寧靜的森林水池 A Still Forest Pool 第一章 明了佛陀的教導 Understanding the Buddhas Teachings

Understanding the Buddha’s Teachings

第一章 明了佛陀的教導

Achaan Chah asks us to begin our practice simply and directly with the understanding that the Buddha’s truths of suffering and liberation can be seen and experienced right here, within’ our own bodies, hearts, and minds. The eightfold path, * he tells us, is not to be found in books or scriptures but can be discovered in the workings of our own sense perceptions, our eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind. To study these in an immediate and wakeful way and cultivate mindfulness is the path of insight prescribed by the Buddha. It has been kept alive and followed by those monks, nuns, and laypeople inspired to devote themselves to practice in the centuries since.

　　阿姜 查要求我們從佛陀所教導的痛苦和解脫真理的領悟中──可以在我們的身、心當下徹見和經驗的，開始我們簡單而直接的修行。阿姜 查告訴我們，「八正道」是無法在書籍、經典中找到的，相反地，卻可以在我們的根識，我們的眼、耳、鼻、舌、身和意中發現。在這種即時、覺醒、長養正念的方法下學習，是佛陀所覺悟的內觀之道。若干世紀以來，這種方法被受到啟發並獻身于修行中的僧、尼與在家眾所保留和遵循。

Achaan Chah speaks as a contemporary living representative of this ancient teaching. His wisdom and mastery have not come through study or tradition but are born of his years of practice, his diligent effort to employ meditation to calm the heart and awaken the mind. His own practice was inspired and guided by the wisdom of several great forest masters a generation before him. And he invites us to follow their example and his.

　　阿姜 查以一個古老教育的代表現身說法。他的智慧和善巧都不是從讀書及傳統而來，而是從他多年修行、精進以禪坐來平靜心及喚醒心得來的。他個人的修行是受到上一代數位森林禪師所啟發和指導的。他邀請我們追隨他們和他的典范。

Look at what makes up your world-the six senses, the processes of body and mind. These processes will become clear through examination and an ongoing training of attention. As you observe note how fleeting and impermanent are each of the sense objects which appear. You will see the conditioned tendency to grasp or to resist these changing objects. Here, teaches Achaan Chah, is the place to learn a new way, the path of balance, the Middle Path.

　　看看你的世界是什麼所形成的──它是六根，身與心的過程。這些過程可經由審視與不斷地訓練專注力而變得愈來愈清楚。就如你所覺察到的，每一個外塵的生起是如何地迅速和無常。你會看到我們執取及抗拒這些遷變的對象之慣性傾向。阿姜 查教導我們，這里便是學習新方法的地方──平衡之道、中道。

Achaan Chah urges us to work with our practice, not as an ideal, but in our everyday life situations. It is here that we develop strength to overcome our difficulties and a constancy and greatness of heart. It is here, he says, in each moment that we can step out of our struggle with life and find the inner meaning of right understanding and with it the peace of the Buddha.

　　阿姜 查勸誡我們要以修行來解決問題──並非以觀念，而是要運用在我們日常生活中的情況。就因為如此，我們增長了對治障礙的力量及一顆相續、善良的心。因為如此，他說，我們方能夠跨出生命的掙扎，找到正見的意義：有了正見，便能找到佛陀的平靜。