The Eleventh Letter 第十一封
| 2022-10-21 | Download | AI assisted translation
| 第十一封 |
The Eleventh Letter |
| 志军仁者： |
Venerable Zhijun, |
| 你于静中涌出的一段文字，似是而非，以后不可遐想，更不可涉入任何境界，方能与妙体相应，打开无漏智慧也。净土法门乃教非宗，密虽亦通宗，但须看是何密法，以密法庞杂，通称密教，不称宗下，唯独禅称宗门。 |
The passage of words that welled up during stillness is plausible yet mistaken. In the future, you must not indulge in idle imaginings, much less enter into any state or experience. Only then can you accord with the wondrous essence and open undefiled wisdom. The Pure Land Dharma gate is a teaching, not a school. Although Esoteric Buddhism may also be regarded as a school, one must consider what kind of esoteric teaching it is. Esoteric teachings are vast and varied and are collectively called Esoteric Buddhism; they are not called a school. Chan alone is called a school. |
| 以“宗”乃中心、目的地、真旨之意，非方便、次第法可比也。至于四加行，乃法相宗所立五位之第二位。第一资粮位，即三贤位。第二即此加行位。 |
This is because zong means the center, the destination, and the true purport; it cannot be compared with expedient or sequential methods. As for the four preparatory stages, they are the second of the five stages established by the Dharma Characteristics School. The first, the stage of provisions, is the stage of the three worthies. The second is this stage of preparation. |
| 所谓暖者，即历过三贤，“圣火”未发之初位；顶者此时或上或下，如在山顶可上可下，功夫至此，如上则至忍位，如下亦可能落入地狱；忍者，功夫坚定，只上不下；世第一，乃世间有漏法之最高最上之法也。 |
What is called “warmth” is the initial stage after passing through the three worthies, before the “sacred fire” has arisen. At the summit stage, one may advance or retreat, like being on a mountaintop from which one may go either up or down. When practice reaches this point, advancing leads to the stage of forbearance, whereas retreating may lead even to falling into the hells. At the stage of forbearance, one’s practice is firm: one advances but does not retreat. The highest worldly stage is the highest and foremost dharma among conditioned worldly dharmas. |
| 此位乃三贤位过渡于初地之四善根，故定为加行位。忍法，虽亦有上中下三品，然毕竟不似暖、顶二位会下堕至三恶道也。其后之三位，即一，见道位（明心见性是）。二，修道位（悟后真修也）。三，究竟位（证成佛果也）。 |
These are the four wholesome roots that bridge the stage of the three worthies and the first bhūmi; therefore, they are designated the stage of preparation. Although the dharma of forbearance also has upper, middle, and lower grades, it does not, after all, resemble the stages of warmth and summit, in which one may fall into the three lower realms. The three stages that follow are: first, the stage of seeing the Way (realizing the mind and seeing one’s true nature); second, the stage of cultivation (true cultivation after awakening); and third, the ultimate stage (attaining the fruit of Buddhahood). |
| 故见性始登初地，尚须努力修习，除尽旧习，方能圆证果佛。望仁者勉之！打坐切忌有心等待入定、开悟、现圣境等等，以有心即是妄念，一有妄念，非但不能开悟，定亦不能入矣。 |
Thus, upon seeing one’s true nature, one first ascends to the first bhūmi. One must still diligently cultivate, eradicate all habitual tendencies, and only then fully realize the fruit of Buddhahood. I hope you will strive! When meditating, you must especially avoid deliberately waiting to enter samādhi, awaken, experience sacred states, and so forth. Deliberate intention is deluded thought; once deluded thought arises, not only can one not awaken, one cannot even enter samādhi. |
| 定时不能“觉”，一觉即又出定；更不能着圣境，着境便成魔。慎之！慎之！坐二座的时间不够，第二次可坐“便印”。即右手按在左手上，以右大指捏右中指指尖，放在大腿上即成。勿复。 |
While in samādhi, one cannot be conscious of it; the moment one becomes conscious of it, one has again emerged from samādhi. Still less must one become attached to sacred states; attachment to states becomes demonic. Be careful! Be careful! If there is not enough time to sit for two sessions, for the second session you may use the “convenient mudrā”: place the right hand over the left hand, pinch the tip of the right middle finger with the right thumb, and rest them on the thigh. That completes it. Do not reply. |
| 即祝精进不懈。 |
I wish you unremitting diligence. |
| 中丁 |
Zhong Ding |
| 1989年11月29日 |
November 29, 1989 |
| 【永寿童子】何谓四加行？“忍位”是什么样的境界啊？ |
[Yongshou Tongzi] What are the four preparatory stages? What kind of state is the “stage of forbearance”? |
| 【LVM】是我在去信中说到了四加行，老人用法相宗的教义启迪我，以使我能明白汉传佛教的博大精深。这里所说的“加行位”，并非藏密“四加行”，乃法相宗所立五位之第二位——加行位。 |
[LVM] I mentioned the four preparatory stages in my letter, and the Elder illuminated the matter for me through the teachings of the Dharma Characteristics School, enabling me to understand the breadth and profundity of Chinese Buddhism. The “stage of preparation” discussed here is not the Tibetan Esoteric Buddhist “four preliminary practices,” but the stage of preparation—the second of the five stages established by the Dharma Characteristics School. |
| 这五位是：资粮位、加行位、见道位、修道位、究竟位。前二是凡位，后三是圣位。加行又分四个位，四个加行位就是“暖、顶、忍、世第一”。忍位的境界老人已经在信里说了。 |
These five stages are: the stage of provisions, the stage of preparation, the stage of seeing the Way, the stage of cultivation, and the ultimate stage. The first two are ordinary stages, and the latter three are sacred stages. The stage of preparation is further divided into four stages: warmth, summit, forbearance, and the highest worldly stage. The Elder has already explained the state of the stage of forbearance in the letter. |
| 【永寿童子】见道、修道、证道，次第明晰，都是老歌新唱。 |
[Yongshou Tongzi] Seeing the Way, cultivating the Way, and realizing the Way—the sequence is clear; they are all old songs sung anew. |
| 【LVM】哈哈！不唱走调者才是好手。 |
[LVM] Ha ha! One who does not sing off-key is the true adept. |
