感恩心
A Heart of Gratitude
一行禪師說過這樣的話！
Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh once said this!
我的第一次與他相遇，是在農禪寺，那是一段很奇妙的因緣，
My first encounter with him was at Nung Chan Monastery, a truly wondrous cause and condition.
那位法師人相當的客氣。
The venerable master was incredibly kind.
他說：「無論是什麼時候，只要我觸摸到花朵，就能觸摸到太陽，然而自己卻不會被灼傷。」
He said: "No matter when, whenever I touch a flower, I can also touch the sun, yet I am not burned."
諸位菩薩，假如我們能隨時對這個世界心懷感恩，
Dear Bodhisattvas, if we can cultivate gratitude for this world at all times,
那麼這就是禪修的開始了！
Then this is truly the beginning of our Zen practice.
禪修除了能達到淨化內心的目的，體驗和諧安靜的生活之外，
Beyond achieving the purification of our inner selves and experiencing a harmonious, peaceful life through Zen practice,
也能夠透過禪定的智慧來了知身心的實相，
We can also come to understand the true reality of body and mind through the wisdom of meditative concentration,
進而到達解脫生死、涅槃寂靜和智慧通達的最終目的。
Thereby reaching the ultimate goals of liberation from birth and death, the tranquility of Nirvana, and the penetration of wisdom.
但是修行過程中，還沒達到智慧通達之前，
However, during the process of spiritual cultivation, before reaching the penetration of wisdom,
常常有人以為自己完全明白了，而生起我慢。
People often believe they have fully understood everything, leading to the arising of pride and arrogance.
這樣他的禪定與智慧都會消失，
In such cases, their meditative concentration and wisdom will both diminish or disappear.
這在古印度的修行者同樣的例子還不少。
There are many such examples among ancient Indian practitioners.
所以時常生起感恩的心才可以讓修行進步，
Therefore, constantly cultivating a grateful heart is what allows our practice to progress.
這是第一個要介紹的修行觀念。
This is the first concept of practice we wish to introduce.
我們的世界是因為無明，也就是內心不明，及想的顛倒，而產生的幻化世界。
Our world is an illusory world, a world of transformation, arising from ignorance—the lack of clarity within our minds, and inverted perceptions.
整個宇宙物質界和精神界全都是無明的舞台，
The entire universe, both its material and spiritual realms, is a stage for ignorance.
那裡有無明就會創造不安，產生幻覺的世界。
Wherever ignorance exists, it creates unease, giving rise to a world of illusions.
無明有兩種含意：
Ignorance has two meanings:
一種是心不安定，心裡頭散亂、迷糊而無法了知現在的情況；
Firstly, an unsettled mind, where the mind is scattered and confused, unable to fully comprehend the present situation;
二者是，因為不能體驗認知世間虛幻和「無常」、「無我」的真相，
Secondly, it is the inability to experience and recognize the illusory nature of the world and the truths of "impermanence" and "non-self,"
而沒有能力和智慧遠離煩惱，所以內心無明不安。
Thus lacking the capacity and wisdom to transcend suffering, leading to inner ignorance and unease.
不安就是我們所說的幻化現象，我們貪愛攀援這些幻化現象，
This unease is what we refer to as illusory phenomena. We cling and grasp at these illusory phenomena.
我們的認識心住著，認識分別名色，
Our consciousness dwells and discriminates names and forms,
攀援名色就執取眼、耳、鼻、舌、身、意，
And by clinging to names and forms, we grasp at the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind,
接納感受色、聲、香、味、觸、法，
Receiving and experiencing forms, sounds, smells, tastes, touches, and mental objects.
因愛識染著執取，故受幻化之苦，生老病死，輪轉增廣不能出離。
Because of attachment and defiled consciousness, we grasp and thus suffer the illusory pains of birth, old age, sickness, and death, cycling endlessly without escape.
雖然是幻化之苦，但是從我們的角度來看，
Although these are illusory sufferings, from our perspective,
這些受苦的人們，對於我們本身來說，
These suffering beings, for our own sake,
其實他們都是示現來幫助我們的菩薩，
Are in fact Bodhisattvas manifesting to help us.
使我們想要離苦得樂和願意尋求解脫之道的善知識。
They serve as good spiritual friends, inspiring us to desire freedom from suffering, to attain happiness, and to seek the path to liberation.
所以我們的世界所有的、需要的，
Therefore, everything we possess and everything we need in our world,
它們全都是菩薩們忍受輪廻之苦，所提供給我們的，
Is provided to us by Bodhisattvas, who endure the sufferings of cyclic existence.
而這一切得來不易，因此我們要無限感恩。
All of this is hard-earned, and thus, we must be infinitely grateful.
我們怎忍心執持太多，而讓他們繼續受苦下去呢？
How can we bear to cling to so much, allowing them to continue suffering?
因此您是否該有智慧、有慈悲，而讓它們一切自由呢？
Therefore, should you not embody wisdom and compassion, allowing everything to be free?
有感恩、有滿足，就應當體諒珍重，
With gratitude and contentment, we should understand and cherish,
安住當下不再過分執取，
Abiding in the present moment without excessive clinging,
捨離貪欲的、不滿的、放不下的憂慮、不安的情緒，對不對呢？
Relinquishing covetous desires, dissatisfaction, anxieties we cannot let go of, and restless emotions. Is this not so?
所以我們在禪坐靜下來之前，第一步先這樣學會，
Therefore, before we settle into our meditation, the very first step is to learn this:
懂得感恩的心，以及珍重生命的心。
A heart of gratitude and a heart that cherishes life.
感謝有這樣的因緣能夠順利的來禪修，
Be grateful for the conditions that allow us to meditate smoothly,
也感恩所有人事物的促成，及身邊所有的同修道侶。
And grateful for all people and things that have contributed, as well as all our fellow practitioners around us.
當我們內心滿足感恩，就會是有智慧有慈悲的人。
When our hearts are content and grateful, we become individuals filled with wisdom and compassion.
法友們，我們的出生，什麼也沒有帶來這個世間。
Dharma friends, when we were born, we brought nothing into this world.
我們的生命是依靠地、水、火、風、空間、心識，
Our lives arise dependent on earth, water, fire, wind, space, and consciousness,
依賴他人(你的父母)幫助才會出現的。
And upon the help of others, such as your parents.
若沒有這些幫忙，我們就不可能生活在世間。
Without this assistance, we could not exist in this world.
法友們，地能承載萬物跟我們的身體，
Dharma friends, the earth can carry all things and our bodies.
我們在地上投棄乾淨的東西，或是投棄不乾淨的東西，
We cast clean things upon the earth, or we cast unclean things,
投棄糞便，投棄小便，投棄唾液，投棄膿，也投棄血液。
Casting excrement, casting urine, casting saliva, casting pus, and also casting blood.
大地呢？隨順任何因緣的改變，永遠接納您，
And the great earth? It always accepts you, adapting to any changing conditions,
不會因此感到窘困、羞愧或是討厭人類。
Never feeling distressed, ashamed, or disliking humanity because of it.
我們應該心懷感恩，學習大地廣闊無礙的精神。
We should cultivate a grateful heart and learn from the vast and unobstructed spirit of the earth.
同樣的道理，水、火、風、空間、心識、你的父母也是這樣的。
In the same way, water, fire, wind, space, consciousness, and your parents are all like this.
水洗淨一切、火燃燒一切、風改變一切、空間包容一切、
Water cleanses all, fire purifies all, wind transforms all, space embraces all,
你的父母無私的付出與愛。
And your parents give selflessly with love.
他們都已經隨順因緣提供你的所需，
They have all already adapted to conditions to provide for your needs,
但是我們不滿足、不感到慚愧，
Yet we are not satisfied, nor do we feel ashamed.
我們還要掌握它們、控制它們、要求他們更多。
We still seek to grasp them, control them, and demand more from them.
記得很多年前，那個時候是在農禪寺（法鼓山的前身），
I recall many years ago, when I was a monastic in training, a novice at Nung Chan Monastery (the precursor to Dharma Drum Mountain),
還是行者沙彌的時候，當時寺廟還是鐵皮屋建築，
The temple was still a tin-roofed structure.
因為是大法會（好像是菩薩戒還是念佛會的）人數爆滿，
Because it was a major Dharma assembly—I believe either a Bodhisattva Precepts Ceremony or an Amitabha Recitation Retreat—the number of people was overwhelming,
所以女生廁所污水就塞住。
And so the women's restroom sewage became clogged.
廁所門口前面有個化糞池，
In front of the restroom entrance was a septic tank.
必需打開水泥蓋子用竹子把結成硬塊的固體攪拌成液體，這樣才能排出去。
We had to open the cement lid and use bamboo poles to stir the hardened solid waste into liquid so it could drain.
攪拌的時候我和另外一位行者在想：「原來我們的身體都是吃這個長大的！」
As we stirred, another monastic and I thought, "So, this is what our bodies grow up eating!"
當我們這樣想的時候就很開心，所以一邊攪拌一邊開心的笑。
When we thought this, we felt very joyful, and so we stirred and laughed happily.
一位參加法會的老菩薩，遠遠的看到我們笑得開心，
An elderly Bodhisattva attending the assembly, seeing us laughing happily from afar,
就走近來看，以為是什麼好事情！
Came closer to see, thinking something good was happening!
結果她看到是大便就嚇一跳，
But when she saw it was excrement, she was startled.
就邊塢著嘴巴邊後退瞪大眼睛的說：「噯喲！大功德！大功德啊！」
Covering her mouth, she stepped back, eyes wide, and exclaimed, "Oh my! Great merit! Immense merit!"
當時真的很囋嘆這個老菩薩，
At that moment, I truly marveled at this elderly Bodhisattva.
遇到惡的因緣也能夠口出妙音，真是了不起！
Even when encountering unpleasant circumstances, she could utter such wonderful words. Truly remarkable!
所以，當我們遇到不是很圓滿的人事物時，
Therefore, when we encounter people, events, or things that are not quite perfect,
也應該感謝它們，
We should also be grateful for them,
正好是在消融自我的執著的時候，
As they are precisely the opportunities to dissolve our attachments to self.
我們有歡喜心來體驗這也是幫助我們解脫內心的善知識。
With a joyful heart, we can experience these as good spiritual friends, helping us to liberate our inner selves.
所以我們修行的第一步，要時常心懷感恩！
Thus, the very first step in our practice is to constantly hold a grateful heart!