Monday, November 27, 2006

Zen Story: He Said "Thank You" to Me

There was a monk who lived in a deep mountain. One day a thief named Tom broke in this monk’s house. He just found some old clothes. The monk said, "I don’t have any valuable things. You can take my clothes. But you have to say, "Thank you." Tom said, "thank you" with a tiny voice and left.

The monk saw the bright moon that shined on Tom’s back. He thought, I wish I could give you the bright moon!

Several days later, a policeman caught Tom and found some clothes with the monk’s name written inside. He gave them back to the monk and wanted him to prove this thief’s crime. The monk said, "Tom didn’t steal my things. He said ‘thank you’ to me."

Tom felt much moved after he heard the words of the monk. He then asked for forgiveness and became a disciple of Buddha. He really received the bright moon which represents everyone’s pure heart.

Say Thank you when someone helps you.

Say Thank you when someone makes you smile.

Say Thank you when someone gives you some troubles.

Say Thank you when someone teaches you to think.

Say Thank you when someone creates your talent.

Say Thank you when someone leads you to the truth.

Say Thank you when you meet some good people.

Say Thank you when you avoid a bad situation.

Say Thank you when you calm down your mind.

Say Thank you when you had a good idea.

Say Thank you when you have everything you need.

Say Thank you when you feel joyful in your heart.

If you can say "Thank you" in any place and any time, you will find the bright moon everywhere.

Zen Story: 禪話,禪心

公案一: 他對我說「謝謝」

一位和尚住在深山裡。有一天,竊賊湯姆闖入了這位僧人的寮房,想偷些東西。他發現這裡沒什麼值錢的物品,只找到幾件舊衣服。和尚說:「我沒有什麼好東西,你可拿走這些衣服。但要對我說『謝謝』。」湯姆很小聲地說了一聲「謝謝」後,就離開了。

和尚看到明亮的月光,照在湯姆背上。望著走遠的背影,他想:「我真希望把月亮送給你!

幾天後,警察抓到湯姆並發現贓物中有幾件衣服寫著一位和尚的名字。警察將衣服送還給師父,並希望他能出來作証湯姆的罪行。和尚說:「湯姆沒有偷我的東西,他有對我說『謝謝』。」

湯姆聽到和尚的回話後覺得很感動。他請求原諒並決定來學佛。他真的得到了那輪明月意指每個人的清淨心。

Ï生活小哲理

當有人提供協助時,說聲「謝謝」。

當有人讓你開懷大笑時,說聲「謝謝」。

當有人給你一些境界時,說聲「謝謝」。

當有人教導你如何思考時,說聲「謝謝」。

當有人啟發了你的潛能,說聲「謝謝」。

當有人引導你接近真理,說聲「謝謝」。

當你遇到好人,說聲「謝謝」。

當你避開掉壞因緣,說聲「謝謝」。

當你安定心神時,說聲「謝謝」。

當你有一個美妙的構想時,說聲「謝謝」。

當你擁有想要的東西時,說聲「謝謝」。

當你內心充滿喜悅時,說聲「謝謝」。

如果你在何地方或任何時間,都能說聲「謝謝」,那你就會發現--處處有明月。

Sunday, November 26, 2006

Zen Story: My Country is Peaceful

When Zen Master Gao was still a novice, he went to pay his respects to Zen Master Weiyan of Yaoshan. Weiyan asked Gao, “I heard that the capital Chang-an is very noisy.” Gao replied, “My country is peaceful.” Weiyan asked, “Did you learn this from reading sutras or talking to a master?” Gao said, “From neither.” Weiyan then asking, “There are people who do not read sutras nor talk to the masters. Why do they learn nothing?” Gao replied,”It doesn’t mean they learn nothing. It is because they do not practice what they learned.”

When you see a beautiful girl but you are not influenced by her beauty, that is the TRUE PEACE.

When you sit in a noisy room but you are not influenced by the sound, that is the TRUE PEACE.

When you smell the redolence of freshly brewed coffee but are not influenced by its fragrance, that is the TRUE PEACE.

When you taste a piece of bitter melon but you are not influenced by the bitter taste, that is the TRUE PEACE.

When you lie on a hard bed but you are not influenced by the hardness, that is the TRUE PEACE.

When you have bad dreams but you are not influenced by the vision, that is the TRUE PEACE.

When you are not cheated by your eyes, ears, noise, tongue, body or mind, that is the TRUE PEACE.

Practice good ideas which you have learned, you will find TRUE PEACE always following you.

公案二: 我國宴然

高沙彌到藥山參見惟儼禪師,禪師問道:「我聽說京城長安不太安寧。」高沙彌回答:「我的國家非常平靜。」禪師問:「你的見解是從經書上讀到的呢,還是向師 父請教的呢?」高沙彌答:「既不是從看經學到,也沒有請教別人。」禪師又問:「有些人不讀經,又不去請問師父。為什麼學不到呢?」高沙彌答:「他們不是學 不到,他們只是不肯承當罷了。」

Ï生活小哲理

當你看見一位美女,卻不會被她的美色所迷惑,那就是真正的平靜。

當你坐在吵雜的房間內,卻不會受到聲音的影響,那就是真正的平靜。

當你聞到新煮咖啡的香味,卻不會被香氣誘惑,那就是真正的平靜。

當你嘗到一片苦瓜時,卻不會被苦味所困擾,那就是真正的平靜。

當你睡在硬板床上,卻不會感到困苦,那就是真正的平靜。

當你做惡夢時,卻不會被眼前的幻象所掌控,那就是真正的平靜。

當你不會被自己的眼睛、耳朵、鼻子、舌頭、身體及意念所騙,那就是真正的平靜。

落實你曾學過的好觀念,你會發現「真正的平靜」一直在你身旁。