參話頭 林鈺堂簡繁轉換 - 繁體 公案記錄應對境，話頭起疑不斷參； 跋 弟子王浩提問：參話頭與念佛之分別，何謂「話頭」？可否隨時參？等等。作此覆之。 禪門公案乃古德參禪應對之記錄。讀者設身處地而不假思量，或得開悟。至於「話頭」乃一疑問。參禪者一旦擇定一個話頭〈一句問話〉，並且對之確實心存疑問，則應放下一切，不斷參究之。參話頭並非一直念誦此問話，故與念佛、持咒之淨念相續不同，而是心繫此疑問上。 淨念相續終究契入念即無念，本來清淨。參禪持疑直至心念斷絕，全體現前。雖殊途同歸，但隨根器及用功深淺，所達證悟，一般而言，因人而異。 二○○七年二月三日 Pondering over a Doubtful Question Yutang Lin Gong An (koan) recorded circumstances of an interaction. Comments: Disciple Wang Hao raised questions such as: what is the difference between pondering over a Hua Tou and repetition of Buddha name? What is a Hua Tou? Could one ponder over a Hua Tou at any time? Etc. So I wrote this in reply to his inquiry. Gong An (koan) in Chan school refers to records of circumstances of interactions between or among ancient Chan practitioners. If a reader of a Gong An can imagine as if being present at the situation and can refrain from conceptual responses, then there may be a possibility for comprehension. As to Hua Tou (wato), it is a doubt. Once a Chan practitioner had chosen a Hua Tou (a question) that the practitioner had real doubts about, then the practitioner should give up all else and ponder over it INCESSANTLY. Pondering over a Hua Tou does not mean repetition of a question; hence it is not the same as repetition of a pure thought in chanting Buddha name or chanting a mantra. Instead, it means to brew the doubt in mind. Continuation of a pure thought would eventually merge into oneness of thought and no thought, the original purity. Chan pondering in brewing a doubt should continue until all conceptualization effortlessly ceased, and the totality naturally reveals itself. Even though, in light of the above, they are different approaches leading to the same ultimate realm, but generally speaking, depending on people's propensities and efforts made, degrees of enlightenment attained vary from individual to individual. Written in Chinese and translated on February 3, 2007 [Home][Back to list][Pondering over a Doubtful Question] |
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