On Practice IX 【修行 (九) -英文】

晓得自己是凡夫才好修行，这样才会很惭愧地发勇猛精进心，接受善知识的教诲。否则自视过高，自以为了不起，贡高我慢，就很难入道。修行就是要脚踏实地，从（一切境）中去调整自己、磨练自己，去除无明、烦恼习气，要心能转境而不被境所转，才能入圣流。所以修行从心修，是在（修自己），这是别人无法代替的事。若能调得自在，自能明心见性，智慧开朗。

Our practice will be enhanced by the realization that we are but an ordinary person. It makes us humble hence more willing to embrace teachings of masters and practice diligently. Otherwise, we might be too arrogant to learn and, consequently, unwilling to practice. Practice means to walk the path step by step, to adjust and discipline our mind through challenges, to eliminate all delusions and vexations, and to be unsusceptible to the swing of circumstances. Only then can there be hope for attainment in practice. Therefore, practice should begin with the training of "our own mind", which no one else can do for us. If we practice to the extent that our mind is free of all fetters, the true self will be found, the Buddha nature will be seen and wisdom will unfold.

 

修苦行是去除妄念最好的方法。在难行难忍中，一切看破，万缘放下，一心做去，就没有分别，没有烦恼，自然业障消除，无明不起，而法喜充满。功夫日久，一切事情都会明明朗朗，无不通晓，智慧大开。

Ascetic practice is the best way to expel erroneous and illusive thoughts. When dealing with impossible and unbearable circumstances, learn to let go of all aspirations and attachments. When handling them with an undivided mind, we won't discriminate and, therefore, have no vexations, and our karmic obstructions and ignorance will naturally be eliminated and we will be filled with dharmic joy. Keep on such practice and our wisdom unfold. By then, everything will become crystal clear thus easily comprehensible.

 

以前的祖师总是安分守己，不求闻达。因为越是默默无名，不攀缘的人，越是好用功。若是心多攀缘，则意根散乱，心常骄满，易致失败，而道业不得成就，也枉费我们来出家。

The great patriarchs in history always kept a low profile and pursued no fame. As we know, those who desire less of worldly fame and gains are more apt to practice diligently. Too many secular concerns distract our minds and make us pretentious. Under these circumstances, no attainment is possible and our efforts of leaving home for practice will all be in vain.

 

智慧胜过神通，神通只是智慧的妙用。智慧是光明，能善巧分别，明了一切事理，破除一切无明烦恼，了脱生死。若求神通而没有智慧，就不能成就佛道，仍然落在三界之内，六道轮回当中。

Wisdom is much more powerful than supernatural capability, for the latter is but the ingenious application of the former. Wisdom is the inner light that enables us to discern and comprehend the essence of everything; it helps us eliminate all vexations generated by our ignorance and escape the cycle of birth and death. Therefore, if we covet supernatural capability rather than wisdom, we will have no hope of attaining buddhahood. Instead, we will remain in the three realms and be confined to the six paths of rebirth.

 

修行不是修给别人看的，表面功夫是不会有道行的，深浅别人一试便知晓。《金刚经》云：（若有我相、人相、众生相、寿者相，即非菩萨。） 所以修行是（密行），是修自己的心，向内观照自己的起心动念，不是向外攀缘追求得到的。然而即使自己真有功夫，也不必故意让别人感觉出来，这样才好真实办道。

The purpose of practice is not to show off. Ostentatious practice gains no strength and is lack of substance, which will be easily detected by others. As the Diamond Sutra puts it: "If someone still contains the appearances of self, of others, of sentient beings, and of life, he is not a true bodhisattva." Therefore, practice is a very "private" business. It is a training of our own mind to introspect the incipience and motivation of our each and every thought, which can never be attained through external pursuits. Even if we have attained certain skills, do not show off lest it should hamper your practice.

 

真正修行的人，（道心）很坚固，（愿力）很坚强。当境遇越坏时，越能深刻去体认，反而能培养坚忍的道行。所以说：（无苦不成道。）出家和在家大不相同，出了家是越苦越好修。

Genuine practitioners have firm "faith" and strong "resolve". The harder the situations become, the deeper their understanding of the Dharma  hence the stronger their perseverance in practice. That is why "no attainment is possible without hardship". Monastic practitioners should expect a lifestyle vastly different from that of laity, and realize that, the more arduous the circumstances are, the better for practice.

 

修行和世俗不一样，不是在争对不对。以前有两个徒弟在打坐，一个坐得很庄严，一个坐得东倒西歪，可是师父拿起香板，却打那个坐得庄严的徒弟，目的是要看他心中是否也庄严。如果不是很庄严，就一定会起无明瞋恨，而生烦恼；如果内外都很庄严的人，反而会很虚心惭愧地请求师父开示教导。所以说修行不是在争对不对，而是要看自己有没有真功夫----即使你做的都没有错，人家却硬说你不对，你也能接受。

Unlike the laity, practitioners should not argue about right or wrong. Once there were two disciples practicing meditation. One sat in a very solemn and dignified manner, the other quite at ease, not even keeping his posture. However, the master hit the former with an incense ferule to test whether his mind was as solemn and dignified as his posture indicated. If he was not, he would resent the master and become vexed. On the other hand, if his mind were solemn and dignified, he would humbly request the instruction of the master to improve his practice. So, as you see, instead of quibbling over right and wrong, what we really should do is constantly introspecting whether we ourselves have gained genuine strength through practice. Here is a good measurement of strength: when others insist we are wrong even though we have done everything correctly, we can sincerely accept such criticism.

 

修行一定要在大丛林，人多的地方，才会有参学磨练的机会。否则一、两个人住在一起，没有丛林规矩的约束，很容易变成我行我素，随心所欲，而失去了磨练的机会。

When leaving home for practice, be sure to select a large monastery. The experience of living together with more people provides ample opportunities to practice against diverse circumstances. When practitioners live in a small group without the restraint of monastic rules, they may easily indulge themselves hence forfeit the opportunities to discipline and train their minds.

 

------Translated from Analects of Master Kuang-chin（编译自《广钦老和尚开示录》）