蜘蛛
A Spider

刚从睡梦中惊醒，就想起麦彭仁波切在《赞供文殊灯》中提到的，在文殊像前供灯有很大功德的内容，连忙将熄灭的酥油灯点亮。翻开《茗山梦游记》，忽见墙上趴了一只大肚蜘蛛，正拼命地往上爬。

Having just started from my sleep, I recalled Mipham Rinpoche’s teaching in Praise of Light Offering to Manjusri that to offer light to Bodhisattva Manjusri’s image is very meritorious. I immediately lit the extinguished butter lamps. As I was ready to read Journal of a Dream Trip to Ming Shan, I saw suddenly a big-bellied spider trying very hard to crawl up the wall.

我所见的蜘蛛有两种，一种是夏天较多，喜在角落结网，然后在网上守株待兔，以黏附在网上的小昆虫为生，性格诡计多端的“夏蜘蛛”。一种是秋天特多，不会杀生，以土粪为食，与夏天的蜘蛛相比较为迟钝的“秋蜘蛛”。它，属于第二种。

There are two kinds of spiders that I know of; one commonly seen in summertime is the more crafty “summer spider” that builds its web around the corner and then waits patiently for its prey to get caught in the web. The other is the non-carnivorous “autumn spider” that feeds on soil and feces and is duller compared to its summer cousin. My visitor was of the second type.

我决定与这个小家伙开开玩笑。“老蜘蛛，你这样奔波究竟为何？你应该观观无常，外面秋意渐浓，已开始降下白霜。虽然屋里暂时温暖，但属于你的时日已经不多。死神即将来临，你为何还如此安然？”

I decided to poke a little fun at this tiny fellow: “Hey you, old spider! You seem so busy, but what for? It’s about time you think of impermanence. Autumn is closing in and frost is out there on the ground. Although it is sort of warm inside the house, the days of your life are numbered. The Lord of Death will soon fetch you; why are you still so unworried?”

听了我的话，老蜘蛛停下脚步，昂起头，不屑一顾地对我说道：“名相上的修行人，口中讲的总是那么漂亮。你为何不反观自己，你的两鬓早已斑白，牙齿也开始疏松，眼望着大雁一次次南飞，手触着春水一回回转寒，却不知好好修行，你的无常修得可真好啊！”

Hearing me, the old spider stopped, raised its head high, and sneered at me: “There you are, the pretentious practitioner. How nicely you are always talking! Why don’t you take a good look at yourself instead? You are greying at the temples and your teeth are coming loose. How many seasons have you watched the geese flying to the south? How many times has the warm spring water turned icy cold to your touch? Yet you have not practiced seriously at all. Now, shall I say you are excelling in your practice on impermanence?

我用不满的语气反驳道：“你嘴里说着不清净的话，挺着一个肥硕的肚子，不知偷吃了些什么，你这个贪嗔痴俱全的家伙，有什么可得意的？”“我肚子虽大，里面只不过装了一些土粪，你们整天贪着信财、亡财，却不知忆念回向。你们的肚子真是填不满的无底洞啊！”

Feeling touchy, I rebuked: “Now you are saying all this rubbish! Look at your potbelly, what have you looted to fill it to the brim? Buddy, you are fully equipped with greed, hatred, and ignorance, what are you being so pompous about?” “Fine, I do have a big belly. But in it are only dirt and feces, not like you guys hoarding people’s offerings or money for the dead. You don’t even bother to make proper dedications; it is your appetite that is the bottomless pit!”

听完它的狡辩，我不由得羞愧难当、哑口无言，只有扑哧一笑而为自己解嘲。尽管它身为旁生，内心却一点也不迟钝，甚至比很多自诩为智者的人心里更清澈啊！

Its spiky argument left me speechless and ashamed; I could only relieve my embarrassment with a chuckle. A tiny creature it might be, yet it was by no means dim-witted, and it was perhaps more clear-minded than those self-proclaimed wise guys.

无地自容的我为了早点结束这种尴尬场面，只有装模作样地说道：“既然你转为旁生，我不能帮你做别的，给你念一些佛号吧。听闻佛号有不可思议的功德，你应仔细聆听。《涅槃经》云：‘四种法为涅槃之近因。一者，亲近善友；二者，专心听法；三者，忆念思维；四者，如法修行。’”

Utterly deflated, I tried to put an end to my predicament and said pretentiously: “Since you are born a tiny creature, I don’t know how to help you. Why not let me recite the Buddhas’ names for you? Just hearing them brings tremendous merit, so listen carefully. In the Nirvana Sutra it says: ‘There are four direct causes to attain nirvana: one, keep company with virtuous friends; two, listen to the Dharma carefully; three, recall and contemplate on them; four, put them into practice.’”

听完我的话，蜘蛛不再调皮，它发出细微的长鸣，身体紧贴板壁，似乎在竖耳恭听并表示感谢。我为它念了宝髻佛、释迦牟尼佛等佛菩萨的名号后，它显得心满意足，稍事休息后，沿着板壁悠缓地上行而去。

Hearing my words, the spider no longer acted naughty. Instead it emitted a long faint wail and positioned itself tightly against the wall, as if getting ready to listen with all ears and to express gratitude. I then recited for it the names of Ushnisha Buddh, Shakyamuni Buddha, and other Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Finally the spider, seeming very pleased and having rested a while, continued crawling slowly up the wall.

22nd of July, Year of RenWu
August 30, 2002

壬午年七月二十二日　
2002年8月30日