當下 林鈺堂

止於當下無所措,菩提引領方暢通;
過去未來非截斷,三世同在真契融。

學佛者或強調「當下」,令一般人因為不知「只住於當下要如何舉止」,而難以接受。要回歸當下之直接整體經驗,還是要仰賴菩提行願為方針來引領,才可能由煩惱叢中解脫出來。

強調「當下」也可能偏差到否定過去及未來,並造成只限於眼前之安於一時。當下並非觀念所界定之一剎那,而是包含連續不斷、無以分開的過去、現在及未來,並且不為「過、現、未」之觀念所限,直接超越時間及空間的觀念架構,而回復本來無限之一體。


                     二○○二年十月二十日
                     養和齋    於加州


Now Yutang Lin

Staying in the present, not knowing what to do;
Only when guided by Bodhi will it go through.
Past and Future are not periods we can cut off;
Concurrence of all periods is harmony realized.

Comment:

Some Buddhists would emphasize "Now." However, due to lack of understanding of what to do if one were to stay in the present, it is usually very difficult for common people to accept this. In order to return to direct experiences of the totality at the present, ordinary people still need to rely on aspirations and activities that are guided by Bodhi so as to gradually escape from the bushes of sorrows.

Emphases on "Now" could go to the extreme of denying Past and Future, and becoming complacent with staying in the transient rest and peace of a brief moment. Now is not an instant as set apart and defined by concepts, rather it contains the continuous and uninterruptible Past, Present and Future. Furthermore, it cannot be limited by the concepts of past, present and future, but directly transcends the framework of Time and Space, and returns to the original limitless-oneness.


Written in Chinese on October 20, 2002
Translated on October 30, 2002
El Cerrito, California


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