅的功夫，就是专一其心来参，行也参，住也参，坐也参，卧也参。总而言之，时刻在参，不放弃参的机会。所以在打禅七的期间，不拜佛、不念经、不上殿，也不过堂。到时候去吃饭，吃完饭立刻回到禅堂，继续参禅；到时候去厕所，方便后即刻回禅堂，继续参禅。不浪费一分一秒，因为不知在哪一分、哪一秒就会开悟了？所以要分秒必争。

　　The skill of Chan meditation comes from concentrating the mind and looking into the topic, so that when walking, sitting, and reclining, you are investigating at all times. To sum it up, you must work at it constantly. Don”t pass up this opportunity to investigate. This is why during the Chan session no one bows to the Buddha, recites Sutras, does ceremonies, or eats in the formal style. At lunchtime we take our meal, then we hurry back to the meditation hall and continue to meditate. When one has to go to the bathroom, one takes care of business and the…

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