守好你的“禁城”

我们刚学佛时，烦恼心还很重，

When we first begin to practice Buddhism, our minds are often heavily burdened with afflictions,

不是落于散乱，就是落于昏沉。

we either fall into distraction, or sink into drowsiness.

散乱的时候不知道师父在讲什么，

In moments of distraction, we don't comprehend what the Master is teaching;

昏沉的时候，甚至都不知道自己在哪儿。

in moments of lethargy, we become oblivious to our surroundings.

内心嫉妒嗔恨的时候，师父讲的法早就忘掉了，

When jealousy and anger cloud our minds, the Master's Dharma teachings are long forgotten,

别人给我一个眼神、说我一句话，让我不如意了，

a mere glance or a few words from others can unsettle us,

贪嗔嫉妒念念增上，

causing greed, anger, and jealousy to flare up,

修罗心炽盛得不得了。

igniting our inner turmoil to an extreme degree.

一念修罗心起，

When a single thought of hostility arises,

就会感召法界里修罗的力量，

it attracts the energy of Asura hostility within the Dharma realm,

感召自己生生世世修罗的力量跟自己联网。

binding us to Asura hostile energies accumulated over countless lifetimes.

一念不好的心，

Similarly, a single malevolent thought

法界里面相应的恶业，

brings forth corresponding evil karma within the Dharma world,

就会成熟在自己身上。

which then manifests upon us.

所以，我师父讲了这句话：“修行犹如守禁城”。

Thus, my master said: "Cultivating the mind is like guarding a Forbidden City."

修行就好像守着皇宫禁城一样，

Practising cultivation is like standing guard at the royal Forbidden City,

不能懈怠的，连眨眼都要换班，

even the act of blinking must be regimented; one cannot afford to be negligent, not even for a moment,

左眨一下，右眼还要看着，

if the left eye blinks, the right eye must stay alert.

不能把一个飞贼，

轻易地从你这个御林军手下放过去。

We must not let even a single thief slip past the vigilance of our royal guard.

This Dharma passage, rich in metaphor and wisdom, calls for unwavering vigilance and discipline in one's spiritual practice, likening it to the steadfast duty of guarding a sacred and imperial space.