风灯

Flickering Candlelight

见解不稳固的修行人，对三宝的信心，犹如风中之灯，随时都会熄灭。在遭遇违缘时，往往会退失见修，甚至生起邪见，频造恶业。所以在修行之初，依止善知识，通过闻思，生起八风吹不倒的稳固正见堪为当务之急。当然，能在此基础上进行实修，以殊胜智慧断除分别念，安住真如境界的修行者，更是稀有难得，值得称道。

A candlelight flickering in the wind is likely to die out at any moment. This simile applies to the fickle faith of some practitioners toward the Three Jewels when encountering adverse situations. Lacking a solid foundation, they are likely to lose faith, even to the point of generating wrong views and committing non-virtuous activities. It is of the utmost importance, therefore, to start one’s Dharma practice by relying on an authentic teacher and through listening and reflection, to establish a solid and strong faith that cannot be blown away by the wind. It is seldom seen and more admirable if, on this base, one engages in actual practice and reaches the state of abiding in absolute reality where all concepts cease and supreme wisdom dawns.

德巴堪布是我初入佛门的导师，他传给我的前行修法，是我进入修行大海之明灯；他传给我的大圆满法，是从无垢光尊者、麦彭仁波切等前辈祖师处传下来的无上至宝。每当看到他那瘦弱的身躯，总是让我信心倍增，他从小依止善知识，精进闻思修行，不仅精通五部大论及甚深密续，而且通晓音律、擅长工巧。

Khenpo Dhepa is my kind teacher who initiated me onto the Dharma path. The preliminary practice I received from him has been the bright light guiding me in the big ocean of Dharma practice. The Great Perfection he transmitted to me is a priceless jewel coming down through an unbroken lineage from Longchenpa, Mipham Rinpoche, and many great masters of the past. The mere sight of his slight and frail figure would always arouse in me ever-deeper faith. From an early age, he has relied on many teachers and has been working strenuously in study, reflection, and meditation on the Dharma. Not only has he mastered the Five Major Treatises and the profound tantras, but also he is well versed in the science of using music in communication, fine arts, and crafts.

在他28岁至40岁时，正值动乱期间，他虽然被迫放牧和干木匠活，甚至被关进监狱，仍然不间断地闻思修行。放牧期间，他的腰间总是藏着经书，一到寂静地，就展卷苦读；做木工期间，他白天辛苦劳作，夜晚紧闭门窗，于灯下攻读至深夜。

From 28 to 40 years of age, he was deported to herding and woodworking, and even incarcerated in that politically chaotic period. In spite of all these trials, he still managed to continue study, reflection, and mediation. While herding, he would hide the Dharma leaflets around his waist and study hard whenever he chanced upon a secluded moment. When he was on woodworking duty, he labored painfully during the day; at night, with doors and windows shut tightly, he read until midnight under dim light.

我12岁时第一次见到他，当时他穿着灰色的衣服，他告诉我说，在此形势下，作为佛弟子，心里对三宝的向往不能舍弃。若想在狂风暴雨中也能护持正念，使信心之灯不致熄灭，必须一心祈祷上师三宝。说完此话，一缕金色的阳光透过窗户洒了进来，照在他红润光滑，没有一丝皱纹的脸上。使我感到一种发自内心的温暖。现在想起来，当时的情景仍然历历在目，记忆犹新。

I was age 12 when I first met him. At that time he was wearing a gray outfit and told me that in the current situation, a Buddhist should never forgo reliance on the Three Jewels. The way to guard our mindfulness and the flame of faith amidst the furious storm is to pray wholeheartedly to our teacher and the Three Jewels. As he was saying this, a ray of golden sunshine streamed through the window and reflected on his rosy and wrinkle-less cheeks. I was struck with a warm feeling aroused from the bottom of my heart. As I look back, scenes of that day still leap before my eyes, as vivid as ever.

83年政策缓和以后，智慧渊博、慈心广大的德巴堪布，就利用他在上罗科玛镇的木工房，开始为大家传法，我的五加行也是在此期间圆满的，并最终在他和日嘎喇嘛座前，披上了出家衣，踏上了一条通往解脱的不归路。

In 1983 the turmoil of the political situation abated. The learned and compassionate Khenpo Dhepa began teaching Dharma at his woodworking shop in the town of Upper Luokouma and that’s when I completed the five preliminaries of the Great Perfection. Finally, in front of him and Lama Rid Gar, I donned the monk’s robe and began my journey of no return toward liberation.

作为修行人，我能否也像德巴堪布那样，在任何艰难岁月，都能护持佛法之灯长明不灭呢？

As a Dharma practitioner, will I be able to emulate Khenpo Dhepa—to uphold and protect the torch of Dharma from dying out under all adverse circumstances?

壬午年四月二十三日　
2002年6月3日　　

23rd of April, Year of RenWu
June 3, 2002