For some reason, I keep on remembering a recent dinner when I was asked to discuss many aspects of Chinese language to an English speaker. I feel lacking that I talked about the introduction but not the most beautiful part, IMHO: the poetic nature. A single syllable language, I supposed, could be made to rhythm in each sentence. I don't find it possible to do so in, e.g., English.
I could list many many great Tang dynasty poems in here but just an example of the Dedicatory Verse of Mūlamadhyamakakārikā could illustrate the idea.
In English:
I salute the Fully Enlightened One, the best of orators,
who taught the doctrine of dependent origination,
according to which there is
neither cessation nor origination,
neither annihilation nor the eternal,
neither singularity nor plurality,
neither the coming nor the going [of any dharma, for the purpose of nirvāṇa characterized by]
the auspicious cessation of hypostatization.
In Chinese:
不生亦不滅 不常亦不斷
不一亦不異 不來亦不出
能說是因緣 善滅諸戲論
我稽首禮佛 諸說中第一
There are 3 syllables in cessation and 5 in origination but 生 and 滅, respectively, have 1. So, the translation could be much more organized and rhythm.
Thursday, May 31, 2018
Wednesday, May 30, 2018
Not recoginzing the non-recoginzing mind
In the Buddhist class tonight, we had some discussion about the topic. I think it is the key to a practitioners, on their path, to realize this idea.
When I arrived home, the usual browsing led me to this page. I would like to share this poetry:
Waking from a crazy dream,
a dream that feels rich with meaning,
one might be inclined to analyze.
Thus books are sold,
experts paid.
Years later, the old dream returns,
but now, penniless, one just
washes his face,
sips her tea,
stretches
and gets on with the day.
Both ideas match each other, don't they?
When I arrived home, the usual browsing led me to this page. I would like to share this poetry:
Waking from a crazy dream,
a dream that feels rich with meaning,
one might be inclined to analyze.
Thus books are sold,
experts paid.
Years later, the old dream returns,
but now, penniless, one just
washes his face,
sips her tea,
stretches
and gets on with the day.
Both ideas match each other, don't they?
Thursday, May 24, 2018
An excerpt from a book
I have read so many analysis of phonomenal, but this excerpt from a book is exactly what we would say, taking it literally:
In a number of suttas,2 it says the Buddha, on the night of his awakening, after
moving through the four jhānas, spent the first watch of the night remembering
his previous births as described in this power. Because India is near the equator,
a night there is about 12 hours long all year round. Since there are three watches
of the night, the length of each watch is about four hours. If we “do the math”
and compute how long the Buddha-to-be had to remember each of a hundred
thousand births, it comes to one-seventh of a second.d He had to remember eight
things about each birth in one-seventh of a second and repeat that in the next
one-seventh of a second and so on nonstop for four hours. The human mind can
only process at most about 40 conscious moments per second.3 If he had to know
eight pieces of information in one-seventh of a second, that’s 56 conscious
moments per second—and we haven’t even addressed the “many aeons,”
whatever that number might be. And you can’t say, “He’s the Buddha!” because
that won’t happen for another four to eight hours. So it seems we cannot take the
description of remembering past lives literally, at least for the Buddha on the
night of his awakening.
moving through the four jhānas, spent the first watch of the night remembering
his previous births as described in this power. Because India is near the equator,
a night there is about 12 hours long all year round. Since there are three watches
of the night, the length of each watch is about four hours. If we “do the math”
and compute how long the Buddha-to-be had to remember each of a hundred
thousand births, it comes to one-seventh of a second.d He had to remember eight
things about each birth in one-seventh of a second and repeat that in the next
one-seventh of a second and so on nonstop for four hours. The human mind can
only process at most about 40 conscious moments per second.3 If he had to know
eight pieces of information in one-seventh of a second, that’s 56 conscious
moments per second—and we haven’t even addressed the “many aeons,”
whatever that number might be. And you can’t say, “He’s the Buddha!” because
that won’t happen for another four to eight hours. So it seems we cannot take the
description of remembering past lives literally, at least for the Buddha on the
night of his awakening.
Yes, the analysis is really detail. I wonder if it is necessary though since whether it is one watch or two watches is not important but that the Buddha saw through his previous life.
Wednesday, May 23, 2018
Disillusion
I somehow write more blog this year. I guess I realized some more. My friend told me about his brother getting discourage in Buddhism many years ago. She didn't want to go into details. And I just put it deep down in my "alaya". Recently, I read some comments on my friend brother's master in some public internet forum. They said the master Wong accepted many students but never really taught. Most of the teaching were from senior students. Also, he never really knew Tibetan but just copied a translation from an existing English translation and declared he translated it directly from Tibetan.
The clues matched my friend's scant description about my friend's brother "disillusion". However, my friend and I are getting farther apart and we couldn't talk about it again.
In Buddhist precepts, there are rules about not to lie and steal. They must know that they violated the precepts. As a master, by knowingly having the offense, I am concerned their karma by hindering other's "wisdom" life. Some thinks it is serious
The clues matched my friend's scant description about my friend's brother "disillusion". However, my friend and I are getting farther apart and we couldn't talk about it again.
In Buddhist precepts, there are rules about not to lie and steal. They must know that they violated the precepts. As a master, by knowingly having the offense, I am concerned their karma by hindering other's "wisdom" life. Some thinks it is serious
Monday, May 21, 2018
Cult
In Varjayana Buddhism, I have heard many abuses. In https://buddhism-controversy-blog.com/, the editor has posted many interesting articles on this issue. In this article, the author was expecting some criticism of Rigpa/Dalai Lama but felt DKR shrugged his shoulder. However, I would like discuss DKR's other point on cult & mahayana. In mahayana, people are supposed to have compassion to everybody, including your enemy. If one doesn't follow the book, then, it becomes a cult.
Simple. I learned from this blog some other teachers didn't like Islam though I know many people from this center. So, I realize DKR's judgement is precise because this center followers is much more enthusiastic than the one I always go to. Compassion to everybody is difficult and I dare not say I am at that level. However, know exactly your position and what to work with rather resorting to dislike should clean up my confusion on this point.
Friday, May 11, 2018
Science and Civilisation in China: Volume 7, the Social Background, Part 1, Language and Logic in Traditional China by Christoph HarbsmeierMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
I am not a professional historian but I've heard the famous "Science and Civilisation in China" series since many years ago. Only recently that I need to cross read some Buddhist book that I found out Volume 7's introduction to Buddhist logic. I am not sure if I can find a better introduction (Chinese Buddhist logic in particular and Indian Buddhist logic on a whole) in any book anywhere. Though one can read the Yogacarabhumisastra and its available translations/commentaries for the logic, one couldn't find a better summary than what was written in here. The standard set by the author makes me want to buy the whole book series and read them. The only regret is their lofty price (~ $250 each).
View all my reviews
Thursday, May 10, 2018
A Random Coincidence 2
When I left the gathering yesterday (5/9) night and prepared to drive home , the tune "The Girl with Flaxen Hair" came up again. I don't
consider it a "Trend" since I was thinking about the popping-up of the tune while I was
in the parking lot last time. It should be more like a co-incidence than a trend...
The reason I write about this topic again is that I questions more about my modelling of the world. In MulaMadhyamakaKarika (MMK), our reasoning about time/cause and effect are all challenged. If we follow the arguments, things just happen and we used our "flawed" reason to justify our way. I.e. there is some fruits on the tree, we tend conclude that someone planted a tree and irrigated it. The reasoning is a forward-going time line. What if the time line is not really forward-going? What if, on the contrary, somehow, it is determined that there needs to have a fruit tree? So, a couple of months before it, someone planted a tree there. What if, the these events popped-up in a predetermined way and we just used our reason to connect time?
Our perception of the world is based on our eight consciousnesses but what if our consciousnesses is flawed? There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
The reason I write about this topic again is that I questions more about my modelling of the world. In MulaMadhyamakaKarika (MMK), our reasoning about time/cause and effect are all challenged. If we follow the arguments, things just happen and we used our "flawed" reason to justify our way. I.e. there is some fruits on the tree, we tend conclude that someone planted a tree and irrigated it. The reasoning is a forward-going time line. What if the time line is not really forward-going? What if, on the contrary, somehow, it is determined that there needs to have a fruit tree? So, a couple of months before it, someone planted a tree there. What if, the these events popped-up in a predetermined way and we just used our reason to connect time?
Our perception of the world is based on our eight consciousnesses but what if our consciousnesses is flawed? There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
L'Existence Precede L'Essence
During a weekly Buddhist gathering, our teacher taught about 12 links of dependent origination several months ago. One of the attendees asked why ignorance was before birth, for, it should be the reverse. I don't remember the teacher's answer and I think I don't like it since the question still stays with me but not the answer. I wanted to discuss further with the attendee but I haven't seen her in the class for a while. Even though she might forget her question already, I remember it and would like to write down before I forget.
Most of the them, for a being, we think we can adapt to changes. Therefore, there is a French saying: L'EXISTENCE PRECEDE L'ESSENCE. So, there is a body (a "brith") before it can become "ignorant". However, in Buddhist world, from an Indian tradition, people believe in reincarnation. There is a consciousness (or mind stream), which can enter the embryo, before someone can be born. Also, the 12 links should be seen as a cycle instead of a straight process where "birth" could appear "ignorance", depending on how one sees it.
Another explanation is that "birth" in here is not about body but about "consciousness" that re-affirm oneself. We do have sense faculty that sample the world. However, how does this sense faculty become an inborn sense/security that one feels the existence of oneself? So, the 12 links of dependent origination talks about this process. Therefore, this cycle happens in a fraction of second time. That is how some saying about life's existence in a matter of breathing.
I am not sure which explanation above is right. Maybe they are both right and talk about the same thing. I can only write it down now and hope to reflect on it later.
Most of the them, for a being, we think we can adapt to changes. Therefore, there is a French saying: L'EXISTENCE PRECEDE L'ESSENCE. So, there is a body (a "brith") before it can become "ignorant". However, in Buddhist world, from an Indian tradition, people believe in reincarnation. There is a consciousness (or mind stream), which can enter the embryo, before someone can be born. Also, the 12 links should be seen as a cycle instead of a straight process where "birth" could appear "ignorance", depending on how one sees it.
Another explanation is that "birth" in here is not about body but about "consciousness" that re-affirm oneself. We do have sense faculty that sample the world. However, how does this sense faculty become an inborn sense/security that one feels the existence of oneself? So, the 12 links of dependent origination talks about this process. Therefore, this cycle happens in a fraction of second time. That is how some saying about life's existence in a matter of breathing.
I am not sure which explanation above is right. Maybe they are both right and talk about the same thing. I can only write it down now and hope to reflect on it later.
Thursday, April 26, 2018
A Random Coincidence
I went to a Buddhist banquet on Chinese New Year Eve earlier this year on 2/14. Many enjoyed the V day with their love ones while I engaged in conversion with friends. I filled the conversation gap with browsing the Winter Olympics. I noticed Mikaela Shiffrin's success and texted my ski friend. After that, I began to hum a tune out of nowhere. I must have persistently humming it for an hour and felt quite strange. After the banquet, while I was walking to the parking lot, I suddenly realized that the tune was "The Girl with Flaxen Hair" by Claude Debussy. My ski friend do have flaxen hair and is a half-French. I was impressed by my mind's pick (if not so random) which fits the event.
Last night, 4/25, I met my ski friend again in a gathering. When I chose my playlist in my car when going home, I was so sure that I clicked the Caprice by Rachmaninoff but must have accidentally clicked one below it, which is "The Girl with Flaxen Hair", didn't even know it was in the list at all. I was all giggling about the coincidence while waving my ski friend goodbye.
I wrote the event in here since as I grow, I begin to wonder the cause and effect in a Buddhist term is more about events that appear in concordant rather than direct reason that we attribute by our logical mind. I must have read too many Madhyamaka book since I tend to not to believe in coincidence as much as I did because God doesn't roll a dice? My journey into Green Tara practice and Kagyu school are also more like pre-set events, about which I should write later, than by a dice-rolling.
They said: "Once is a fluke. Twice is a coincidence. Three times is a trend." Let's see if it is a trend.
Last night, 4/25, I met my ski friend again in a gathering. When I chose my playlist in my car when going home, I was so sure that I clicked the Caprice by Rachmaninoff but must have accidentally clicked one below it, which is "The Girl with Flaxen Hair", didn't even know it was in the list at all. I was all giggling about the coincidence while waving my ski friend goodbye.
I wrote the event in here since as I grow, I begin to wonder the cause and effect in a Buddhist term is more about events that appear in concordant rather than direct reason that we attribute by our logical mind. I must have read too many Madhyamaka book since I tend to not to believe in coincidence as much as I did because God doesn't roll a dice? My journey into Green Tara practice and Kagyu school are also more like pre-set events, about which I should write later, than by a dice-rolling.
They said: "Once is a fluke. Twice is a coincidence. Three times is a trend." Let's see if it is a trend.
Saturday, April 21, 2018
Montaigne
The great French writer Montaigne is probably the model life that many people yearn for in his little castle in France. I came across some of his quotes recently:
Lend yourself to others, but give yourself to yourself.
A man who fears suffering is already suffering from what he fears.
He who establishes his argument by noise and command shows that his reason is weak.
How many things we held yesterday as articles of faith which today we tell as fables.
Wit is a dangerous weapon, even to the possessor, if he knows not how to use it discreetly.
Those who have compared our life to a dream were right... we were sleeping wake, and waking sleep.
Lend yourself to others, but give yourself to yourself.
A man who fears suffering is already suffering from what he fears.
He who establishes his argument by noise and command shows that his reason is weak.
How many things we held yesterday as articles of faith which today we tell as fables.
Wit is a dangerous weapon, even to the possessor, if he knows not how to use it discreetly.
Those who have compared our life to a dream were right... we were sleeping wake, and waking sleep.
Lend yourself to others, but give yourself to yourself.
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/michel_de_montaigne
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/michel_de_montaigne
Thursday, December 28, 2017
打油詩
日前偶說蘇軾，剛才言及慎言。在這詩中，蘇軾前二句調侃人家，後二句給人反唇相譏：
蓬髮星星兩乳烏，朝朝送飯去尋夫。
是非只為多開口，記否朝廷貶汝無？
報應。蘇軾高才，請看〈贈東林總長老〉：
溪聲便是廣長舌，山色豈非清淨身。夜來八萬四千偈，他日如何舉似人。
那一屁過江詩當然不能比，但看這打油詩：
十八新娘八十郎， 蒼蒼白髮對红妆。 鴛鴦被裡成雙夜， 一樹梨花壓海棠。
水平亦高於過江詩許多，其中戲謔句：一樹梨花壓海棠，亦是電影〈Lolita〉的中譯名。愚少時沒有用心學好中文，最初只在這電影介紹中得知這句。不說古人，只上一輩的文才也比愚好多了，電影譯名也可轉自詩中。電影原自小說，說一個中年人孌上了少艾，當年自然是禁忌，聽說小說作者也惹上不少麻煩。但不知是否資訊爆炸，近年多聽了孌童新聞，犯人之欲確是奇，小孩那會像〈十二夜〉中Malvolio確認Olivia的信那樣：
By my life, this is my lady's hand these be her
very C's, her U's and her T's and thus makes she her great P's.
剛說慎言,但這裏又不慎言而寫這臟笶話。
回說這孌童不單犯法，有捐道德也。
慎言亦慎行。
蓬髮星星兩乳烏，朝朝送飯去尋夫。
是非只為多開口，記否朝廷貶汝無？
報應。蘇軾高才，請看〈贈東林總長老〉：
溪聲便是廣長舌，山色豈非清淨身。夜來八萬四千偈，他日如何舉似人。
那一屁過江詩當然不能比，但看這打油詩：
十八新娘八十郎， 蒼蒼白髮對红妆。 鴛鴦被裡成雙夜， 一樹梨花壓海棠。
水平亦高於過江詩許多，其中戲謔句：一樹梨花壓海棠，亦是電影〈Lolita〉的中譯名。愚少時沒有用心學好中文，最初只在這電影介紹中得知這句。不說古人，只上一輩的文才也比愚好多了，電影譯名也可轉自詩中。電影原自小說，說一個中年人孌上了少艾，當年自然是禁忌，聽說小說作者也惹上不少麻煩。但不知是否資訊爆炸，近年多聽了孌童新聞，犯人之欲確是奇，小孩那會像〈十二夜〉中Malvolio確認Olivia的信那樣：
By my life, this is my lady's hand these be her
very C's, her U's and her T's and thus makes she her great P's.
剛說慎言,但這裏又不慎言而寫這臟笶話。
回說這孌童不單犯法，有捐道德也。
慎言亦慎行。
傷
向晚跟家姐談及語言傷害，發現遇到不少。自省，有出口傷人，也有給人所傷。不知是否報應?
但似乎近年少碰上，一則粗長這許多年，已不願付出許多情感，不用再出口傷人。二則也看到若自身情緒發作，自己有"激烈的讓他發作還是靜態的觀心讓他昇華"的選擇。
年前給人怪出言不雅，其後變成不能來往，偶碰上也不能行禮，所以只是陌路人了。
所以慎言。
但似乎近年少碰上，一則粗長這許多年，已不願付出許多情感，不用再出口傷人。二則也看到若自身情緒發作，自己有"激烈的讓他發作還是靜態的觀心讓他昇華"的選擇。
年前給人怪出言不雅，其後變成不能來往，偶碰上也不能行禮，所以只是陌路人了。
所以慎言。
Friday, December 22, 2017
如鳥飛虛空 蹤跡不可得
昨日偶看一淨界法師的視頻 ，其中提起聖人之心若"如鳥飛虛空 蹤跡不可得"。因而想起蘇東坡的名句，略查，知原題為"和子由澠池懷舊":
人生到處知何似，恰似飛鴻踏雪泥；
泥上偶然留指爪，鴻飛那復計東西。
老僧已死成新塔，壞壁無由見舊題；
往日崎嶇還記否，路長人困蹇驢嘶。
宋仁宗嘉祐元年（1056年）蘇軾赴京應考，過澠池縣佛寺，題詩壁上。 嘉祐六年蘇軾往鳳翔任官，再經澠池，獲弟蘇轍詩，即和其詩韻寫了此詩。一般詩砰其意謂人生在世，漂泊不定。但蘇軾何等人物，不會不知"如鳥飛虛空"句出自法句經，而其在佛寺寫詩，正好用上此典。經上沒有嗟嘆之意，但喻不要執計得失。蘇軾嘉祐元年應考高中，不恰丁母憂回籍三年，憂滿回京年許就鳳翔官時為六年，仕途也不至太差，倒不應嗟嘆，反而應是鴻飛之意，用典更應是以此安心，因而其向第問"往日崎嶇"，而想自己"那復計東西"。若有漂泊之意，想應是在王安石變法之爭而出京時，但那是十年(熙宁四年（1071年）)之後的事了。
此謹為偶想，不知是否有所得。
又
蘇軾軼事極多,在黃州為佛印『一屁打過江』的詩:「稽首天中天，毫光照大千，八風吹不動，端坐紫金蓮。」愚淺見以為水平極低，若真為蘇軾所寫，也不會為其所重，怎會因放屁云云而過江?看來是後人附會的吧?
人生到處知何似，恰似飛鴻踏雪泥；
泥上偶然留指爪，鴻飛那復計東西。
老僧已死成新塔，壞壁無由見舊題；
往日崎嶇還記否，路長人困蹇驢嘶。
宋仁宗嘉祐元年（1056年）蘇軾赴京應考，過澠池縣佛寺，題詩壁上。 嘉祐六年蘇軾往鳳翔任官，再經澠池，獲弟蘇轍詩，即和其詩韻寫了此詩。一般詩砰其意謂人生在世，漂泊不定。但蘇軾何等人物，不會不知"如鳥飛虛空"句出自法句經，而其在佛寺寫詩，正好用上此典。經上沒有嗟嘆之意，但喻不要執計得失。蘇軾嘉祐元年應考高中，不恰丁母憂回籍三年，憂滿回京年許就鳳翔官時為六年，仕途也不至太差，倒不應嗟嘆，反而應是鴻飛之意，用典更應是以此安心，因而其向第問"往日崎嶇"，而想自己"那復計東西"。若有漂泊之意，想應是在王安石變法之爭而出京時，但那是十年(熙宁四年（1071年）)之後的事了。
此謹為偶想，不知是否有所得。
又
蘇軾軼事極多,在黃州為佛印『一屁打過江』的詩:「稽首天中天，毫光照大千，八風吹不動，端坐紫金蓮。」愚淺見以為水平極低，若真為蘇軾所寫，也不會為其所重，怎會因放屁云云而過江?看來是後人附會的吧?
Tuesday, February 21, 2017
How far will you go to prove your point....
I know a lot of smart people. They try to prove their point so insistently. While I like the spirit, I also wonder if it is necessary for some tidbits... Later, I found out this video:
Monday, September 26, 2016
大悲咒與淨土
佛有八萬四千法門，LT一懶，二愚，從來絶小批評其他人的法門。只是受批評時，起而反駁。自知反駁水評不濟。 孟子曰：「予豈好辯哉？予不得已也。」
好幾個月前和一修淨土朋友交談，本想交流修法心得，參考自己有否改進之處。但變成給莫明其妙教訓為不應修或少修其他法門，專心一意修其持名念佛云云。
我也遇過不少淨土中人，大都勸人持名念佛。概印光，蓮池大師等之忠告大家老實念佛。又，龍樹《十住毘婆沙論》．〈易行品〉稱此為「易行道」。
〈易行品〉中說:「若菩薩欲於此身得至阿惟越致地，成就阿耨多羅三藐三菩提者，應當念是，十方諸佛，稱其名號。」
我想憶念和口唸是不同的，不知為何變成只需口唸。若是要憶念和口唸，那和密教中的觀想本尊級口誦真言有那麼大的分別嗎?
固然持名念佛可往生淨土，古來有許多例子。但我想西方淨土非為淨土宗一門可獨去。若非如此，藏傳佛教為何修破瓦法?
又，LT因有所求，最近常誦大悲咒。"千手千眼觀世音菩薩廣大圓滿無礙大悲心陀羅尼經"中也有說:
「若諸天人誦持此陀羅尼者，其人若在江河大海中沐浴，其中眾生得此人沐身之水，霑著其身，一切惡業重罪，悉皆消滅，即為轉生他方淨土，蓮華化生，不受胎身濕卵之身，何況受轉讀誦者。」
「觀世音菩薩復白佛言：世尊，若諸人天誦持大悲章句者，臨命終時，十方諸佛， 皆來授手，欲生何等佛土，隨願皆得往生。」
所以誦持大悲咒，也可往生任何淨土的，何只是西方是西方淨土?當然,只誦彌陀名號實在是太方便。但LT以為,八萬四千法門中較方便的法門而說成一門獨有,其中還是有些差別的。
好幾個月前和一修淨土朋友交談，本想交流修法心得，參考自己有否改進之處。但變成給莫明其妙教訓為不應修或少修其他法門，專心一意修其持名念佛云云。
我也遇過不少淨土中人，大都勸人持名念佛。概印光，蓮池大師等之忠告大家老實念佛。又，龍樹《十住毘婆沙論》．〈易行品〉稱此為「易行道」。
〈易行品〉中說:「若菩薩欲於此身得至阿惟越致地，成就阿耨多羅三藐三菩提者，應當念是，十方諸佛，稱其名號。」
我想憶念和口唸是不同的，不知為何變成只需口唸。若是要憶念和口唸，那和密教中的觀想本尊級口誦真言有那麼大的分別嗎?
固然持名念佛可往生淨土，古來有許多例子。但我想西方淨土非為淨土宗一門可獨去。若非如此，藏傳佛教為何修破瓦法?
又，LT因有所求，最近常誦大悲咒。"千手千眼觀世音菩薩廣大圓滿無礙大悲心陀羅尼經"中也有說:
「若諸天人誦持此陀羅尼者，其人若在江河大海中沐浴，其中眾生得此人沐身之水，霑著其身，一切惡業重罪，悉皆消滅，即為轉生他方淨土，蓮華化生，不受胎身濕卵之身，何況受轉讀誦者。」
「觀世音菩薩復白佛言：世尊，若諸人天誦持大悲章句者，臨命終時，十方諸佛， 皆來授手，欲生何等佛土，隨願皆得往生。」
所以誦持大悲咒，也可往生任何淨土的，何只是西方是西方淨土?當然,只誦彌陀名號實在是太方便。但LT以為,八萬四千法門中較方便的法門而說成一門獨有,其中還是有些差別的。
Monday, October 19, 2015
西方有人不肯
有一個禪師到一個很偏僻的山上去閉關，幾年之後，他走下山來，去找他的同參道友。道友問說：「欸，你閉關，這幾年你到了山頂了沒有？」「山頂」當然就是我們的真如本性，你悟到真如本性沒有？他說：「我到頂了。」他說：「你到頂了，你看到什麼？」他說：「裡面什麼都沒有！」禪師就問這閉關的法師：「這麼好的環境，沒有人干擾你，本來無一物，你要住下來才對啊！」這位閉關的禪師說：「我也很想住下來啊，但是西方有人不肯啊！」禪師講「西方」，不是一個方向，它是一個表法；一個人自私自利叫「東方」，「西方」就是大悲願。說：我也很想住下來啊，但是我的願力不肯啊，它就會推動菩薩「從空出假」以利他。
Thursday, October 01, 2015
《定風波·南海歸贈王定國侍人寓娘》
詞序：
王定國歌兒曰柔奴，姓宇文氏。眉目娟麗，善應對，家世住京師。定國南遷歸，余問柔，廣南風土應是不好。柔對曰：此心安處便是吾鄉。因為綴詞云：
常羨人間琢玉郎，天應乞與點酥娘。
自作清歌傳皓齒，風起，雪飛炎海變清涼。
萬里歸來年愈少，微笑，笑時猶帶嶺梅香。
試問嶺南應不好？卻道，此心安處是吾鄉。
──蘇軾〈定風波〉
Robert van Gulik (高羅佩)
“Don't you mind dying, sir?” the consul asked. “Forgive me a little lofty talk,” van Gulik said, “but all movement is illusory. From Seoul to Kobe. From life to death.”
Janwillem van de Wetering, Robert van Gulik: His Life, His Work
I have known Robert van Gulik as a sinologist for many years. I didn't know he has some Buddhist point of view until reading the preface of a Madhyamaka book.
I have known Robert van Gulik as a sinologist for many years. I didn't know he has some Buddhist point of view until reading the preface of a Madhyamaka book.
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