..续本文上一页ce, I knew I wouldn”t die. Where I got my strength from was the practice, from having studied and practiced accordingly.

　　I took the Buddha as my example. Wherever I went, whatever others did, I wouldn”t involve myself. I devoted myself solely to the practice, because I cared for myself, I cared for the practice.

　　Those who don”t keep the Vinaya or practice meditation and those who do practice can”t live together, they must go separate ways. I didn”t understand this myself in the past. As a teacher I taught others but I didn”t practice. This is really bad. When I looked deeply into it, my practice and my knowledge were as far apart as earth and sky.

　　Therefore, those who want to go and set up meditation centers in the forest... don”t do it. If you don”t yet really know, don”t bother trying, you”ll only make a mess of it. Some monks think that going to live in the forest they will find peace, but they still don”t understand the essentials of practice. They cut grass for themselves, [16] do everything themselves... Those who really know the practice aren”t interested in places like this, they won”t prosper. Doing it like that won”t lead to progress. No matter how peaceful the forest may be you can”t progress if you do it wrong.

　　They see the forest monks living in the forest and go to live in the forest like them, but it”s not the same. The robes are not the same, eating habits are not the same, everything is different. Namely, they don”t train themselves, they don”t practice. The place is wasted, it doesn”t really work. If it does work, it does so only as a venue for showing off or publicizing, just like a medicine show. It goes no further than that. Those who have only practiced a little and then go to teach others are not yet ripe, they don”t really understand. In a short time they give up and it falls apart. It just brings trouble.

　　So we must study somewhat, look at the Navakovada, [17] what does it say

　　 Study it, memorize it, until you understand. From time to time ask your teacher concerning the finer points, he will explain them. Study like this until you really understand the Vinaya.

　　Ajahn Chah

　　(From "Food for the Heart")

　　Notes:

　　[1] "Vinaya" is a generic name given to the code of discipline of the Buddhist Monastic Order, the rules of the monkhood. "Vinaya" literally means "leading out," because maintenance of these rules "leads out" of unskillful actions, and, by extension, unskillful states of mind; in addition it can be said to "lead out" of the household life, and, by extension, attachment to the world.

　　[2] This refers to the Venerable Ajahn”s early years in the monkhood, before he had begun to practice in earnest.

　　[3] The second sanghadisesa offense, which deals with touching a woman with lustful intentions.

　　[4] Referring to pacittiya offense No. 36, for eating food outside of the allowed time -- dawn till noon.

　　[5] Dukkata -- offenses of "wrong-doing," the lightest class of offenses in the Vinaya, of which there are a great number; parajika -- offenses of defeat, of which there are four, are the most serious, involving expulsion from the Bhikkhu-Sangha.

　　[6] Venerable Ajahn Mun Bhuridatto, probably the most renowned and highly respected Meditation Master from the forest tradition in Thailand. He had many disciples who have been teachers in their own right, of whom Ajahn Chah is one. Venerable Ajahn Mun died in 1949.

　　[7] Pubbasikkha Vannana -- "The Elementary Training" -- a Thai Commentary on Dhamma-Vinaya based on the Pali Commentaries; the Visuddhimagga -- "Path to Purity" -- Acariya Buddhagosa”s exhaustive commentary on Dhamma-Vinaya.

　　[8] Hiri -- sense of shame; Ottappa -- fear of wrong-doing. Hiri and ottappa are positive states of mind which lay a foundation for clear conscience and moral integrity. Their arising is based on a respect for oneself and for others. Restraint is natural because of a clear perception of cause and effect.

　　[9] Apatti: the name to the offenses of various classes for a Buddhist monk.

　　[10] Maha: a title given to monks who have studied Pali and completed up to the fourth year or higher.

　　[11] A "receiving cloth" is a cloth used by Thai monks for receiving things from women, from whom they do not receive things directly. That Venerable Ajahn Pow lifted his hand from the receiving cloth indicated that he was not actually receiving the money.

　　[12] There are very precise and detailed regulations governing the ordination procedure which, if not adhered to, may render the ordination invalid.

　　[13] The Vinaya forbids bhikkhus from eating raw meat or fish.

　　[14] Although it is an offense for monks to accept money, there are many who do. Some may accept it while appearing not to, which is probably how the laypeople in this instance saw the Venerable Ajahn”s refusal to accept money, by thinking that he actually would accept it if they didn”t overtly offer it to him, but just slipped it into his bag.

　　[15] Anjali -- The traditional way of making greeting or showing respect, as with an Indian Namaste or the Thai wai. Sadhu -- "It is well" -- a way of showing appreciation or agreement.

　　[16] Another transgression of the precepts, a pacittiya offense.

　　[17] Navakovada -- A simplified synopsis of elementary Dhamma-Vinaya.

《Understanding Vinaya》全文阅读结束。