Learning Concentration

　　修 定

In our practice, we think that noises, cars, voices, sights, are distractions that come and bother us when we want to be quiet. But who is bothering whom? Actually, we are the ones who go and bother them. The car, the sound, is just following its own nature. We bother things through some false idea that they are outside us and cling to the ideal of remaining quiet, undisturbed.

　　在修行中，我们总认为，当我们想安静时，是噪音、车子、声音、视觉来干扰我们，可是，到底是谁在干扰谁呢?事实上，我们才是去干扰它们的人。车子、声音只是顺其自然罢了。我们透过错误的观念──认为它们是外在的，去干扰它们，并执取要保持安静和不要受到干扰的观念。

Learn to see that it is not things that bother us, that we go out to bother them. See the world as a mirror. It is all a reflection of mind. When you know this, you can grow in every moment, and every experience reveals truth and brings understanding.

　　学习去了解，并不是事物在干扰我们，而是我们自己去干扰它们。一旦你认识这点，每一刻你都可以成长，而且每个经验都显示著真理，并也带来领悟。

Normally, the untrained mind is full of worries and anxieties, so when a bit of tranquility arises from practicing meditation, you easily become attached to it, mistaking states of tranquility for the end of meditation. Sometimes you may even think you have put an end to lust or greed or hatred, only to be overwhelmed by them later on. Actually, it is worse to be caught in calmness than to be stuck in agitation, because at least you will want to escape from agitation, whereas you are content to remain in calmness and not go any further.

　　通常，不曾受过训练的心充满著担忧和焦虑，所以当些许的平静在禅修中生起时，你会轻易地去执著它，错误地认为平静的状态就是禅坐的终点。有时侯，你甚至会认为你已经结束了淫欲、贪欲或嗔怒，但，未来只会被它们所淹盖。事实上，陷於平静中比陷於烦扰中还糟，因为，你至少会想脱离烦扰，然而，在平静中。你会乐於耽溺，而丝毫不向前进。

When extraordinarily blissful, dear states arise from insight meditation practice, do not cling to them. Although this tranquility has a sweet taste, it too must be seen as impermanent, unsatisfactory, and empty. Absorption is not what the Buddha found essential in meditation. Practice without thought of attaining absorption or any special state. Just know whether the mind is calm or not and, if so, whether a little or a lot. In this way it will develop on its own.

　　当极乐、清明的状态从内观禅修中生起时，不要去执著它们，虽然这种平静的滋味很甜，但是，我们一样要将它视为无常、苦和空的。禅那(定)并不是佛陀在禅坐中所发现的核心。不要想去达到禅那或任何特殊境地而修行，只要知道心是否平静就好，如果是，是多或少。如此一来，平静会自然增长。

Nevertheless, concentration must be firmly established for wisdom to arise. To concentrate the mind is like turning on the switch, and wisdom is the resulting light. Without the switch, there is no light, but we should not waste our time playing with the switch. Likewise, concentration is the empty bowl and wisdom the food that fills it and makes the meal.

　　虽然如此，为了智慧的生起，定必须稳固地建立起来。要将心专注起来，就好像开开关，而智慧就是光。如果没有开关，就不会有光线。可是，我们也不应该将时间浪费在玩开关上。同样的道理，定是空钵，而智慧是填满钵和成为一餐的食物。

Do not be attached to the object of meditation such as a mantra. Know its purpose. If you succeed in concentrating your mind using the mantra "Buddho," let the mantra go. It is a mistake to think that to stop repeating "Buddho" would be laziness. Buddha means "the one who knows" -if you become one who knows, why repeat the word?

　　不要去执著禅修的对象(所缘境)，例如：咒语。认识它的目的。如果你用咒语“逋哆”而使你在专注上有所成就，那就放下咒语。认为停止念“逋哆”就是懈怠是错误的。“逋哆”的意思是：“觉知者”──如果你是觉知者了，为何还反覆地念这个字呢?