禅宗这一门，是直指人心，见性成佛的法门，也就是顿教。顿教是由渐教勤修而成的，所谓“理可顿悟，事须渐修。”我们现在行住坐卧，就是渐修。等到有一天，真正明了，豁然开悟，就是顿。顿也没有离开渐，渐也帮助顿。
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，他修什么法，便说什么法是最好的，是第一的。要不是第一，他就不会欢喜它，也不肯去修行。你要是真明白，一切法都是佛法，皆不可得，所以没有什么可 执著的。
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.
打禅七，是调身调心。调身，令身不乱动。调心，令心不打妄想，常常清净；心能常清净，则尽虚空遍法界都在自性里边。自性是无所不包，无所不容，也就是本来的佛性。
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.
我们从无量劫以来，生生世世，世世生生，都被邪知邪见迷染得太深了，所以不容易明心见性。因为这个原因，所以要打禅七。打七叫“克期取证”，定下一个时间，在这个时间之内，一定要得到好处，一定要用功求个明白。
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.
你若想真正明了，首先要学一个不明了。在禅堂里用功，用的是什么功？不知道。上不知有天，下不知有地，中间不知有人。从早上到晚上，做的是什么事？不知道。吃的是什么饭？不知道。穿的是什么衣？不知道。就是昏昏沉沉，什么也不知道。这叫：
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:
养成大拙方为巧，
学到如愚始见奇。
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.
就是说养成世界上最笨拙、最愚痴的人，这时便会生出巧妙来。此时，
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:
一通一切通，一了一切了 ，一悟一切悟。
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，彻底开悟了。学到什么？也不知道，好像傻子一样。可是，就在此时，奇怪的事就出现了。
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.
打禅七，就是要把你那些小聪明、小智慧都收起来，不要觉得自己什么都明白、什么都懂。如果你觉得什么都明白，你就是没有真正明白佛法的人。所谓“大智若愚”，外表看来，好像什么都不知道，可是心里什么都明白，这也就是小事 糊涂大事明白，这种人才有大成就。
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.
我们在禅堂里，人家跑就跟着跑，人家坐就跟着坐，东西南北都不知道。这时候，才能转过身来真正地明白，真正地了解。明白什么？明白自己的本地风光。了解什么？了解自己的本来面目。
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.
在禅堂里，要用功修行，少说废话，不要浪费时间。所谓“一寸光阴一寸金，寸金难买寸光阴。”坐禅确实是这样宝贵，不知在哪一分钟就能开悟，所以要分秒必争，任何时间也不能放过。若是到厕所，方便之后，即刻回到禅堂，继续打坐；到斋堂去，吃完饭之后，立刻回到禅堂打坐；喝完茶之后，即刻回到禅堂打坐。总而言之，不放弃开悟的机会。不知哪个时候，就是开悟的时候；换句话说，行香、跑香、坐香，都是开悟的良机，不可错过！
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，有一次召见高旻寺和尚天慧禅师到北京去，和他谈论禅理，皇帝问他还识玉琳国师的宗旨吗？他没回答。皇帝便命他在宫里的禅堂坐七天，一定要参出答案来，否则要斩他的头。在六天之内，他参不出究竟的答案；最后一天，急得他跑禅堂，跑来跑去跑昏了头，撞到大柱上，头上起了一个大疙瘩。这回他清醒了！得到标准的答案，于是来见皇帝，雍正知道他已认识玉琳国师的宗旨，开悟了。从此之后，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.
在禅堂里，就是行香、跑香、坐香、参话头。行香就是快走，跑香就是慢跑，坐香就是坐禅，参话头就是思惟一句话。例如，参“念佛是谁？”一心一意参这句话，参到一心不乱、一尘不染的时候，就是开悟时。
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.
这些方法，是用来禁止妄想；没有妄想，就能开悟。坐禅的目的，是要开悟。开悟之后，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，祖师们研究以毒攻毒的办法，用参话头来控制妄想，也就是用一个问题控制多个问题。参什么话头？参“念佛是谁？”你在什么时候把“谁”找到了，知道究竟“念佛是谁？”到那时候，你才是真正明白。明白什么？明白颠倒是非要远离。在《心经》上说：“远离颠倒梦想。究竟涅盘。”这些过程，要经过一番苦功，才能有所成就。讲多了，打闲岔，还是规规矩矩、脚踏实地去用功修行。
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.
有一点大家要知道，在《三字经》上说：“贵以专”，无论做什么事情，你能专心一意去做，最后一定会成功的。我们参话头也是这样，只想一个话头，白天想，晚上想，吃饭想，睡觉想，走路想，坐下想，非想到海枯石烂不停止。换句话说，就是“不开悟不休息”。想一个问题是真理，想多个问题是妄想。有这么样两句话，说得很有意思：
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,
若人静坐一须臾，
胜造恒沙七宝塔。
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.
这是形容坐禅的功德，就是说坐禅的人，在须臾之间，能清静片刻，能修静虑的功夫，就比造恒河沙数那样多七宝塔的功德，还要大许多倍。因为造那样多的七宝塔，不过是供养佛舍利（灵骨）；如果能静坐一须臾，这是造佛的真身。所以说静坐一须臾（很短的时间），胜造七宝塔。
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.
静坐片刻就有这样大的功德，如果天天静坐，那种功德更是非算数所能计。你能在一须臾之间不打妄想，清净其心，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.
我们在禅堂里静坐，不但对自己的功德是无量，就是对全世界人类的功德也是无量。有人说：“我们的功德，怎能给全世界人类呢？”现在全世界的人，因为争名夺利，所以杀气腾腾，自私自利，你争我夺，搞得世界乌烟瘴气。人类斗争坚固，一天比一天厉害，一天比一天危险，一天比一天严重。如果再不设法挽救世界的危机，总有一天，地球会爆炸的。地球怎么会爆炸呢？因为现在科学突飞猛进，大国研究杀人的武器，一日千里，互相比赛，例如核子武器、死光武器等等，一旦战争发生，这些武器便会将地球毁灭，到那时候，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.
我们在禅堂里，用功修道，在无形之中能把这些杀气消灭，世界便没有危险了。怎样消灭呢？因为空气被污染，有许多毒素存在，无论是直接的，或是间接的，都会影响众生的健康，威胁众生的生命。你们看看，现在奇奇怪怪的疾病，越来越多，使医生束手无策。这是因为空气被污染了，混浊不干净，充满毒气。我们修道人，要用电疗把空气消毒，什么是电疗？就是静坐，从静坐 中放出智慧光，这个智慧光就是电，这种电波放到空气中，有杀菌的作用；把混浊的空气变成清洁的空气，这叫电疗世界之病。
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.
现在有人怀疑这种道理是不可能的：“静坐怎么 把空气给消毒呢？”现在来讲一个故事：在宋朝 戌钗鴗j文学家，名叫苏东坡，当时有位大禅师，名叫佛印。他们两人是道友，常有往来。有副对联说：
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:
出入有僧皆佛印，
往来无客不东坡。
As the poet comes and goes, he is always accompanied by Foyin.In all his undertakings, the monk's only companion is Dongpo.
由此证明他们的感情是很融洽的。有一次，苏东坡居士作一首偈颂：
These lines prove that there was a close rapport between them. Su Dongpo once wrote a poem that went:
稽首天中天，毫光照大千；
八风吹不动，端坐紫金莲。
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.
送给佛印禅师评论，因而引起二人的辩论。我们现在看这首偈颂中的“毫光照大千”，用这句来说明道理。这毫光就是电疗，照大千就是消毒。毫光能把大千世界混浊有毒的空气，消灭得一干二净，乃至丝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气毒；他能毫光照大千，便能消除他的一分空气毒；大家能毫光照大千，便能消除大家的一分空气毒。大家同心协力来帮助世界电疗这个病，这世界污浊的空气，就会越来越少，光明的空气，也会越来越多，久而久之，空气便能完全转为清净。要知道污浊空气就是毒素，光明空气就是智慧。
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.
现在的空气为什么会污浊呢？因为一般人不知道修行，不会使用电疗，所以空气越来越污浊。我们修道人要负起责任，使空气清洁。不但自己要勇猛精进地坐禅，还要劝亲戚朋友来坐禅。坐禅的功德是无量无边，对身心有不可思议的好处，如果他们不相信的话，教他们试一试，不久即可得到不可思议的好处。大家努力坐禅，毫光照大千，空气的毒素，自然被消灭了。
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！只要把妄想停下来，就会放出智慧光明，这种毫光能照大千，有消毒作用，你们会有无量功德。这种功德，能使全世界人类都得到好处。什么好处？就是把空气的毒素、毒菌消灭，人类便不会再患绝症––这是间接得到的好处。
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.
