---
title: 神聖儀式與大熱天 Holy Ceremonies and Hot Days
description: "Since the time of the Buddha himself, monks have been called upon to perform ceremonies, to make blessings, or to bring "
---

Holy Ceremonies and Hot Days

　　神聖儀式與大熱天

Since the time of the Buddha himself, monks have been called upon to perform ceremonies, to make blessings, or to bring comfort in times of difficulties in the lives of 'lay disciples. The Buddha himself is said to have employed the tradition of soothing the hearts of his disciples with holy water and blessings.

　　自從佛陀那個時代開始，僧侶們就已經被邀請做宗教儀式、祝福或安慰處于困境中的在家弟子。傳說佛陀會被邀請做灑聖水和祝幅的傳統儀式，以安慰他的信徒。

Because the life of study and ceremony has taken the place of genuine practice for most monks in Thailand, Achaan Chah usually jokes about these ceremonies as diversions on the Path. Nevertheless, he will also use ceremonies when they are helpful. One very hot afternoon he had been invited to town to give a Dharma talk and a blessing ceremony for some devoted lay students. After the preliminary chanting and Dharma discourse, Achaan Chah proceeded to chant over a brass bowl of water connected by a string through the hands of the eight monks accompanying him (remnants of the ancient Hindu sacred thread) to a large image of the Buddha in meditation. The chanting over the water was completed with an offering of candles and incense, and Achaan Chah stood up with a palm leaf to sprinkle this water as a blessing on the house and on those who came to hear the Dharma.

　　由于研究和儀式的生活方式，已取代了大部份泰國僧侶以實際修行的生活方式為主的地位，因此，阿姜 查常常取笑這些儀式是「道」上的干擾物。雖說如此，當儀式有所助益時，他也會利用它。一個炎炎的午後，他被邀請到鎮上開示，並為在家弟子們做一場祝福的儀式。開端的課誦和開示過後，阿姜 查繼續向穿過陪同他的八位僧侶手里，一直接到佛陀坐像的線所接系的缽水誦念(古印度教遺留的神秘線的儀式)。在供養蠟燭與香之後，加持水的儀式已算圓滿，于是阿姜 查站起身來，用棕櫚葉將聖水灑在房子四周及前來聽法的人身上，作為一種的祝幅。

One young Western monk in the party was growing impatient in the heat and yet more impatient with the ceremony. "Why do you bother with such obviously useless ceremonies like this when they have nothing to do with practicer he whispered to Achaan Chah. "Perhaps because," the teacher whispered back, "it's a hot day and all these people want a cool shower."

　　在儀式中，一位年青的西方僧侶在這炎熱的天氣中愈來愈不耐煩，尤其對這種宗教儀式更不耐煩。于是他低聲地對阿姜 查說：「你為何要為這些對修行毫無意義的事大費周章呢?」阿姜 查低聲地回答道:「也許是因為天氣熱，所以這些人想要沖個冷水澡吧!」