关键

Key Points

很多人在修法时不想修或修不起，问题的关键在于对世法放不下。禅宗也讲看破红尘，看破了，成就也就是轻而易举的事。

When it comes to practicing Dharma, many people either lack enthusiasm or run out of steam. Such obstacles occur because of their inability to relinquish mundane concerns. Zen Buddhism also stresses giving up earthly affairs, as disenchantment to the world arises, accomplishment is reached with ease.

博朵瓦格西说：如果贪执今生的世间法，虽然一开始觉得放松，其实却会被束缚得很紧。修行人应当以智慧之剑斩断贪执今生的念头。断除今生世间法是最好的教言。现在的一些大修行人，整天谈论风脉明点及其他大法，真正分析观察后看破世间的却很少。口头说一些一两天不能修成的大法毫无利益，不如好好灭除贪世之念。如同即将饿死的人，即使让他看着堆积如山的金银财宝也无济于事一样。

Geshe Potowa says: “Clinging to mundane affairs of this life may seem comforting in the beginning, but eventually it will become a tight binding rope. A spiritual seeker should cut off attachment to this life with the sword of wisdom; the teaching that teaches you to do so is the best one.” Nowadays, some famous practitioners may talk days on end about prana wind, bindo, or other high trainings, but due to a lack of contemplation and analysis, they scarcely renounce the secular world. Talking about lofty and impractical practices makes no sense; it is better to work sincerely to eradicate clinging to this world. To a person on the brink of dying from hunger, merely showing him piles of gold, silver, and other treasures is of no avail in saving him. It’s the same case here.

不管修什么法，关键在于要懂得诀窍。否则，一味地护持亲友、对付怨敌、积累财产算不上什么智慧。博朵瓦格西又说：闻思再好，不懂得修行教言的人，与傍生没有什么区别。傍生在盘算生计方面，完全可以与人类一较短长。沙蜥蜴为了对付蛇，懂得设计去反咬蛇的身体；乌鸦与猴子也知道互相报仇雪耻；老鼠在积累财产方面的本领，即使世间的守财奴，也不得不甘拜下风；很多动物都精通于抚养自己的子女。作为人，我们又怎能甘愿让自己与旁生不分高低呢？所以，大家应当懂得修行的秘诀。

The crucial point in doing any practice is to grasp its essence. On the other hand, devoting all one’s energy to favoring friends and relatives, to overcoming enemies, or to amassing wealth, is not a bit of wisdom. Geshe Potowa also says: “One who does not put the teaching into actual practice is not different from animals, no matter how well this person might have done in study and reflection.” In terms of survival, animals possess skills rivaling those of humans. To deal with snakes, the sand lizard is capable of plotting to bite back at the snake; crows and monkeys also know how to take revenge for insults among themselves. Compared to the skill of mice in amassing possessions, even the scrooges among humans have to take a back seat; many animals are very adept in raising their offspring. Born as human beings, how can we be willing to equate ourselves to animals? Therefore, we should know the keys to practice.

开创净土宗发祥地——东林寺的慧远法师，就可誉为舍弃世间琐事之楷模。当一方霸主桓玄欲劝其还俗做官，“迷而知返”，享受荣华富贵之际，禅师回书曰：“一世之荣，剧若电光，聚散致离，何足贪哉！浅见之徒，何其惑哉！可谓下士闻道，大而笑之，真可谓迷而不返也。”其不畏强势、淡泊名利之高尚气节，真是令人可赞可叹！

Reverent Master Hui Yuan of Dong Lin Temple, one of the main seats of the Pure Land School, served well as the model of abandoning worldly trifles. A powerful chief Huan Xuan tried to persuade him to give up ordination and advised that he should “realize one’s mistakes and mend one’s ways.” When being enticed with a high government position and the pleasure of fame and wealth, the Zen master wrote to reply: “The glory of this life flashes like lightning, whatever comes together is bound to depart. Are these things worth chasing after? How confused are men of shortsightedness! When these people of lesser acumen hear Dharma teachings, they can only respond with silly laughs. This is exactly the case of ‘not realizing the mistakes nor mending the ways’.” His noble integrity—neither yielding to powerful forces nor caring about prestige and money—is really amazing. It deserves our highest respect!

只可惜世上的聪明人太多，但真正对佛法进行实修的人却微乎其微。

Alas, this world is filled with too many smart alecks but way too few genuine practitioners of the Buddhadharma!

壬午年正月二十九日　
2002年3月12日 　

29th of January, Year of RenWu
March 12, 2002