鞭策

　　Spurring On

　　一位刚从印度归来的堪布，向我讲起了他在印度哲蚌寺四年的修学生涯及体会。

　　A khenpo who has just returned from India told me about the life and experiences of his four years” study at the Drepung Loseling Monastery there.

　　在那里，聚集了三千多名僧众，每天凌晨五点，起床的钟声就把他们从美梦中惊醒，一天繁重的功课从此开始，除了短暂的休息，直至晚上十一点，一直处于高强度的学习中，若有想偷睡懒觉或不听从管教者，无情的皮鞭就会抽打在身上。

　　Drepung has about three thousands monks. Every morning at five they are roused from sleep by the wakeup bell, and the day is followed by a heavily packed schedule until 11 at night, with very few breaks in between. They work intensely around the clock; unforgiving whips will surely reprimand anyone who dozes off or acts against the rules.

　　所有的僧众都接受着非常严格而有序的教育，第一年学习因明基础《心类学》及《因类学》，然后是《现观庄严论》七年，《中观》三年，《俱舍论》及戒律共四年，《释量论》则贯穿于整个修学课程。其间每年都必须背诵60篇以上的长颂词，若不能完成，则取消参学资格。在所有的显宗课程结束后，经过严格的考评，方可进入密宗的修习。

　　All students are subject to a very strict and progressive education program. The first-year curriculum includes basic Buddhist Logic (Hetuvidya), studying the knowledge gained by means of the senses and the knowledge gained by means of inference. This is followed by a seven-year study of Ornament of Clear Realization, three years on Madhyamaka, four years on Abhidharma-kosa Shastra and Vinaya, while Compendium of Valid Cognition runs through the entire program. Everyone is expected to learn by heart 60 prose chapters or more, and failing to do that means expulsion. Only after a student finishes all these curricula in Sutrayana and passes strict examination and evaluation can he embark on the secret Mantrayana studies.

　　“桃李不言，下自成蹊”。由于这种几近苛刻的管理，致使该寺聚集了各路精英，培养了一大批出类拔萃的僧才。

　　As the saying goes, a man of true worth naturally attracts admiration. The monastery”s strict and nearly oppressive administration has attracted elites and brains from all over the world, and it in turn has graduated many preeminent monks.

　　听了他的讲述，令我对该寺的管理体制钦佩不已，多年以来，由于缺乏外力的鞭策，致使我的惰性与日俱增，想看的书、想做的事，常常因为懈怠与散乱而放弃。对于我这种缺乏自制力的人，实在需要外力的鞭打，使我精进、令我警醒、促我进步。

　　His description stirs in me great respect for the administrative system of the monastery. For many years I have grown lazier due to the lack of external push. My sloth and distraction have killed many of my plans to read certain books or undertake tasks. For a person lacking self-discipline, I really could use a strong, external lash to incite in me diligence, rattle me up, and force me to make progress.

　　壬午年五月二十三日　

　　2002年7月3日

　　23rd of May, Year of RenWu

　　July 3, 2002