納吉斯熱帶氣旋的省思

Sayalay Dipankara

李素卿中譯

     最近納吉斯熱帶氣旋重創緬甸，我想要和各位分享自己所經歷的一些感受和省思。

     我過去總認為禪修是我今生最重要的事情，因此我把大部分的時間都花在禪修營的教學活動上。有時候，在緬甸的梵住禪修中心，我也會親自下廚，為禪修者烹調飲食，並從中獲得莫大的快樂。在我心裡，這些禪修者就如同我的孩子一般，我很樂於照顧他們。
    
     納吉斯熱帶氣旋發生過後，我回到緬甸，目睹許多人民受苦受難，我提供一些食物救助他們，在施與的當下，我的內心除了感到痛苦與哀傷之外，亦清明地湧現了一股悲天憫人的情懷。
    
當時，我省思到：我以前總是忙著從事與禪修相關的活動，奔波整年，一刻也不得閒；然而，我現在深深體悟到，除了禪修之外，自己也必須關懷別人，並對他們的苦難，感同身受。禪修固然重要，但是利他之行亦不容小覷。當我們幫助受苦受難的人們時，便如同行在菩薩道上，而對他人生起慈悲心，其實也是在追隨佛陀的腳步。在這世界上的許多地方，還有許多人身陷水火，痛苦不堪；因此，我認為自己確實有必要透過各種管道，傾力協助他們。慈悲是人類社會的礎石，我們既然身在人間，就應當由衷培養對彼此的悲憫之心。

     人們一旦失去親愛的家人和遮風蔽雨的房子，內心便會開始生起極大的痛苦與哀傷。因此，我也深深體悟到，當人們的身體或心理受到巨創時，要他們禪修，簡直比登天還難。
    
     佛陀教導我們：總有一天，我們的家人，乃至我們的財產，都會離我們遠去。因此，我們必須練習放下對他們的依戀與執著。我們必須審慎思惟未來的無常性，如此一來，當痛苦生起時，便能坦然迎對，無所畏懼。此外，我們也應當努力放下對一切事物的執著，並思惟「普天之下，沒有任何東西隸屬於我們」；緣盡之時，它們便會自然離去。
    
請各位務必如是靜心思惟，審慎思惟。

祝大家平安快樂

燃燈法師(Sayalay Dipankara)
2008年5月30日

附註：原文以英文電子郵件轉寄，為燃燈法師對新加坡世界禪修中心(Cakkavala Meditation Centre)會友的開示，由李素卿居士中譯，承蒙法師惠允轉載，特此致謝。

 

Cyclone Nargis Reflection

I would like to share my feelings about the recent Cyclone Nargis that happened in Burma.
 
I used to think that meditation was the most important in my life, so I spent most of my time teaching in meditation retreats. Sometimes in Brahma Vihari Meditation Centre in Burma, I also derive happiness from preparing food for the meditators. In my mind, they are like my children and I am very happy to take care of them.
 
After the Cyclone Nargis happened, I went back to Burma. Many people were suffering and I offered some food to them. At that time, I felt pain and sorrow arise in my heart. At the time of offering, the feeling of compassion also arose clearly in my heart.

At that time, I reflected: The whole year I had been busy with meditation, but now I realized that I also need to care for others, to be empathetic with their suffering. Meditation is important but helping others is also important. Giving rise to compassion for others is also following in the footsteps of the Buddha. When we help others in suffering, it is also like the Boddhisatta way of practice. There are still so many people who are suffering in many places; I feel that I really need to help them in whatever way I can.
 
In human society, we need to develop real compassion towards each other. This is the building block of society.
 
When people lose their families and houses, they start to experience suffering a lot of pain and sorrow in their hearts. I realised that when people are in great suffering mentally or physically, it is also very difficult for them to meditate.
 
The Buddha taught that we will face separation from our families and properties one day. So we need to practice letting go of our attachments. We need to contemplate about impermanence for our future so that when suffering arises, we can face up to that suffering. Also we should try to let go of everything, thinking that "everything does not belong to me". They will go away naturally by themselves.
 
So we need to contemplate this way.

May all of you be well and happy.

Sayalay Dipankara

30 May 2008