一貫道郭明義

上一堂課玄關調息，是一種靜態的禪定，但是我們生活不可能經常處於靜止，所以還要學一種「動中禪定」。在動的時候依然能有「定」的工夫。

    The previous breathing practice is a serene kind of meditation. In our life, however, it’s impossible for us to be always quiet and still. So we need to learn another kind of meditation that can be used in all movements. It means we can have a peaceful mind even in actions.

     所以這一節修持我們要離開座位，在動作中修行，修什麼呢？複習「默念真經」，而且用走路的方式，一邊走一邊念∣走一步默念一字真經。

    In this period, we have to leave our seats and do the practice in actions. What should we practice? It’s to practice reciting our Five Word Sutra while walking. In one step, we need to recite one word of the sutra in mind. 

走路的時候，走一步念一個字∣南…無…彌…勒…佛…。（因不能寫出無字真經所以用南無彌勒佛五個字代替，實際修行時要念無字真經。）

腳板貼地的時候，同時念∣南…無…彌…勒…佛，貼地的時候，剛好用那個震動把你的雜念震掉，才可以念得純，你要是腳板抬起來的時候念…南…放下去念…無…，中間就有很多的妄念，所以要腳著地時念，用走路的振動把這心中的妄念給震掉，只剩下佛號.

Recite every word in mind when your foot is touching the floor. Step on the floor, and the movement can drive your abstracting thoughts away. Then you can recite in a very attentive way. If you recite the sutra when you move the foot up, you may have many thought in the process. Therefore, I suggest you recite every word when your food is touching the floor. In this way, the vibration of walking will drive all thoughts away.

    這個修持將來可以帶到生活中，不只走路，時時刻刻都可以修。是一個很容易入手的修行。修起來輕鬆沒有壓力，很適合忙碌的現代人修。

    This practice can be extended to our daily life at every moment, including walking and so on. It’s very easy, relaxing and suitable for modern people.

為什麼要默念真經？Why should we recite the Five Word Sutra?

    默念真經。為什麼要念？

    念佛，是中國千年來最普遍的一種修持，不分老少每個人念了都有效。什麼效？小至脫災避難，大至開悟見性、往生西方。

    Reciting Buddha’s names is a very common practice in China for thousands of years. It is effective for everyone, old or young, not only in escaping from difficulties and disasters but also in reaching the enlightenment and returning to the pure land.

    但因大多數人沒有念佛的習慣，所以古代禪門祖師教修行人一種念佛的方法，這個方法流傳到現在仍然是佛門的重要修持，叫做∣經行。我們今天作一樣的修持，但是念的是彌勒祖師傳給我們的密語。如果在佛堂有點佛燈，可以唸出聲或默念都可以，在佛堂以外的地方就必須默念，不可唸出聲。

    Most common people don’t have the habit of reciting Buddha’s names, so the Zen masters often taught practitioners this way of reciting. Walking with reciting, up to now, is still a very important practice in Buddhism. Today we will do the same kind of practice. The only difference is to recite the secret sutra from Matriya Buddha. If the lamps are lighted on, we can either read it out or memorize it in mind. Outside the temple we should keep silent and only recite it in mind.  

    也聽過道中老前賢提過，早期在大陸入爐會時也有這項修行，有時在院子裡打轉，一走就是四五個小時，有時甚至七八小時。這樣走下來，心中所有的妄念、是非…都消失無蹤了。

    Some senior Tao members mentioned that in the past, there was also this kind of walking practice in the retreat in Mainland China . They would walk around the yard and keep reciting for four or five hours, or even seven or eight hours. This way, all the distracting thoughts disappeared.

驚動仙佛？

    就像陽光普照大地，如果我們門窗緊閉，處於黑暗，念佛就像開啟門窗讓光明射入一樣，本有的佛力和光明福德，也因為唸佛而照進我們的生命之中。

    The effect of reciting Buddha’s names is like the sun shining all over the world. Our life is like a dark house with doors and windows closed. Reciting Buddha’s names is like opening the doors and windows, letting the sunshine get inside. Then, our natural power and bright merits will be able to enter our life through Buddha’s names.  

    大勢至菩薩念佛圓通章說：「十方如來憐憫憶念眾生就像母親時時刻刻思念子女一樣，可是如果子女逃逸無蹤，母親再怎麼思念也見不到子女，但是如果子女也開始思念母親，母子相憶必能相見。所以眾生念佛，眼前或未來，必定見佛。」

由此可知佛不是我們念祂，祂才念我們，而是無時無刻不在思念我們。我們一念祂，就立刻與祂相應。

     One of the sutras said, “All Buddhas will keep sentient beings in mind just like a mother will always remember her children. However, if her children go very far away, she cannot see them no matter how much she misses them. On the other hand, if the children start to miss their mother, mother and children are sure to meet one another through their mutual recalling. Therefore, when sentient beings remember to recite Buddha’s names, they are sure to meet Buddha at present or in the future.”

    According to this, Buddha always keeps us in mind and takes care of us all the time, not just because we recall Him. At the moment we recite his name, we are connected with Him right away.   

真經，苦海中的救生圈The Five Word Sutra is a lifebelt in Samsara.

真經對我們最大的意義在於∣救苦。

The greatest meaning of the Five Word Sutra is to save us out of suffering.

我們人生像掉落在苦海中一樣，佛號就像仙佛菩薩向苦海拋下的救生圈，我們念佛，佛感應到了，就向我們拋下一個救生圈，我們抓住，就能從苦中出離。

Our life can be compared to falling in the bitter sea. Buddha’s names are like the lifebelts given to us by Buddha and bodhisattvas. When we recite their names and they hear, they will give us the lifebelt to grasp. If we can grasp it, we can escape from sufferings.

不必去理解不必去努力，就像你掉到海裡，這時要學游泳已經來不及，只有大聲喊「救命」，求在船上或陸地上有能力救我們的佛，大聲喊祂的名字，如果佛聽到了，就會拋給我們一條繩索，甚至救生圈。

This doesn’t need any understanding or any effort. Just as when you fall into the sea, there is no time for you to learn to swim. The only way to survive is to cry out loudly, “Help!” and ask all Buddhas, in land or on ship, to save us. We call His name loudly and if He hears, He will give us a rope or even a lifebelt.

無字真經是彌勒佛和我們之間的暗號、通關密碼，彌勒祖師承諾我們：只要我們有求道，默念這個密語，祂就會回應我們的需求，來搭救我們於苦難之中。

The Five Word Sutra is the secret code between Matriya Buddha and us. Matriya Buddha promises us: as long as we have taken the Tao, once we recite this Five Word Sutra silently, He will answer our requirements and save us from all sufferings.

經行的方法 The method of walking

    我們先不多說理論，先進入修持方法。修持的體驗遠重要於理論。至於修持意義，修完可以慢慢看後面的解說。

    默念無字真經的方法很簡單，只要專注在每一歩、每一個字，當你念第一個字、走第一歩的時候就專注在第一個字，不要想第二個字，也不要想上一歩、上一個字，更不要想昨天的事、明天的事、等一下的、下午的、晚上的…甚至好幾年以後的事。只專注再眼前當下這一步、這一個字，專注才有力量。

    The method of reciting the Five Word Sutra is very easy. Just concentrate on every step and every word. When you recite the first word, focus on it at the first step. There is no need to think of the second word or the last step, or the last word. Not to mention thinking of yesterday, tomorrow, everything in the past or in the future. Just concentrate on the present step and the present word. Concentration will bring power.  

修持重點：Some points in practicing

˙默念真經的時候，腳步踏下去，腳板貼地的同時才念南…無…彌…勒…佛（無字真經不能寫出來）

  Not until our foot step on the floor or ground can we recite these Five Words.

˙眼睛不要東張西望，就看著前面，大概四十五度角向前垂視，

  Our eyes should keep looking in front, looking down at about 45 degrees. We cannot look around.

˙意念就凝聚在眼前。

  Focus our mind in front of the wisdom door.

˙順時鐘方向走，剛好是法輪轉動的方向，當然若不在佛堂或室內不必拘泥走的方向，重點是一邊唸真經。

Walk in a clockwise way, which is just the direction of Dharma Wheel rotating. Of course it’s not a fixed rule to walk this way if we are not inside the temple or house. The very point is to keep reciting the Five Word Sutra.

˙有人有持念珠的習慣，也可以一手抓念珠，走一歩，數一粒，念一字。

  Some people are in the habit of holding beads in hand. They can hold beads when walking. When they walk one step, count the bead once and recite one word.

˙手可以抱合同或自然下垂擺動，一個人修時怎麼樣舒服就怎麼走，但若參加共修時，手儘量不要擺動太大，或有怪異動作干擾到別人。

Our hands can keep in mudra合同or move naturally. Walk in a comfortable way. But don’t move your hand in such an evident way that others will be disturbed when practicing together.

˙心念跑掉時，要提醒自己收回來，把真經再抓回來念。不要縱容自己一邊念真經一邊胡思亂想，否則就不叫修行而只是走路了。

Remind to concentrate on the sutra. If we are distracted, recite the Five Word Sutra attentively. Don’t spoil yourself to have wander thoughts when reciting; otherwise you are just walking, not practicing.

唸佛三昧

    唸佛是最簡單的修行，但重點在∣專注。默念真經時，要集中意志力在腳下的這一步，好像全身的精力都集中在這一步，全神貫注在這一步，走這一步念到『彌』的時候，就光想到『彌』，下一步『勒』，就完全集中在這一步和這一個字上面，然後視線不要東張西望，就看著眼前就好了，

Reciting Buddha’s name is the simplest way to practice, but the point is concentration. While reciting the Five Word Sutra, we should focus our minds on the step we are walking. It seems that all our energy focuses on this step without distraction. 

    When we are reciting the first word of the sutra, we only pay attention to the word and the step. When the second word comes, we pay our whole attention to it and the next step. Also, we should keep our eyes from gazing around. All that we should do is concentrate on the present step and the word without distraction.  

好！我們現在就開始試試看，只要你一起步就開始念，專心在眼前的這一步，不要分心，專心在眼前這一步。

    Now let’s start. As long as you walk, you recite the sutra clearly. Just concentrate on the present step.

    唸佛雖然簡單卻不是一個次等的修持，並不是如一般修行者所想的：上等根基好的人修禪定讀經典，下等根基的人修念佛。

    Reciting Buddha’s name is easy, but it is not an inferior practice. It’s unlike what common practitioners think: higher-leveled practitioners achieve by meditation and researching many sutras, while lower-leveled practitioners can only achieve by reciting Buddha’s names.

就像電腦，簡易到三歲孩子都能使用一樣，仙佛把一切修持的精髓濃縮凝聚在一句佛號上，只要你去念，就可以和諸佛世界感應道交，得到諸佛的加持和無量功德。就像小孩上網，和每個大人一樣，可以進入無邊的智庫，得到最珍貴的資訊。最簡單反而是最上乘的，複雜不見得有實效、智慧。

This is like the computer, which is so easy that even a three-year-old kid knows how to use it. Buddha and all bodhisattvas condense the essence of all practice on the Five Word Sutra. As long as we recite it, we can get the empowerment and the unlimited merits of all Buddhas. We can also be connected with bodhisattvas in the pure land. Just as a kid goes on line, he can enter the whole data bank and apply it like an adult. In this way, he can get the most valuable information. Therefore, the simplest way is the best way. Any complicated method may not work so well.

    我們時常聽到三昧，什麼是三昧？三昧就是禪定，佛法修持 中最簡單的禪定就是「唸佛三昧」，就是念佛達到禪定。所以念佛是方法簡單，但內涵卻深不可測，而且一日千里的修行效果更是令人瞠目結舌。

    We often hear about sanmadai (samaya). What is it? It is the outcome of meditation. In Buddhism, to achieve sanmadai by reciting Buddha’s name is one of the simplest ways of meditation. Therefore, this reciting is easy but effective.    

Concentration on reciting will result in swift progress in practice.

    默念真經同時也是一種守玄，常有道親對「守玄」很難體會契入，而念真經時心會自然回到玄關，不守而守，是最高境界的守玄。雖然守住玄關，卻沒有執著玄關。反而直接守玄有些人守出胡思亂想，陷入幻境，也有些人一守玄就昏昏欲睡，沒有達到守玄的效果。不如念真經自然守玄。

    Reciting the Five Word Sutra in mind is also a kind of focusing on the wisdom door. Some Dao members may feel it difficult to concentrate on the wisdom door. However, when they recite the Five Word Sutra, their thoughts will naturally focus on the wisdom door.

    If someone tries to focus on the wisdom door directly, first he might be troubled by many illusions or thoughts. Some people may also feel dizzy. This way, concentrating directly on the wisdom door may be less effective than reciting Buddha’s name for them.

     好！那我們現在開始要進行這個經行的修持半個小時…

    如果你是看書，看到這裡可以先停一下，闔上書本，在你所處的地方找一個可以沒有太多干擾的地方，客廳、花園，只要能邁開五歩以上。但不要原地打轉，久了會頭暈。樓梯也是很好的經行場所，一階一字，試著在腳步中持念真經。三寶光看書不夠，要實際去修去印證，用生命去印證體驗。

    Ok, now we will start the walking practice for half an hour.

     If you are reading this book, you can take a short break by closing the book and find a quiet place to walk—the living room or the garden is ok as long as you can walk five steps in a straight line. Pay attention not to walk in a small circle, which will make you dizzy. The stairs are good places to do the walking practice, too.

Recite one word when walking up or down one step. Try to recite in mind the Five Word Sutra while walking.

Actions speak louder than words. This is also true with our practice. After reading so many directions of using three treasures, please stand up and give it a try, and see what this practice will bring to our lives.

（半個小時過去了，休息

修後開示 teachings afterward

    各位走了三十分鐘，希望也真的有念三十分鐘的真經。也許這三十分鐘已讓你進入狀況，也許還沒。沒關係，修行是長遠的，不在於立刻能証得什麼？在於能持之以恆的修下去。我常以砌磚來形容，我們默念一次真經，就像砌一塊磚，三十分鐘也許一面牆都還沒砌好，力量不足以保護我們，但繼續修下去，一天二天三天…終於砌成彌勒祖師法力城堡。我們就身在最安全的城堡中不怕狂風暴雨，甚至可以讓別人也在你所建築的城堡中得到庇護。

    The thirty-minute walking practice may give you impressive awareness of peace. If not, it’s all right. Religious practice is a long term program. The point is not to expect to achieve something immediately. It’s to be able to practice continuously. I often compare the long term practice to building a construction. Once we recite the Five Word Sutra, its function is equal to putting on one brick. Thirty minutes is not enough to build a wall. However, day by day, year by year, our continuous practice will finally establish a strong castle of Maitriya Buddha . We can stay inside and be protected from any storms and can even offer the same shelter to many others. 

最好的入手修持The best way to start practicing

    觀察道親修持三寶，持念真經是一個最容易，效果也最明顯的部份。最適合起步修行的道親，很容易就可以有進步的感覺，而且隨時隨地都可以修，適合學生、上班族。

    The reciting practice through walking, according to my observance, is the easiest and most effective one. A new Tao member will feel himself progress in a short time. It is also suitable for students or people at work, anytime and anywhere.  

    如果一入手就修守玄、看佛燈，有些人心靜不下來，修了沒體會，就放棄了。所以新道親可以從念真經開始修，當然這不是定法，每個人因緣根基不同，也有人對守玄特別契機。

    If a new Tao member starts his practice by concentrating on the wisdom door, he may feel frustrated sometimes. However, reciting the Five Word Sutra may be easier. Of course, this is not the common rule. Everyone, because of his different affinities, should search the best practice for himself.

    默念真經對我們生命有很大的幫助，我們今天只簡單從幾個角度來探討。

    Reciting the Five Word Sutra is really helpful to our lives. Here we just explore its benefits from several aspects.

「一步一字默念真經」的修持意義：

    The religious meanings of reciting the Five Word Sutra while walking

一、讓生命回歸正軌∣真經是生命的磁力線。

Make our lives back to the right track—the Five Word Sutra is a magnetic line of lives.

二、佛力加持∣真經有彌勒祖師的願力加持。

Receive Buddha’s empowerment—the Five Word Sutra contains Maitriya Buddha’s great vow.

三、以陽化隂∣彌勒的純陽可以化至陰。

Replace yin by yang—Maitriya Buddha’s name contains great power to purify the karmas or yin chi in our lives.

四、滌洗心靈∣用真經來洗滌心靈。

Purify our minds—the Five Word Sutra can be used to purify any other distracting thoughts.