簡明的教導 Keep the Teaching Simple

Keep the Teaching Simple

　　簡明的教導

A large piece of wild forest land was offered Achaan Chah by nearby villagers to start a monastery. A wealthy lay supporter heard of this and offered to build a magnificent hall and temple on top of a small mountain in the forest. Other lay supporters gathered together, and a design was drawn for the largest Dharma hall in several provinces. Huts for monks were built in caves around the mountain, and a road was laboriously cut through the woods. Construction commenced on the Dharma hall: concrete foundation, tall pillars, platform for a giant bronze Buddha. As work proceeded, new designs were added. Complex discussions between lay sponsors and the builders ensued. Just how fancy should the roof be? Should we modify the design to make it better in this way? In that way? How about hollow pillars and a huge rainwater tank underneath? Everyone had good ideas, but they were all very costly.

　　附近的一位村民捐贈阿姜 查一大片原始森林地來開辟寺院。一位富有的在家護法居士聽到這個消息之後，便在森林中的一個小山上布施造一座雄偉的講堂和寺院。其他的護法居士也集會一起討論，這座在幾個省內最大的法堂設計藍圖于是誕生了。僧侶的茅蓬建在山區四周的洞窟中，而路則是費盡心血從樹林中開穿過去。建築工程從法堂開始──水泥地基、高柱、鋼制佛像的基座。工程進行中，新的設計構想陸續加進。負責人與建築師之間的繁複研討，例如：屋頂應該多華麗?可否為了這個更進完美的構想而更動原來的設計?或另一個構想?那下面建空心住及大蓄水池如何?每一位都有很好的意見，但都非常昂貴。

The culmination of all these discussions was a long meeting with Achaan Chah. Construction experts, lay sponsors, all presented the different design options, the costs, the time for building. Finally the wealthy lay supporter spoke up with her ideas and questions. “Tell us, Achaan, which of these designs to follow. The frugal one? The costly one? How shall we proceed?”

　　這幾場興阿姜 查的漫長討論的結尾──建築師、負責人，種種不同的設計構想、花費、建築所需時間等等。最後，這位富有的護法居士說出她的意見和問題。「師父，請告訴我們應該用哪個構想，節約型的或昂貴型的?我們該如何繼續進行?」

Achaan Chah laughed. “When you do good, there are good results.” That was all he would say. The finished Dharma hall was magnificent.

　　阿姜 查笑著說：「你們行善，就會有善果。」他只說了這麼多。

　　法堂落成後非常莊嚴。