戒律的意義

較早前，師父到波蘭華沙出席宇峰禪師往生四十九天法會。法會後，大家一起外出用膳。當時只有幾位出家人，師父是其中一位。一位歐洲學生走到師父前，並獻上一杯紅酒。

學生：師父，崇山禪師經常教導我們一起行動。現在我們一起行動，請你與我們一起喝了這杯酒，可以嗎？！

師父：我是出家人，我不能喝酒。我們一起行動。我們都不喝酒，可以嗎？！

評論：

戒律的意義並不在於能不能做某些事。戒律的意義是尊重生命，並幫助他人。我們不會給回教徒豬肉，也不會給小孩手槍，但我們會為正受癌症之苦的病人注射嗎啡。一顆平靜和平衡的心就是真正的戒。

The Meaning of Precepts

Sifu was in Warsaw for Zen Master Wu Bong's 49th Day Ceremony. After the ceremony, the European sangha went out to eat. Sifu was one of the few monastics at this meal. A student came up to Sifu and offered her a glass of wine.

Student: Sifu, Zen Master Seung Sahn always taught us together-action. We do together action. You drink with us, okay?!

Sifu: I am a nun. I cannot drink alcohol. We do together-action. We don't drink, okay?!

Commentary : Precepts are not about what we can do or cannot do. Precepts are about respecting our life and helping others. We don't give pork to Muslims, or guns to children. We do give morphine to cancer patients who are suffering. A calm, balanced mind is the true precept.

Family Karma

Zen Master Seung Sahn

(Mar 1, 1995, Seoul International Zen Center)

Question: Recently I saw a calligraphy of yours in the U.S. which said, "Freedom from family karma." What does this mean? Why is this important?

Zen Master Seung Sahn: The basis of the family is emotion. Emotional connections make the family. But, emotion and love are different. Emotion means opposites feeling: like/dislike, good/bad, mine/yours. Love means there are no opposites--only giving, giving, giving--always giving.

Understanding is in our head; emotions are in the heart. Our center--the tantien--is just below the navel. If you keep all your energy there, then you can digest your understanding and your emotions. Emotions are then changed into great love and great compassion. Also, your understanding then becomes wisdom. So, when your center becomes strong you can control your feelings, your condition, and your situation. When these become clear, then our true job appears: help all beings. That's the great bodhisattva way.

同業同行

崇山禪師於首爾國際禪中心之開示（1995年3月1日）


問：最近，我在美國看到你寫的一幀書法，上面寫著「同業同行」（意即從家庭共業中解脫）。它的意思是甚麼呢？有何重要呢？

禪師：家庭的基礎是情感。情感連繋組成家庭。但情感與愛是不同的。情感是相對的感受：喜與惡、好與壞、你的與我的。而愛是沒有相對的，只有給予，只是付出。

我們以腦袋來理解事物，以心來感受情緒。我們的中心—丹田—就在肚臍下方。如果你將所有能量都保持在這裡，便能夠消化你的知見及情緒。如此，便能將情緒轉化為大慈大悲，將知見轉變成智慧。因此，當你的中心變得堅實，你就能夠控制你的感受、你的因緣及你的處境。當這些都變得清晰時，我們的真正職責就會出現：幫助一切眾生。這就是大菩薩道。