It’s Hard to Concentrate when it is Warm

暖了不能用功

If you are afraid of the cold, you can wear more clothing. I am afraid of both the cold and of warmth. However, when I am in the Chan Hall for all these years, I never bother to wrap myself in a blanket. When I served as the doorkeeper at Proper Enlightenment Monastery in Hubei, I never covered my upper body with a blanket even when it was very cold at night. I would only cover my legs. Don't you think that it is good when it is too cold for you to sleep? When it is warm, one will feel sleepy. Thus, it is hard to concentrate when it is warm.

你怕冷可以穿多一点衣服，我怕冷也怕热，但是我在禅堂里，这么多年来没有包过毯子、披个毯子。我在湖北正觉寺做门头，晚间再冷我的被子都不往身上披，只包在脚上。天冷睡不着觉，不更好吗？暖了想睡觉，不能用功了。

When it snowed during winter in Hubei, I continued to wear only three layers of clothing. Everyday in Hubei I would smell a rare fragrance. This fragrance differed from what we smell in this world. However, I didn't pay any attention to it. This could be due to the gods seeing me--a pitiful Bhikshu--continuing to meditate even when it was so cold. During that time, I continued to wear three layers of clothing even in winter, unlike now, where I wear so many clothes. This is because age is catching up with me and I don't want to be so tough anymore.

湖北冬天也下雪，那时候我也是上身三层布，下身三层布，所以我在湖北每一天都闻到异香扑鼻，那和人间的香味不同。尽管香气不时飘来，我也不管它，这也许是天神看到有个比丘很可怜，他冷的这么样子还在打坐。我那时候冬天也只是穿三层布，不像现在穿这么多的衣服，因为年纪也大了，不愿意再那么逞强。