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宣化上人開示錄(三)
Venerable Master Hua's Talks on Dharma Volume Three　

上宣下化老和尚開示 Lectures by the Venerable Master Hsuan Hua

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清潔空氣的電療法

Using Electrotherapy to Clean the Air

打禪七，就是要把你那些小聰明、小智慧都收起來。
During this meditation session, you should set aside your cleverness and your petty intelligence.

禪宗這一門，是直指人心，見性成佛的法門，也就是頓教。頓教是由漸教勤修而成的，所謂「理可頓悟，事須漸修。」我們現在行住坐臥，就是漸修。等到有一天，真正明瞭，豁然開悟，就是頓。頓也沒有離開漸，漸也幫助頓。

 

The Dharma-door of Chan meditation points directly to the human mind. It teaches us to see our nature and to become a Buddha. It is also called "the sudden teaching." The teaching of sudden enlightenment is brought to success by cultivating the gradual teaching. There's a saying that goes: "One may suddenly be enlightened to the principles, but then one puts the principles into practice gradually." Now in our daily deportment, as we walk, sit, stand, and lie down, we are cultivating gradually. Then in the future, there will be a day when we truly understand and we suddenly get enlightened. That's what we mean by sudden. The sudden, in fact, is not apart from the gradual; and the gradual also aids the sudden.

一般修行人，他修什麼法，便說什麼法是最好的，是第一的。要不是第一，他就不會歡喜它，也不肯去修行。你要是真明白，一切法都是佛法，皆不可得，所以沒有什麼可執著的。

　

Most people who cultivate the spiritual path assume that the dharma that they are cultivating is the very best; it's number one. If it weren't the number one dharma, then they wouldn't want to cultivate it, and they'd have no interest in cultivating. However, if you truly understand, then all dharmas are also the Buddhadharma. But none of them can be attained, so there's absolutely nothing for us to be attached to.

打禪七，是調身調心。調身，令身不亂動。調心，令心不打妄想，常常清淨；心能常清淨，則盡虛空遍法界都在自性裏邊。自性是無所不包，無所不容，也就是本來的佛性。

　

When we hold a Chan session, we are taming our bodies and regulating our minds. Taming the body keeps it from acting in random, impulsive ways. Regulating the mind means not allowing it to indulge in idle thoughts, so it's always pure and clear. Then no matter where we go, to the ends of space or the limits of the Dharma Realm, we're still right within our self-nature. Our inherent nature contains absolutely everything. Nothing falls outside of it. It's just our fundamental Buddha-nature.

　 　

我們從無量劫以來，生生世世，世世生生，都被邪知邪見迷染得太深了，所以不容易明心見性。因為這個原因，所以要打禪七。打七叫「剋期取證」，定下一個時間，在這個時間之內，一定要得到好處，一定要用功求個明白。

　

From limitless numbers of eons in the past, in life after life, in world after world, wherever we appeared, we've been deeply deluded and defiled by deviant knowledge and views. So it's not very easy for us to understand our minds or to see our natures. For this reason, we need to participate in a meditation session. A session is a period of time set aside for seeking realization. During this special period, we are determined to gain benefit. We must certainly apply effort and seek understanding.

　 　

你若想真正明瞭，首先要學一個不明瞭。在禪堂裏用功，用的是什麼功？不知道。上不知有天，下不知有地，中間不知有人。從早上到晚上，做的是什麼事？不知道。吃的是什麼飯？不知道。穿的是什麼衣？不知道。就是昏昏沉沉，什麼也不知道。這叫：

養成大拙方為巧，
學到如愚始見奇。

　

If we want to truly understand, the very first thing that we need to do is to learn to be as if we don't understand anything at all. Here in the Chan meditation hall, what is our method of cultivation? We don't know. We are not aware of heaven above, earth below, or people in between. What did we do all day long? We don't know. What did we eat? We're not aware. What clothes are we wearing? We don't know. In this state of complete absorption and obscurity where we bring ourselves to know nothing at all, we approach a state like this:

When one can train oneself to appear as if foolish, Then one's genuine cleverness comes forth. If one can study until one appears dull, Then one's real talents begin to appear.

就是說養成世界上最笨拙、最愚癡的人，這時便會生出巧妙來。此時，

一通一切通，
一了一切了 ，
一悟一切悟。

　

That is to say, only after you make yourself seem like the most stupid person in the world can you bring forth genuine cleverness. When you reach that state, then:

When one thing penetrates, all things penetrate. When one thing is understood, all things are understood. When one thing is enlightened to, all things are enlightened to.

　 　

都通了，都明白了，徹底開悟了。學到什麼？也不知道，好像傻子一樣。可是，就在此時，奇怪的事就出現了。

　

We connect on all sides; we understand everything. Our enlighten-ment is thorough and complete. What've we learned? We don't know. We really seem like total idiots. That's the very time, howev-er, when our rare qualities start to manifest.

　 　

打禪七，就是要把你那些小聰明、小智慧都收起來，不要覺得自己什麼都明白、什麼都懂。如果你覺得什麼都明白，你就是沒有真正明白佛法的人。所謂「大智若愚」，外表看來，好像什麼都不知道，可是心裏什麼都明白，這也就是小事糊塗大事明白，這種人才有大成就。

　

During this meditation session, you want to set aside your clever-ness and your petty intelligence. You shouldn't assume that you understand everything there is to know. If you think you know everything already, then you haven't truly understood the Buddha-dharma. That is to say, "Great wisdom resembles stupidity." On the surface, a truly wise person appears to know nothing at all. In fact, he understands all things. That is to say, he may be very dull regarding petty business, but he can understand truly great matters. Only someone like that can have outstanding accomplishment.

　 　

我們在禪堂裏，人家跑就跟著跑，人家坐就跟著坐，東西南北都不知道。這時候，才能轉過身來真正地明白，真正地了解。明白什麼？明白自己的本地風光。了解什麼？了解自己的本來面目。

　

Here in the Chan hall we run when everyone else runs, and we sit when everyone else sits. We don't have to discriminate between north and south, east and west. Now is the time when we can make "the great reversal" and truly understand. What do we understand? We understand what our native home looks like. We understand our original face, our basic identity.

　 　

在禪堂裏，要用功修行，少說廢話，不要浪費時間。所謂「一寸光陰一寸金，寸金難買寸光陰。」坐禪確實是這樣寶貴，不知在哪一分鐘就能開悟，所以要分秒必爭，任何時間也不能放過。若是到廁所，方便之後，即刻回到禪堂，繼續打坐；到齋堂去，吃完飯之後，立刻回到禪堂打坐；喝完茶之後，即刻回到禪堂打坐。總而言之，不放棄開悟的機會。不知哪個時候，就是開悟的時候；換句話說，行香、跑香、坐香，都是開悟的良機，不可錯過！

　

In the Chan hall, we should work hard and chatter less. Don't waste time. There's a saying that goes, "An instant of time is worth an ounce of gold; an ounce of gold cannot buy back an instant of time." That's just how valuable time is in Chan meditation. Who knows in which minute we'll become enlightened? So we have to cherish each and every moment, and not let any time casually slip by. If you go to the restroom, once you have finished your business, quickly return to the Chan hall and continue to sit. When you finish your meal, quickly come back to the Chan hall and sit. After you drink your tea, hurry back to the Chan hall and sit. In general, you shouldn't give up any chance to become enlightened. Who knows in which minute of the session your enlightenment will arrive? To say it another way, whether we are walking, running, or sitting in meditation, these are all good chances to get enlightened. Don't miss your chance!

　 　

清朝的雍正皇帝，有一次召見高旻寺和尚天慧禪師到北京去，和他談論禪理，皇帝問他還識玉琳國師的宗旨嗎？他沒回答。皇帝便命他在宮裏的禪堂坐七天，一定要參出答案來，否則要斬他的頭。在六天之內，他參不出究竟的答案；最後一天，急得他跑禪堂，跑來跑去跑昏了頭，撞到大柱上，頭上起了一個大疙瘩。這回他清醒了！得到標準的答案，於是來見皇帝，雍正知道他已認識玉琳國師的宗旨，開悟了。從此之後，才立下跑香的制度。

　

Emperor Yongzheng of the Qing Dynasty once summoned the Venerable Abbot of Gaomin Monastery, Chan Master Tianhui (Heavenly Wisdom), to Beijing. The emperor wanted to discuss the theory of Chan meditation with him and asked him if he understood the teaching of the National Master Yulin (Jade Forest). Chan Master Tianhui could not answer his question. The emperor thereupon confined him in the Chan hall within the palace and told that him within seven days he must come up with the answer, or else forfeit his head. During the first six days, he couldn't hammer out an answer. But on the last day, he ran around the Chan hall in agitation, pacing back and forth until he was so dizzy that he banged right into a big pillar. A large bump sprang up on the side of his head. With that knock, his mind suddenly grew extremely clear, and he reached a very satisfactory answer. Then he went to see the Emperor Yongzheng, who knew that he had already understood the teaching of National Master Yulin and become enlightened. From that time onward, walking meditation became a standard practice in the Chan hall.

　 　

在禪堂裏，就是行香、跑香、坐香、參話頭。行香就是快走，跑香就是慢跑，坐香就是坐禪，參話頭就是思惟一句話。例如，參「念佛是誰？」一心一意參這句話，參到一心不亂、一塵不染的時候，就是開悟時。

　

Our program in the Chan hall consists of walking meditation, running meditation, sitting meditation, and investigating the meditation topic. Walking meditation requires a brisk pace; running meditation is like jogging; sitting meditation is Chan-style sitting; and investigating a meditation topic means contemplating one sentence. For example, we may investigate "Who's mindful of the Buddha?" We must concentrate intently on that one question until our mind becomes completely focused. When no other thought mars our perfect concentration, we can become enlightened.

　 　

這些方法，是用來禁止妄想；沒有妄想，就能開悟。坐禪的目的，是要開悟。開悟之後，就有超人的智慧。

　

These methods are all designed to stop our idle thoughts. If one is free of idle thoughts, then one can become enlightened. The purpose of sitting in Chan is to become enlightened. If one is enlightened, then one's wisdom surpasses that of ordinary people.

　 　

所以，祖師們研究以毒攻毒的辦法，用參話頭來控制妄想，也就是用一個問題控制多個問題。參什麼話頭？參「念佛是誰？」你在什麼時候把「誰」找到了，知道究竟「念佛是誰？」到那時候，你才是真正明白。明白什麼？明白顛倒是非要遠離。在《心經》上說：「遠離顛倒夢想。究竟涅槃。」這些過程，要經過一番苦功，才能有所成就。講多了，打閒岔，還是規規矩矩、腳踏實地去用功修行。

　

The method the patriarchs came up with was to fight fire with fire. We use a meditation topic (hua-tou) to control our idle thinking. That is to say, we use one question to counteract many questions. What meditation topic do we investigate? We ask, "Who is mindful of the Buddha?" or "Who is reciting the Buddha's name?" When you figure out who it is, when you know ultimately who is there reciting the Buddha's name, then you'll genuinely understand. What do you understand? You understand that you should carefully avoid all inverted behavior and gossip. As it says in the Heart Sutra, "One leaves distorted dream-thinking far behind, and ultimately attains Nirvana." In this process you must endure a great deal of bitter toil before you can succeed. But if I were to say more, I'd be interrupting the flow of your work. So the best thing for all of you is to follow the rules, put your feet on solid ground, and work hard at cultivation.

　 　

有一點大家要知道，在《三字經》上說：「貴以專」，無論做什麼事情，你能專心一意去做，最後一定會成功的。我們參話頭也是這樣，只想一個話頭，白天想，晚上想，吃飯想，睡覺想，走路想，坐下想，非想到海枯石爛不停止。換句話說，就是「不開悟不休息」。想一個問題是真理，想多個問題是妄想。

有這麼樣兩句話，說得很有意思：

若人靜坐一須臾，
勝造恆沙七寶塔。

　

There's another point that you should all be aware of. The Three Character Classic says, "Concentration counts." No matter what you do, if you can concentrate single-mindedly, you'll certainly succeed at it. Investigating the meditation topic works the same way. The topic is the only thing we think about. We think about it by day and by night; we think about it as we eat and as we sleep, as we walk, and as we sit, to the point that we stop thinking about it only after the oceans dry up and the boulders crumble. To put it another way, as long as we're not enlightened, we don't dare to stop. To contemplate one question is true practice; to ponder many questions is simply idle thinking. There's a very interesting saying that goes,

If one can sit perfectly still for even a split second, One's merit surpasses that of building pagodas of the seven gems in number like the Ganges' sands.

　 　

這是形容坐禪的功德，就是說坐禪的人，在須臾之間，能清靜片刻，能修靜慮的功夫，就比造恆河沙數那樣多七寶塔的功德，還要大許多倍。因為造那樣多的七寶塔，不過是供養佛舍利（靈骨）；如果能靜坐一須臾，這是造佛的真身。所以說靜坐一須臾（很短的時間），勝造七寶塔。

　

This describes the merit and virtue of Chan meditation. It says that if people can meditate for one instant, then the merit and virtue they create is many times greater than that of someone who makes pagodas of the seven gems as numerous as the sands in the Ganges River. If you were to make that many seven-jeweled pagodas, you'd only be making offerings to the Buddha's sharira (holy relics). But if you can sit in absolute stillness for even an instant, you're creating the Buddha's true body.

　 　

靜坐片刻就有這樣大的功德，如果天天靜坐，那種功德更是非算數所能計。你能在一須臾之間不打妄想，清淨其心，久而久之，你的心便能湛然常寂。

　

So we say that to sit still for just a split second surpasses making pagodas of the seven gems. The merit and virtue of meditating in stillness for one instant is that great! If you meditate every day, then your merit and virtue will be beyond reckoning. If you can be free of idle thoughts for even an instant and attain a pure mind, then your mind will naturally become limpid, pure, and calm.

　 　

我們在禪堂裏靜坐，不但對自己的功德是無量，就是對全世界人類的功德也是無量。有人說：「我們的功德，怎能給全世界人類呢？」現在全世界的人，因為爭名奪利，所以殺氣騰騰，自私自利，你爭我奪，搞得世界烏煙瘴氣。人類鬥爭堅固，一天比一天厲害，一天比一天危險，一天比一天嚴重。如果再不設法挽救世界的危機，總有一天，地球會爆炸的。地球怎麼會爆炸呢？因為現在科學突飛猛進，大國研究殺人的武器，一日千里，互相比賽，例如核子武器、死光武器等等，一旦戰爭發生，這些武器便會將地球毀滅，到那時候，真正的末日就到了。

　

As we sit quietly in the Chan hall, not only is our own merit and virtue limitless, but the merit and virtue that we share with the entire world is also measureless.

Someone may object, "How can I share my merit and virtue with all humanity?" Now, because people all over the world are competing for fame and profit, a killing energy is filling up the atmosphere. We selfishly strive for private profits, fighting among ourselves until the world is gradually suffocated by an unwholesome, stinking miasma. Humankind has locked itself into an age of eternal competition and strife which gets ever more serious and dangerous as the days go by. If we fail to find a way to avert the impending crisis, before long the entire planet will surely explode. Why would the planet explode? It's because science has run amok with its heedless progress. Great nations invent missiles and weapons with ever-quickening strides; nations compete with each other in building nuclear weapons, laser-cannons, and so forth. If war were to break out, these weapons would blow the world to bits. When that takes place, we'll really have reached doomsday.

　 　

我們在禪堂裏，用功修道，在無形之中能把這些殺氣消滅，世界便沒有危險了。怎樣消滅呢？因為空氣被污染，有許多毒素存在，無論是直接的，或是間接的，都會影響眾生的健康，威脅眾生的生命。你們看看，現在奇奇怪怪的疾病，越來越多，使醫生束手無策。這是因為空氣被污染了，混濁不乾淨，充滿毒氣。我們修道人，要用電療把空氣消毒，什麼是電療？就是靜坐，從靜坐 中放出智慧光，這個智慧光就是電，這種電波放到空氣中，有殺菌的作用；把混濁的空氣變成清潔的空氣，這叫電療世界之病。

　

When we cultivate vigorously in the Chan hall, our effort can imperceptibly eradicate this killing energy, and then the world will no longer be in danger. How can we eradicate it? The air has been polluted with many toxic substances, which directly or indirectly influence our health and threaten our very existence. Take a look at the many strange diseases that proliferate nowadays, which doctors have no way to cure. Such diseases occur because the atmosphere has been polluted, fouled by poisonous vapors everywhere. We cultivators of the spiritual path should use a kind of electrotherapy to detoxify the air. What is electrotherapy? It means sitting in meditation and emitting a light of wisdom from our meditative state. This light of wisdom is a form of electricity; when these waves of electricity pass through the air, they have the effect of detoxifying it. They transform the contaminated air into clean air. This is what we mean by using electrotherapy to heal the illnesses of the world.

　 　

現在有人懷疑這種道理是不可能的：「靜坐怎麼 把空氣給消毒呢？」現在來講一個故事：在宋朝 戌釵鴗j文學家，名叫蘇東坡，當時有位大禪師，名叫佛印。他們兩人是道友，常有往來。有副對聯說：

出入有僧皆佛印，
往來無客不東坡。

　

Some people are having doubts about the truth of this principle: "How could meditation detoxify the air?" I'll now tell you a story to illustrate the point. In the Sung Dynasty, a great literatus named Su Dongpo, "Su of the Eastern Bank" and a great Chan Master named Foyin (Buddha Seal) were good friends in cultivation, and they often spent time together. A matched couplet talked about their partnership:

As the poet comes and goes, he is always accompanied by Foyin.
In all his undertakings, the monk's only companion is Dongpo.

　 　

由此證明他們的感情是很融洽的。有一次，蘇東坡居士作一首偈頌：

稽首天中天，毫光照大千；
八風吹不動，端坐紫金蓮。

　

These lines prove that there was a close rapport between them. Su Dongpo once wrote a poem that went:

I bow my head to the lord among gods,
And the light of my hair-mark shines out
through the whole universe.
The eight winds cannot blow me over,
As I sit erect upon my purple golden lotus.

　 　

送給佛印禪師評論，因而引起二人的辯論。我們現在看這首偈頌中的「毫光照大千」，用這句來說明道理。這毫光就是電療，照大千就是消毒。毫光能把大千世界混濁有毒的空氣，消滅得一乾二淨，乃至絲毫的毒素再也不存在。

　

He sent this verse to the Chan Master Foyin for his critique, and an argument began between the two of them. I'll use the line, "the light of my hair-mark shines out through the whole universe," to illustrate a principle. This light that comes forth from the hair-mark is simply the electrotherapy that I was discussing. As it "shines out through the whole universe," it acts to detoxify the air. The light from the meditator's hair pores can make the defiled air of the universe absolutely clean, until not even a trace of poison remains.

　 　

你能以毫光照大千，便能消除你的一分空氣毒；他能毫光照大千，便能消除他的一分空氣毒；大家能毫光照大千，便能消除大家的一分空氣毒。大家同心協力來幫助世界電療這個病，這世界污濁的空氣，就會越來越少，光明的空氣，也會越來越多，久而久之，空氣便能完全轉為清淨。要知道污濁空氣就是毒素，光明空氣就是智慧。

　

If you can radiate this hair-mark light throughout the universe, then you can eradicate your personal share of air pollution. If he can shine his hair-mark light throughout the universe, then he can wipe out another share of air pollution. If everybody shines forth his hair-mark radiance throughout the universe, then together we can detoxify everyone's share of air pollution. If all people can unite their efforts to help cure the diseases of the world through "electrotherapy," then the defiled air in this world will decrease day-by-day. The radiant, wholesome air will increase daily, and before long the air will become completely pure and clean. You should know that polluted air is poison, and radiant air is wisdom.

　 　

現在的空氣為什麼會污濁呢？因為一般人不知道修行，不會使用電療，所以空氣越來越污濁。我們修道人要負起責任，使空氣清潔。不但自己要勇猛精進地坐禪，還要勸親戚朋友來坐禪。坐禪的功德是無量無邊，對身心有不可思議的好處，如果他們不相信的話，教他們試一試，不久即可得到不可思議的好處。大家努力坐禪，毫光照大千，空氣的毒素，自然被消滅了。

　

Why is the air polluted now? Because most people do not know about cultivation, and they do not how to use this electrotherapy method. Therefore, the air becomes more polluted and more fouled every day. We cultivators should shoulder the responsibility of purifying the air. Not only should you yourself be courageous and vigorous as you meditate, but you should encourage your relatives and friends to meditate, too. The merit and virtue of meditation is measureless and boundless. It helps the body and mind in inconceiv-able ways. If they don't believe what you say, then tell them to try it out, and before long, they'll also experience these inconceivable benefits. All of you should work hard and meditate well! Let the light of your hair-mark radiate throughout the universe, so that the toxins in the air will be spontaneously eliminated.

　 　

各位注意！只要把妄想停下來，就會放出智慧光明，這種毫光能照大千，有消毒作用，你們會有無量功德。這種功德，能使全世界人類都得到好處。什麼好處？就是把空氣的毒素、毒菌消滅，人類便不會再患絕症––這是間接得到的好處。

　

Please pay attention to this! All you need to do is to stop your idle thoughts, and then you can emit the light of wisdom. This light from your hair-mark will shine throughout the universe and detoxify the air. You'll gain measureless merit and virtue. This merit and virtue can benefit the human race throughout the world. In what way? It can eliminate the germs and poisons in the air, so that humanity will no longer be plagued by fatal diseases; that is the indirect benefit that all will receive.

　 　
　 　

法界佛教總會 • DRBA ／ BTTS ／ DRBU

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