佛窟禅师一坐四十年 Zen master Fo-ku One Seating 40 years

http://www.fo5.cn/gushi/fo/22/830.html

佛窟惟则禅师，宋朝长安人，少年出家后，在浙江天台山翠屏岩的佛窟庵修行。
Zen master Fo-ku Wei-ze, of Song dynaste, resident of Chang-an, ordained in youth, cultivate at Zhe-jiang Tian-tai Shan Chui-ping yan's Fo-ku temple.

　　　　他用落叶盖屋顶，结成草庵，以清水滋润咽喉，每天只在中午采摘山中野果以充饥腹。
He used fallen leaves as roof and built a grass temple, using clear water to moisten his throat, and gathers wild fruits to appease hunger daily.

　　　　
　　　　一天，一个樵夫路过庵边，见到一个修道老僧，好奇的向前问道：‘你在此住多久了？’
One day, a wood-cutter passed by and seeing an elderly monk, asked curiously: How long have you been staying here?

　　　　

佛窟禅师回答道：‘大概已易四十寒暑。’

ZM Fo-ku answered: About 40 years.

樵者好奇的再问道：‘你一个人在此修行吗？’

Wood-cutter again asked curiously: You cultivate alone?　　　　
　　　　

佛窟禅师点头道：‘丛林深山，一个人在此都已嫌多，还要多人何为？’
ZM Fo-ku nodded and said: Forest and deep mountains, one person is also too much here, wanting more people for what?　　　　
　　　　

樵夫再问道：‘你没有朋友吗？’
Wood-cutter asked again: You do not have friends?　　　　
　　　　

佛窟禅师以拍掌作声，好多虎豹由庵后而出，樵夫大惊，佛窟禅师速说莫怕，示意虎豹仍退庵后，禅师道：‘朋友很多，大地山河，树木花草，虫蛇野兽，都是法侣。’
ZM Fo-ku clapped his hand and lots of tigers and leopards came out from the back of the temple, wood-cutter was shocked, ZM Fo-ku quickly told him not to be afraid, signalling to the tigers and leopards to back away into the back of the temple, ZM said: Lots of friends, great earth rivers, trees flowers grass, worms snakes wild animals, all are dharma companions.

　　　　
　　　　

樵夫非常感动，自愿皈依作为弟子。

Wood-cutter was deeply moved, and voluntarily took refuge as his student.

佛窟对樵者扼要的指示佛法的心要道：‘汝今虽是凡夫，但非凡夫；虽非凡夫，但不坏凡夫法。’
Fo-ku gave wood-cutter dharma-pointers, said: Although you are mortal now, but not mortal; though not mortal, but won't spoil mortal's methods.　　　　
　　　　

樵者于言下契入，从此慕道者纷纷而来，翠屏岩上白云飘空，草木迎人，虎往鹿行，鸟飞虫鸣，成为佛窟学的禅派。
Wood-cutter attain realisation from these, hence many came forward forming Zen school of Fo-ku studies.　　　　
　　　　

一坐四十年，用普通的常识看，四十年是漫长的岁月，但证悟无限时间，进入永恒生命的圣者，已融入大化之中的惟则禅师，这只不过一瞬之间而已。

Time is immaterial to affirmation or enlightenment for one who is saint, having entered into everlasting life, ZM Wei-ze having merged with Great Transformation, 40 years is but a moment only.

在禅者的心中，一瞬间和四十年，并没有什么差距。
In a Zen practitioner's heart, a moment or 40 years, has no difference.

　　
　　　　禅者的悟道中，他所悟的是没有时空的差距，没有人我的分别，没有动静的不同，没有生佛的观念(众生与佛)。
In Zen practitioner's realisation, he realised no difference in time, no difference in others and self, no difference in movement or stationary, no concept of difference between sentient beings and buddha.

　　　　
　　　　

‘虽是凡夫，但非凡夫之流’，因为人人有佛性，真理之中绝生佛之假名，那有是凡夫非凡夫的分别？

Although mortal, but without mortal's flow, because all have buddha nature, within the Truth there is no false title of mortal or buddha, where have any difference between mortal and non-mortal?

‘虽非凡夫，但不坏凡夫法’，禅者悟道，不破坏另有建立，不坏万法，而已超越万法了。

Though non mortal, but won't spoil mortal's methods, a zen practitioner's realisation, not destructing and separately erecting, not destructing all methods, but already surpassed all methods.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Hahaha!

Cultivation truly and solely dependent upon Self!

Do you need any other?

In the 4 immeasurable visualisation taught by GM Lu, at the beginning of each cultivation session, are you aware that you have already included the whole universe when you sincerely and comprehensively practice just this one step well!

YES! 

Not only the animals and trees and rivers, BUT the whole universe!

The 4 Immeasurable visualisation and vows are teaching you how to practice Boddhicitta, which is for All and immeasurable, infinite, truly no boundaries.

You can actually get an idea of the infinite concept from Avatamsaka or Flower Adornment Sutra too! :)

Have you at least spent some time reading part of this wondrous sutra & merging into its scenario to have fun?

Your greatest loss if you didn't even walk-in at all!

Cheers all

Om Guru Lian Sheng Siddhi Hom

Lama Lotuschef