為什麼要禪修？ 梁國雄居士譯
禪修並不容易，它需要時間與精力，更需要膽量、不肯認輸的勇氣、決心與自律、訓練與修養等要素。它要求許多個人難以做得到的特質，而那些特質又是人人常會找機會逃避的。我們可用【Gumption】這一美國字來概括那些特質，它的內涵包括【才智、應變力和進取心等可令人成功的質素】。靠坐著椅子裡觀看電視，肯定地說，比禪修輕易千萬倍。那麼，幹嘛要自找麻煩？幹嘛要浪費時間與精力去禪修，放棄眼前垂手可得的享受？為什麼？因為你是人，就因為你是人這簡單事實，你發覺自己必須承受生命中內在的、揮之不去的、固有的不適意與不完美，你可以暫時壓止住它【生命中固有的不適意與不完美】，或令自己分散注意力，在一段或短或長的時間裡，使自己意識不到它，可是，它永遠會走回來的，而且，它再出現時，往往是在你最意想不到的時候！
法句經，一部原始佛經有言：「你現在的經歷是你過去所作所為的結果，你將來的經歷是你現在所作所為的結果。行惡之心所帶來的惡果，就像牛車的輪緊跟著拉它的牛一樣。行善之心所帶來的善果，也會如影隨形地跟隨著你的。沒有人比自己的心能帶給自己更多的福樂！你的父母不能，你的親屬、朋友也不能，沒有任何人可以！只有自己降服了、淨化了自己的心，才可以給自己帶來福樂。」禪修就像清淨內心的煉火，它會緩慢而且穩健地運作，令心領悟真諦、通達諸法實相。
【附錄英文原文】 Why Meditate?
by Bhante Henepola Gunaratana in Shambhala Sun, 9-2002.
Meditation is not easy. It takes time and it takes energy. It also takes grit, determination, and discipline. It requires a host of personal qualities that we normally regard as unpleasant and like to avoid whenever possible. We can sum up all of these qualities in the American word gumption. Meditation takes gumption. It is certainly a great deal easier just to sit back and watch television. So why bother? Why waste all that time and energy when you could be out enjoying yourself? Why? Because you are human. Just because of the simple fact that you are human, you find yourself heir to an inherent unsatisfactoriness in life that simply will not go away. You can suppress it from your awareness for a time, you can distract yourself for hours on end, but it always comes back, and usually when you least expect it.
The Dhammapada, an ancient Buddhist text, says: "What you are now is the result of what you were. What you will be tomorrow will be the result of what you are now. The consequences of an evil mind will follow you like the cart follows the ox that pulls it. The consequences of a purified mind will follow you like your own shadow. No one can do more for you than your own purified mind - no parent, no relative, no friend, no one. A well-disciplined mind brings happiness." Meditation is the cleansing crucible fire that works slowly but surely, through understanding.
法句經，一部原始佛經有言：「你現在的經歷是你過去所作所為的結果，你將來的經歷是你現在所作所為的結果。行惡之心所帶來的惡果，就像牛車的輪緊跟著拉它的牛一樣。行善之心所帶來的善果，也會如影隨形地跟隨著你的。沒有人比自己的心能帶給自己更多的福樂！你的父母不能，你的親屬、朋友也不能，沒有任何人可以！只有自己降服了、淨化了自己的心，才可以給自己帶來福樂。」禪修就像清淨內心的煉火，它會緩慢而且穩健地運作，令心領悟真諦、通達諸法實相。
【附錄英文原文】 Why Meditate?
by Bhante Henepola Gunaratana in Shambhala Sun, 9-2002.
Meditation is not easy. It takes time and it takes energy. It also takes grit, determination, and discipline. It requires a host of personal qualities that we normally regard as unpleasant and like to avoid whenever possible. We can sum up all of these qualities in the American word gumption. Meditation takes gumption. It is certainly a great deal easier just to sit back and watch television. So why bother? Why waste all that time and energy when you could be out enjoying yourself? Why? Because you are human. Just because of the simple fact that you are human, you find yourself heir to an inherent unsatisfactoriness in life that simply will not go away. You can suppress it from your awareness for a time, you can distract yourself for hours on end, but it always comes back, and usually when you least expect it.
The Dhammapada, an ancient Buddhist text, says: "What you are now is the result of what you were. What you will be tomorrow will be the result of what you are now. The consequences of an evil mind will follow you like the cart follows the ox that pulls it. The consequences of a purified mind will follow you like your own shadow. No one can do more for you than your own purified mind - no parent, no relative, no friend, no one. A well-disciplined mind brings happiness." Meditation is the cleansing crucible fire that works slowly but surely, through understanding.
