A Monk’s Life

　　僧侣的生活

Here in the forest where a monk can learn to contemplate the nature of things, he can live happily and peacefully. As he looks around, he understands that all forms of life degenerate and eventually die. Nothing that exists is permanent, and when he understands this, he begins to become serene.

　　在森林里，僧侣可以学习去思惟(观)事物的本然，并能够快乐、宁静地生活。当他眼望四周时，他了解，一切有形色的生命都会衰败，终究会死亡。没有任何存在的事物是恒常不变的，而当他明了这点时，便会开始变得详和宁静。

Monks are trained to be content with little-to eat only what they need, to sleep only when necessary, to be satisfied with what they have. This is the foundation of Buddhist meditation. Buddhist monks do not practice meditation for selfish reasons but in order to know and understand themselves, and thus be able to teach others how to live peacefully and wisely.

　　僧侣们被训练要少欲知足──只食他们所需要的份量，在必须时才睡觉，满足於现有的一切。这便是佛门禅修的基础。佛教的僧侣并不是为了自私的缘故而修习禅坐，相反地，他们是为了要了解自己，进而能够去教导他人如何平静地、有智慧地生活。

Meditation does not simply involve being at peace with the world. On the contrary, confronting the self can be like walking into a raging storm. Beginning intensive practice, one often despairs at first and may even want to km oneself. Some think that a monk's life is lazy and easy-let them try it themselves and see how long they can stand it. A monk's work is hard; he works to free his heart in order to feel the loving-kindness that embraces all things. Seeing that all life rises and falls, is born and expires like the breath, he knows that nothii1g can belong to him, and thus he puts an end to suffering.

　　禅坐并不止於平静地处於世上。相反地，要去面对自我就好像走进狂风暴雨之中。刚开始精进修行时，通常，起初都会绝望，甚至会想自杀。有些人认为出家人的生活懒散且轻松，但让他们亲自去试试看，看看他们能撑多久。出家人的责任是非常艰辛的，他们努力要使心解脱，以便能感受到那包容万物的慈悲。了解所有生命的起落，就如同呼吸的生灭一般；他明白没有任何事物可以属於他，因此，他结束了痛苦。

If we just practice with sincerity, the fruits of our practice will shine forth. Anyone with eyes can see. We do not have to advertise.

　　如果我们诚挚地修行，我们的修行成果就会闪耀。任何有眼睛的人都能够看到，我们不须去打广告。