僧侶的生活 A Monk』s Life

A Monk』s Life

　　僧侶的生活

Here in the forest where a monk can learn to contemplate the nature of things, he can live happily and peacefully. As he looks around, he understands that all forms of life degenerate and eventually die. Nothing that exists is permanent, and when he understands this, he begins to become serene.

　　在森林里，僧侶可以學習去思惟(觀)事物的本然，並能夠快樂、寧靜地生活。當他眼望四周時，他了解，一切有形色的生命都會衰敗，終究會死亡。沒有任何存在的事物是恆常不變的，而當他明了這點時，便會開始變得詳和寧靜。

Monks are trained to be content with little-to eat only what they need, to sleep only when necessary, to be satisfied with what they have. This is the foundation of Buddhist meditation. Buddhist monks do not practice meditation for selfish reasons but in order to know and understand themselves, and thus be able to teach others how to live peacefully and wisely.

　　僧侶們被訓練要少欲知足──只食他們所需要的份量，在必須時才睡覺，滿足于現有的一切。這便是佛門禪修的基礎。佛教的僧侶並不是為了自私的緣故而修習禪坐，相反地，他們是為了要了解自己，進而能夠去教導他人如何平靜地、有智慧地生活。

Meditation does not simply involve being at peace with the world. On the contrary, confronting the self can be like walking into a raging storm. Beginning intensive practice, one often despairs at first and may even want to km oneself. Some think that a monk’s life is lazy and easy-let them try it themselves and see how long they can stand it. A monk’s work is hard; he works to free his heart in order to feel the loving-kindness that embraces all things. Seeing that all life rises and falls, is born and expires like the breath, he knows that nothii1g can belong to him, and thus he puts an end to suffering.

　　禪坐並不止于平靜地處于世上。相反地，要去面對自我就好像走進狂風暴雨之中。剛開始精進修行時，通常，起初都會絕望，甚至會想自殺。有些人認為出家人的生活懶散且輕松，但讓他們親自去試試看，看看他們能撐多久。出家人的責任是非常艱辛的，他們努力要使心解脫，以便能感受到那包容萬物的慈悲。了解所有生命的起落，就如同呼吸的生滅一般；他明白沒有任何事物可以屬于他，因此，他結束了痛苦。

If we just practice with sincerity, the fruits of our practice will shine forth. Anyone with eyes can see. We do not have to advertise.

　　如果我們誠摯地修行，我們的修行成果就會閃耀。任何有眼睛的人都能夠看到，我們不須去打廣告。