Letter Sixty-Nine (Appendix) 第六十九封 （附）
| 2022-10-21 | Download | AI assisted translation
| 第六十九封（附） |
Letter Sixty-Nine (Appendix) |
| 恭敬顶礼元音老人： |
With reverence, I prostrate before Master Yuanyin: |
| 我欲报考上海复旦或上海其他大学，攻读佛学专业。未知恩师同意乎？【你拟报考上海大学，很好！但上海各大学只有哲学系，没有佛学专业。 |
I wish to apply to Fudan University in Shanghai, or another university in Shanghai, to pursue Buddhist studies. I do not know whether my revered teacher would approve. [You plan to apply to a university in Shanghai—very good! However, Shanghai’s universities have only philosophy departments, not Buddhist studies programs.] |
| 】万法本空，学人因何自障？余愧哉！【执着习深，放不下故！】漫漫尘世，众生随业流转，觉在当下，即体即佛，然觉力难起矣！【迷于声色，觉力不充，故须勤于打坐，深入禅定也。】佛法何能不离身？恳请师父开示法意。 |
All phenomena are originally empty; why do practitioners obstruct themselves? I am ashamed! [Because their deeply ingrained habits of attachment make them unable to let go!] In this vast dusty world, sentient beings drift and turn with their karma. Awakening is in the present moment; this very substance is Buddha. Yet the power of awakening is difficult to arouse! [Deluded by sights and sounds, their power of awakening is insufficient; therefore, they must diligently meditate and enter deeply into dhyāna.] How can the Buddhadharma ever be apart from oneself? I earnestly beg Master to elucidate its meaning. |
| 【关于这一问题，傅大士有一偈，可为你作注解：“夜夜抱佛眠，朝朝还共起。起坐镇相随，语默同居止。纤毫不相离，如身影相似。欲识佛去处，只这语声里。 |
[Regarding this question, Great Master Fu has a verse that may serve as an annotation for you: “Night after night, I sleep embracing Buddha; morning after morning, I rise with him. In rising and sitting, he is always with me; in speech and silence, we dwell together. Not the slightest hair’s breadth separates us, like the body and its shadow. If you wish to know where Buddha is, he is simply in this very voice.”] |
| ”可知心身一元，无纤毫间隔，佛法本不离身，奈众生迷于声色，而不自知，良可慨也。所以道人只须时时凛觉，不粘染声色，就可入道了。】近思若有缘亲闻慈师音声，则幸矣！【我也希望和你常居一处，助你成道。】 普回向，一切众生闻法语，即时成就菩提道。唵嘛呢叭咪吽！ |
This shows that mind and body are one, without the slightest separation. The Buddhadharma is inherently never apart from oneself, yet sentient beings are deluded by sights and sounds without knowing it themselves—how lamentable! Thus, a practitioner of the Way need only remain vigilantly aware at all times and not become tainted by sights and sounds; then one may enter the Way. I have recently thought that, if conditions permit me personally to hear my compassionate teacher’s voice, how fortunate that would be! [I too hope to live with you often and help you realize the Way.] I universally dedicate this merit: may all sentient beings who hear these Dharma words immediately accomplish the path of bodhi. Oṃ maṇi padme hūṃ! |
| 弟子妙悟 |
Disciple Miaowu |
| 1993年2月6日 |
February 6, 1993 |
| 【永寿童子】别的不问，请问老师如何助俺等童子成道？ |
[Youth Yongshou] I have no other questions. I ask only: How will Teacher help us youths realize the Way? |
| 【LVM】哈哈！你怎么不问“如何助你不成道”？ |
[LVM] Ha ha! Why do you not ask, “How will I help you fail to realize the Way?” |
