| ZEN Introduction and Translation by YK Kwan and YN Yiu all rights reserved Copyright © 2010 |
CHINESE CHINESE
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| Introduction Prince Siddhartha Gautama was born about 560BC. (He is Buddha, meaning the awaken one or the enlightened one.) His disciples later recorded his teachings which become Buddhism. It is formally a religion but many people also treat it as philosophy. Zen (Chan禪 in Chinese) is a sect of Buddhism introduced to China around 520. It claims to be different from the main stream Buddhism as follows : A special transmission outside the scriptures 教外別傳 Not using words or letters 不立文字 Direct pointing to the human mind 直指人心 Seeing one’s own nature to attain Buddhahood 見性成佛 A classical Zen dialogue gives an illustration of Zen training : Monk asks : "How can one be a Buddha?" Master replies : " A thief is a man." 僧問: "如何是佛?" 師云: "賊是人做" [方會語錄] 偈語暗示, 佛也是人做, 人人可以成佛. The insinuated meaning is that a man can be a Buddha or for that matter, a thief, depending on himself. Zen emphases on meditation to reach enlightenment and is more flexible with doctrines and interpretation of Buddha’s teachings. It later spread to Japan and is known as Zen in the West where it is better known than other sects of Buddhism. The following quotations have a touch of Zen. They are translated into English to share with non-Chinese viewers. Quotations : 如果你不给自己烦恼，别人也永远不可能给你烦恼。因 为你自己的内心，你放不下。 If you do not give yourself vexation, other people can never impose it on you because vexation only exists when you cannot let go of your ego. 你可以拥有爱，但不要执著，因为分离是必然的。 You may possess love but don't attach yourself to it because separation is a certainty. 你什么时候放下，什么时候就没有烦恼。 Whenever you let go (of your ego), you leave vexation behind. 情执是苦恼的原因，放下情执，你才能得到自在 Attachment to love is the cause of vexation. Let go of that attachment then you will have freedom. 默默的关怀与祝福别人，那是一种无形的布施。 To care for others and wish them blessings in reticence is a form of intangible charity. 人生的真理，只是藏在平淡无味之中。 The truth of life is disguised in placid ordinaries. 来是偶然的，走是必然的。所以你必须随缘不变，不变 随缘。 Coming is uncertain; leaving is certain. Therefore you should accept change without changing yourself and keep yourself intact in accepting changes. 凡是能站在别人的角度为他人着想，这个就是慈悲。 Thinking for others in their perspective is compassion. 当你手中抓住一件东西不放时，你只能拥有这件东西， 如果你肯放手，你就有机会选择别的。人的心若死执自 己的观念，不肯放下，那么他的智慧也只能达到某种程 度而已。 If you hold on fast to something in your hand, you can only possess that thing. If you can let go, you would be able to exercise other choices. If the human mind is fixed on its perception and un-able to let go, then its wisdom has limitations. 世界原本就不是属于你，因此你用不着抛弃，要抛弃的 是一切的执著。万物皆为我所用，但非我所属。 The world has never been your possession and you have nothing to forsake. What you need to forsake is all the attachments. All the myriad things can be put to my use but I claim no possession. |