净极光通达

When Purity Reaches the Ultimate Point, the Light Shines Through

参禅的功夫，是由忍耐中得来的，是从受苦中换来的。

The spiritual skill used in investigating Chan arises from patience.

It is attained through the endurance of suffering.

参禅的功夫，是由忍耐中得来的，是从受苦中换来的。不是说我参得腿痛，就向后退；遇着困难，就要投降。这样，不会有相应处。必要坐到极点，自有境界现前。

The spiritual skill used in investigating Chan arises from patience. It is attained through the endurance of suffering. As you meditate, as soon as your legs ache, do you retreat? As soon as difficulty arises, do you surrender? If you do, then you will gain no responses from your efforts. You must sit still, right to the ultimate point, and then you will naturally experience a state.

所谓「净极光通达」，净到极点，智慧光明便现出，通达宇宙，照天照地。这时，没有贡高我慢的心，没有骄傲自大的心，没有嫉妒他人的心，也没有障碍他人的心，看大地众生，皆有佛性，皆堪作佛。这时智慧时时现前，愚痴时时减少，心明如镜，光明普照，无拘无束，无罣无碍。

That is to say, "When purity reaches the ultimate point, the light shines through." When you are pure to the ultimate point, then the light of your wisdom will emerge. It will pervade the entire universe. It will shine up to the heavens, and it will shine down on the earth. At that time, you won't have any thoughts of arrogance; you won't have any thoughts of pride or egoism. You won't have any thoughts of jealousy towards others and you won't wish to hinder others' progress. You will see all living beings on earth as possessing the Buddha-nature and sharing the potential to become a Buddha. At that time, your wisdom will shine constantly and your ignorance will diminish constantly. Your mind will be as bright as a mirror and your light will radiate everywhere, without fetters or restrictions, without hindrances or obstructions.

在禅堂里，是修「戒、定、慧」三无漏学。在禅堂不讲话，没有妄言、绮语、恶口、两舌，把口造四恶的门关上了。在禅堂专一其心参话头，不生贪念、不生瞋念、不生痴念，把意造三恶的门关上了。在禅堂静坐不动，不会杀生、不会偷盗、不会邪淫，把身造三恶的门关上了。

Here in the Chan Hall, we are cultivating the Three-fold Non-outflow Studies of precepts, concentration, and wisdom. In the Chan Hall, we don't talk, so we can't tell lies. We don't talk frivolously or harshly, and we don't gossip. We close the door to all four of the evil deeds done by the mouth. In the Chan Hall, we concentrate our minds and investigate the meditation topic. We don't have any thoughts of greed, hatred, or stupidity. We have closed the doors through which we create the three evil deeds of the mind. We sit still and unmoving here in the Chan Hall. We don't kill, we don't steal, and we don't involve ourselves in lustful behavior; and thus the doors leading to the three evils of the body are closed.

这时候，五戒十善具足；行住坐卧，都修习定，定力具足；然后慧力就现前，所以才说「净极光通达」。净极，就是定；光通达，就是慧。

At that time, the Five Precepts and Ten Good Deeds are perfected in our conduct. Whether walking, standing, sitting, or lying down, we are constantly cultivating samadhi. When our samadhi power is full and complete, our wisdom power comes forth. That's why we say, "When purity reaches the ultimate point, the light shines through." This ultimate purity is samadhi, and the light that shines through is our wisdom.