To my knowledge there are no anthologies of Ch’an poetry in Chinese, Japanese or English which describe in detail the method of practice and the experience of Ch’an Furthermore, there are few prose sources in English dealing with the same topics On the other hand, there are numerous books in English that relate the episodes of the kung-ans(koans)The prevailing view that comes from reading these stories is that the practice of Ch’an is methodless, and since there is no way to describe the experience of Ch’an, it is suggested that we just go ahead and practice by studying the kung-ans The purpose of these poems is different in that they specifically show you how to practice, what attitudes to cultivate and what pitfalls to beware of Finally, they attempt to describe the ineffable experience of Ch’an itself These poems flow directly from the minds of the enlightened Ch’an masters; we get a glimpse into their experience at the time of, and after their enlightenment In contrast, in reading a kung-an we get an objective story of what happened and we don’t really know what was in their minds. It is my hope that this collection of poems will give those who are interested in the practice a new way of looking at Ch’an and a more balanced view of the scope of Ch’an literature The present selection is offered to make this tradition available to Western readers who may otherwise not be aware of their existence.
From The Preface By Dan Stevenson EN. SHENG YEH is a master in the Caodong and Linji lineages of Chan〈Zen〉 school, who for twenty five years now has been guiding students from Taiwan, the United States, and Europe in the practice of Chan Buddhism. Hoofprint of the Ox provides a systematic introduction ─ in Sheng yen,s own words ─ to the principles that inform his particular style of Chan training.... In the final analysis, it is an unabashedly normative work ─ a book on Chan practice addressed to an English speaking audience with a personal interest in Buddhism. To the extent that this audience is also primarily Western, Hoofprint is more than passive report of Sheng yen,s personal convictions. It situates those convictions in responsive relation to specific expectations about Chen practice current among Western students, with specific points to be made.
我們整天忙碌,習慣圍著事情團團轉,回到家卻還定不下來,家失去了提供休養生息的氛圍。一行禪師鼓勵我們,可以在空間中融入修行,用修行來轉化空間。不論家大或小,裝潢美觀與否,只要用心,就可以為自己的生活空間做規畫,創造多處放鬆和舒適的空間,你就可以自在地回到自己。在家裡設立一處禪坐的角落,在那裡,以覺知呼吸釋放情緒;在廚房的壁櫃貼上正念的詩句,提醒自己停下紛亂的思緒,把心放在手上的料理;在床頭櫃上置放清新的語句,願你一起床就能活出朝氣的一天;在客廳放一個罄,爭吵或意見紛雜時,用它來收心……有了禪師一貫溫柔及實用的指引,家的每個地方,都成為心覺醒的神聖之處。
作者簡介
一行禪師(Thich Nhat Hanh)1926年生於越南中部,十六歲時在慈孝寺當見習憎,後來赴美研究並教學。越戰期間返國從事和平運動,對於越南的年輕僧眾起了重大啟發,戰爭結束代表參加巴黎和談。越南赤化後,一行禪師被放逐海外,在2005年第一次回返越南,2007年2月至5月也再次回到越南。1967年美國黑人民權領袖馬丁路德‧金恩提名他角逐諾貝爾和平獎。1982年他在法國南部建立了「梅村」禪修道場。1995年曾到台灣弘法並主持禪七法會。一行禪師是當今國際社會中最具宗教影響力的僧人之一,以禪師、詩人、人道主義者聞名於世。著作超過一百本,都是教導人們在生活中實踐佛法,已在台灣出版的有:《生生基督世世佛》《步步安樂行》《橘子禪》《與生命相約》《你可以不生氣》《你可以不怕死》《正念的奇蹟》《觀照的奇蹟》《見佛殺佛》《你可以,愛》《祈禱的力量》《一心走路》《生命真正的力量》《接觸大地》《建設淨土》等。
譯者簡介
雷叔雲國立台灣大學畢業,赴美取得圖書館學與資訊科學碩士,曾任職圖書館界與教育界,現旅居加州,為自由撰稿人。譯有十餘種心理、宗教、禪法領域的著作,在台灣、中國大陸和馬來西亞等地出版。其中《生命不再等待》(No Time to Lose)一書榮獲台灣第33屆金鼎獎最佳翻譯人獎。