Lessons in the Forest 

森林里的教导

Daily life at Wat Ba Pong, as at most forest monasteries, begins at 3;00 AM with group chanting and meditation until just before dawn. At dawn monks walk barefoot two to eight miles to collect alms food at various nearby villages. On their return, the food collected is shared equally in begging bowls, and eating of the one daily meal begins with a chanted blessing. After meal clean-up, from 9;30 A.M. to 3;00 PM monks return to their huts for a period of solitary meditation, study, or work, or they join various monastery projects, such as repairing buildings and fences, sewing robes, or constructing new cottages. At 3;00 PM all are called to help draw and carry well water to the water storage barrels and to sweep the central grounds. At 6;00 PM after bathing, the monks reassemble for meditation, evening chanting, and periodic Dharma talks. Returning to their cottages, they use the late evening hours for silent sitting and walking meditation and as a time to listen to the sounds of the forest as it settles down for the night.

　　巴蓬寺的日常生活，就如大部份的森林道场一样，凌晨三点，大众开始课诵与禅坐，直到破晓。天亮时，僧侣们赤脚走到附近二到八公哩外的各个村落托钵。回到寺里时，把托回来的食物平均分到每个人的钵里，经过回向的唱诵後，便开始用一天中唯一的一餐。餐後的清理过後，从早上九点三十分到下午三点，僧侣们各自回到自己的茅蓬，做个人禅修、读书、工作或加入各寺院的工程，例如：修护建筑物和篱芭、缝补袈裟或建造新茅蓬。下午三点，大众被召集来打井水和挑水到储水缸、打扫中央广场。傍晚六点，洗浴之後，僧侣们再集合一齐里禅坐、晚课和定期的开示。回到个人茅蓬以後，他们利用深夜时分来做宁静的坐禅和经行，同时倾听夜晚寂静的森林之音。

The spirit of practice at Wat Ba Pong is to establish right understanding and then apply it with mindfulness to every task and situation. This way of practice is one that can be equally well applied in the midst of any busy life, so the Lessons in the Forest are important ones for us as Westerners too. At the monastery both alms-food collecting and floor cleaning are meditation, and awareness is trained equally in following the breath and in shaving the head. On some days Achaan Chah participates intimately in the daily life of the monastery, cleaning and sweeping leaves with the other monks. On others he teaches more formally, receiving the constant stream of visitors seeking his wisdom and advice.

　　巴蓬寺的修行精神是去建立正确的知见，然後将它与正念一起应用在每一种工作与情况中。这种修行的方法同样可以运用在任何繁忙的生活中，因此，在森林里的课程对我们西方人而言也非常重要。在寺里，托钵和洗地板都是禅坐，观呼吸和剃头同样是在训练我们的觉醒。有时候，阿姜 查会亲自加入寺里的日常生活，和其他的僧侣们一起打扫和扫落叶。其他时候，他会比较正式的教导，接见川流不息来寻求他的智慧和指导的访客。

In all these situations he teaches the monks. Sometimes it is through his presence, his simple, straightforward participation in the round 'of monastery life. Often it is through his words-humorous comments, practical Dharma points, or answers to questions that arise in the course of a day.

　　他在这些情况里教导僧侣们。有时透过他的身教、他的简朴及直接地参与寺里一切的生活。通常，都是透过他的言语──幽默的评语、实用的佛法要点或封对在日常生活中出现的问题作回答。

Periodically, Achaan Chah gives an extended evening talk to the assembled monks and lay people on some aspect of practice and spiritual life. The talk may be given in response to a question, for a special visitor, or as a spontaneous teaching. In each case, he sits silently for a moment, closes his eyes, and a natural outflow of Dharma begins.

　　阿姜 查会定期地延长晚间的开示，对集合的僧侣及居士们做些关於修行和精神生活的不同层面的开示。他的开示也许是对特别来宾的问题给予回答，或自然而发的教导。每一次，他都阖上双眼，静静地坐了一会儿，然後，自然流露的法便开始了。

In many ways he inspires those who share daily life with him in the forest. He shows us that only in walking this path ourselves can we move from theory to realization, from ideas of Dharma to a life of wisdom and compassion.

　　在许多方面，他感动了与他在森林里一齐生活的人，他告诉了我们，唯有在这条“道”上努力，方能使我们从理论提升到觉悟，从概念式的佛法提升到一个有智慧和慈悲的生活。