默照的修行,是以一種獨特的方式培養生命的洞察力,當漫無止盡的色、受、想、行、識漸漸平息下來,心——就具足覺悟自己、覺悟一切的能量。「默照禪」是由宋代宏智正覺禪師首倡並弘揚,為一種同時運用靜定與覺照的禪修法。本書是根據聖嚴法師於一九八九、一九九五年在英國威爾斯指導「默照禪七」的內容編輯而成,除了介紹禪的基本概念與默照的實修方法外,還包括編者約翰.克魯克描述個人修行心得的數篇短文,以及隨法師出遊的趣事,兼具修行歷程的知性面與感性面。禪修最重要的目標是徹見宇宙實相而醒悟,書中提到的千代野禪師,在一個月光皎潔的夜晚將手中的水桶掉落在地,桶面的月影瞬間破滅,他也在這一剎那開悟了。其實,每個人手中都提著一個裝滿了假象的無形桶子,唯有讓自己時時處於靜定而覺照之中,才有機會破除假象,品嘗「桶裡無水,水中無月──手中是空」的開悟滋味。歷歷不昧,一念萬年 當下覺知宇宙人生的實相默照禪法,默默觀照經驗的生起。心愈來愈沉靜,就像一池水完全靜止後,每一粒沙子都沉澱到池底,水變得透明清澈。這種透明清澈自然而然會變成開悟,毫不費力。——聖嚴法師
編者簡介
約翰˙克魯克博士(John Crook, PhD, DSc)1930年出生,英國知名生物學家與人類學家。1950年代開始接觸佛教並習禪,1993年於紐約「禪中心」接受聖嚴法師傳法,成為聖嚴法師的第一位西方法子。目前為「西方人禪修會」(Western Chan Fellowship)導師。著有The Evolution of Human Consciousness、Space in Mind、Himalayan Buddhist Villages、The Yogins of Ladakh、Hilltops of the Hong Kong Moon等書。
譯者簡介
薛慧儀國立台灣大學外國語文學系學士,英國University of Bath口筆譯碩士。曾任職於法鼓山文化中心國際翻譯室,現為大學兼職講師。譯作有:《禪門第一課》(法鼓文化)、《違法之徒》(春天出版)以及《桑果公園》(暫名,春天出版)等。
The Thirty-seven Aids to Enlightenment are a set of fundamental teachings of Buddhism in the form of a list. The list’s seeming simplicity belies the fact that it is in fact a kind of road map to enlightenment for anyone who follows it with diligence and sincerity. The Thirty-seven Aids comprise seven practices conducive to awakening. Each of the seven practices is itself a set of elements, which add up to the total of thirty-seven: (1) The Four Foundations of Mindfulness, (2) The Four Proper Exertions, (3) The Four Steps to Magical Powers, (4) The Five Roots, (5) The Five Powers, (6) The Seven Factors of Enlightenment, and (7) The Noble Eightfold Path. Master Sheng Yen’s down-to-earth teachings take the reader on a progression through each of the practices—many of which are familiar to all major schools of Buddhism—illustrating how they relate to the reader’s own practice on the path toward enlightenment.