初级增益班｜安住当下 觉知当下
Advanced Chan Tea Class - Settle down and be mindful in the present
今天是学习的第二天，早课是行禅练习，在初级讲习班的时候初步学习过，妙丽讲师简要地带大家复习了行禅的要领：心系一处，专注当下，将觉知放在行走时脚的动作和感知，提、移、踏……将这个注意力一直随着脚步不离、延续……
It is the second day of the advanced Chan Tea Class. It starts with the practice of walking meditation. Since we have learned this in entry level class, instructor Miaoli briefly reviewed the key points：stay focused, be mindful, be aware of each movement of walking (left up, move forward, and put down your feet), and concentrate on your steps…
接着讲师带领大家开始绕殿行禅，按照方法，身心放松，将关注力放在脚下的动作，慢慢进入状态……
Guided by the instructor, the walking meditation around sacred halls began. Following the instruction, I tried to be relaxed and focus on each movement. Gradually, I got into the groove.
记得初级讲习班学习行禅后回去也练习过，但是妄念很多，一会儿注意力就跑了，而今天整个过程心都很安定，眼睛始终没有离开过身前师兄的白色茶服。
I remembered that after the entry level class, I tried to practice the walking meditation by myself. At that moment, countless idle thoughts occupied my mind and I could not stay focused. In the contrast, my mind is so peaceful and my eyes never leave the white clothes of the people in front of me in today’s practice.
清晨的空气特别清新，鸟鸣山间的清脆悦耳，飞檐微翘的诗情画意，禅房花木的曲径通幽，古寺殿宇的庄严厚重，这一切美好，之前会有特别陶醉特别欢喜的情绪，在此时的当下都没有产生，一直到讲师说行禅结束。
The refreshing air of early morning, the clear and brisk sound of singing birds, the poetic wing-like eaves, the winding path of an enchanting view, and the solemn and majestic monastery, all those wonderful things always immersed me in the world of happiness previously. However, I was not influenced by them until we finished working meditation.
大家的队伍开始疾步朝向斋堂。这时夏令营的学员队伍也汇集过来，几列队伍化作两排有序上楼。在这时，我的关照力还一直在脚下，提、踏、提、踏，以至于与妙旨法师走了个正对面而没有看到，心下做了忏悔，然后随队伍鱼贯入座。
After the practice, everyone lined up and moved towards the dining hall. Students of summer camp joined us and we merged into two lines. At this moment, I still focused on my steps: lift up, put down, lift up, put down… I did not even notice Master Miaozhi who passed right in front of me. When I realized that, I repented silently. Followed other people, I sit down.
分斋的师兄还没有过来，心很安静，自然地闭目禅坐。接下来第一次体验到了师父一直在过斋时跟大家说的：吃饭就是吃饭，慢慢吃，不着急。感觉自己的整个心念一直都在手中的这只碗中，眼中看到的只有这一只碗，夹起饭放进口中、咀嚼、咽下……
Before the food came, I closed my eyes and kept my mind quiet. Right at this moment, for the first time, I suddenly experienced what Ven. Master Renda have taught us: When you eat, focus on just eating. Do it slowly, without hurry. Concentrate on the bowl in your hand. The bowl is the only thing you see. Take the food, put it in your mouth, chew and swallow.
第一次，当我放下碗筷，整齐安放完毕，清脆的磬声在这一刻响起。今天的一切都这么淡淡然然，周围的一切都恍惚又清晰，感觉自己身置其中却又仿佛置身其外，虚虚渺渺但又清清晰晰，随人群一路走回寮房，今天路上没有跟任何一个人打招呼，心一直在心处，视线始终在一米之内的距离……
For the first time, the inverted bell ringed right at the moment I put down the bowls and chopsticks and placed them in order. Today, everything was peaceful. They seemed blurred and clear at the same time. I felt myself close to and far away from them. Followed the crowd, I went back to the dorm room, without talking to anyone and keeping my mind quiet. My eyes did not look more than one meter away from me.
记得之前读过达摩大师的一篇法语《入道四行观》，教我们进入禅门的方法：“以壁观叫人安心”——外息诸缘，内心无喘，心如墙壁，可以入道”，我们要安心，就要使心成为一道墙壁，之前自己一直迷惑这究竟是怎样的一种体验呢？今天的体会，是不是呢？外息诸缘，当摄心一处，将心安放在当下的时候，身外的一切都是诸缘了，外在的缘是熄不了的，那便让它于自己互不妨碍吧，你不去攀缘它就没有关系，只要你不注意它，没有什么烦恼会跑到自己的心里。
I have read the Great Master Bodhidharma’s essential discourse on Entering the Mahayana Path by Principle and by Practice, which teaches us the method of practice Chan meditation: To fix the mind in “wall meditation” — Relinquish all attachments, meditate and reach the stage with no breath in or out, shield your mind just like a wall to keep it pure and undisturbed, and then you are prepared for enlightenment. To settle our mind, we need to shield it from all interferences just like a wall. Previously, I was very puzzled by what kind of experience it is. Did I experience it today? When you settle down the mind in present, anything other than that becomes interference. They will not disappear. But we could make them irrelevant. If we do not pay attention to them, they could not disturb our mind.
今天练习的体会让我感受到了什么是“止息诸缘”，“如是安心者壁观”，让外在的一切东西安放在它的本位， 不去攀缘就是了。这也是仁炟师父大和尚教给我们的：安住当下、觉知当下，修在当下。
Through the practice today, I experienced what feels like when one fixes the mind in “wall meditation” and relinquish all attachments. Whatever happens around us, let it be and make it irrelevant. This is also what our beloved Venerable Master Renda taught us: settle down and be mindful in the present, cultivate ourselves at every moment.
摄影：吉琳 周红霞 邱亚东
Photography: Jilin; Zhou, Hongxia; Qiu, Yadong.