有弟子來電郵，提及生活困境，回復如下，勉修每日佛課：

一切境遇都是人生洪流裡無從挑選也難以避免的，所以修行只能修一己的身語意。若想改別人，只會糾纏不休。

想自己是無從解脫的，所以只能從體會人生諸苦裡，來一心為眾生修行，纔能漸漸解脫。

解脫的根本是了解一切直接經驗是唯一的實際，但是此實際是遷變無常並且無從把捉的。

然而，直接經驗的基本是清明永在而沒有特定內容的。心中不自己在情緒、思緒中糾結、攪動，一切都是馬上消逝的。

這是解脫的根本了悟。

要能安住這樣的當下解脫，只能靠每天堅持佛課，慢慢脫離身心糾纏的習性，纔能實現。

 

二○二二年十月廿三日
養和齋　　　　於加州

 

A disciple mentioned difficult situations in life in an email, I replied as follows, encouraging continuation of daily Dharma practice:

All situations and environments in the torrent of life are not subject to personal choosing and, also, could hardly be avoided, hence, one could only cultivate one′s own behaviour, speech, and intentions. If one intends to change others, then it would only lead to endless entanglement.

Thinking around oneself cannot result in emancipation, therefore, one could only stem from experiences of human suffering to engage in Dharma practice with single-minded aspiration toward the enlightenment of all sentient beings, so as to gradually attain emancipation.

The root of emancipation is the comprehension that all direct experiences is the sole reality, and yet this reality is evolving, impermanent, and cannot be grasped.

However, the base of direct experiences is perpetual clarity without specific content. Provided that one does not entangle oneself in emotions and thoughts, all are instantly vanishing.

This is the fundamental realization for attaining emancipation.

To be able to abide in such immediate emancipation, one needs to rely on daily adherence to regular Dharma practice, and thereby gradually become free from the habitual tendency to entangle in behaviours and mental activities, and only then could full emancipation be realized.

 

October 24, 2022
El Cerrito, California