..续本文上一页n returns immediately to the hall to continue to meditate. We don”t want to waste even one minute or second of the session, because who knows in which minute or second we”ll become enlightened

　　 This is why we treasure every moment of time.

　　所谓「不离这个」。不离哪个？不离「念佛是谁？」不离念佛是谁，那就是智慧剑，斩断七情六欲。这种习气毛病一除尽，本性就现前；本性现前，菩提道果就成就了。

　　As it”s said, "Do not depart from this!" Don”t depart from what

　　 Don”t depart from the question, "Who is reciting the Buddha”s name

　　" This "Who" is a wisdom-sword that cuts through the seven emotions and six desires. Once you”ve gotten rid of your faults and habits for good, your fundamental nature can appear. Once your fundamental nature appears, the fruition of Bodhi will be accomplished.

　　我们在参禅期间，要面对现实，克服一切环境，抱定宗旨。苦就是快乐的开始，我常对你们说：

　　受苦是了苦，

　　享福是消福。

　　As we work at Chan, we must maintain a practical attitude regarding the surrounding states. We must not lose sight of our principles. Bear in mind that pain is the forerunner of pleasure. As I often tell you,

　　To endure suffering is to end suffering;

　　To enjoy blessings exhausts blessings.

　　古人说：

　　祸兮福所依，

　　福兮祸所附。

　　The ancients said,

　　Disasters bring blessings along;

　　Blessings usher in catastrophes.

　　就是说在不吉祥的事情后面，会有吉祥的事来；在吉祥的事情后面，会有不吉祥的事来。世间法都是相对待的。

　　This means that following a run of bad luck we often encounter very lucky events. Disasters often follow lucky events. The phenomena of the world come in pairs of opposites.

　　我们在往昔不知造了多少业？所以要受果报。若能努力用功，勇猛精进，把业果受完，就会成就道业。各位要注意！无论遇到「顺」的境界或「逆」的境界，都要忍受，忍受不了也要忍受。

　　Who knows how much evil karma we”ve created in the past

　　 For this reason, we must endure the retribution. If we can work hard at our meditation and courageously advance, then when we”ve patiently endured our karmic retribution to its end, we can accomplish our work in the Way. Pay heed to this, all of you! No matter whether we encounter states that please us or states that go against the grain, we must patiently endure them all. Even the ones we can”t endure, we still need to endure.

　　修道，就是修忍受。所谓「忍是无价宝」，能忍受得住，才能得到真正的快乐。好像练过武术的人，没有经验，等打架的境界来了，就把所学的招式忘了；等境界过去了，想起招式，已经太晚了。参禅也是这样，等境界来了，要忍受，要吃亏，咬紧牙根，度过难关，便得到自在。

　　Cultivating the Way is simply a matter of gaining the ability to endure. As it”s said, "Patience is a priceless jewel." You can experience true happiness only if you can bear up under all situations. As martial artists know, when an inexperienced fighter steps onto the mat to spar, he often forgets the moves he has just learned. Once the match is over, he recalls his techniques, but it”s too late. Cultivating Chan is the same way. When a situation comes up, you have to endure it; you have to be willing to suffer a loss. Grit your teeth, and when you make it through the gate of difficulty, you”ll gain a bit of self-mastery.

　　参禅要朝于斯，夕于斯。在早晨也修这个禅定，在晚上也修这个禅定，修得时间久了，自然就有成就。要能忍耐，腰酸不要管它，腿疼不要管它，一心一意参「念佛是谁？」这样就时刻不会打妄想，能摄受身心，令其清净，一点妄念不生。心不离「念佛是谁？」四个字，时时提起来，刻刻不忘记，这就是用功的目标。

　　Chan meditation requires that you cultivate this same way morning and evening. In the morning you should practice Chan meditation, and in the evening you also must practice Chan meditation. When you cultivate long enough, you”ll naturally succeed. But you must be patient. If your back aches, pay it no mind. If your legs hurt, pay them no attention. Simply turn your thoughts to single-minded investigation of "Who is mindful of the Buddha

　　" This method will prevent you from indulging in random thoughts, and it will help you gather back your body and mind. You must make them pure, until not even one idle thought arises. When your mind no longer leaves the topic, "Who is mindful of the Buddha

　　" and you can bring up these words over and over, when you don”t forget them for even an instant, then you”ll have realized the aim of your effort.

　　参话头是一个妄想，杂念是多个妄想。用以毒攻毒的办法，所以用参话头的妄想来控制多个妄想，慢慢将妄想一个一个消灭，不再起作用。这时候，无论什么境界来了，都不会迷惑。你分析清楚，就不会走火入魔，古德说：

　　宁可千生不悟，

　　不可一日着魔。

　　To investigate the meditation topic is one idle thought; our scattered thoughts are a great many idle thoughts. Employing the method of fighting fire with fire, we use one idle thought to stop the many idle thoughts. Slowly, one by one, we bring these random thoughts under control and eradicate them, so they no longer arise. At that time, no matter what situation appears, you won”t be deluded by it. You will discriminate clearly and not become possessed by demons. The ancients said,

　　It would be better to go without

　　enlightenment for a thousand lifetimes, Than to be possessed by a demon for even

　　a single day.

　　修禅定要谨慎小心，不可偏差，要正大光明，不要给魔找机会。你有杂念，就是替魔开门；而参话头，就是驱魔的法宝。

　　As we cultivate Chan meditation, we must be cautious and circumspect, and not get carried away. We must be proper, magnannimous, and forthright, so that demons have no chance to trouble us. Idle thoughts open the door to demons, but the meditation topic is the Dharma-treasure that exorcises those demons.

　　一九八○年禅七十二月开示

　　A talk given during a Chan Session

　　in December, 1980

《参话头 On Investigating a Meditation Topic》全文阅读结束。