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Monday, October 6, 2014

走在「中道」上 Walking on the [Middle Path]




English Translation by Lotuschef.
Note: This is mostly Zen dialogue, I will try my best to translate comprehensively. :)
Alternatively, you can get the same translated on your own too. Cheers!


蓮生活佛著作盧勝彥文集184_給你點上心燈


天竺二十祖「闍夜多」尊者,在「羅閱城」度化二十一祖「婆修盤頭」,所用的便是「中道」精神。
The 20th Patriarch, [she-ye-duo] (name - Hanyu pinyin) attempts to succour the 21st Patriarch [Po-xiu-pen-tou] with Middle Path ideology.

This candidate has lots of disciples and is Diligent in Asceticism.

這位「婆修盤頭」,也是很多人的師父,他精進於「苦行」:

[a person who lives a life of self-denial and mortification; ascetic monk]

一、日食一餐,過午不食。One meal a day, no food intake after Noon.
二、夜不倒丹,從來不臥。Not lying down at night, and don't lie face up or face down.
三、守清淨戒,無欲無為。Abide Clean Pure disciplines, No desires No Cause to act.
四、六時禮佛,拜佛不止。6 time-periods pay homage to Buddha, pay respect non-stop to Buddha.

二十祖「闍夜多」對「婆修盤頭」的弟子說:
20th patriarch ask disciples of [po-xiu-peng-tou] :

「這樣苦行的師父,能修梵行嗎?可得佛道嗎?」
This teacher of Asceticism, can cultivate 梵行(梵文:Barhmacara,巴利文:brahmacariya)?
Can attain Buddha Path?


眾弟子答:「我師父精進如此,一定可得佛道!」
Disciples answered: My teacher is this diligent, sure can attain Buddha path.


祖說:「你們的師父與道遠矣!」
Patriarch said: Your teacher is far away from path!

祖又說:「苦行歷於塵劫,也是虛妄。」
Patriarch said: Asceticism derives historically from Sentient Suffering, which is Imaginary falsehood.

眾弟子不服:「尊者怎可譏笑我師父?」
Disciples not agreeable : Arya, why mock my Teacher?

祖說:Patriarch said: 
「我不求道,亦不顛倒。I do not ask for Path, also not twisted or upside down.
我不禮佛,亦不輕慢。 I do not pay homage to Buddha, also not light in stance, proud.
我不長坐,亦不懈怠。I do not sit for long periods, also not sluggishly ill-mannered.
我不一食,亦不雜食。I do not only eat once a day, also not omnivorous.
我不知足,亦不貪欲。I do not know contentment, also no desire or greedy.
心無所希,名之曰道。」Heart do not have hope/wish, name is Path.



「婆修盤頭」聽到了二十祖對他的批評,很快的顯發無漏的智慧。
[Po-xiu-pen-tou] , upon hearing the 20th Patriarch's criticism, rapidly revealed No leak Wisdom.

此「無漏智」是「中道」智慧也。
This [No leak wisdom] is [Middle Path] Wisdom.

正是:Fact is:
絃太緊--易斷。String/cord too tight - breaks easily.
絃太鬆--散慢。String/cord too loose - scattered and slow
(不緊不鬆最美妙)Best is not tight and not loose.

最後,二十祖「闍夜多」尊者,付法給二十一祖「婆修盤頭」尊者。
Finally, the 20th Patriarch transmit Dharma to the 21st Patriarch with the verse:

付法偈是:
「言下合無生。Broadly speaking there is No Birth.
同於法界性。Similar to Nature of Dharma Realm.
若能如是解。If can explain this way.
通達事理竟。」Will link up with the Eventual outcome of matters.

我讀了此段文字,心領神會,我的一生,走修行的漫漫路子,一向崇敬於「中道」二字。
Upon reading this passage, I am vitalised. In my life, walking through the long long route of cultivation, always respect these 2 words, [Middle Path].


坦白說,我是有求佛道,但不是想一蹴而得。
我一天壇城拜佛二回,但非時時在壇城修法。
我一樣天天禪定,但不是堅持一定要坐很久。
我一天吃三餐,定時定量,不暴飲暴食。
弟子們供養我,我並不拒絕,但,從未向弟子們開口要供養。
我一向對欲望清淡,平平和和的,從來不強,不勉強,不爭取。

人說我「樂修」,其實也不是。

人說我「苦行」,其實也不對。

人說我「懈怠」,我每日修一點。

人說我「精進」,也不完全是。

總之,每天拜一下佛,坐禪一回,修法一回,寫作一回,讀書一回。

我也有運動一回,休閒一回。………

我能明心見性,是自自然然的事,我不是天天鑽營,一定要明心見性,而是一天走一小步,走到最後,就悟得明,見得徹,一切明明白白了。
我明心見性之後,一悟永悟 (Once enlightened, always enlightened),對經書,竟然完全看得懂,對人間事物,也能透徹。

不只如此:
佛燈明。
心燈明。
不明也是明。

我像二十一祖「婆修盤頭」一樣,顯發無漏的智慧,般若婆羅蜜多。
我這一顯發無漏智,可以滔滔不絕的說法不停,也可以一句話也不必說,因為說與不說是一樣的。

如果有人說我已明心見性,我亦不會大喜。
因為有沒有明心見性(Because Enlightened or not),
自己知道得最清楚了(I, myself, very clearly know)
隨大家說去也(up to people to say what they like)。

你問我:「明心見性怎麼樣?」
You ask me: Enlightened and Sight Buddha nature is what?

我笑答:「一樣。」
I laughingly replied: Same or No Difference.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[The historical Siddhartha Gautama adopted an extreme ascetic life after leaving his father's palace, where he once lived in extreme luxury.[24] 

But later the Shakyamuni rejected extreme asceticism because it is an impediment to ultimate freedom (nirvana) from suffering (samsara), choosing instead a path that met the needs of the body without crossing over into luxury and indulgence. 

After abandoning extreme asceticism he was able to achieve enlightenment

This position became known as the Madhyamaka or Middle Way and became one of the central organizing principles of Theravadin philosophy.

"The middle way which enlightens the eyes, enlightens the mind, which leads to rest, to knowledge, to enlightenment, to Nirvana"[25] ]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I was chatting with a fellow student last night and Middle Path was shared.
Just chance upon this article of GM, and seems opportune to share it widely too!

Cheers all


Om Guru Lian Sheng Siddhi Hom
Lama Lotuschef

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