神通
 
Supernatural Power

很多对佛教真谛尚不了解的所谓修行人，非常执著天眼、天耳、天上飞行，或者开中脉、见幻象等神通。经常听见有人讲某人又开天眼了，某人又见到观音菩萨了等等消息。

There are many self-proclaimed practitioners who, due to a lack of authentic understanding of the Dharma, are quite obsessed with the development of clairvoyance—divine eyes, subtle ears, the ability of levitation and opening the central channel, or having visions. Quite often, people are eager to pass the news that so and so has gained divine eyes or so and so has had a vision of Avalokitesvara, and the like.

所以，不少的人为追求这些特异功能而学佛，这样不但达不到学佛的真正目的，反而很可能会走火入魔。

In fact, quite a few people have entered the Buddhist path with a wish to attain these kinds of extraordinary abilities. Such a mindset will not only obstruct them from realizing the ultimate goal in Buddhism, but will also endanger them to the possibility of running amok.

神通是修行过程当中自然而然的奇妙成就。若执著于此，只会对修行造成障碍。

Attaining supernatural power is an amazing consequence that comes naturally while doing spiritual practices. But to become attached to it only creates obstacles to authentic advancement.

如果仅仅是追求神通，世间的许多特异功能、杂技、魔术都能显示许多常人难以置信的现象。随着科学日益发达，上天入地早已不是神话。所谓的神通除了盗名欺世，又有何用呢？

If a person pursues merely clairvoyance, he may as well join the ranks of paranormal psychics, acrobats, and sorcerers in the world—many of them are capable of displaying inconceivable maneuvers. With the fast development of science and technology, going up in the sky or tunneling into the earth are no longer fairy tales. For a person to show off supernatural powers, it serves no purpose other than trying to fish for undeserved fame.

佛教对神通也并不持赞赏态度，佛经云：“魔鬼、非人也具足神变。”

The Buddhist’s tradition has long held a conservative disapproval toward clairvoyance. It says in the scriptures: “Demons and non-human spirits also possess supernatural powers.”

乔美仁波切说：“守持清净戒律才是最大的神通。”

Chagme Rinpoche says: “The greatest clairvoyance is none other than to keep pure precepts.”

从前，仲敦巴格西与四位瑜伽士前往热振。一天，已到骄阳当头，应当食用午餐的时候，他们的食物却一无所剩。一行人饥饿难耐，正商量如何应对之际。衮巴瓦却胸有成竹地说：“我将会吃到那个从山嘴往上攀登的人所带来的食物。”当他示现神通的话音刚落，一位施主便携带着丰盛的斋食即时而至。他们终于得以饱餐一顿。仲敦巴格西向来喜欢隐藏功德，所以对衮巴瓦显示神通的行为极为不快，声色俱厉地训斥道：“衮巴瓦，你不要妄自尊大！”

Once, Geshe Dromtonpa and four yogis were on their way to Radreng. One day beneath the blazing sun they discovered they scarcely had any food left for lunch. As they were trying to figure out what to do with their pressing hunger, Gönpawa already had an answer and said: “I will be enjoying the food that someone is bringing up to the mountain.” No sooner had he finished the sentence than a person showed up with an ample offering of food, which they feasted on heartily. Geshe Dromtonpa, however, was quite displeased with Gönpawa’s flaunting of his supernatural ability, as the Geshe never had the inclination for such display. He reprimanded sternly: “Gönpawa! Stop being so pompous and pretentious!”

噶当派的大德们从来就是这样以隐藏功德为荣，他们有一种说法：“隐藏功德者，邪魔不能害。”

Likewise, the great masters of the Kadampa lineage take pride in concealing their abilities. This is what they say: “He who hides his accomplishment is immune to the attacks of demons.”

现在世间的人却没有神通也到处炫耀自己的鬼通、魔通。他们不知，若身处五彩缤纷的世间，却不为外境所转，恒持正见，增上出离心、菩提心才是最大的神通。

Worldly folks nowadays, however, tend to flash around their dervish spells or wizardly ways even if they possess no real clairvoyance. Ultimately, what are the grandest supernatural powers? They are: to resist the spells of the alluring world, to uphold right views, to strengthen renunciation, and to generate bodhichitta. That’s it. Alas, little do people know this truth!

壬午年五月十九日 　
2002年6月28日 　

19th of May, Year of RenWu
June 28, 2002