25.深山居處寂靜 Dwelling in the deep mountain stillness

深山居處寂靜

二十八歲至三十歲時。皆居岩洞采山草葉充飢。不食人間煙火。初時屢現勝境。而不著境。一心正觀念佛。日久身輕體健。步履如飛。耳聰目明。可察秋毫。二瞳炯然。人見以為魅。怖而疾奔。

宣化偈曰： 穴居野處原始風。少欲知足無所爭。 不語觀心何生住。逍遙三界任西東。

Dwelling in the deep mountain stillness

From his twenty-eighth to his thirtieth years, the Master dwelt in a cliff cave, gathering mountain grasses and herbs to satisfy his hunger. He did not partake of the cooked food of others. At the outset, a glorious state of being often appeared, and yet he did not become attached when he was in such a state. He properly and single-mindedly recited the Buddha’s name. As the days passed, his body became lighter, and he was quite robust. It was as if he were flying when he walked. His hearing was acute and his eyes could clearly discern the most minute detail. The pupils of his eyes glowed so that when people saw him, they thought he was a goblin and took to their heels in fright!

The verse says: Dwelling in a wilderness cave in a primitive way, Knowing contentment, his desires were few-there was no wrangling. He did not speak but observed his mind-how it arises and dwells. Roaming through the triple world, he ventured east and west.