Wednesday, August 8, 2007

2007/7/29 正念半日紀實


7/29/2009 半日正念活動紀實


7/29 日,又有機會參加本地一行禪師修行團體的半日正念的活動。活動在離羅城以南30英里的地方.和以往一樣,這次練習收穫和感觸也很多。


活動開始,主持人Janet先帶動大家唱起了那首Breathing in Breathing out... 這幾乎是這個團體的主題歌:

Breathing in, Breathing out,
Breathing in, Breathing out..
I am blooming as a flower...
I am fresh as a dew.
I am solid as mountain
I am firm as the earth
I am free,I am free.. I am free

Breathing in, Breathing out..
Breathing in, Breathing out...
I am water reflecting
what is real
what is true

And I feel there is space
Deep inside of me
I am free, I am free,
I am free

伴隨著手語動作, 親切,感人. Janet 讓每個人告知自己的名字,讓大家彼此認得. 接下來是靜坐和戶外行禪. 主人是該團體的資深成員.簡陋而結實的房舍是他們自己建造的. 房舍内外格外簡樸和安適。周圍的一片山林也是他們擁有的(大約72英畝)。.為了環保,他們決定不開發而是保持其原有的自然風貌,讓那裏的野生動植物“安 居樂業”.


兩次坐禪和一次行禪之後, 我們在剛剛割過的一片平坦草坪上,練習 Touching the Earth... 這次的練習的主題是借這堅實的大地,接受和承襲自己在肉體和精神的祖先和父母...


I. In gratitude, I bow down to all generations of ancestors in my blood family.

(BELL)

(ALL TOUCH THE EARTH)


接觸地面的方式是任人而異的... 有的俯臥在地上試圖讓身體每個部分接觸大地甚至以臉頰也貼向大地母親的臉頰;有的則仰臥在地上,像嬰兒, 任憑自己的全身沉浸在母親的懷抱;也有人把耳朵貼向地面似乎在傾聽母親的心跳。每個人都在自由自在地感受著...

I see in myself my mother and father, whose blood, flesh, and vitality are circulating in my own veins and nourishing every cell in me. Through them, I see my four grandparents. Their expectations, experiences, and wisdom have been transmitted from so many generations of ancestors. I carry in me the life, blood, experience, wisdom, happiness, and sorrow of all generations. The suffering and all the elements that need to be transformed, I am practising to transform. I open my heart, flesh, and bones to receive the energy of insight, love, and experience transmitted to me by all my ancestors. I see my roots in my father, mother, grandfathers, grandmothers, and all my ancestors. I know I am only the continuation of this ancestral lineage. Please support, protect, and transmit to me your energy. I know wherever children and grandchildren are, ancestors are there also. I know that parents always love and support their children and grandchildren, although they are not always able to express it skilfully because of difficulties they themselves encountered. I see that my ancestors tried to build a way of life based on gratitude, joy, confidence, respect, and loving kindness. As a continuation of my ancestors, I bow deeply and allow their energy to flow through me. I ask my ancestors for their support, protection, and strength.


(THREE DEEP BREATHS)
(BELL)
(ALL STAND UP)

II. In gratitude, I bow to all generations of ancestors in my spiritual family.

(BELL)
(ALL TOUCH THE EARTH)

I see in myself my teachers, the ones who show me the way of love and understanding, the way to breathe, smile, forgive, and live deeply in the present moment. I see through my teachers all teachers over many generations and traditions, going back to the ones who began my spiritual family thousands of years ago. I see the Buddha or Christ [or Abraham ...] as my teachers, and also as my spiritual ancestors. I see that their energy and that of many generations of teachers has entered me and is creating peace, joy, understanding, and loving kindness in me. I know that the energy of these teachers has deeply transformed the world. Without the Buddha and all these spiritual ancestors, I would not know the way to practice to bring peace and happiness into my life and into the lives of my family and society. I open my heart and body to receive the energy of understanding, loving kindness, and protection from the Awakened Ones, their teachings, and the community of practice over many generations. I am their continuation. I ask these spiritual ancestors to transmit to me their infinite source of energy, peace, stability, understanding, and love. I vow to practice to transform the suffering in myself and the world, and to transmit their energy to future generations of practitioners. My spiritual ancestors may have had their own difficulties and may not always have been able to transmit the teachings, but I accept them as they are.


(THREE DEEP BREATHS)
(BELL)
(ALL STAND UP)

III. In gratitude, I bow to this land and all of the ancestors who made it available.

(BELL)
(ALL TOUCH THE EARTH)

I see that I am whole, protected, and nourished by this land and all of the living beings who have been here and made life easy and possible for me through all their efforts. I see Martin Luther, Goethe, Schiller, and all the other known and unknown. I see all those who have made this country a refuge for people of so many origins and colours, by their talent, perseverance, and love – those who have worked hard to build schools, hospitals, bridges, and roads, to protect human rights, to develop science and technology, and to fight for freedom and social justice. I see myself touching ancestors of ancient native German origin who have lived on this land for such a long time and known the ways to live in peace and harmony with nature, protecting the mountains, forests, animals,vegetation, and minerals of this land. I feel the energy of this land penetrating my body and soul, supporting and accepting me. I vow to cultivate and maintain this energy and transmit it to future generations. I vow to contribute my part in transforming the violence, hatred, and delusion that still lie deep in the collective consciousness of this society so that future generations will have more safety, joy, and peace. I ask this land for its protection and support.

(THREE DEEP BREATHS)

(BELL)
(ALL STAND UP)

IV. In gratitude and compassion, I bow down and transmit my energy to those I love.

(BELL)
(ALL TOUCH THE EARTH)

All the energy I have received I now want to transmit to my father, my mother, everyone I love, all who have suffered and worried because of me and for my sake. I know I have not been mindful enough in my daily life. I also know that those who love me have had their own difficulties. They have suffered because they were not lucky enough to have an environment that encouraged their full development. I transmit my energy to my mother, my father, my brothers, my sisters, my beloved ones, my husband, my wife, my daughters, and my sons, so that their pain will be relieved, so that they can smile and feel the joy of being alive. I want all of them to be healthy and joyful. I know that when they are happy, I will also be happy. I no longer feel resentment towards any of them. I pray that all ancestors in my blood and spiritual families will focus their energies towards each of them, to protect and support them. I know that I am not separate from them. I am one with those I love.

(THREE DEEP BREATHS)
(BELL)
(ALL STAND UP)

V. In understanding and compassion, I bow down to reconcile myself with all those who have made me suffer.

(BELL)
(ALL TOUCH THE EARTH)

I open my heart and send forth my energy of love and understanding to everyone who has made me suffer, to those who have destroyed much of my life and the lives of those I love. I know now that these people have themselves undergone a lot of suffering and that their hearts are overloaded with pain, anger, and hatred. I know that anyone who suffers that much will make those around him or her suffer. I know that they may have been unlucky, never having the chance to be cared for and loved. Life and society have dealt them so many hardships. They have been wronged and abused. They have not been guided in the path of mindful living. They have accumulated wrong perceptions about life, about me, and about us. They have wronged us and the people we love. I pray to my ancestors in my blood and spiritual families to channel to these persons who have made us suffer the energy of love and protection, so that their hearts will be able to receive the nectar of love, and blossom like a flower. I pray that they can be transformed to experience the joy of living, so that they will not continue to make themselves and others suffer. I see their suffering and do not want to hold any feelings of hatred or anger in myself towards them. I do not want them to suffer. I channel my energy of love and understanding to them and ask all my ancestors to help them.

(THREE DEEP BREATHS)

(BELL)

2(ALL STAND UP)


在 這無怨無悔的大地上,在這茂密深林的懷抱中,在這溫暖的夏風吹拂中.... 寫在每個人的臉上的是他們他們的回顧和重溫。多少自然聯係呵!無法分得清更無法割得斷!你中有我,我中有你,多少快樂,也還有多少無奈.....一切都在 這大地母親的懷抱裏,接受著、消融著....普天下的眾生都有緣,因爲我們共同依偎著同一個大地!



歌聲又響起來了... 是Janet 帶著大家唱起來一支支歌唱三寶,讚美修行的歌曲....

I have arrived,
I am home in the here, and in the now
I am home in the here, and in the now
I am solid, I am free
I am solid, I am free
In the ultimate, I dwell
In the ultimate, I dwell


.... ....

No coming, no going
No after, no before
I hold you close to me
I release you to be so free

Because I am in you and you are in me
Because I am in you and you are in m
.... ....
又經過一小節靜坐之後,是讀書時間. 据Janet介紹那是一行禪師在一個禪21天中的開示,已經讀了好久了.感覺上,前後不一定有什麽順序. 讀書的方式是每人輪流地讀.這次我們讀到的要點是:如何識別自己的心中的好的或坏的種子. 習慣的認識和克服.讓人感動的是大師在文中常以自己為例來介紹如何在生活中克服自己的困難,極有親切感. 他娓娓道來爲什麽他選則了歐洲作爲他的流亡地而沒有留在美國. 他也有那被侵略囯民的切膚之痛呵!... 他也分享他是如何克服和超越自己的...想起曾看過一行禪師,作爲一個越南人,親自到華盛頓的美軍越戰烈士碑前獻花的情景,是何等寬懷和慈悲又是何等地勇 敢和超脫! 讀到的另外一則小故事是當一個十幾嵗的小修行者,在妹妹跌倒的瞬間,起心發怒而觀察到, 這煩惱的種子是如何從他父親那裏傳下來的,也使他理解他的脾氣暴躁的父親也是這強大的業力的 受害者,因而原諒和理解了父親... 發人深省的是,我們自己是否也在這無史劫以來的流轉不息中,自害 害人卻不一定清楚呀! 在講到如何轉化自己的煩惱時他說有兩种不同的方法. 一种方法是在得到一定的安止後要令煩惱的種子現形, 並深觀而以剔除.另一個方法則是令正向的種子成長而盡量不讓煩惱的種子現形.讓不良的種子漸漸地失去生命力.我感覺當慧觀的能力還不強時, 第二個方法是不得已的方法,但卻是要常常修習。但是在修學的過程中卻一定要學會慧觀.發大乘菩薩願的人還要知道留什麽煩惱不斷而能能利益衆生. 在分享中,我表示:要留心澆灌別人的好種子,另外也要知迴避. 要清楚自己的斤兩. 分享的氣氛平安和雅,沒有壓力感,更沒有火藥味.

法 的分享是這個團體頗具特色的活動内容。 因爲他們有一套非常好的規則....這种分享是另外一類練習: 傾聽和尊重的練習。這裡明文規定不得做觀念和知識方面的.討論,不做Q&A,内容僅限於修行和自己的體驗。分享的文化更融合了禪修的精神。發言者 以合掌表示要發言,大家則以合掌表示應允。發言人不用擔心中途被打斷。他可以專心地表達自己。聼眾則要求只是聆聽並注意講話者的身體語言。發言結束時,發 言者又以合掌表示結束並感恩大家的傾聽。對每一個發言,都至少給三次呼吸來仔細地體味同修道友的分享。參加者也當然可以選擇不發言。做第二次分享時要留意 是否仍有人還沒有分享。主持人留有足夠的時間讓每位同修都有分享的機會。這種優雅和美的說與聼在吵鬧紛亂的世閒是絕難找到的。

在接下來的Potluck晚餐前15分鐘, 每人體驗專心一意的吃。十五分鐘過後大家可以有暢談的機會。參加這次修行的有Janet 和她的先生Jame, 女主人Anni 和她的先生Mike, 許久不見的Chris, 從印度回來不久的Paul 和他的女朋友April, 冉希和她的男友長城,女兒小虹,同修王岷及她以前的同事Mary,還有我。Paul 和April過去若干年,一直居住在印度爲的是可更多地修行。他們在印度就住在達賴喇嘛和大寶法王住處的中間。許多西洋人住在那裏專修西藏佛法。他們每月 只需48美元就可也住上條件相當的公寓,令人羡慕。這次他們囘來是應年邁老父的要求處理家裏的事務。在他們甜美的微笑裏,似乎反射著那來自高原的慈光。他 們仍然嚮往著重返那裏

談話中, 讓人驚奇的發現是活動内容居然有很大的適應性, 大家都能獲益。修行多年的Paul 多次來這裡修行。我和同修師姐也參訪過若干道場,還是可以在這裡找到力量獲得啓發。 而從來沒有接觸過佛教修行的剛從中國内地來的新朋友長城也居然不覺得枯燥乏味,而且能有所收穫!參加者也更包容不同的種族和文化背景,乃至不同的年齡。内 容和形式的適 度確是活動組織者的一個難點。這方面看來真得需要多思考和研究,並應向主辦者請益。

Janet 接到一個電話,她的女兒時下出現一些不良的症狀, 她只能先行離開。沒有留意到他的先生James 早就先行離去了。這樣Chris 就得送Janet 回去。據説Janet的女兒一直有病。臨行前她仍然從容不迫地逐一地和每個人告辭, 感謝各位的到來... 在那自在飄逸的風采裏,你能想象出其實生活一樣也會是艱難的嗎?但這位發了菩提誓願的菩薩卻十幾年如一日把穩定、和平和喜樂帶給了所有和她有緣的人!十幾 年來她是這裡唯一的一位受持即相修行團十四戒(十四個正念:相當於菩薩戒)即相菩薩僧團的核心成員。依章程核心成員擔負著帶眾修行的使命。她一直兢兢業業 地組織和帶領著這個菩薩僧團。同時她還是一位活躍的社會工作者,致力於被虐待的婦女的保護和安慰的工作。 我們很早就知道她的活動,只是今年才有緣能走進這位菩薩的化區真是有緣有幸!記得印順導師是這樣稱讚菩薩的:“了解佛法,依佛法而修行的智者,身苦不會引 起心苦,小苦不會引起大苦,反而大苦化小苦,小苦成無苦”。我們面前這位充滿感召力和安定力的西洋女士不正是這樣一位菩薩嗎?更感懷佛陀的偉大教化正在這片新大陸上生根發芽.

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