慈悲的法流 第一天 問答 Questions and Answers
第一天 問答
Questions and Answers
問： 我們如何避免業力呢？
Q: How can we avoid karma?
答： 做你自心的主人。整個內觀的方法就是教導你如何成為你自心的主人。如 果你無法主宰你的心，那麼因為舊有的習性模式，你仍然會持續地造作這些行 為，造作這些「業」––––這些你原本並不想做的。在理智上你了解：「我不應該 造作這些行為」。但是，你仍然造作，因為你無法主宰你的心。這個內觀的方法 將會幫助你成為自心的主人。
A: Be the master of your own mind. The whole technique teaches you how to become your own master. If you are not the master of your mind, then because of the old habit pattern, you will keep on performing those actions, that karma, which you don』t want to perform. Intellectually you understand: “I should not perform these actions.” Yet you still perform them, because you do not have mastery over your mind. This technique will help you to become the master of your own mind.
問： 什麼是生命最終究的目標？也就是說，和諧的生活將導向什麼呢？
Q: What is the ultimate goal of life? That is, what does all this harmony lead to?
答： 終究的生命，終極的目標是在此時此地。如果你一直期望未來能得到某些 事物，但卻無法于現在獲得利益，那麼這只是幻想。如果你現在已經開始經驗到此刻的和諧與安詳，那麼你將會達到目標，達到這個無時無刻都是安詳與和諧、 別無它物的目標。所以在此時此刻就要去體驗，那麼你就是真正走在正道上了。
A: The ultimate life, the ultimate goal, is here and now. If you keep looking for something in the future but you don』t gain anything now, this is a delusion. If you have started experiencing peace and harmony now, then there is every likelihood that you will reach the goal, which is nothing but peace and harmony. So experience it now, at this moment. Then you are really on the right path.
問： 一位真正如法的人要如何面對這個不如法的世界呢？
Q: How can a truly Dharmic person face this adharmic world?
答： 不要嘗試去改變這不如法的世界。試著去改變你自己不如法之處，改變你的習性反應和給自己帶來痛苦的方式。就像我說過的，當某人辱罵你時，你要了解這個人是痛苦的，這是那個人的問題。為何要變成你的問題呢？為何要開始產 生忿怒和變得痛苦呢？如果你這麼做，那麼你並不是你自心的主人，而是那個人的奴隸；只要那個人想，他隨時都可讓你痛苦。你是一個痛苦的人的奴隸。你尚未了解法。做你自己的主人，那麼儘管四周有這麼多不如法的情形，你仍然可以過著如法的生活。
A: Don』t try to change the adharmic world. Try to change the adharma in yourself, the way in which you are reacting and making yourself miserable. As I said, when somebody is abusing you, understand that this person is miserable. It is the problem of that person. Why make it your problem? Why start generating anger and becoming miserable? Doing that means you are not your own master, you are that person』s slave; whenever that person wants to, he can make you miserable. You are the slave of someone else who is a miserable person. You have not understood Dharma. Be your own master and you can live a Dharmic life in spite of the adharmic situations all around.
問： 是否有任何快捷方式呢？
Q: Is there any shorter way?
答： 你必須改變你的習性模式，你必須找到你問題的根源––––這就是最短的路徑。而問題的根源是內在而不是在外面。如果你學習如何向內深入，如果你由問 題的根源來開始改變一些事情，那麼這就是一條使你由痛苦之中解脫出來的最短路徑。
A: I would say this is the shortest way. You have to change your habit pattern; you have to go to the root of your problem. And the root of problem is inside, not outside. If you learn how to take a dip inside, if you start changing things at the root level, this is the shortest way for you to come out of your misery.
問： 請解釋，為何有一些人並不清淨，但他們仍然覺得快樂，看起來並不痛苦？
Q: Some people have impurities, but they feel happy and don』t look miserable. Please explain.
答： 你還未進入這些人的內心世界。比如說一個人很有錢，別人可能會覺得： 「多快樂的人啊！看看他，他擁有如此多的財富啊！」但是你不知道的是，這個 人無法安穩地睡覺，他必須依賴著安眠藥––––他是一位非常痛苦的人啊。如果深 入你的內心，你當然可以了解你自己是如何痛苦；但是你無法透過一個人的外表，從臉上就看出他(或她)是痛苦或快樂的。痛苦是藏于內在深層的。
A: You have not entered the minds of these people. A person may have alot of money, and others may feel: “Such a happy person. Look, he has so much wealth.” But what you don』t know is that this person can』t get sound sleep; he has to use sleeping pills—a very miserable person. You can know for yourself how miserable you are, going deep inside. You can』t understand at the external level by seeing sombody』s face whether he or she is miserable or happy. The misery lies deep inside.
問： 什麼是 a-tma(我)，是靈魂嗎？
Q: What is the Dharma of ātma, soul?
答： 觀察你自己，你將會發現內在發生了什麼。你會發現你所謂的「靈魂」， 所謂的「a-tma」，僅僅是一個習性反應的心，只是心的某個部份而已。然而， 你還是有錯覺：「這是『我』，你看，這是『我』、這就是『我』」但是，只要你繼續觀察下去，這個「我」的錯覺將會消失、這些習性反應也會遠離，你將會 從痛苦之中解脫出來。如果只是接受哲學上的信仰，是無法解脫痛苦的。
A: Observe yourself and you will find what is happening inside. What you call “soul,” what you call ātma, you will notice, is just a reacting mind, a certain part of the mind. Yet you remain under the illusion that: “This is 『I.』 See, this is 『I,』 this is 『I.』” This illusion of 『I』 will go away, and then the reaction will go away, and you will be liberated from your misery. This does not happen by accepting philosophical beliefs.
問： 如何處理失眠症？
Q: How to deal with insomnia?
答： 內觀將有助于這種情況。當一個人無法正常入眠時，如果他躺下來觀察呼吸或感受，他將會睡得很安穩。即使他無法熟睡，隔天起床時，他會感覺到精神飽滿，就像從熟睡之中醒來一般。試著練習，你將會發現到這是非常有幫助的。
A: Vipassana will help you. When people can』t sleep properly, if they lie down and observe respiration or sensations, they can get sound sleep. Even if they don』t get sound sleep, the next day they will get up feeling very fresh, as if they have come out of a deep sleep. Practise. Try, and you will find that it is very helpful.
問： 正法對饑餓的街民而言，有何關聯呢？
Q: What is the relevance of Dharma to a person on the street, whose stomach is empty?
答： 有許多居住在貧民區的居民，在參加內觀課程之後發現到內觀對他們有許多幫助。他們的肚子是空的，不但如此，他們的心也同樣是相當地不安；有著如 此不安的心，他們無法解決日常的問題。透過內觀，他們學習到如何保持自己心 的平穩與平靜，因而能夠面對他們的問題，在生活上得到較好的結果。而且，我還發現到，在貧民區的人生活雖然非常貧困，他們卻還是將大部份的收入花費在 飲酒及賭博當中。在經過幾次內觀課程之後，他們戒掉了飲酒及賭博、戒掉了一切不良的癖好。所以說，法是有益的，對個人乃至所有人、富有或貧窮，都是有益的，沒有任何差別！
A: A large number of people living in slums come to Vipassana courses and find it very helpful. Their stomachs are empty, but theirs mind also are so agitated. With such agitated minds, they can』t solve their daily problems. With Vipassana, they learn how to keep their minds calm and equanimous. Then they can face their problems. They get better results in their lives. Moreover, I have found that, although people from the slums are very poor, most of their earnings is spent on alcohol and gambling. After taking a few courses, they come out of gambling, they come out of alcohol; they come out of all kinds of addictions. Dharma is helpful. It is helpful to one and all, rich or poor. It makes no difference.
問： 內觀對于微細身體內的 chakras(脈輪)有何影響呢？
Q: What is the effect of Vipassana on the chakras of the subtle body?
答： chakras 就只是脊髓上的神經中心。內觀將會帶你到達一個階段，到那個時侯你可以覺察到身體每一個微細粒子的活動；整個身體都能體驗到這種活動的， chakras 只不過是其中的一部份。
A: Chakras are nothing but nerve centres on the spinal chord. Vipassana takes you to the stage where you can feel activity in every little atom of your body. Chakras are just a part of that. This activity can be experienced in the entire body.
問： 在你的禪修系統中，你如何定義永恆的生命呢？
Q: How do you define eternal life in your meditation system?
答： 這不是我的禪修系統！這是一種印度的禪修系統、一種印度古時候的禪修系統。生命是永恆的，但你必須要淨化它，才能有較好的生活，和一個好的生命。 不要嘗試尋找生命的起源、它是何時開始的––––這能讓你獲得什麼呢？每一時刻 生命都在開始、是不停地在轉動的。它總是往錯誤的方向滾動，使你成為一個痛苦的人。從不幸痛苦之中解脫吧！這比其它的任何事更為重要。
A: It is not my meditation system! It is an Indian meditation system, ancient India』s meditation system. The life is eternal, but you have to make it purified, so that you live a better life, a good life. Don』t try to find the beginning of life, when it started—what you will gain by that? The life is starting every moment; this ball is rolling. It is rolling in a wrong way, and you are a miserable person. Come out of that misery. That is more important than anything else.
問： 一個人如何遠離忿怒呢?
Q: How does one escape from anger?
答： 這就是內觀要教導你的。觀察你的忿怒，你就會從中解脫。而要觀察你的 忿怒，你要先學習如何觀察你的呼吸以及如何觀察你身體上的感受。
A: This is what Vipassana will teach you. Observe your anger, and you will come out of it. And to observe anger, you learn how to observe your respiration, and how to observe your sensations.
問： 對于繁忙于事業的人而言，他們的時間很少，如何能修習內觀呢？
Q: How can professionals, who have less time, practise meditation?
答： 內觀對于這些人而言顯得更為重要！在家人忙于生活，因為他們生活中有 很多的責任，必須面對生活之中種種的變化；因此，他們當然就非常需要內觀禪 修。因為生活中的起伏不定，使得他們心亂；如果他們修習內觀，那麼他們就能 以較好的心態來面對生活，可以作出對自己非常有幫助的––––良好、正確的決定。內觀對于忙于事業者、主管人員、以及所有擔負著責任義務的人們，都是有 相當大的裨益的。
A: Meditation is all the more important for professionals! Those who are householders, who have responsibilities in life, need Vipassana much more, because they have to face situations in life where there are so many vicissitudes. They become agitated because of these vicissitudes. If they learn Vipassana, they can face life much better. They can make good decisions, right decisions, correct decisions, which will be very helpful to them. For professionals, executives, and other people with responsibilities, Vipassana is a great boon.
問： 你相信輪回嗎？
Q: Do you believe in rebirth?
答： 我的相信與否對你是沒有幫助的。不斷地禪修吧！你就會達到看清你自己 的過去及未來的這種階段；到那時候才相信吧。不要因為是你的老師說的就相信，否則你將只是盲目地依附在老師的權威之下，而這是有違正法的。
A: My believing or not believing will not help you. Meditate, and you will reach a stage where you can see your past, and you can see your future. Then only believe. Don』t believe something just because your guru says so. Otherwise you will be under the clutches of a guru, which is against Dharma.
問： 什麼是心？它在哪里？
Q: What is mind? Where it is?
答： 經由修習內觀，你將會了解的。你將會探究你的身、你的心以及它們兩者之間的相互作用。
A: This is what you will understand by practising Vipassana. You will make an analytical study of your mind, an analytical study of your matter, and the interaction between the two.
問： 我們如何使他人平靜安詳呢？
Q: How can we make others peaceful?
答： 先讓你自己平靜安詳吧！這樣你才能使他人平靜安詳。
A: Make yourself peaceful! Only then you can make others peaceful.
問： 我同意內觀會有助于我，但它如何解決社會問題呢？
Q: I agree that this meditation will help me, but how does it solve the problems of society?
答： 社會畢竟只是結合一群個人的團體。我們都想要解決社會問題，但是卻不去解決個人問題；我們想要世界和平卻毫不致力于個人的和平，這怎麼可能呢？ 如果每一個人都體驗到安詳與和諧，那麼我們就會發現，整個社會也會開始瀰漫著安詳與和諧。
A: Society is, after all, nothing but a group of individuals. We want to solve the problems of society, yet we don』t solve the problems of the individual. We want peace in the world, yet we do nothing for the peace of the individual. How is this possible? If each individual experiences peace and harmony, then we will find that the whole society starts experiencing peace and harmony.
問： 即使我嘗試了，我的憤怒還是壓不下來，怎麼辦？
Q: I can』t suppress my anger, even if I try.
答： 不要壓抑它；就只是觀察它！如果你壓抑，問題就會發生。你愈試著壓抑 忿怒，它就會進入你內心的更深處；那麼忿怒的情結會逐漸地增強，使你很難從中解脫出來。就只是觀察你的忿怒，不要壓抑，也不要縱容它；就只是觀察。
A: Don』t suppress it: observe it! If you suppress it, problems will come. The more you try to suppress the anger, the more it goes to the deeper level of your mind. The complexes become stronger and stronger, and it is so difficult to come out of them. Just observe your anger. No suppression, no expression. Just observe.
問： 忿怒生起時，要同時觀察嗎？而觀察是在忿怒生起之後的一種思惟過程嗎？
Q: Are anger and observation simultaneous, or is observation a process arising after thought?
答： 不是的！所謂的觀察不是指思惟。當忿怒生起時，就要同時去觀察。
A: No, it is not a thought. You observe simultaneously, as the anger arises.
問： 如果有人故意造成我們的生活痛苦，我們要如何容忍這些呢？
Q: If someone is purposely making our life miserable—how to tolerate this?
答： 首先，不要想去改變別人，要試著改變你自己。雖然某些人想要讓你痛苦， 但是你變得痛苦的原因卻是因為你對此有了習性反應。如果你學會了觀察你的習性反應，那麼便沒有人可以使你痛苦。如果你學會了保持內心的平穩、保持平等心，無論從別人那兒在你身上加諸了多少痛苦，也沒辦法讓你痛苦。這個內觀的 方法將會協助你。而一旦你開始從你內心深處的痛苦解脫，同時你也將開始影響到其他人；那些傷害你的人將一點一滴地改變。
A: First of all, don』t try to change the other person. Try to change yourself. Somebody is trying to make you miserable. But you are becoming miserable because you are reacting to this. If you learn how to observe your reaction, then nobody can make you miserable. Any amount of misery from others cannot make you miserable if you learn to remain equanimous deep inside. This technique will help you. Once you become free from misery deep inside, this will also start affecting others. The same person who was harming you will start changing little by little.
問： 原諒犯罪的人，不是鼓勵犯罪嗎？
Q: Isn』t excusing a sinner encouraging sin?
答： 絕不要鼓勵犯罪，要阻止人們犯罪；但不要對犯罪的人產生瞋恨或憤怒。 要有愛和慈悲。這個人是個痛苦的人，無知的人，他(她)不知道自己在做什麼。 他在傷害自己也傷害別人。所以你要盡全力，在身體的行為上、言語上，去阻止這個人犯罪，不過，要本著愛和慈悲來對待他。這是內觀所要教你的。
A: Never encourage sin. Stop people from committing sin. But don』t have aversion or anger towards the sinner. Have love, have compassion. This person is a miserable person, an ignorant person, who doesn』t know what he or she is doing. They are harming themselves and harming others. So you use all your strength, physical and vocal, to stop this person from committing sin, but with love and compassion towards them. This is what Vipassana will teach you.
問： 經由修習內觀，我們能獲得完全的轉化以及完全的快樂嗎？
Q: Can we get complete transformation and complete happiness through Vipassana?
答： 這是一個漸進的過程。當你開始修習之時，將會發現你正體驗到愈來愈多的喜悅，並且最後你會達到全然的快樂。你逐漸地在轉化，並且你會達到完全的轉化。不過這是漸進的。
A: It is a progressive process. As you start working, you will find that you are experiencing more and more happiness, and eventually you will reach the stage which is total happiness. You become more and more transformed, and you will reach the stage which is total transformation. It is progressive.
問： 超越心的是什麼呢？
Q: What is superior to mind?
答： 首先你要了解心是什麼，接著你將了解心之外的是什麼、超越心的是什麼。
A: First know what mind is. Then you will know what is beyond mind, what is superior to mind.
問： 如何將宗教和法劃上等號呢？
Q: How do you equate religion and Dharma?
答： 嗯！如果宗教是指所謂的印度教的宗教或佛教的宗教等等，那麼宗教就不等同于法。如果把宗教解釋成自然的法則、普遍性的自然法則，那麼這和法是相同的。
A: Well, if religion is taken as Hindu religion or Buddhist religion, and so on, then it is totally against Dharma. But if religion is taken as the law of nature, the universal law of nature, then it is the same as Dharma.
問： 我們要如何地將內觀應用在日常生活當中呢？
Q: How much should we practise Vipassana in our daily life?
答： 去參加一次課程，然後你會了解如何將內觀的修習應用在生活之中。如果你只是參加個課程，而不應用在你生活之中，那麼內觀也會變成只是一種典禮、 儀軌或宗教儀式，對你是沒有多大幫助的。內觀是為了要過一種良好的生活；而 在參加一次課程之後，你會了解到如何將它應用在生活之中。
A: Take a course, and then you will understand how to apply the practice in your life. If you just take a course and don』t apply it in life, then Vipassana will become just a rite, ritual, or a religious ceremony. It won』t help you. Vipassana is to live a good life. You will understand how to apply it in life after taking a course.
問： 什麼是沮喪？它是屬于內在或外在的問題呢？
Q: What is depression? Is it an external, or an internal, problem?
答： 所有的問題都是內在的問題，沒有所謂的外在問題。如果你進入內心的深層，發現你所有不幸痛苦的原因，你將會發現到每一個原因都是隱藏在你自身當中而非在外界。根除這些原因，之後你將從不幸痛苦之中解脫出來。
A: All problems are internal. There are no external problems. If you go deep inside and discover the cause of your misery, you will find that every cause lies within yourself, not outside. Remove that cause, and you will be free from misery.
問： 法與責任有何關聯？
Q: What is the difference between Dharma and duty?
答： 凡是有益于你自己和他人的，就是你的責任、就是法。凡是對你自己和他 人是有害的就不是你的責任，因為它傷害你自己也傷害他人。
A: Whatever is helpful to you and helpful to others is your duty, is Dharma. Whatever is harmful to you and harmful to others is not your duty, because it harms you and also harms others.
問： 苦難、戰爭與沖突從有歷史以來就存在，你真的相信這個世界有真正的和平嗎？
Q: Suffering, war and conflict are as old as history. Do you really believe in a world of peace?
答： 嗯！即使只有一些人能從痛苦不幸當中走出來，這仍然是好的；當四周充滿著黑暗而仍有一盞燈綻放著光明，這仍然是好的。就像這樣，如果一盞燈變為十盞、二十盞燈時，黑暗將逐漸地散去。我們無法保證全世界變成和平，但是你 在自身當中發展出了多少的和平，就會對這世界的和平有多少的幫助。
A: Well, even if a few people come out of misery, it is good. When there is darkness all around and one lamp has started giving light, it is good. And like this, if one lamp becomes ten lamps, or twenty lamps, the darkness will get dispelled here and there. There is no guarantee that the entire world will become peaceful, but as much peace as you make in yourself, that much you are helping the peace of the world.