寧靜的森林水池 A Still Forest Pool 第五章 森林里的教導 Lessons in the Forest

Lessons in the Forest

森林里的教導

Daily life at Wat Ba Pong, as at most forest monasteries, begins at 3;00 AM with group chanting and meditation until just before dawn. At dawn monks walk barefoot two to eight miles to collect alms food at various nearby villages. On their return, the food collected is shared equally in begging bowls, and eating of the one daily meal begins with a chanted blessing. After meal clean-up, from 9;30 A.M. to 3;00 PM monks return to their huts for a period of solitary meditation, study, or work, or they join various monastery projects, such as repairing buildings and fences, sewing robes, or constructing new cottages. At 3;00 PM all are called to help draw and carry well water to the water storage barrels and to sweep the central grounds. At 6;00 PM after bathing, the monks reassemble for meditation, evening chanting, and periodic Dharma talks. Returning to their cottages, they use the late evening hours for silent sitting and walking meditation and as a time to listen to the sounds of the forest as it settles down for the night.

　　巴蓬寺的日常生活，就如大部份的森林道場一樣，凌晨三點，大眾開始課誦與禪坐，直到破曉。天亮時，僧侶們赤腳走到附近二到八公哩外的各個村落托缽。回到寺里時，把托回來的食物平均分到每個人的缽里，經過迴向的唱誦後，便開始用一天中唯一的一餐。餐後的清理過後，從早上九點三十分到下午三點，僧侶們各自回到自己的茅蓬，做個人禪修、讀書、工作或加入各寺院的工程，例如：修護建築物和籬芭、縫補袈裟或建造新茅蓬。下午三點，大眾被召集來打井水和挑水到儲水缸、打掃中央廣場。傍晚六點，洗浴之後，僧侶們再集合一齊里禪坐、晚課和定期的開示。回到個人茅蓬以後，他們利用深夜時分來做寧靜的坐禪和經行，同時傾聽夜晚寂靜的森林之音。

The spirit of practice at Wat Ba Pong is to establish right understanding and then apply it with mindfulness to every task and situation. This way of practice is one that can be equally well applied in the midst of any busy life, so the Lessons in the Forest are important ones for us as Westerners too. At the monastery both alms-food collecting and floor cleaning are meditation, and awareness is trained equally in following the breath and in shaving the head. On some days Achaan Chah participates intimately in the daily life of the monastery, cleaning and sweeping leaves with the other monks. On others he teaches more formally, receiving the constant stream of visitors seeking his wisdom and advice.

　　巴蓬寺的修行精神是去建立正確的知見，然後將它與正念一起應用在每一種工作與情況中。這種修行的方法同樣可以運用在任何繁忙的生活中，因此，在森林里的課程對我們西方人而言也非常重要。在寺里，托缽和洗地板都是禪坐，觀呼吸和剃頭同樣是在訓練我們的覺醒。有時候，阿姜 查會親自加入寺里的日常生活，和其他的僧侶們一起打掃和掃落葉。其他時候，他會比較正式的教導，接見川流不息來尋求他的智慧和指導的訪客。

In all these situations he teaches the monks. Sometimes it is through his presence, his simple, straightforward participation in the round ’of monastery life. Often it is through his words-humorous comments, practical Dharma points, or answers to questions that arise in the course of a day.

　　他在這些情況里教導僧侶們。有時透過他的身教、他的簡樸及直接地參與寺里一切的生活。通常，都是透過他的言語──幽默的評語、實用的佛法要點或封對在日常生活中出現的問題作回答。

Periodically, Achaan Chah gives an extended evening talk to the assembled monks and lay people on some aspect of practice and spiritual life. The talk may be given in response to a question, for a special visitor, or as a spontaneous teaching. In each case, he sits silently for a moment, closes his eyes, and a natural outflow of Dharma begins.

　　阿姜 查會定期地延長晚間的開示，對集合的僧侶及居士們做些關于修行和精神生活的不同層面的開示。他的開示也許是對特別來賓的問題給予回答，或自然而發的教導。每一次，他都闔上雙眼，靜靜地坐了一會兒，然後，自然流露的法便開始了。

In many ways he inspires those who share daily life with him in the forest. He shows us that only in walking this path ourselves can we move from theory to realization, from ideas of Dharma to a life of wisdom and compassion.

　　在許多方面，他感動了與他在森林里一齊生活的人，他告訴了我們，唯有在這條「道」上努力，方能使我們從理論提升到覺悟，從概念式的佛法提升到一個有智慧和慈悲的生活。