Follow the Dharma to Practice Dharma

　　By Oliver Chang

　　Edited by Steven K. Christopher

　　法随 , 法行

　　作者 张贵人

　　编辑 Steven K. Christopher

　　英译中 汤华俊

　　In December of 2010, Jade Buddha Temple”s English Dharma Group (EDG), and the Insight Meditation Group (img), held an unprecedented, self-run, private retreat for 18 days. The intensive, long retreat was sponsored by the American Bodhi Center in Hempstead, Texas.

　　在2010年12月，玉佛寺的英语弘法组和内观禅修组举办了前所未有的18天禅修营。这次长期精进禅修由位于美国休斯敦的菩提中心举办，完全自我管理，不对外招生。

　　Resident monk Ven. Katapunna guided the retreat, conducted interviews for the participating yogis, and held Dharma talks every night.A significant part of the Dharma talks consisted of an extended examination and discussion of the Maha-Pari-Nibbana Sutra (DN 16), which is about the Buddha”s last days and great passing.This is the longest sutra in the Nikaya, and it took more than two weeks of Dharma talks to finish the discussion.

　　菩提中心的常住圆福法师担任指导，负责小参和每晚的佛法开示。佛法开示大部分时间用于分析讨论《大般涅槃经》(《长部》第16经)，此经讲述佛陀入灭前的最后一段弘法日子。这是阿含经中最长的一部经，用了两周多的时间完成此经的讨论。

　　Also during this retreat, students had the honor of emailing additional questions to a well-known meditation teacher, Bhante Sujiva, who lives in Europe.With the help and support of Jade Buddha Temple and the American Bodhi Center, the retreat was a great success.As the retreat began, and the somber gathering of serious-minded yogis settled into the challenging regimen that often accompanies a long retreat. It became clear that the major theme and focus for this retreat would center around one of the Buddha”s most important teachings, “...Follow the Dharma to practice Dharma.”

　　在此禅修期间，学生们很荣幸能够通过电子邮件向远在欧洲的著名禅师舍弃我尊者提问，向他请教我们自己不能解答的禅修问题。在玉佛寺和菩提中心的支持和帮助下，这次禅修营办得非常成功。禅修营是这些精进禅修者的一个庄严肃穆的聚会，禅修开始大家就很快进入状况, 并适应了长期禅修的挑战性的生活方式。“法随法行”显然是这次禅修的主题和焦点，这是佛陀最重要的开示之一。

　　What does this mean

　　The Sutra states “Paripattia” in Pali, to “... follow the Dharma to practice Dharma.”The former word “Dharma“ refers to the Dharma teaching of Buddha, and the latter word “Dharma” denotes the application of Dharma teaching via the practice of meditation.Put simply, the practice of Insight Meditation must be in accordance with Buddha”s teaching and the Sutra.

　　法随法行是什么意思呢？巴利经文说“Paripattia”，即“法随法行”。前一个“法”字指的是佛陀的教法，而后一个“法”字表示通过禅修实践佛陀的教法。简单说，就是修内观禅必须依据经典并遵循佛陀的教导。

　　Furthermore, the doctrine of Sutra declares, to “...go to the Dharma and yourself as refuge, as your own island.”This means that during practice, you should temporarily put aside what you have previously learned and experienced, and with an open mind, experience the body/mind processes within as your teacher.Listen to and communicate with your own mind and body to totally abide in this very present moment.Be fully aware of what is happening here and now.The nature of reality, the Dharma, is the underlying foundation of the very complex mind-body phenomena in each and every present moment.Realization of the Dharma within is the way to practice mindfulness so as to alleviate sorrow and suffering.

　　经中进一步说，“法洲法依，自洲自依”。这是说在禅修中你应当暂时放下过去的学识和经验，用开放的心态去经历内在的身心过程，以此为师。倾听自己的身心现象并与之沟通，从而达到全然安住于当下，完全觉知此时此地的一切。究竟法的本质，或者说法的本质，是发生于当下每一刹那的非常复杂身心现象的根本机制。从内在去体证法，即培育正念以减轻忧悲苦烦恼。

　　To apply Dharma teaching via the practice of meditation, a basic understanding of what the words “dharma practice” mean is necessary.In addition, a firm, solid knowledge of the rudimentary “building blocks” that will make up the foundation of daily dharma practice also needs to be examined.

　　为了通过禅修实践佛陀的教法，我们需要对“法行”一词具备基本的了解。对日常修行的基本架构，也需有稳固和坚实的知识基础，以下我们将进行分析。

　　What is Dharma Practice

　　什么是法行？

　　Meditation, or Dharma practice, in Buddhism is a technique for developing one”s mind to gain control over its functions, to focus its attention and strength, and to use it as a tool for gaining insight.The successful development …

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