人的七情

The Seven Emotions

 

摘自禅七开示 Excerpted from the Chan Session Instructions

 

「喜怒哀惧爱恶欲」。这七种情感用得不当都有害处；若用得当，虽然没害处，亦没什么大好处。修行人必须控制住这七种情感。不应情感用事，不拿佛法做人情。

 

「七情」：

喜－－欢喜过度，伤心，心脏病。

怒－－生气过度，伤肝，肝脏病。

哀－－哭得过度，伤肺。

惧－－害怕过度，伤胆。

爱－－爱得过度，伤神，伤精神。

恶－－厌恶过度，伤情，使情感不正常。(如：心理变态了，发神经病！)

欲－－欲望过度，伤脾。(无论贪什么都叫欲。)

 

修道人应该要「喜怒哀乐之未发；谓之中。发而皆中节；谓之和。」(发得当，不太过、不太及；谓之和)。「中也者，天下之大本也」。中道乃天下之根本。「和也者，乃天下之达道也。」(天下所通行的一条道路)。因此修行人必须懂得如何使用七情得当，不太过。

 

除此外尚有「十损」：修行人都不懂如何使用，而发生问题。

 

「十损」

久行－－损筋。走的时间太久，筋就受伤。

久立－－损骨。常常站得太久，骨头会受伤。

久坐－－损血。对于血有损伤。(打坐除外)

久睡－－损脉。对脉搏会伤损。

久听－－损精。浪费听觉，伤精。

久看－－损神。看太久，眼睛疲劳，神就受伤。

久言－－损气。口开神气散。

过食－－损心。吃太多了，易得心脏病。

久思－－损脾。想太多了，脾经受伤。吃东西则没胃口了。

久淫－－损命。常常喜欢行淫欲，易短命。

 

※ 人生是要有一定的宗旨，照宗旨去行。

If the seven emotions of happiness, anger, grief, fear, love, hate, and desire are applied inappropriately, they can bring harm. When they are applied appropriately, even though there is no harm, there is also no great benefit. Cultivators should be able to control these seven kinds of emotion. They should not deal with things at an emotional level, nor compromise the Buddhadharma because of emotional attachments.

 

The Seven Emotions:

Happiness: Excessive happiness harms the heart and brings on heart disease.

Anger: Excessive anger harms the liver and brings on liver disease.

Grief: Too much crying harms the lungs.

Fear: Excessive fear harms the gall bladder.

Love: Excessive love harms the spirit and nerves.

Hate: Excessive hate harms one's sensibilities and causes emotional imbalance (such as psychological disorders and mental illness).

Desire: Excessive lust harms the kidneys. (Desire refers to any form of greed.)

 

Cultivators of the Way should observe that:

 

When there are no stirrings of happiness, anger, grief, or joy, the mind is in a state of equilibrium. When those feelings have been stirred, and they act in their due degree (neither too little nor too much), there ensues a state of harmony. This equilibrium is the great root (the basis) of all things in the world, and this harmony is the universal path which they all should pursue.

 

Therefore cultivators should know how to apply the seven emotions appropriately and in moderation.

 

There are also ten kinds of harm which come from lack of moderation. If cultivators do not know these, they will encounter problems.

Ten Kinds of Harm

Walking for too long injures the tendons.

Standing for too long injures the bones.

Sitting for too long (except in meditation) causes harm to the blood.

Sleeping for too long causes harm to the pulse [blood circulation in the veins and arteries].

Listening for too long harms the nerves. It wastes the energy of the ear.

Looking for too long harms the spirit. The eyes are harmed by the fatigue.

Speaking for too long harms the breath [qi]. When the mouth opens, one's energy scatters.

Eating too much harms the heart. Overeating makes one susceptible to heart disease.

Thinking for too long harms the spleen. Continual harm to the spleen causes loss of appetite.

Too much sexual activity decreases one's lifespan. Those who frequently engage in lust tend to be short-lived.

 

※ In our lives, we should decide upon our principles and practice according to them.