一貫道郭明義

玄關呼吸的方法the method of breathing through the wisdom door

現在我們要開始使用這個我們不常使用的五官之一－玄關。

Now we will start to use the Wisdom Door, a sense which we seldom use in daily life.

我們將詳細的解說玄關式呼吸的方法，且從：眼、耳、鼻、舌、身、意六方面來說。

We’ll explain in detail how to breathe through the wisdom door from six aspects: eye, ear, nose, tongue, body and mind.

眼  About eyes

   眼睛，可以半開半閉，好像窗簾這樣垂下來，叫做垂簾，因為我們把窗簾拉上的時候，還有光透進來，整個眼睛閉上就完全沒光。

    While breathing, our eyes can be half-open or half-closed, just like the curtain is hanging down.

Because when we pull on the curtain, some light can get through; if we close our eyes completely, there will be no light at all.

    一般完全閉上眼睛的話，容易有妄想，眼睛整個打開又會受環境影響，所以輕輕垂下來，不必在乎是閉兩分三分，大概是垂下來就好，垂下來有透點光，這時候是最不受內外影響的，整個閉上會受到內在影響，整該張開會受到外在影響，垂下來剛好，然後呢！就守在玄關，一入一出，了了分明，這樣就夠了，

Usually when we close the eyes completely, it’s easy for us to have distracting thoughts. However, if we open our eyes, it’s easy for us to be influenced by the environment. So, we take the middle way to hang down our eyelids gently. This way, we don’t need to worry how wide we should open the eyes. When our eyelids are hung down, some light will come in. At this time we will not be influenced by anything. If we close our eyes completely, we’ll be affected by illusory thoughts. If we keep our eyes wide open, we will be affected by the environment. So, keeping the eyelids half-closed is just right. Then we just need to concentrate on the wisdom door and be aware of our exhaling and inhaling.

    佛法修持重視「眼觀鼻鼻觀心」這也是一個方法，很多人都聽過這句，眼觀鼻容易，鼻要如何觀心？我們將心繫念在玄關、繫念在呼吸，就是一種最好的「鼻觀心」。

In Buddhism, the practitioners pay much attention to the method called “use the eyes to watch the nose and use the nose to watch the heart.” Many people have heard of this. However, it’s easy to use the eyes to observe the nose, but how can we use the nose to observe the heart? When we tie our thoughts on the wisdom door and concentrate on our breathing, it will be the best way of “using the nose to observe the heart.”    

有些人無法半開半閉，如果不習慣垂目，可以睜開眼，但不要東張西望，看東看西，眼看佛燈，意念專注在呼吸。

Some people can’t make their eyes half-open or half-closed. If you are not used to closing your eyes, you can open your eyes. But you’d better not look everywhere. Just use our eyes to watch the Buddha lamp and concentrate our thoughts on our breath.

若不習慣睜開也不喜歡半閉，完全閉上眼睛也無妨。但如果心中出現幻象或心念陷入思緒的漩渦，要趕快睜開眼，不要一直被捲進去。

If we are not used to staring or half-closed, it’s OK to close the eyes completely. But if some illusion appears or our mind is confused with many emotions, we should open our eyes immediately. Don’t follow the illusion or negative emotions.  

一般來說閉眼，容易很快進入專注，但是也很容易在專注後出現幻像，或者開始昏沉瞌睡。所以禪坐多半主張垂目。

Generally speaking, closing eyes will make us concentrate more easily and deeply, but it’s also very easy for us to have illusion after concentration or we might start to dose off. So the practice of meditation prefers keeping eyes half-closed.

耳  About ears 

    耳朵要關閉似乎是不可能的，所以我們只能盡量找一個安靜的地方來進行修持。耳朵有時候很奇怪，平時沒聽到的，一靜下來什麼都聽到了。再怎麼安靜的地方都會有聲音，不管人聲車聲…只要心不隨聲音而去，聽到的聲音讓它穿過而不要滯留。

   It seems impossible to close our ears, so we can only try to find a quiet place to do the practice. Our ears are very sensitive. Once we keep silent, they can hear anything that was not heard before. There are various kinds of sounds in every place, no matter how quiet it is—the sound of people or cars. As long as our mind don’t follow these sounds, we can let them go just like clouds will disappear very soon when they are floating in the sky.

     有時心靜下來時，會出現音樂。不是真的身邊有音樂在播放，而是儲存在腦海中的一些音樂因為身體靜下來、思慮也停止、而出現。並不是耳朵聽見而是頭腦在播放音樂。

    曾經有道親以為自己有幻聽聽到不存在的音樂。其實是一種心靜下來的現象，不要理會它，繼續修就會消失。

   Sometimes when our minds rest, music might appear. It’s not because there is really some music playing beside, but it’s the music stored in our brain. The music appears because our body doesn’t move and our thoughts also stop. The truth is that our ears don’t really hear the music but it’s the brain that is playing the music.   

    Some Tao cultivators think they have auditory hallucination because they can hear the music that does not exist. Actually it’s the phenomenon that our minds are calm down. Don’t care about this too much. Just keep practicing, and the symptom will disappear.

鼻About nose

調息！觀想氣息從玄關進，充滿全身，再從玄關出。不必刻意去觀想氣息進入以後上行下走！只要能從玄關進，自然會往上走到泥完宮，往下走到湧泉穴，全身氣脈暢通無阻。

To adjust our breath, we can visualize our breath enters the wisdom door and fills the whole body. Then, it will go out from the wisdom door again. We don’t need to visualize the exact path of breath circulating around the body. As long as the breath enters from the wisdom door, it will naturally move upward to the top of our head and downward to the bottom of our feet. The breath itself will circulate in the body smoothly.   

重點在於「一呼一吸了了分明」不要說我現在是在吐氣或吸氣都不曉得，起碼要知道我現在正在吸氣，我現在正在吐氣，

The point of this practice is to inhale and exhale in a very clear way. We cannot say we don’t know whether we are inhaling or exhaling. At least we should know we are inhaling or exhaling.

氣的長、短、粗、細啊！這倒沒有關係，慢慢調整，也不要想說它吸的深或是吸的淺，因為我們要吸的不是空氣，

We don’t need to pay much attention to the length or depth of our breath, for what we are breathing is not the air. 

注意喔！不要想你吸的只是空氣，玄關一開，不論你察覺或是不察覺，先天氣會從每一個毛孔啊！進入你的每一個竅、每一條脈，我們體內有八萬四千條脈，每一條脈都會慢慢清乾淨，但這時候身體有一些異狀的話呢！這就表示在清除你的痼疾和業障，不要慌亂。

However, what we should pay attention to is to know the valuable function of this practice. What we breathe in is not just the air. Once the air enters the wisdom door, the pre-birth chi will enter each pulse and aperture. This pre-birth chi will purify our bad karmas as well as our pulses. If some symptoms occur at this moment, don’t worry. It’s because the pre-birth chi is purifying your illness or bad karmas.   

透過這種調息，我們陰脈如果阻塞太久了，也許一時片刻沒辦法完全通暢，可是慢慢就會改善，只要經常做玄關呼吸，你自然就可以漸漸消除這些痼疾和業障，這是三寶修持中很重要的一個修持。

Through this breath adjustment, our bad karmas or blocked pulses can be purified gradually. Maybe it’s impossible to purify them in a short time. But if we often do this practice, we will eliminate these chronic illness and bad karmas. This is a very important practice in Three Treasures.

舌About the tongue

嘴巴閉上，舌頭抵上顎。舌下自然生津，對健康有幫助，也是修持的一部份。這叫做「真水上升」可以把「腎水」提升，轉化慾望成為悲願，同時達到道家所謂「煉精化氣」

When we close the mouth and keep our tongues attached to the upper palate, there will be saliva under our tongues. It’s very healthy and also a part of our practice. This saliva can not only make our kidneys healthier but also transform our desires into compassion. In the meantime, this practice is called “transformation from sperm to refined chi.”

身About the body

我們在做玄關式呼吸的時候，可以坐著，站著也可以，甚至走路都可以，行、住、坐、臥，睡覺的時候，都可以做，我們現在大家都坐在這裡，就用坐姿。

We can do this practice while sitting, standing, or even walking. In daily life, we can practice at any time, even when sleeping. Since all of us are sitting, let’s sit and practice.

坐的時候，不要彎腰駝背，因為身直則脈直，脈直則心直，我們坐的時候，不要太僵硬，要很輕鬆的、自然的坐直來，輕輕鬆鬆的坐直，

While we are sitting, don’t hunch, for once our bodies are straight, the chi can circulate in the pulses smoothly. Once the chi goes smoothly, our minds can be clear. Another point is to sit in a relaxing way. Don’t sit too stiffly. Just sit straightly in a natural and relaxing way.

手可以抱合同，手抱合同也不要抱的太緊，輕輕鬆鬆的抱著，可以造成陰陽的調和，陰氣和陽氣的調和，左陰右陽嘛！

Use Mudra（hand seal）, but don’t hold it too tightly. Just use mudra in a relaxing way. It can coordinate between yin and yang, yin chi and yang chi, for the left part of our bodies has yin feature while the right part has yang feature.   

手要是覺得說抱合同不太習慣，不太順的話，也可以輕鬆的放在膝蓋上。以讓自己舒適放鬆為原則。

 If you feel uncomfortable to use mudra（hand seal）, you can put your hands on the laps. The point is to sit and practice in a comfortable and relaxing way.

.    注意這不是打坐，我們心態上必須要有一個正確的認知，這不是參禪打坐，我們坐在這裡靜修是現在因為在佛堂開班，必須要用坐的。

    Notice: this is not meditation. We should have a right understanding that this practice is different from meditation.

    未來在生活中，不管你是站著、坐著，或是走路的時候，躺著的時候，都同樣可以做這一個呼吸法，

    After this class, when you go home in everyday life, you can do this breathing practice no matter you are standing, sitting, walking or sleeping. You can even do it anytime and anywhere.

   就像嬰兒多半時間都是躺著，一樣都在做玄關是呼吸，做的比我們任何人都做的好，所以要強調這不是打坐。

    Take a baby for example. It cannot stand or sit to do the practice, but it can practice better than anyone of us when lying on the bed. Therefore, the breathing practice is different from meditation, which should be done only when sitting.

意About mind

將意念繫在玄關，注意，不要用力，不要皺著眉頭守玄。輕鬆的、不要用力太深，就像嬰兒一樣，很輕鬆的，把意念放在“這裡”（玄關），輕輕鬆鬆的放在“這裡”，不要刻意去把它緊抓在那裡，輕輕鬆鬆的放在“這裡”，

Focus your thoughts on the wisdom door. Pay attention not to focus too tightly. Don’t frown to concentrate on the wisdom door. Just concentrate in a relaxing way like a baby does. Focus all your thoughts here (on the wisdom door). Relax. 

吸氣的時候，觀想呢！從玄關吸進去，吐氣的時候，觀想從玄關吐出來，但你不必非常刻意把注意力集中在想「氣吸進來，上升到頭頂，循環下行直到腳底…」只要意念繫在玄關，自然呼吸，氣就會上升至頭頂，下行至腳底，充滿全身每一個角落。

When you are inhaling, visualize your breath enters through the wisdom door. When you are exhaling, visualize your breath are going out through the wisdom door. But it’s not necessary to think the breath or chi is entering or pay attention that it is moving upward to the top of the head and circulating downward to the bottom of the feet. As long as we concentrate on the wisdom door and breathe naturally, chi will circulate in every corner of the body naturally.   

就好像你吹汽球，你只要從入口吹進去，它自然氣會充滿整個汽球，不用去想我現在氣到左邊了，到右邊了，只要從入口吹進去就好了，然後呢！氣息呢！自然就好。

For example, when we are blowing a balloon, the air will fill it as long as we blow from its entry. We don’t need to think now the air moves to the left or right. Just blow the air from the entry.

專注在呼吸，一呼一吸了了分明，吸氣的時候，專心在吸氣，從玄關吸進去，吐氣的時候從玄關吐出來。

Concentrate on your breathing. Be aware of every inhaling and exhaling.

 剛坐下來的時候，心會覺得很亂，靜不下來，沒有關係，如果你發現心實在靜不下來的話，你可以加上默念真經來調息，吸氣時念一次真經，吐氣時不唸，或吐氣時也念一次五字真經。因人而異，可隨自己氣息長短，調整到最舒適的情況。

    Your mind may not be peaceful in the beginning, but it’s OK. If you find it’s very hard to calm down, you can adjust the breath by reciting the Five Word Sutra. You can recite only when inhaling or exhaling, or you can recite both when inhaling and exhaling. It depends. You can adjust the length of the breath to the most comfortable situation.  

    我們的心，不容易一下就靜下來。好像水的沉澱作用，濁的水無法在一瞬間就澄清的，只不搖動它，靜下來一陣子以後，砂石才開始慢慢沉澱，靜止時間越長就越清澈，所以不要著急。

    It’s not easy for our mind to calm down immediately. Just like the sediment of water, the disturbed water cannot become clear at the moment. As long as we don’t stir it, after a while, the sand and mud will start to sink gradually. The longer it stays still, the clearer it will become. Therefore, we don’t need to hurry.

    如果急著讓它靜下來的話，反而更不靜，所以慢慢靜下來，大概等個十幾二十分鐘以後呢！你就會發現心已經很清澈了，雜念不會這麼多了。注意這一點，不要著急，慢慢等待，也不要用太多的方法，很簡單，就是專注在呼吸就好。

    If you are in haste to settle your mind, it will be more disturbed. So just calm down slowly. After ten or twenty minutes, you will find your mind has been very clear; also, your distractive thoughts will be reduced. The point is: don’t haste. Keep breathing, but don’t try to use too many methods. It’s very easy. Just concentrate on breathing.

起修Start to practice

那我們現在就開始進行半個小時的實修，不要急切，慢慢進入狀況，

Now, we will do the practice for half an hour. Don’t hurry. Just get into the meditation gradually.

好！我們把燈關上，只剩下三盞佛燈。開始進行玄關式的呼吸。關燈為了讓心沉靜下來，太亮時心念容易跳躍不停。如果在家修行，可選擇自己舒適的光線。

Now, we will turn off the lights and leave only three Buddha lamps here, and then start breathing through the wisdom door. Turning off the lights can make our minds serene. With too much light, we’ll become excited. If you do the practice at home, you can choose the most comfortable light for yourself.

     注意我們的身體，坐的時候，不要靠椅背，那樣脈就不直了，但也不要坐得向軍人一樣僵硬。輕鬆，越輕鬆越好，放的很鬆，

    Be aware of your sitting posture. Don’t lean against the chair because our pulses may become slanting. However, we don’t need to sit stiffly like a soldier, either. Relax. The more relaxed the better. 

    放鬆，然後先吸氣，用嘴巴吐氣，把濁氣吐掉，先吸個三口氣…….，然後吐三口濁氣……….，這時候才開始呢！正式的進行玄關式呼吸。

   Relax, and then inhale first. Use your mouth to exhale and exhale all the turbid breath. Visualize you breathe in the fresh air three times, and then exhale the turbid air three times. Then start the practice for thirty minutes.  

……………………………………………………………（半個小時過去了，結束！）

Half an hour later

道德經裡面，老子曰：「反者，道之動」，今天我們回觀反照，用三寶來修持，就是『反』。

一般我們的心都是向外的，從小受的教育，都是叫你動起來，不是叫你靜下來，那今天我們的課呢！是反其道而行，沒有叫你動起來。

In Tao Te Sutra, Lao-tze said:” Returning to the Middle Way is the key to the function of the Tao.”
  Today we return to our original nature and use the Three Treasures to practice. This is called “returning to the middle way.” Usually our minds keep searching outward. Since childhood, we’ve learned to be active instead of being serene. Our lesson today is opposite to traditional education because we let go everything of the outer world.      

平時我們辦道、講課，還是在動，辦道，講課、講道，聽道理，不是身在動就是心在動，去思考、去吸收、去記憶…但是呢！今天的修持，剛好是相反的，反者道之動也！

反的作用卻對動有莫大的助益。

In daily life, even when we are helping proceed Tao , lecturing, or listening to speeches, we are active either in body or in mind. Even when we are sitting and listening to speeches, we need to think, absorb, and memorize. However, today’s practice is very different. It’s totally contrary to our daily activities.

The practice of returning to original nature (Buddha nature) is a great help to us.

修持法補充說明

Amendment :

    有道親問：「密宗修持有許多觀想方式，我們修三寶要不要觀想？」

    Some Tao members may ask, “There are ways of visualization in the practice of Tibetan Buddhism. Do we need to visualize when practicing Three Treasures?”

    如果有道親曾修過密宗，或有觀想的習慣，在這裡提供幾個修持玄關式呼吸的觀想方式：

    If you have learned the Tibetan Buddhism , or you have the habit of visualizing, here we offer certain ways of visualization when breathing through the wisdom door.

吸進佛光 呼出負面情緒 Buddha light in, negative emotions out

修玄關式呼吸時可做一種觀想：「吸進佛光，呼出負面情緒」。

    We can visualize in this way: to breathe in the Buddha light and breathe out our negative emotions.

觀想，當我們吸氣時所有諸佛菩薩的光芒、智慧，都隨著氣息的吸入，吸進玄關，呼氣時則觀想我們生命裡的負面情緒，憤怒、痛苦、哀傷、仇恨…隨著呼氣把他們全部呼出去。全面改造我們的生命，全面治療我們的身心疾病。

Please visualize: when we are inhaling, the light and wisdom of all Buddha and bodhisattvas enter our wisdom door; when we are inhaling, all our negative emotions in life such as anger, pain, sorrow or hatred are driven out. This visualization can rebuild our life and cure our physical and mental diseases totally.

在修持時想一想我們最大的痛苦是什麼？是身體疾病還是精神上的煩惱？在修玄關式呼吸時，做最簡單的觀想：

Think about what our greatest pain is. Is it physical illness or mental worries? Just do the simplest visualization when breathing through the wisdom door:

吸氣時，觀想從玄關吸進佛光到我們的全身。

While inhaling, visualize that Buddha light enters our body through the wisdom door.

吐氣時，觀想我們最大的煩惱（疾病、情緒、操憂…）從玄關吐出。

When exhaling, visualize that our greatest trouble (illnesses, emotions, or worries) goes out through the wisdom door.

這樣一呼一吸，反覆觀想，把生命中的煩惱痛苦都用佛光滌洗乾淨，生命就又煥然如新。

佛光的存在並不抽象，就像我們週遭充滿各種的電波、音波、光波…各種波。我們看不到、聽不到、摸不到，但卻實實在在的存在。我們打開手機、收音機、電視…就收到那些我們看不到，但卻存在的訊號。

Repeat the process in and out until our worries and pains are cleared by the Buddha light. Thus we will have a renewed life.

The existence of Buddha light is not abstract at all. It is like all kinds of waves (electric, sound, light, etc.) around us. We cannot see, hear, or touch them, but they really exist. Once we turn on the cell phone, radio, or TV, we will receive these waves.

同樣的，除了這些科技波以外，還有諸佛菩薩所發出的波－佛光。

Meanwhile, besides these technical waves, there is another kind of wave from Buddha and bodhisattvas called Buddha light.

諸佛菩薩的慈悲、光明、智慧、能力，所有無量無邊功德，都充滿在宇宙圍繞在我們週遭，我們只要打開玄關，就可以接收到這些訊號。

All Buddha and bodhisattvas’ compassion, brightness, wisdom, power and unlimited merits and virtues surround all of us in the universe. As long as we concentrate on the wisdom door, we are sure to receive their waves.

佛光訊號對我們有什麼意義？為什麼要接收？佛光可以洗滌我們生命中的污垢，補充能量增進能力，洗刷我們累世的業障。啟發我們的智慧，讓我們有慈悲歡樂。生命中正面力量都可透過玄關，從四面八方接收諸佛菩薩釋放出的訊息、力量。

What does the Buddha light mean to us? Why should we receive them? Buddha light can wash out the dirt of our life, supply energies, and promote capabilities. It can also purify our bad karmas and induce our wisdom. It gives us compassion and joy. We can regain all the positive power in life through our wisdom door. We can also receive the messages and power of Buddha and bodhisattvas from all directions.

諸佛菩薩為什麼要對我們發射這些慈、悲、喜、捨，的佛波？因為希望眾生解脫痛苦，走向成佛之道。

Why do Buddha and bodhisattvas want to send us the Buddha waves of kindness, compassion, joy and giving? It’s because they hope the sentient beings can escape from suffering and reach the enlightenment.

但是雖然諸佛有豐富的慈悲智慧，如果我們沒有接收器，很難傳達到我們的生命。好比這世界充滿豐富的色彩，但如果你沒有眼睛，還是無法看到。什麼是接收器？對其他宗教而言，如祈禱、靈修、念佛、打坐…效果如何我們不能妄自下斷言，但對道親而言，求道就像在我們的玄關加裝了一台接收器，如電視、收音機…讓我們可以接收到來自諸佛的訊息。

Even if Buddha and bodhisattvas are so compassionate and wise, their blessing cannot reach us if we don’t have the “antenna.” For example, we cannot see the colorful and beautiful world without eyes. What is the antenna for the Buddha light? In other religions, they might pray, chant, or meditate. We cannot judge whether they are effective or not. However, as for the Tao members, taking the Tao is like installing a antenna on the wisdom door. Then we are like TV or radio. With this antenna, we can get the message from Buddha and bodhisattvas.

修持，就是啟動接收功能。就像你有電視，也要打開開關，轉動頻道器，才能接收到節目訊息。

Practice is like pressing the “on” button and starting to receive Buddha waves. Just as we have to turn on the TV and use the remote control before watching TV programs.

如何才能知道我們究竟接收到佛波沒有？察看我們的生命有沒有脫胎換骨的轉變？比方說易悲、易怒、貪心、計較、自私、懶惰…常年困擾自己也讓他人厭惡討厭的特質，漸漸淡化消失。像髒衣服進入水中，污垢就漸漸淡化消失。

How can we know whether we have received the Buddha waves or not? Just be aware if our lives are renewed. For example, if we find our displeased characters, such as melancholy, anger, greed, mean, selfishness or laziness, etc, have gradually disappeared, we are going the right way. It’s like that our bad habits are cleaned by Buddha waves, just as dirty clothes will be cleaned by water.

自他交換法exchanging

　　另一種觀想是－自他交換。

    Another visualization is exchanging

    佛家的寂天菩薩曾提倡一種「自他交換」的觀想修持，有大慈悲心才能做這種修持。他說：「如果自己與他人想要快速得到救護，就必須行自他交換，這是非常秘密殊勝的法門，要是自己的快樂跟別人的痛苦，不如實做交換，就沒有辦法成佛，而且在輪迴的世間也沒有快樂。」

    The Gi-tien bodhisattva has taught the practice called exchanging. Only a very compassionate practitioner can do it. He said, “If you want to take refuge quickly with others, you have to do this exchanging practice. This is a very secret and sacred Dharma. We cannot reach enlightenment unless we exchange our happiness with others’ suffering. Only through exchanging can we reach the enlightenment. Otherwise, we will stay in samsara, where there is no happiness at all.” 

自他交換觀想方法： Methods of Exchanging    

呼：exhaling

    氣息呼時，觀想自己身心中的快樂以及樂因的善，如太陽升起般，光芒四射的進入眾生的身體。將眾生身上的罪障、痛苦全部去除。有如太陽出來後，大地的黑暗整個被清除般。這是呼氣的觀想。

    When exhaling, visualize our own happiness and goodness rise like the sun and enter the bodies of all sentient beings. This way, we can help reduce the bad karmas and suffering of them. Just like the darkness will be cleared away after the sun rises. This is the visualization when exhaling.

吸：inhaling

    當氣息吸入時，觀想其他眾生身心的痛苦，和苦因的惡業，全部化成一團烏黑進入自己心中，再化成空。

    When inhaling, visualize others’ suffering and bad karmas are turned into dark clouds and enter our minds. Finally, these dark clouds became emptiness.

   就這樣一呼一吸，反覆觀想自己的光明和眾生的黑暗不斷透過呼吸進行交換。

Repeat this process and visualize we are exchanging our brightness with the darkness of sentient beings.

    不只佛教的菩薩及大修行者有如此的慈悲願力，我們師母和許多老前人們，雖然不修「自他交換」呼吸法，卻直接發「頂劫救世」的願，修持非但不求自己的快樂，甚至求承擔眾生的業障。

Not only the bodhisattvas in Buddhism have such compassionate vows, but also our Shi-mu Master Sun and many other great masters have the same vows in another way. They don’t often do the practice of Exchanging; instead, they make the vow of sacrificing their lives to save the world. They do the practice not for their own happiness but for reducing the bad karmas of all sentient beings.

    老子也說：「受國之垢，可以為社稷主。」一個人可以承受國家民族的罪業，就可以成為社稷之神。尚書云：「萬方有罪，罪在朕躬。」萬民所犯的罪，罪責由我個人承擔。耶穌也用自己的寶血，為眾人贖罪。所以我們修持，不應只為求自己脫劫避難，反而要去承擔別人的劫難。

    Lao-tze also said, “Anyone who can shoulder other people’s faults as his own faults can finally become the god of this country.”  If a person can act this way, he can be a god after death.

    An old Chinese sutra Shang Shu said, “As an emperor, I will take the sins of my fellowmen and be punished for the sins.”  Many of the Chinese emperors died very young because they took all the sins of their fellowmen, just as Jesus Christ sacrificed for the world. Therefore, we should do the practice not only for pursuing our own happiness but also for shouldering other people’s suffering.

    寂天菩薩的「自他交換」觀想法可能令許多人猶豫恐懼：「這樣觀想，是不是自己會因此而生病得癌症…？」

    Gi-tien bodhisattva’s method of Exchanging may frighten many people. They may think, ”if I visualize this way, will I get cancer, too?”

    我們不需要發這樣的大願，可以做另一種觀想修持：「讓自己成為佛力和眾生業力交換的管道。」

    Anyway, we don’t need to make such great vows like them. We can do the practice by using another visualization; that is, make ourselves become a channel to exchange Buddha’s power and sentient beings’ bad karmas.

      這個修持法可以提供給天下父母，當沒有其他方法可救助孩子於疾病、墮落、災厄…時，可以用這個修持。

    For all parents, they can try this visualization when they have no other ways to save their children from illness, going astray, or disasters, and so on.

    提供給天下子女，當有孝心卻力不足時，可修持以下這個玄關呼吸交換法，來幫助父母出離病苦、業障。

    For all sons and daughters, they can try this Exchange to help their parents escape from illness and bad karmas.

    範圍當然不僅止於父母子女，任何有心幫助別人，卻能力不足，或無法溝通，都可以用這個修持。。

    This method is not limited to parents and their children. Anyone who is willing to help others can do this practice.

玄關式呼吸的自他交換法Exchanging practice through the wisdom door

吸：inhaling

    吸氣時，觀想眾生的業障、疾病、痛苦…化作一團黑氣，經由我的玄觀吸入諸佛世界的功德大海。

    When inhaling, visualize others’ bad karmas, illness, and suffering are turned into a dark cloud. It can be directed into the pure land of all Buddhas through my wisdom door. In the pure land, these sufferings can be purified and then disappear.

呼：exhaling

    呼氣時，觀想諸佛菩薩的佛光，經由我的玄關射出無量光，灌注到眾生的體內，眾生就像燈泡通了電一樣，內外通明。

    When exhaling, visualize the Buddha light of all Buddhas and bodhisattvas gives off unlimited brightness through my wisdom door and is poured into sentient beings. Then, sentient beings become pure and bright as the bulb has just been switched on.      

    我們因為有老母、彌勒祖師作後盾，所以我們還可以一邊持真經，讓彌勒祖師的佛力化掉這些病痛，

    Because we have the heavenly mother and Matriya Buddha as our great supporters, we can recite the five-word sutra and breathe through the wisdom door at the same time. This way, Matriya Buddha will help reduce our pains.

    比如父母親生病或子女生病時，可以在面對他們時一邊修持玄關式呼吸，一邊觀想他的病痛在我們吸氣時，被我們吸進來，但隨即被彌勒祖師的佛光化掉，彌勒祖師的佛光隨著我們吐氣時，灌注到他身上，將疾病的黑暗照亮，讓疾病消失。

    If our parents or children get sick, we can use the same method to help them. When facing them, we can breathe through the wisdom door and visualize their illness is inhaled inside our body, but is cleared away by Matriya Buddha’s light immediately. On the other hand, Matriya Buddha’s light is poured into his body through our exhaling. Repeat the procedure for a while, and they will get well gradually.

    就像一個髒的小池塘，藉著一條溝渠，讓髒水導流入清淨的大海，清水從大海 灌入池塘。我們扮演的腳色就是那條溝渠。我們不是具有偉大的神力、佛力，而只是上天和眾生間的通道。

    This process is just like cleaning a small dirty pond. It can be turned very clean by directing the dirty water into the broad sea through a ditch. With this exchange, the pure clean water can enter the pond from the sea. The role we play is like the ditch. We ourselves don’t have any great power. All that we can do is to be the channel between God and sentient beings.

     當你真正關心，卻無能為力時，這是一種很好的方法，而且一定有實質幫助。只要有誠心，加上專注於玄觀呼吸，一定可以幫助對方。

    When we really care about somebody but have no other method to take, this is a very good method. It really helps. As long as we are very sincere and be able to concentrate on this breathing, we are sure to help him.

養生的觀想法   Visualization of preserving health

    最後提供大家一個養生的觀呼吸觀想，這是道親朱政自己體會實驗出來的，在此與大家分享。朱政自上校退役後，開始創造自己的事業第二春，雖然退役仍然維持著軍人特有的強健體魄，但最近因事業忙碌，突然發現開始有白頭髮，尤其兩鬢幾乎全白。五十六歲有白髮算正常，但對一向風流倜儻的他而言仍是難以接受。於是在他修玄關式呼吸時，觀想：氣，從玄關吸進，吐出時，從兩鬢出來。每天這樣修十幾分鐘，再長出來的頭髮，竟然又是黑的，現在他兩鬢又恢復黑髮。

    Here is another visualization which can help preserve health. This method is experimented by a Tao member. Mr. Chu continued his second career after retiring. Although he retired, he maintained fit like a soldier. These days he was so busy that he started to have gray hair. This was a shock to him. Therefore, when he practiced breathing through the wisdom door, he visualized the Buddha light entered him through the wisdom door, and it also passed his hair before exhaled.

    He practiced this way for about ten minutes every day. It was surprising that his newborn hair all became dark.   

    除了白髮以外，他中年後有一個毛病，眼睛會流淚，台灣人說「流目油」他也用同樣的方法：觀想氣從玄關吸進，從眼睛出來。每天這樣修玄關式呼吸，一邊收心、一邊治病，身病、心病都治好了，

    Besides gray hair, he had another problem that his eyes would always keep wet. He used the same method to cure this. When inhaling, visualize the Buddha light entered through the wisdom door and went out through his eyes. He did this practice not only to cultivate himself but also to cure his illnesses. In this way, he recovered very soon physically and mentally.

      許多道親紛紛求教於他，將這玄關式呼吸運用在治病養生上，哪一個器官生病，就觀想氣呼出時，由那裡呼出。

    Many Tao members asked him for details to use the breathing practice on curing illnesses and preserving health. No matter which organ has the problem, they can visualize the Buddha light goes out through that organ.

    後學的太太，她有嚴重的耳朵問題，嚴重時頭暈失去平衡，而且經常耳鳴，她都用指壓耳朵的方式減輕耳鳴的症狀，也有效。

    Another Tao member followed this method and also succeeded. She had serious problem in ear, which sometimes caused dizziness and unbalance, and even ringing in the ear. In the past, she would massage her ear to reduce the symptom. It also worked.

      最近有一次耳鳴非常嚴重而且比平時大聲，指壓也停不了，她是好靜的人，難以忍受耳朵持續的鳴叫，突然想起後學說的朱政的觀想法，試著玄關呼吸，氣從玄關進，從耳朵出。竟然反覆做二三次耳鳴就消失了。