与古诗跨越千年的相遇——有德不孤

Sitting alone amidst the tranquil bamboo grove,I pluck the zither and let out a long, resonant sigh.

In the depths of the forest, none knows my solitude,Yet the bright moon comes to illuminate my soul.

"Virtue Never Stands Alone"

“独坐幽篁里”

所以，“独坐”二字，就是在提醒大家，你找到座了吗？你皈依了吗？你跟中华民族的文化接轨了吗？我们的生命如果没有跟我们民族的文化，跟整个人类的文明接轨的话，真的会如漂浮的灰尘一般，迷茫、浅陋、无依无靠。只有皈依了，接轨了，孩子找到妈妈了，才能体会到那种“独坐幽篁里”的自信与安然。

“弹琴复长啸”，这是一个调声、调意、调心、调气的修行过程。

Hence, the phrase “sitting alone” (独坐) serves as a profound reminder: Have you found your seat? Have you taken refuge? It asks whether you have connected with the essence of your chinese cultural heritage and aligned yourself with the broader scope of human civilization. Without this connection, life becomes like floating dust—adrift, shallow, and unsupported.

Taking refuge is about anchoring oneself in a tradition, a lineage, akin to a child reuniting with their mother, finding confidence and comfort.

The following phrase, “playing the zither and singing aloud” (弹琴复长啸), describes a process of harmonizing oneself—adjusting sound, intention, mind, and breath.

“弹琴”不是弹有形的那张琴，是弹我们的心肝脾肺肾。古时候是五音阶，五音对五脏，由调外在的弦，来证内在的心。当他发出外在的声音时，实际上他的内在是有色彩的，这是个人修为的一种展现。这样的修行可以到达怎样的果位呢？达到阿罗汉果。

This reflects an embodiment of one’s personal cultivation.

作为一个自立的人，他甚至已经通天通地了，但世间的人未必会了知他，所以“深林人不知”。他的境界重重叠叠，映现于外在物理的山林河谷之中。从内在的精神境界来说，每个人的境界都是“知人知面不知心”，你又如何了解对方的境界呢？

A truly self-reliant person may have achieved profound harmony with both heaven and earth, yet their essence often remains unnoticed by the world, as described by the phrase “deep forest, unseen by others” (深林人不知). Their state of being transcends ordinary comprehension, layered and intricate, reflected outwardly in the natural landscapes of mountains, forests, and valleys.

From the perspective of inner spiritual cultivation, each person’s state of mind is veiled in mystery, just as the saying goes, “You can know a person’s face, but not their heart” (知人知面不知心), how could one fully grasp another’s inner realm or spiritual attainment?

虽然“深林人不知”，但怎么样？自然有诸佛菩萨，有智慧的生命来辉映和交流，这叫“有德不孤”，“天涯若比邻”，“明月来相照”。

所以古人讲明月的时候，往往在中国文化里是比喻一种智慧的情怀，比喻智者的一种生命境界。这种情怀和境界不会“前不见古人，后不见来者”，而是前有智者，后也来智者，十方三世皆有亲朋，丝毫不会孤独。看上去你孤独地行在这个世间，没有人知道你，也没有人重视你，但你内心却可以神交那么多的朋友，连诸佛菩萨也对你悉知悉见。

Even though “deep in the forest, no one knows,” what does it matter? Naturally, the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and wise beings will illuminate and commune with such a person. This is what is meant by “those with virtue are never alone,” “friends afar are as close as neighbors,” and “the bright moon comes to shine upon us.”

In Chinese culture, the moon often symbolizes wisdom and a noble sentiment, a metaphor for the elevated state of being of the wise. Such sentiment and state are never confined to isolation; instead, they connect to a continuum of wisdom across time. There were sages in the past, and there will always be sages in the future. In the ten directions across three lifetimes, one is surrounded by kindred spirits, forming a boundless kinship with all beings, untouched by loneliness.

Though you may seem to walk alone in this world, unnoticed and unacknowledged, your inner self can form deep connections with countless companions in spirit. Even the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas fully see and know you, offering their wisdom and compassion to your.

这样一种坚持，这样一种自信，体现的是生命的一种韧度。这样的人绝对不会抑郁不会消极，他一旦出来，必然会自利利人，会成为各行各业的人才，乃至会成为民族的“脊梁”，所以中华民族复兴最主要的因素，就是“人”。人的文化复兴了，中华民族就复兴了，整个地球文明也就迎来了一个复兴。

Such perseverance, such confidence, reflects the resilience inherent in life.

人的文化，这“文化”两个字，“文”是人类智慧的结晶，是一种内在的修养状态，“化”是自利利他，化导群生，是外显的行为。将内在的智慧通过传递和推广从而使整体性的精神层面获得共鸣与提升，这就是文化的力量。

Human culture—these two characters, “culture” (文化), encapsulate profound meaning. “Wen” (文) represents the crystallization of human wisdom, an inner state of cultivation and refinement. “Hua” (化) signifies benefiting oneself and others, guiding and transforming all beings through external actions. Channeling inner wisdom, transmitting and promoting it to resonate with others and elevate the collective spiritual realm--such is the power of culture.

--San Can Master

英文翻译：妙莲（新加坡）