Chan Aphorisms

Simple Words, Profound Meanings

摘自萬行師父的《微言大義》

I fear not death, but I fear time fiddled away. I fear not tedious and heavy work, but I fear a wasted life. I fear not fame and fortune, but I fear a life with no direction. I fear not being misunderstood by others, but I fear being narrow-minded. I fear not love, but I fear having no love in my heart. I fear not deep personal feelings, but I fear shallow devotion to the Way.

我不畏懼死亡，而畏懼虛度光陰。我不畏懼事務繁多，而畏懼空耗生命。我不畏懼名利，而畏懼人生沒有方向。我不畏懼他人誤解，而畏懼心胸狹隘。我不畏懼愛，而畏懼心中無愛。我不畏懼人情濃，而畏懼道情淡。

A guardian in life is a refilling station-cum-safe haven, a virtuous teacher-cum-helpful friend, and all the more an idyllic place where you retire your armour.

生命中的貴人即是加油站又是避風港，即是良師，又是益友，更是讓你卸掉鎧甲的田園風光處。

The teachings of the Buddha are not always there to be heard in every life. Now that you have heard them, you should joyfully apply them right away. To relish the teachings of the Buddha is a once-in-a-lifetime blessing.

佛陀的教義並非每生每世都能得聞。即已得聞就應及時享用。享受佛陀的教義是千載難逢的幸事。

As inner demons arise, you are seized by outer demons and thus live in afflictions and miseries every day. If you can use the Buddha’s Dharma to nourish your mind and soul, you will reap benefits not only now but also in all lifetimes.

內魔生起，外魔才入侵，於是就天天生活中煩惱和痛苦之中。若能用佛法滋潤自己的心靈，不僅當下受用，生生世世都會受用。

The Buddha has no need for your genuineness, but you have to be genuine to yourself.

佛不需要你的真誠，但你要對自己真誠。

The quickest way to pursue the truth is to experiment on yourself, rather than blindly reading about others’ experiences.

追求真理最快的方式是拿自己做實驗，而不是一味地讀別人的體驗。

We don’t know when the veil of ignorance is pierced. As long as mindfulness (luminous awareness) remains intact, ignorance will not grow. Let the senses react to joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness. Experience the present fully with awareness. Engage in and detach from situations, leaving no trace behind.

無明何時突破，自己並不知道。正念（覺照）保持不失，無明就不會增長。讓感官面對喜怒哀樂，帶著覺照全然地體驗當下，隨境出入，過後無痕。

Cultivating the Dharma is to concentrate the mind. Concentrating the mind is to calm the mind. Calming the mind is for the no-mind, and the no-mind is to achieve complete awareness. Only with complete awareness can we enter emptiness and see our own nature.

修法是為了專心，專心是為了靜心，靜心是為了無心，無心是為了達到全然的覺知。唯有全然的覺知才能入空性，見自性。

The greatest karma cannot withstand the power of pure aspiration. The greatest ignorance cannot overcome awareness and contemplative observation.

再大的業力，抵不過清淨的願力。再大的無明，抵不過覺知與觀照。

Language is for realization through thinking; knowledge is for realization through understanding; feeling is for realization through comprehension; meditative equipoise is for realization through experience.

語言是思悟，知識是解悟，感受是領悟，禪定是證悟。

An enlightened teacher only takes you to the spring, but will not force your head down to the water. You won’t drink unless you are thirsty.

明師只會把你帶到泉水所在的地方，但不會強按頭。除非你渴了，才會喝下泉水。